The PBL consisted of 11 far-western states, the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, and the U.S. territories of Hawaii and Alaska. Collaberation between the ACBL and PBL began in 1940 when they standardized their masterpoint systems. It became known as the Western Division in the Forties and as the Western Conference in 1956 when it merged with the ACBL.
The ACBL is moving to a new headquarters, so I've been going through old files in my office. I ran across the below (and gave it to our archivist):
If you click to enlarge the above, you'll see a masterpoint certificate that was produced on a typewritter and signed by hand. Notice the Pacific Bridge League logo on the top left.
This lady moved from Las Angeles to Florida. When she did, the Pacific Bridge League sent her a telegram! That is so, um, well, 1950s I guess:
Were you aware that they used to have blue points? I sure didn't know that, but if you click on the image above, you can see that among this lady's 17 masterpoints, one was red and two of them were blue.
I also saw another masterpoint slip from 1945. The lady had won a tournament and was given a certificate in lieu of a trophy in deference to the war effort.
One of the great things about the new ACBL Headquarters is that it will have an interactive museum. The new office will open in March, but the museum won't open until sometime next summer. The bridge Hall of Fame will also be expanded and improved. Plan to come by our new offices when things get settled. If you come, I'd love to renew old friendships. If I don't know you, I'd love to meet you.
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Did you know? The American Bridge League was formed in 1929. The merger of this group and the United States Bridge Association in 1937 produced the ACBL.
With such dedicated members as yourself, Bridge is set to expand if on-line poker is further hindered.
ReplyDeleteWell, dumb me. I thought bridge was a game played by old folks in retirement communities...I had no idea!
ReplyDeleteWhat interesting artifacts you have presented! I find it great fun to look back at the "good old days."
Those old documents are great. DW has expressed an interest in touring Memphis, so, when we do, we sure will check with you.
ReplyDelete@Crash: If you and DW come to Memphis and don't let me know so I can visit with you, I'll have to hunt you down.
ReplyDeleteRe: Lowe's - that's one nice thing about this store - they provide what you need in your area. Hopefully, we'll never need to salt our driveways here, but it's been so cold lately, I'm not sure it won't happen in the future!
ReplyDeleteMoving is great, isn't it? Only then do you find stuff you never knew you had.
ReplyDeleteWhen did telegrams stop?
They stopped in January or February 2006.
ReplyDeleteMOJO: on further consideration - wasn't there a fellow, about the time of the telegram, that started a "Blue" something or other Bridge point system?
ReplyDeleteJust thinkin'. I'm not sure. I think he was nation wide with the popularity.