Titanic Thompson

Titanic Thompson: America’s Greatest Hustler

Born Alvin Clarence Thomas on an Arkansas hog farm, he left home at 16 and became the most legendary gambler of the 20th century. He earned the name “Titanic” after cleaning out a Joplin pool hall, won a riverboat in a dice game, walked away from five killings, and left the Army rich after gambling with his own men. As a golfer he beat pros like Ben Hogan and ran impossible proposition bets—throwing a lead-filled walnut over a hotel or driving a ball 500 yards on ice.

He played in the poker game that left mob boss Arnold Rothstein deep in debt just before Rothstein’s murder. Damon Runyon modeled Sky Masterson of Guys and Dolls after him. He made millions, lost millions, and died nearly broke in Texas in 1974. From Ozarks farm boy to the biggest tables in America—he always set the odds.

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