TED STRYKER

I’d like to tell you a little story about illegal gambling, dark glasses and a fake mustache.

The reason for me being in Vegas when I was 15 years old is irrelevant.  Let’s just say I was SO G DAMN excited for the trip I could hardly contain myself.

Facts and Figures-  At 15 I was a small and young looking dude. Zero facial hair, 5 foot 7, 130 lbs.  I looked 15 and maybe even 14.

I wanted to gamble when in Vegas.  I wanted to play Roulette, I wanted to play blackjack, I wanted to be a part of the Vegas action.  

There was only one way I could scratch the itch I had..I needed a costume that would help me look well over 21 years old.  I told my parents the plan before our trip and I still cannot believe it to this day, they gave me their blessing.  What kind of parents do I have? The pic below is not me.

In the two weeks prior to the trip, I was on a crazy mission.  I rode the public bus (RTD) all over Los Angeles to different costume stores.  I needed a fake mustache.  Just thinking about it now makes me wonder how I thought I could get away with this plan.  I guess at 15 we think we can get away with anything.

So I finally ended up in a costume store in Hollywood on Hollywood Blvd. They had the BEST fake mustaches of any I place I had been to.  I bought that great looking stache as well as a pair of dark glasses (Very similar to Robert Deniro’s glasses in Casino”).  

Now let’s get to the juicy stuff.  The timeline of the infamous night.

8pm        Dinner with parents at Caesars Palace.

955pm    Taxi Cab back to hotel. Stayed at Desert Inn (it’s now the Wynn/Encore)

1030pm  I change from very odd red sweater and jeans into my suit that I had owned since I was 13.  I wore it to my friend Larry’s Bar Mitzvah.

1041pm  I carefully put the mustache on with glue.  I also think my parents are going to step in and put their foot down.  Luckily they didn’t.

1058pm  Put on glasses and stare at myself in the mirror.  I look ridiculous.  How am I gonna pull this off?  Again, that is not me.

11pm      I take a swig of pepto bismol to calm my upset stomach.  I’d also like to point out I’m up way past my bedtime.

1102pm  I make that walk from room into casino.  WTF am i doing?  What am i gonna say if I am asked for ID?  There is a 100% chance I could be taken to the slammer.

1108pm  I find a “Change Lady” and get 20 bucks worth of quarters.

1109pm  I find the machine I want to play and I sit.  

1117pm  Still playing and NOT ONE person has said a word.

1118pm  Scoop up my quarters in a bucket, change em out and make my way to a Roulette table.  I have not seen my parents yet.  What the hell!?

1120pm-12AM  I sat there at the Roulette wheel and I kicked the wheels ass.  My 40 bucks was now over 300.  I also saw my Dad for the first time all night and he’s waving at me to stop and come to him.  I leave my chips and walk over to my Dad.

1201AM  ”Your mustache is falling off” he says.  ”It’s enough, your done” he also said.  At this point I could not and would not argue.  I wore a terrible suit, awful glasses and a fake mustache and won almost 300 bucks….and I was a little 15 year old.

To this day we all laugh about that night.  I have a feeling that in 2011 it would be a lot harder to pull off what i did.  I still love the excitement of Las Vegas.  

Thanks for reading this story.