Why is it called Gambler Hat?

[Yohanes]

Was it indeed typically worn by gamblers in 19th century? Any detailed information about this type of hat? I also rarely see (if ever) any member here shows his gambler hat?

 

[duggap]

I have a Panama Cuenca that I have just about ruined from summer wear that is called a Gambler. I don't wear it anymore.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Here's my Stetson 3X western that I put a pencil curl in so now I refer to it as a 'Gambler':

I don't know where this name came from for this style. Was it something to do with James Garner's character?...

 

[carter]

Could it have been inspired by the character played by Kenny Rogers?

Or his 1978 recording of the song that led to the made-for-TV movies?

The Gambler

On a warm summers evenin on a train bound for nowhere,
I met up with the gambler; we were both too tired to sleep.
So we took turns a starin out the window at the darkness
til boredom overtook us, and he began to speak.

He said, son, Ive made a life out of readin peoples faces,
And knowin what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
So if you dont mind my sayin, I can see youre out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey Ill give you some advice.

So I handed him my bottle and he drank down my last swallow.
Then he bummed a cigarette and asked me for a light.
And the night got deathly quiet, and his face lost all expression.
Said, if youre gonna play the game, boy, ya gotta learn to play it right.

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when youre sittin at the table.
Therell be time enough for countin when the dealins done.

Now evry gambler knows that the secret to survivin
Is knowin what to throw away and knowing what to keep.
cause evry hands a winner and evry hands a loser,
And the best that you can hope for is to die in your sleep.

So when hed finished speakin, he turned back towards the window,
Crushed out his cigarette and faded off to sleep.
And somewhere in the darkness the gambler, he broke even.
But in his final words I found an ace that I could keep.

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when youre sittin at the table.
Therell be time enough for countin when the dealins done.

You got to know when to hold em, know when to fold em,
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count you r money when youre sittin at the table.
Therell be time enough for countin when the dealins done.

 

[Colby Jack]

Could it be...you sent away for that style...and you took a "gamble" on whether or not you'd like it?![huh] lol

 

[dhermann1]

Remember that great show from the 50's with Jock Mahoney, "Yancy Derringer"? He played a river boat gambler in New Orleans, I believe in the pre Civil War period. Great show. Anyway, he sported a hat like that. I think it could also be described as a planter's hat. This would be what the owner or the overseer of a southern plantation would wear as he rode around his property, overseeing the operations. I think even George Washington might have been seen in a hat similar to this in the last few years of his life, back at Mt Vernon. They're meant to give plenty of protection from the hot sun. I would imagine that the riverboat gamblers wore them to convey the image of being a wealthy propertied person, which of course they probably weren't.

 

[Doctor Strange]

I spent a while before looking for examples and couldn't find any, but every 1800s riverboat gambler in every Hollywood movie depicting that era sports that sort of wide-brimmed, low flat-crowned hat. And gamblers in many westerns (especially when identified as dandies who have traveled from the south) do too. Sometimes it's white, sometimes it's black, sometimes it's felt, sometimes it's straw - but it always looks like a mutated top hat whose brim got bigger and crown got lower...

Whether there are real historical precedents is another story, but in our collective imagination, this is definitely the hat that most old-time professional gamblers wore at those high-stikes, pull-a-derringer-when-accused-of-cheating, poker games!

 

[Pat_H]

I thought the "Gambler" type of hat was that type, at least as the terms occasionally shows up now, that Ronnie Van Zant used to sport.

 

[carter]

Remember that great show from the 50's with Jock Mahoney, "Yancy Derringer"? He played a river boat gambler in New Orleans, I believe in the pre Civil War period. Great show. Anyway, he sported a hat like that. I think it could also be described as a planter's hat. This would be what the owner or the overseer of a southern plantation would wear as he rode around his property, overseeing the operations. I think even George Washington might have been seen in a hat similar to this in the last few years of his life, back at Mt Vernon. They're meant to give plenty of protection from the hot sun. I would imagine that the riverboat gamblers wore them to convey the image of being a wealthy propertied person, which of course they probably weren't.

I remember that show. Frock coat, cheroot and a hat as you describe.

CJ, Nope. Never took a gamble on a hat like that one.

 

[Yohanes]

Thanks for the info guys. So indeed gamblers used to wear such hat, I thought city gamblers in the wild west only wear derbys.

Nice gambler, Gene!

 

[Sunny]

Nope - it's gamblers in Hollywood that wore such hats. It's now associated with gamblers and plantation owners; but actually it was only one of many different types of 19th-century hats. I've found little evidence that it was the only hat worn by either occupation. It's a great looking hat, though.

 

[Dinerman]

 

[carter]

Dman, That's a real beauty! Can you post a close=up of the ribbon at the back of the sweatband? That's a bit different.

 

[Dinerman]

I'm afraid I can't- the hat's back in Maryland and is owned by a friend. I found the hat, cleaned it, and lowered the porkpie crease 1/2" for him.
And just to avoid confusion; It's not actually a stetson, it's a '40s custom job that a stetson liner was put into at some point.

 

[Yohanes]

Waow, that hat's gonna make the wearer one hell of a gambler-look! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap