Pittsburgh African American Gambling Legends

Two of the most interesting Numbers guys in Pittsburgh were Woogie Harris and Gus Greenlee.
Check them out
www.curbed.com/2016/5/3/11578880/pi...ic-preservation-african-american-history


www.sabr.org/bioproj/person/gus-greenlee/

As long as you kicked-up the Old Man didn't give shit if you were green.
Besides, numbers were always really big business in the Black community.

I remember the black bar down on Larimer Ave @ Meadow St. right next to the Red Eagle. They were both numbers hot spots. I always found it interesting that a black bar could peacefully exist in the midst of Pittsburgh's Little Italy.

Funny story,FOH.There was a joint called Kenny's shoe shine parlor near the McKees Rocks bottoms. Kenny was an older Black guy and a real character.
When we were teenagers,we used to buy our Playboys,loose cigs and 6-packs there. Kenny's main businesses were numbers and horses.We thought it was the coolest place on earth.
It was the first place that I ever saw a "Dream Book". Because of our ages he wouldn't take any action from us (I guess the beer and smokes were OK).
Two things I don't recall ever seeing there were a cash register and anyone actually getting a shoeshine.

My Mom was a degenerate numbers player. I can remember her buyin' an occasional "Dream Book". Now that's funny

Larimer Ave is where most of the Pittsburgh crew that went to Charlies Roost every year. I don't know your age, but I'm guessing that some of your family knew those guys.