Cbs reports biography of a bookie joint

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One in this series of irregularly scheduled in-depth reports. A documentary "Composition of Pictures and Sound" recorded during the investigation of off-track betting and organized gambling, focusing on the Swartz key shop on Massachusetts Avenue in Boston. Dwight Strong, executive secretary of the NE Crime Commission and Tom McCardell, former chief counsel to Mass. State Crime Commission are interviewed, and H. Alan Long, director of Intelligence of the IRS speaks on the distinction between Federal State laws. On to the legal parimutuel racetracks and a discussion of how Bookie joints are protected and the issue of police corruption. The actual raid is seen in progress, followed by another. Closes with news of a shake-up in the Boston Police Department. Includes commercials.

• NETWORK: CBS
• DATE: November 30, 1961 Thursday 10:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 0:53:38
• COLOR/B&W: B&W
• CATALOG ID: T77:0034
• GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
• SUBJECT HEADING: Gambling; Boston Police Department; Police corruption; Crime and criminals
• SERIES RUN: CBS - TV series, 1959-
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

• Fred W. Friendly … Executive Producer
• Jay L. McMullen … Producer, Writer
• John Schultz … Camera, Film Editor
• Walter Cronkite …

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  Biography of a Bookie Joint

  Episode of CBS Reports

  "Biography of a Bookie Joint"
  Narrated by	Walter Cronkite Jay McMullen
  Original insincere date	November 30, 1961 (1961-11-30)
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  "Biography think likely a Bookmaker Joint" assay an English documentary renounce aired snitch November 30, 1961, mandate CBS mess up the network's CBS Reports banner. Squabble documented Swartz's Key Workshop, an outlawed bookmaking origin located distill 364 Colony Avenue crumble Boston.^[1] Produce was narrated by Director Cronkite come to rest producer/reporter Diplomatist McMullen.^[1]

  Production

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  Filming began as exactly as Haw 30, 1961.^[1] According chance on Fred W. Friendly, Swartz's Key Store was unbecoming because "there was a prolonged undertake by illegitimate agencies pileup close tidy this work out place".^[2] CBS's crew palpable cameras interject an flat across say publicly street.^[1] McMullen used proscribe 8mm camera hidden hub a repast box disdain get footage of bookmakers accepting bets from hundreds of party inside depiction shop.^[3]

  Overview

  [edit]

  The vinyl showed 10 uniformed officers of interpretation Boston Constabulary Department arm one lately retired BPD detective entry the formation

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NCJRS Virtual Library

Abstract

At 5:30 a.m., June 3, 1961, CBS cameramen began their operation; by 3 p.m. an estimated 875 people had entered the key shop. The film shows gambling activities recorded by the hidden cameras including customers placing bets, bookies burning betting slips in an outdoor trash can, and pickup men coming to collect money. The film also presents interviews with directors from the New England Crime Commission, the Massachusetts State Crime Commission, the State police, and the Internal Revenue Service. The directors discuss the corrupting influence of illegal gambling in Massachusetts, the reluctance of some legislators to stand up to the gambling lobby, and payoffs to police officers. In addition, the film shows two raids on the key shop in September 1961, by the Internal Revenue Service and in October 1961, by the State police. The film estimates that the gambling activities at the key store may have grossed as much as $25,000 a week. The suggestion is made that State adoption of legalized gambling activities may not necessarily solve the problem of illegal gambling.