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By Susan Edwards
This is an article for anyone who has passed
the Knights of Pythias bingo sign on 1 1th and Q
Streets and wondered. Wondered, as I did, what
went on at Knights of Pythias and Eagles and
Labor Temple on bingo night and joked about it
with friends.
I heard about old ladies winning $125 on a 50
cent card and joked because I was unexplainably
afraid.
I listened to "big winnings" bingo stories from
a library custodian friend and finally made two
ventures to Eagles and Knights of Pythias (K of
P).
You arrive early because the bingo regulars,
(the same people at Eagles on Saturday are at K
of P the next Friday), are already filling the
barnlike room with their folding bingo card
holders, cigarettes and coffee cups.
Ink bottles
At K of P, everyone also had a little, slightly
indented plastic bottle of ink-reds, greens, blues.
This remained a mystery until intermission bingo
began with paper cards.
Regulars don't just cross off a called number
with a pencil or pen; they blop a dot of colored
ink over the square.
The people vary by race and age and are
friendly but quick in their answers to me,
surprised to find the uninitiated in their crowd.
These people, the old ladies in housedresses
and plastic jewelry (sold by the caller's wife who
takes up 2 to" 3 places with her boxes of
homemade necklaces), the custodian, the old
men in stiff black suits and ties and the young
Indian couple, speak the same language: Bingo.
Razzle Dazzle, Mutt & Jeff, little diamond
and bow tie-everyone anticipates the caller's
moves and speaks the jargon. I would have sat
with mouth open, unable to play if my neighbors
hadn't patiently explained each game and kept
an eye on me, making sure I didn't win
inadvertently.
Sifting
At Eagles, you pick your cards from the piles
heaped on long tables. I asked three people if
there were secrets to picking "good" cards. They
said no and carefully went on sifting, scrutinizing
each card before making a decision.
It cost $3.75 at Eagles for 6 cards; the men at
tv
my table thought it brave to try so many the first
time. People won $100 for blackout, $14 for
straight bingos. I won nothing.
It was exciting and it seemed so possible to
win, but like the 185 other nonwinners out of
the crowd of 200, I spend $4, after buying a
coke, just to sit in an incredibly smoky room.
After an hour, you have your numbers
practically memorized.
The only difference at K of P, a social and
service organization according to the Pythian
Sisters selling rolls and coffee, was a jazzier
calling machine.
50 per cent return
The little balls pop like com in a clear case
and, one at a time, shoot up a little column.
The nonprofit organizations licensed to play
bingo must return 50 per cent of the take in
winnings, the caller's wife said. Big crowds
appear for running jackpots-razzle dazzle
blackouts worth up to $100.
Feeling cautious and burned from Eagles,
where I had anticipated easy money, I bought
only three cards and two paper intermission
cards at K of P. They cost $3.2$.
The same old lady wearing a plastic corsage
at the neighboring table won three times, stuffing
the cash under her cards. We all hated her. "
By the time the caller began the razzle dazzle
sequence straight bingo, little diamond, double
and blackout without clearing your cards-I was
bored. Bingo was wearing thin.
Relaxed, open
It was not the strange, dark rite or roomfull
of crackpots I had fantasized-people were open
and relaxed. But the initial thrill of gambling and
hoping that I'd win wore off into disbelief.
So-1 almost didn't notice the razzle dazzle
straight bingo which had neatly, efficiently
appeared on my card. I was struck dumb and
another player called 30 seconds before I got out
my meek, squeeky "Bingo." We split the $16
pot.
My table partners congratulated me and said,
"See how easy it is to win?" So, I figure it cost
me $7.25 for two days of bingo and I won $8.
Who could ask for more? I think I'm ready for
the V.F.W.
ma mmmm ' a a 1 am
us t sweeps stuoent elections
Continued from p. 5 .
School of Journalism: Linda Lee Olson (USE)
308. Jim Williams 198. k j ,
Home Ec. Constitutional Amendment
Approve 9 1 , Disapprove 9 .
Home Ec, Advisory Board Human Dev. & The
Family: Linda Meisinger (USE) 20. Textiles,
Clothing, and Design: Cheryl DeCosta (USE)
16, Holly Kiilham 13, Mary Wagner (USE)
14. Education and Family Resources: Pam
Simonsen 27, Julie Moravec (USE) 37. Beth
Truster IX. Food & Nutrition: Auce
Cadwallader 12. Mary L. Anderson 9.
Agriculture College Advisory Board Ag
Economics: Mark Buell 23. Ag. Education & Ag.
Journalism: Kay Christensen (USE) 7. Ag..
Honors, General Ag., & Undeclared: Lowell E.
Graves 22, Steve Carve y 20. Animal Science &
Pre Vet: Ron Ross 25, John Holstein 17, Dave
Lamb 13. Bio Chem, Ent., Hort & Plant
Pathology: None. Crop Science, General
Agronomy Soil Science: Paul Hejny 14. Dairy,
Food Technology & Poultry Science: Jim Geiger
1. Mechanized Ag.: Wes Anderson 4.
Union spring break schedule
Nebraska Union Hours-Spring
Break
Friday, March 21-Regular
hours except: Building: 7
a.m.-9 p.m., North Crib: 7
a.m.-3 p.m., Games: 8:30
a.m.-4 p.m., North Desk: 8:30
a.m.-4:30 p.m., South Desk: 7
a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 22 and
Sunday, March 23-Nebraska
Union closed except: Campus
Bank: 8:30a.m.-12 pjri.
Monday, March 24 through
Wednesday, March
26-Buildirg: 7:45 a.m.-5 pjn.,
Harvest Room Cafeteria: 9
a.m.-l p.m., South Crib and
Vending: 7:45 a.m.-5 p.m.,
North and South Desks:
closed, North Crib and Games:
closed, Colonial Dining Room:
closed, Bookstore and
Barbershop: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Campus Bank: 8:30 a.m.-6
p.m.
Thursday, March 27 and
Friday, March 28-Nebraska
Union closed except Campus
Bank: 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Saturday, March 29 and
Sunday, March 30-Nebraska
Union closed.
Saturday, March
29-Campus Bank: 8:30
a.m.-l 2 p.m.
Monday, March 31 -All
departments: Regular hours.
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friday, march 21, 1975
daily nebraskan
You survived
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SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE
starring LIV ULLMANN ms
