The History of "Bingo"

Factual Questions
1

I need to write a story on the history of the game BINGO. I’ve searched the web using Yahoo and AltaVista but keep coming up with gaming sites.

Can anyone direct me to a site which discusses the history of the game, why it’s called bingo, rules and variations?

An authentic USS Eisenhower postcard with at sea cancellation goes to anyone who can help. Thanks.

2

Here’s a start:

http://www.strangelife.com/bingodoc/bingohist.html (This seems to be the most complete of the three)

http://www.bingobuddies.com/facts.html

http://www.inventors.about.com/science/inventors/library/inventors/blbingo.htm

3

Howdy, ChiefScott.

This site also credits the Italian national lotteries:

http://www.covent-garden.co.uk/Histories/lottery.html

There seems to be a close connection between the British armed forces and the history of Bingo, although Housey-Housey was played with numbered squares only, no letters across the top.

The number-calling is a sacred ritual, with time-honoured verbal references for most numbers (in fact, an advanced housey-housey “school” wouldn’t call the numbers, just the verbal references!). Some of the verbal “tags” are:

Number One - Kelly’s Eye (from a ?mythical? one-eyed Irishman);

One little swan - two

Duck Up a Tree - Three

One Fat Lady - eight

Doctor’s Orders - Number Nine (after the purgative pill given out by military doctors, seemingly for all complaints)

Downing Street - number 10 (also “Bootneck’s Breakfast”–a reference to the Royal Marines)

Legs Eleven

Unlucky for Some - thirteen

Key of the Door - twenty-one (ref. to coming of age?)

Half a Crown - twenty-six (2 shillings and 6 pence in old pre-decimal UK currency)

Cowboys Friend - forty-five (Colt revolver)

Half Way There - fifty

Heinz Beans - fifty-seven

Clickety-Click (or “All the Sixes”) - sixty-six

Bishop’s Bollocks - eighty-eight

Nearly There - ninety-nine

Top of the Shop - one hundred

I know that it was the only officially approved form of gambling allowed in the British Army and Royal Navy, and generally a cut of the proceeds went to the mess. Of course, there was always some old sweat with an illegal “Crown and Anchor” board, fleecing the newcomers.

4

For Mr. Hill and winky. E-mail me your addresses.

BTW, winkster, what search engine did you use?