{"id":18531,"date":"2019-07-21T09:21:55","date_gmt":"2019-07-21T16:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/?p=18531"},"modified":"2023-12-29T10:15:06","modified_gmt":"2023-12-29T18:15:06","slug":"police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2019\/07\/21\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Police about to be repelled by water canons from the SS Rex gambling boat off the Santa Monica coast in 1939"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18534\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2019\/07\/21\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?fit=2000%2C1274&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2000,1274\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Police about to be repelled by water canons from the SS Rex gambling boat off the Santa Monica coast in 1939\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?fit=300%2C191&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?fit=640%2C408&ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-18534 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?resize=640%2C408&ssl=1\" alt=\"Police about to be repelled by water canons from the SS Rex gambling boat off the Santa Monica coast in 1939\" width=\"640\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?resize=1024%2C652&ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?resize=300%2C191&ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?resize=768%2C489&ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?w=2000&ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?w=1280&ssl=1 1280w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-boat-of-the-Santa-Monica-coast-in-1939.jpg?w=1920&ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>The SS <em>Rex\u00a0<\/em>was a gambling ship that sat off the Santa Monica coast during the late 1930s. At the time, gambling was illegal in California but technically, the Rex was operating within the law because it sat more than three miles off the coast and therefore outside the jurisdiction of law enforcement. As you might imagine, the aforementioned law enforcement were not pleased and it took them years to dislodge him. In this 1939 photo, the Rex\u2019s crew prepare to repel the approaching police with water cannons, which is a pretty ballsy move. Then again, the operation was run by local organized crime figure, Tony \u201cthe Hat\u201d Cornero, who was probably no stranger to ballsy moves. They managed to close down Cornero\u2019s operations but \u201cTony the Hat\u201d fled to Las Vegas, where he opened the Stardust Hotel.<\/h3>\n<h3>Slot machines confiscated from the SS Rex gambling ship are being tossed overboard into the sea, November 29, 1939:<\/h3>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18535\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2019\/07\/21\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2\/slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-november-29-1939\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-November-29-1939.jpg?fit=800%2C634&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"800,634\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Slot machines confiscated from the SS Rex gambling ship are being tossed overboard into the sea, November 29, 1939\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-November-29-1939.jpg?fit=300%2C238&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-November-29-1939.jpg?fit=640%2C507&ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18535\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-November-29-1939.jpg?resize=640%2C507&ssl=1\" alt=\"Slot machines confiscated from the SS Rex gambling ship are being tossed overboard into the sea, November 29, 1939\" width=\"640\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-November-29-1939.jpg?w=800&ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-November-29-1939.jpg?resize=300%2C238&ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Slot-machines-confiscated-from-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-are-being-tossed-overboard-into-the-sea-November-29-1939.jpg?resize=768%2C609&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>They advertised in the legit press with legit advertisement display ads:<\/h3>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18533\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2019\/07\/21\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2\/advertisement-for-the-s-s-rex-may-5-1939\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-May-5-1939.jpg?fit=372%2C289&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"372,289\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Advertisement for the S.S. Rex, May 5, 1939\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-May-5-1939.jpg?fit=300%2C233&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-May-5-1939.jpg?fit=372%2C289&ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18533\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-May-5-1939.jpg?resize=372%2C289&ssl=1\" alt=\"Advertisement for the S.S. Rex, May 5, 1939\" width=\"372\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-May-5-1939.jpg?w=372&ssl=1 372w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-May-5-1939.jpg?resize=300%2C233&ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px\" \/> <img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18532\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2019\/07\/21\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2\/advertisement-for-the-s-s-rex-gambling-ship\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?fit=564%2C776&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"564,776\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"Advertisement for the S.S. Rex gambling ship\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?fit=218%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?fit=564%2C776&ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18532\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?resize=564%2C776&ssl=1\" alt=\"Advertisement for the S.S. Rex gambling ship\" width=\"564\" height=\"776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?w=564&ssl=1 564w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?resize=218%2C300&ssl=1 218w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"18541\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2019\/07\/21\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2\/color-advertisement-for-the-s-s-rex-gambling-ship\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Color-Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?fit=474%2C583&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"474,583\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}\" data-image-title=\"Color Advertisement for the S.S. Rex gambling ship\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Color-Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?fit=244%2C300&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Color-Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?fit=474%2C583&ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-18541\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Color-Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?resize=474%2C583&ssl=1\" alt=\"Color Advertisement for the S.S. Rex gambling ship\" width=\"474\" height=\"583\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Color-Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?w=474&ssl=1 474w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/Color-Advertisement-for-the-S.S.-Rex-gambling-ship.jpg?resize=244%2C300&ssl=1 244w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 474px) 100vw, 474px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>This advertisement for the SS Rex gambling ship off Santa Monica is from the Daily Racing Form in 1939:<\/h3>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"28345\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2015\/05\/10\/advertisement-for-the-gambling-ship-rex-which-was-off-santa-monica-beach-until-the-early-1930s\/advertisement-for-the-ss-rex-gambling-ship-off-santa-monica-from-the-daily-racing-form-1939\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Advertisement-for-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-off-Santa-Monica-from-the-Daily-Racing-Form-1939.jpg?fit=999%2C620&ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"999,620\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}\" data-image-title=\"Advertisement for the SS Rex gambling ship off Santa Monica from the Daily Racing Form 1939\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Advertisement-for-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-off-Santa-Monica-from-the-Daily-Racing-Form-1939.jpg?fit=300%2C186&ssl=1\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Advertisement-for-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-off-Santa-Monica-from-the-Daily-Racing-Form-1939.jpg?fit=640%2C397&ssl=1\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-28345\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Advertisement-for-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-off-Santa-Monica-from-the-Daily-Racing-Form-1939.jpg?resize=640%2C397&ssl=1\" alt=\"Advertisement for the SS Rex gambling ship off Santa Monica from the Daily Racing Form 1939\" width=\"640\" height=\"397\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Advertisement-for-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-off-Santa-Monica-from-the-Daily-Racing-Form-1939.jpg?w=999&ssl=1 999w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Advertisement-for-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-off-Santa-Monica-from-the-Daily-Racing-Form-1939.jpg?resize=300%2C186&ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Advertisement-for-the-SS-Rex-gambling-ship-off-Santa-Monica-from-the-Daily-Racing-Form-1939.jpg?resize=768%2C477&ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>For more information, see the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cruiselinehistory.com\/the-other-ss-rex-a-gambling-ship-off-santa-monica-california-in-the-1930s-and-early-1940s\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong> Cruise The Past blog<\/strong><\/a>.<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The SS Rex\u00a0was a gambling ship that sat off the Santa Monica coast during the late 1930s. At the time, gambling was illegal in California but technically, the Rex was operating within the law because it sat more than three … <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/2019\/07\/21\/police-about-to-be-repelled-by-water-canons-from-the-ss-rex-gambling-boat-of-the-santa-monica-coast-in-1939-2\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">→<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[19,50],"class_list":["post-18531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-beaches","tag-santa-monica"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p5XK3w-4OT","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18531"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28347,"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18531\/revisions\/28347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/martinturnbull.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}