It has been reported that Park Royal Shopping Mall has declared chess playing in its food court verboten. A group of players has been gathering there for years--at least one of them for half a century--to challenge one another in this cerebrally demanding game. But no more, say the Park Royal people. Set up those boards again, and we'll call the cops. We need that space so more people can consume chicken wings and pizza slices.
On hearing this, we were reminded of an incident in Edmonton in 1979. Here is the story, as written by Jenny Jackson in the Edmonton Journal:
"Allan Ogonoski, owner of the Noorr Hour restaurant at 11015 Jasper Ave., is wiser but $75 poorer after he pleaded guilty on behalf of his restaurant to running a common gaming house.
"It all started when Mr. Ogonoski, a chess enthusiast, thought it would be nice to have a place to play chess, backgammon or cards over a sandwich at noon.
"His small, six-table restaurant had been open six weeks when vice police swooped in on astonished customers.
"It's illegal to rent out a game of chance. So Mr. and Mrs. Ogonoski were breaking the law renting out backgammon boards.
"S.Sgt. Frank Ashworth of the city police morality squad said it's the first time the charge has been laid for backgammon in Edmonton, although similar charges have been laid in eastern Canada.
"Mrs. Ogonoski said the police raid was a complete surprise. 'It's the kind of thing you see on TV. You don't expect it to happen to yourself and when it does, boy...'"
Edmonton has been made safe. Park Royal chess players, take note.
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