The Gift of Chess

Notice to commercial publishers seeking use of images from this collection of chess-related archive blogs. For use of the many large color restorations, two conditions must be met: 1) It is YOUR responsibility to obtain written permissions for use from the current holders of rights over the original b/w photo. Then, 2) make a tax-deductible donation to The Gift of Chess in honor of Robert J. Fischer-Newspaper Archives. A donation in the amount of $250 USD or greater is requested for images above 2000 pixels and other special request items. For small images, such as for fair use on personal blogs, all credits must remain intact and a donation is still requested but negotiable. Please direct any photographs for restoration and special request (for best results, scanned and submitted at their highest possible resolution), including any additional questions to S. Mooney, at bobbynewspaperblogs•gmail. As highlighted in the ABC News feature, chess has numerous benefits for individuals, including enhancing critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improving concentration and memory, and promoting social interaction and community building. Initiatives like The Gift of Chess have the potential to bring these benefits to a wider audience, particularly in areas where access to educational and recreational resources is limited.

Best of Chess Fischer Newspaper Archives
• Robert J. Fischer, 1955 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1956 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1957 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1958 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1959 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1960 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1961 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1962 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1963 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1964 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1965 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1966 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1967 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1968 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1969 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1970 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1971 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1972 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1973 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1974 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1975 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1976 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1977 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1978 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1979 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1980 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1981 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1982 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1983 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1984 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1985 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1986 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1987 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1988 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1989 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1990 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1991 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1992 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1993 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1994 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1995 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1996 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1997 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1998 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 1999 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2000 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2001 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2002 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2003 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2004 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2005 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2006 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2007 ➦
• Robert J. Fischer, 2008 ➦
Chess Columns Additional Archives/Social Media

Alexander Bisno, 1960

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October 07 1960

1960, Alexander Bisno Jailed, Fraud

Progress-Bulletin, Pomona, California, Friday, October 07, 1960

Chess Expert Jailed in Fraud
LOS ANGELES (UPI) Alexander Bisno, 62, a chess expert and an investment counselor, was sentenced Thursday to one year in jail for concealing $170,000 in assets after declaring himself bankrupt.
Bisno, convicted by a Jury of the federal charge Sept 7, also was fined $2,000.


Alexander Bisno, 1951

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September 15 1951

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Saturday, September 15, 1951

1951, Dr. Aureliano Sanchez Arango, Cuban Minister of Education, seated between wife Estrella and daughter Delia, plays chess with Alexander Bisno. Watching: Times Chess Editor Herman Steiner, second from right, and Alberto Garcia.

PRACTICE GAME—Dr. Aureliano Sanchez Arango, Cuban Minister of Education, seated between wife Estrella and daughter Delia, plays chess with Alexander Bisno. Watching: Times Chess Editor Herman Steiner, second from right, and Alberto Garcia. Times photo

Cuban Minister and Team Here for Chess Match
Cuba's Minister of Education and probable next President was a visitor here yesterday. He came to play a game of chess.
He is Dr. Aureliano Sanchez Arango and he brought his wife Estrella, their daughter Delia, 13, eight of Cuba's leading chess players and the crew of the Cuban government plane that flew them here. Dr. Sanchez Arango himself is a command pilot.
There were 20 aboard the Lockheed Lodestar which landed in midafternoon at Los Angeles International Airport. Among the passengers were wives of several players.

Club vs. Club
The visit was for eight members of the Capablanca Chess Club of Havana to play a group of eight members of the Hollywood Chess Group, headed by Times Chess Editor Herman Steiner.
The two teams will start play at 2 p.m. today in the home of Alexander Bisno, Manhattan Chess Club president, at 1216 Peck Drive. About 40 lovers of the game have been invited to kibitz the contests.
Dr. Sanchez Arango and Bisno will play at a ninth board, resuming an old chess feud.

Progressive Member
Dr. Sanchez Arango is a member of the island republic's Progressive Party which supplanted the Machado regime and is regarded as the party's leading candidate for the contests which will culminate in the final Presidential elections next June 1.
The eight members of the visiting team are Dr. Juan Gonzalez, Rogelio Ortega, Eldis Cobo, Eleazar Jimenez, Alberto Lopez, Andres Navarrete, Otto Estenger and Carlos Rivera.
The Americans headed by Steiner are Isaac Kashdan, James B. Cross, Harry Borochow, Irving Rivise, Eugene Levin, William H. Steckel and Hyman Gordon.


September 16 1951

1951, Cubans Lose to Hollywood Chess Group

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, September 16, 1951

Cubans Lose to Hollywood Chess Group
Eight members of the Hollywood Chess Group, headed by Times Chess Editor Herman Steiner, yesterday defeated 8 to 1 a like number of members of the Capablanca Chess Club of Havana in a game played at the home of Alexander Bisno, 1216 S. Peck Drive.
Results of the match:
Alexander Bisno defeated Dr. Aureliano Sanchez Arango. Herman Steiner drew with Dr. Juan Gonzalez. Isaac Kashdan defeated Rogelio Ortega. James B. Cross defeated Eldis Cobo. Harry Borochow defeated Eleazar Jimenez. Irving Rivise defeated Alberto Lopez. Eugene Levin defeated Otto Estenger. William H. Steckel drew with Carlos Rivera. Hyman Gordon defeated J. R. Florido.


Alexander Bisno, Images

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Alexander Bisno, Chess Champion

Alexander Bisno, 1950

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February 05 1950

1950, Samuel Reshevsky Chess Exhibition in Home of Alexander Bisno.

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Sunday, February 05, 1950

RESHEVSKY SIMULTANEOUS
On Jan. 28 Samuel Reshevsky gave a simultaneous exhibition at the home of Gottfried Reinhardt, where he played against 37. He won 33, drew three (against Mrs. Matilda Harmat, Hunter Weaks and Leonard Standers) and lost one to D. Amneus. The following evening he played against six players at the home of Alexander Bisno with clocks (40 moves in two hours). Here he won three, lost one to Sven Almgren, drew with Jim Cross, and one game, against Robert Smith, which was adjourned to be adjudicated, looked like a draw.


Alexander Bisno, 1987

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July 15 1987

1987, Alexander Bisno, Chess Champion, Obituary

The Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, California, Wednesday, July 15, 1987

BISNO, Alexander survived by sons, Paul and Leslie; his wife, Hannah Schneidman; sister, Beatrice Oppenheimer.
Services Wednesday, 4 pm at Mount Sinai Memorial Park Chapel. Groman Mortuary directors.


Alexander Bisno, 1955

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December 09 1955

1955, Alexander Bisno, Moulin Rouge Hotel Law Suit

Reno Gazette-Journal, Reno, Nevada, Friday, December 09, 1955

Action on File In Hotel Case
LOS ANGELES. (AP)—A suit is on file in superior court to recover $30,000 advanced for participating interests in the Moulin Rouge hotel at Las Vegas, Nev.
Henry Mezori filed the action in behalf of himself, Sol Rose and Mrs. Emeline Dawson. Mezori said he and Mrs. Dawson invested $12,000 each and Rose $6000 last February.
His complaint said Alexander Bisno, Henry Bisno and Henry Kawin, the defendants, did not have permits to sell the shares. Such permits are issued by the California corporation commissioner.
The three million dollar Moulin Rouge was reported padlocked last October in a statement made by Alexander Bisno, majority stockholder, who gave financial difficulties as the cause.


Alexander Bisno, 1946

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June 23 1946

The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, Sunday, June 23, 1946

1946, Alexander Bisno, Chess Champion, in a Siling Pose

Alexander Bisno in a Smiling Pose…He discovered Kansas City Apartment Hotels in 1941 and Promptly Pounced.

Alexander Bisno 'Discovered' Kansas City Hotels in 1941
Dealing for Equities in Apartment Properties Valued at 6 Million Dollars, the Chicago Broker Became a Symbol for the 1946 Landlord.

Meet Alexander Bisno of the broad shoulders and equally broad smile, who imported a Chicago technique to the Kansas City rental field. Mr. Bisno's shoulders carry quite a load. His deals have brought his clients, with Bisno himself participating, into control of Kansas City property valued at 6 million dollars.
The Bisno smile here shown is a bit of a camera smirk, because the smart man from Chicago doesn't smile unduly. He doesn't look normally as if he had just had a soul-satisfying breakfast of tenant woes. Bisno is not obsequious, but a factual talking man, unevasive, and one's opinion of his intelligence improves on interview.

Could Smell Inflation.
Bisno is said to have been no great shucks in the Chicago real estate field up to four or five years ago, but something clicked then. He began to trade around in apartment equities and he developed or assembled a clientele that could smell inflation and plan for it with zest if not outright enthusiasm.
In the process of taking over 6 million dollars in rental property, Bisno has had two outright clashes with Kansas City tenants, and in neither case could the tenants claim even a moral victory.
Bisno four years ago shook the dowagers and social elect out of Brookside, a family hotel of sedate character. He was aided by an army need for cadet housing, but the program of bisecting suites was carried out after the military left.
The Brookside colony was scattered among the Woodlea hotel and similar refuges of decorum and there was no great public anguish, the ousted characters being so definitely upper bracket.

Tenants Blunt in Past.
Nor will the rent skyrocket of the Railway Exchange tenancy go down in the literature of anguish. The Burlington railroad is no Little Nell. In fact it is recalled that on least expiration dates the tenants in the Railway Exchange building have talked plenty blunt in years past, conditions being what they were at Seventh and Walnut.
It would take more than memories of the Brookside and the shifting of the Burlington freight offices to make Mr. Bisno the rental wolf from Chicago.
Bisno is not a popular name in these parts. One would think that Mr. Bisno owns, controls or was the instigating broker in every instance where apartment equities were acquired at speculative figures, on small down payments, all this in calculating anticipation the country would lose in the inevitable post-war battle with inflation.
Actually, there were a lot of thin-equity buyers not on Mr. Bisno's lists. And landlords he does not know, and perhaps wouldn't like skimp their thinly margined hotels to get by to the happy day of the squeeze-to-come.
But in Kansas City Bisno roared in so dramatically with the old Brookside that his “discovery” of Kansas City is held to be the mark between two apartment epochs, that decade when the old owners were giving up their apartment hotels to the mortgage investors, and a new decade when a fresh crop of operators came to exploit 100 percent occupancy.
Bisno is 49 years old. His first deal here was for the Georgian Court apartments in 1941. The Brookside came a few months later. Bisno looked over Kansas City, decided he would have no competition from local buyers if he came in with Chicago money to bid on apartment hotels.
Now, whatever happens in rent ceilings, Bisno says he made no mistake…Since the war's ending, Kansas City as he appraises it, “has shown more industrial brawn and muscle than any comparable city”…That's a nice thing to say—and Mr. Bisno is his own best public relations man in various encounters.
“I don't particularly care for Bisno,” said a Kansas City broker yesterday. “I think we would be better off if he stayed in Chicago, considering his methods and his objectives, but the fellow, definitely, has a million-dollar personality.”


Alexander Bisno, 1948

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August 04 1948

1948, Alexander Bisno, Chess Champion, Real Estate Agent

The Belleville News-Democrat, Belleville, Illinois, Wednesday, August 04, 1948

Bisno to Be New Owner
Los Angeles Man Completes Opening Negotiations With Belleville Group

Preliminary agreements have been entered into between a committee of stock holders of the Belleville House, Inc., and Alexander Bisno of Los Angeles for the sale of Hotel Belleville, the News-Democrat learned today.
Belleville House Inc., is the owner of the building and the Belleville Hotel Company, headed by S. J. Fowler, is the operating company. The lease of Fowler's firm expires next March 1 and Bisno and the operating company now are carrying on negotiations for transfer of the unexpired lease to Bisno.
Under the agreement between Bisno and the committee of stockholders, both sides have 45 days in which to complete the transaction. During that period the committee must deliver the approval of the transaction by at least two-thirds of the stockholders.
If the committee fails to deliver the necessary approval during that period Bisno has the right to withdraw from the agreement.
The purchase price and the financing terms were not announced. The 120-room six-story Hotel Belleville was completed in 1931. Fowler has been manager for the last 15 years.
Alexander Bisno and his two brothers now operate hotels in 38 cities in the United States, including the Broadview Hotel in East St. Louis. The new owner plans to spend a considerable amount of money in redecorating the hotel in event the transaction is executed.


Alexander Bisno, 1927

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July 31, 1927

1927, Alexander Bisno, Chess Champion, Real Estate Agent

Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois, Sunday, July 31, 1927

Prairie Avenue Six Flat Building Changes Hands
Winifred Salzman has sold the six flats at 5938-40 Prairie to William B. and Millie Chappell for a reported $47,500, through Alexander Bisno & Co.


Alexander Bisno, 1947

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August 17 1947

1947, Alexander Bisno, Chess Champion, Real Estate Agent

The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee, Sunday, August 17, 1947

Sale Is Completed Of Parkview Hotel
Alexander Bisno President of Operating Firm

Sale of the Parkview Hotel to a syndicate headed by Bisno & Bisno of Los Angeles was completed yesterday at a price of more than $750,000 for the stock in the Parkview Realty Co.
The stock was transferred to the Bisnos by Francis G. Hickman and his sister Miss Jane Hickman, the principal owners.
James M. Campbell, Realtor, handled the deal.
Officers also were elected by the new owners, Alexander Bisno of Los Angeles becoming president of the Parkview Realty Co. Hubert A. McBride, Memphis attorney was elected vice president and Benjamin Goodman Jr., Memphis attorney, secretary-treasurer.
Norman Woodmansee remains as manager of the hotel.


Alexander Bisno, 1952

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December 05 1952

1952, Alexander Bisno, Chess Expert in Fraud Lawsuit

Los Angeles Evening Citizen News, Hollywood, California, Friday, December 05, 1952

Suit Demands Snader TV Sales
Loose handling of Corporation funds was charged to Alexander Bisno today by Reuben R. Kaufman in a new Superior Court suit revolving around Snader Telescriptions Sales Inc.
A lengthy involved suit accused Bisno of conspiring with Samuel Markovitch, a member of the corporation Board of Directors, to destroy the business.
Bisno treasurer of the corporation, is charged with spending $750,000 without a full accounting, spending $25,000 of working capital without authorization, withdrawing $6,500 of corporation funds for himself, and keeping corporation money in his personal account.
This all occurred, the suit alleges, while Kaufman, one-fourth owner of the corporation, was president at a salary of $25,000 a year.
Kaufman goes on to say that the corporation which owns distribution rights to 800 short, musical television films, a series of half-hour Dick Tracy TV movies, and all Korda Pictures, has received approximately $2,100,000 in income up to May of this year while spending $1,800,000. Where is the other $300,000 the suit asks.
Kaufman didn't miss a bet in naming defendants, listing them as follows:
Snader Telescriptions Sales Inc., Alexander Bisno, Samuel Markovitch, BSM Telescriptions, Louis D. Snader, Snader Distributing Co., Ben Frye, United Television Programs Inc., Studio Films Inc., Bisno Telefilm Sales, Henry Bisno, Nathan Dicker, and Sidney Dorfman.
What Kaufman seeks through the suit is an injunction against further distribution of the corporation's films an accounting of “secret profits,” removal of Alexander Bisno and Markovitch as directors, a receiver to take over the firm's affairs, and damages in an undetermined amount.


Alexander Bisno, 1954

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June 27 1954

1954, Alexander Bisno, American vs Russian Chess Team in New York.

The Kansas City Star, Kansas City, Missouri, Sunday, June 27, 1954

CHESS, with its maneuvering, its keeping several moves ahead of the opponent and its careful deliberation, would seem to be an ideal recreation for the real estate broker.
To those who recall Alexander Bisno whose activity here a decade ago included transactions involving the Brookside hotel and the Railway Exchange building, it comes as no surprise that he is a chess enthusiast, indeed an expert.
Last week stories from New York detailed an American effort (unsuccessful) to win at chess from a Russian team. At one point, a 2-faced clock caused considerable consternation with the outcome at least a moral victory for the United States player, who acquired a draw from the top Soviet contestant. Pleased at this draw decision the Associated Press reports the American player Samuel Reshevsky, “walked over to his team captain Alexander Bisno and suggested a kiss might he in order. Bisno complied, in the center of Reshevsky' s pate.”
Yes, the same Alexander Bisno, now a realtor with offices in Los Angeles. An acquaintance here, Normal Yarmo of the Yarco Realty company, says Bisno still has some Kansas City investments, the Brookside now not among them. Yarmo recalls Bisno as a “very good chess player.” As captain of the American team in New York he is a nonplaying expert.


Robert Paul Smith, 2011

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January 26 1915

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, November 23, 2011

2011, Robert P. Smith Memorial Chess Tournament

Your Move
Alexander Sax, center, plays Dan Kirk, right, during the 15th Robert P. Smith Memorial Chess Tournament during the Pittsburgh Chess Club's weekly Tuesday night tournament competition at the Wightman Community Center in Squirrel Hill.


Recommended Books

Understanding Chess by William Lombardy Chess Duels, My Games with the World Champions, by Yasser Seirawan No Regrets: Fischer-Spassky 1992, by Yasser Seirawan Chess Fundamentals, by Jose Capablanca Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess, by Bobby Fischer My 60 Memorable Games, by Bobby Fischer Bobby Fischer Games of Chess, by Bobby Fischer The Modern Chess Self Tutor, by David Bronstein Russians versus Fischer, by Mikhail Tal, Plisetsky, Taimanov, et al

'til the world understands why Robert J. Fischer criticised the U.S./British and Russian military industry imperial alliance and their own Israeli Apartheid. Sarah Wilkinson explains:

Bobby Fischer, First Amendment, Freedom of Speech
What a sad story Fischer was,” typed a racist, pro-imperialist colonial troll who supports mega-corporation entities over human rights, police state policies & white supremacy.
To which I replied: “Really? I think he [Bob Fischer] stood up to the broken system of corruption and raised awareness! Whether on the Palestinian/Israel-British-U.S. Imperial Apartheid scam, the Bush wars of ‘7 countries in 5 years,’ illegally, unconstitutionally which constituted mass xenocide or his run in with police brutality in Pasadena, California-- right here in the U.S., police run rampant over the Constitution of the U.S., on oath they swore to uphold, but when Americans don't know the law, and the cops either don't know or worse, “don't care” -- then I think that's pretty darn “sad”. I think Mr. Fischer held out and fought the good fight, steadfast til the day he died, and may he Rest In Peace.
Educate yourself about U.S./State Laws --
https://www.youtube.com/@AuditTheAudit/videos
After which the troll posted a string of profanities, confirming there was never any genuine sentiment of “compassion” for Mr. Fischer, rather an intent to inflict further defamatory remarks.

This ongoing work is a tribute to the life and accomplishments of Robert “Bobby” Fischer who passionately loved and studied chess history. May his life continue to inspire many other future generations of chess enthusiasts and kibitzers, alike.

Robert J. Fischer, Kid Chess Wizard 1956March 9, 1943 - January 17, 2008

The photograph of Bobby Fischer (above) from the March 02, 1956 The Tampa Times was discovered by Sharon Mooney (Bobby Fischer Newspaper Archive editor) on February 01, 2018 while gathering research materials for this ongoing newspaper archive project. Along with lost games now being translated into Algebraic notation and extractions from over two centuries of newspapers, it is but one of the many lost treasures to be found in the pages of old newspapers since our social media presence was first established November 11, 2017.

Special Thanks