Early San Diego Bridge

by Bob Rosenblum
February 2016

Harold Vanderbilt’s creation of bonuses and penalties started the game as we know it. In one of the more recent variations prior to his 1925 Panama Canal cruise, bonuses for game were awarded even though game was not bid! In other words, if a pair won the contract at two hearts and scored ten tricks it would be rewarded for a game. There were many variations through the earlier years, whist, bridge.

When Vanderbilt’s devotees returned home they spread the word. What was thought to be a short lived deviation attracted the world. Through the efforts of Ely Culbertson, aided by his wife Josephine, bridge in the early thirties became front page news. A bridge related murder did not hurt publicity.

I have a copy of an El Prado Bridge Club (2527 Fourth Avenue, phone Franklin 6035) publication showing the new contract scoring “as adopted November 1, 1932 by the Whist Club of New York, the Portland Club of London and the Commission Francaise du Bridge of France.” Special games were offered Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with Open Play every afternoon and evening.

Other local clubs of the thirties included the California Bridge Club, The San Diego Club, Coronado Bridge Club, La Jolla Contract Club, and Santa Fe (?) Bridge Club.

Local Master Point Standings of January 1, 1938 included Charles Aldrich with 6; Bonnie Bates (later Strong) 12; Hazel Brunn, 5; Dr E..H. Crabtree, 4; Benton (Bus) Dayton, 12; Gordon Prentice, 5; H. C. Reuther, 4; Lt. & Mrs. H. C. Rust, 5 and 4; George Troutt, 8; Mrs. Pauline West, 6.

The Western Division of the American Contract Bridge League listed ten (!!!!) Life Masters as of May 15, 1949.

George Troutt was for a time San Diego’s most well known director.

Early strong players were Bonnie Bates, Hazel Brunn, Jean Cook, Bus Dayton, then Marvin French and Bill Chapman. The local celebrities included Lois Smith, wife of C. Arnholt Smith, local nabob and bank owner who served time in his age, Mrs. Renwick Thompson, also of wealth. When I arrived on the scene there were two clubs in the city, five blocks apart. the Barcelona Bridge Club in the Hotel Barcelona at Fourth and Juniper, and the San Diego Bridge Studio in a private house at Front and Ivy.

The Bridge Studio was run by Hazel Brunn, after whom the San Diego unit’s prized “most masterpoints in a year trophy” is named. Ms. Brunn made one move before she passed on—to Sixth and Palm. The site, an Irving Gill house still stands stately, 2600 Sixth Avenue.

The Barcelona Bridge Club had a more adventurous life. Turned over to Gregg Anderson by Bill and Gladys Hines, who are represented by the Hines Trophy for best Junior achievement over the course of a year, it was returned to them in the mid-late fifties. From them it descended to Ralph Wooley and Jean Gannot da Costa Cook. Jean brought in Gladys Knox from North County who had run a game in Clairemont. Gladys moved the club several times, first to Fifth Avenue in Hillcrest down the street from the Brass Rail and across the street from the Mayfair Market (now Rite-Aid). Then she returned to the Barcelona Hotel and soon to Sixth between University and Robinson where the telephone company now stands. Her last move was to the Piano Exchange at the southwest corner of I-5 and I-8.

Gladys then sold the club to Bob Rice, an unfortunate choice for he was more interested in playing, particularly rubber bridge, than running a club. Gladys remained as director. As the club shrank Bob moved it to small quarters off Morena Boulevard. Soon a rival appeared, a plush club with very limited parking owned by Diane Mraz LaFleur, aided by Jim Kostal, located on Morena Boulevard less than a mile away. Their obvious intent was to close him down.

That is when Mary Ann late in 1980 suddenly stated, “I want to open a bridge club,” I was shocked. But I went along. We decided the Grantville location would serve areas that had been ignored.

As they say, the rest is history.