I bet that you have never seen a slot machine like this one I photographed about 20 years ago in a casino in Virginia City, Nevada. When I visited the casino a few years ago, the machine was gone.
For awhile after taking the photo, I tried to learn where the machine was made. I wanted to meet the woman who modeled for it, or learn if such a woman ever even existed. If the slot machine was made in, say, the late '40s, then the woman was probably born somewhere around 1920. That would have made her about 68 back then, or 88 today.
Alas, I never found her. My guess is that the machine was the likeness of a real woman. I wonder who she was? And where is this machine now? Maybe one of her grandchildren bought it. Boy, that would be strange -- having an image of your grandma as a beautiful young woman on a slot machine in your living room.
If you own this slot machine and want to sell it, please let me know.
To me it looks sort of like Marilyn Monroe. I know they use likenesses of famous people and the likenesses are not always right on. It would be my guess she was the inspiration, though.
ReplyDeleteI'm betting on Marilyn Monroe as well. That was the first thing that popped into my head. Not a perfect likeness, but given the technology of the time, pretty good.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Sharon Truhill and I have lived in Virginia City for the last 17 years and had visited the town, on and off, for nearly 20years before moving here. The Casino is the Delta Saloon and the owners name is Angelo Petrini. I don't remember seeing the lady slot machine but it is possible that it is in the Marshall Fey collection in Reno or even in the gambling museum here in V.C. Wish I could help further. Hope you find her.
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