Central City chronicler still relishes role

Former big-time New York City ad man Lew Cady recently celebrated 40 years editing Little Kingdom Come, the Central City-based glossy newspaper that doesn’t take itself – or the gambling towns it covers – too seriously.

It’s motto? “Published whenever we damn well feel like it.”

In honor of his four decades editing, and now owning, the paper, Cady’s contributors and cohorts published the “Lewminous Kingdom Come: the first Clandestine, Leaderless, Lewless, Lewminous KC.”

“I thought it was great,” Cady said about the Lewless edition. “Although I found several articles in there that didn’t mention me – they were letdowns.”

Cady, who lives in homes in Central City and Denver, has been in the CC house since the mid-‘60s.

“We bought the house and after she paid for it, I married her,” Cady said about his long-time wife and partner-in-crime, Leslie, who has tolerated her husband’s curmudgeonly ways for countless years.

“What (Little Kingdom Come) is is a collection of funny things people say and do up in the hinterlands,” Cady said. “Some I hear and write down or witness. I don’t write this paper, I just write things down. It’s the people of Central City and Black Hawk that make the Little Kingdom Come so popular.”

Although Cady admits that he’s made some short-time enemies by poking fun of sacred cows especially in the ads he writes, he takes the “journalistic” journey in stride.

“In an ad for Coors, we referred to Miller Low Life,” Cady said. “The Miller distributor’s attorney sent me a letter saying this is unacceptable, cease and desist. The next issue, we ran his letter, re-ran the ad and told them to get a sense of humor and never heard another thing.”

Central City’s new mayor, Ron Engels, who recently took over for Ron Slinger, agreed to acknowledge Cady and his publication…reluctantly.

“While it is both fun and easy to take cheap shots at Lew, once in 40 years is about the right frequency to acknowledge Lew for the time and energy he’s lavished on the LKC,” Engels said. “He’s an excellent writer and editor, with a sharp wit and a keen sense of what’s truly worth reporting in Central City and Gilpin County. Besides, he’s much more easily embarrassed by a compliment than by a slam.”

Biggest loser. The Golden Casino Group’s “Biggest Loser” contest ended this summer with $4,000 total in the prize pool.

Forty folks participated, with 22 of them actually weighing in at the end of the competition – some dropped out or moved away – for a total loss of 445 pounds.

The winning team won 70 percent of the prize pool for a total of $2,800. They were facilities director Tom Spitzlberger and security supervisor Chet King, who lost a combined 118 pounds and 19 percent of their bodyweight in 90 days.

Second place took $1,200, or 30 percent of the prize pool, and went to lead slot floorperson Steve Bechtle and surveillance operator Jesse Cole, who lost a combined 80 pounds and 9 percent of bodyweight.

The show must go on. Roseanne Barr has cancelled her performance at the Historic Georgetown fund-raiser at the Central City Opera House on Sept. 10 due to a scheduling conflict with her new TV show.

Comedian Louie Anderson will still perform at the 6 p.m. show with local Denver comedians opening for him.

Silver Circle reception tickets are still available for a 5 p.m. meet-and-greet with Anderson, but space is limited. For tickets, go to historicgeorgetown.org.

- Penny Parker is a columnist for The Denver Post. She’s always on the prowl for tidbits and tips form Colorado’s gaming communities. Call her at 303-619-5209 or e-mail pparker@denverpost.com.