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Texas History: Balinese Room star attraction of wide-open island
Backed by a new crime-fighting attorney general, who campaigned on a pledge to clean up Galveston, the Texas Rangers finally got their wish and padlocked the Balinese Room on May 30, 1957.
The combination nightclub-casino had been the crown jewel of two Sicilian brothers’ Island empire for three decades. The rich and famous came to the Balinese Room for the high-stakes gambling and live entertainment that featured big-name performers.
Legitimate barbers by trade, Sam and Rosario (Rose) Mac...