Poker News

Susie Isaacs

I don’t remember the first time I met George Marlowe but I do remember where, it was a poker emporium somewhere, and I also remember what got my attention, his friendliness, his smile and his mismatched shoes. He was well dressed, well groomed (not commonplace in the poker world back then) and he wore one purple Reebok and one red. The rest of his ensemble matched his shoes. His shoes may have been mismatched but he was well coordinated. Indeed, he made a totally individual fashion statement. I loved it! During our first real conversation I surmised that the creativity present in his attire, was related to his artistic nature. He called himself a ceramic artist. My grandmother did ceramic art, pots, vases, and ashtrays. I was invited to visit Marlowe’s studio in the early nineties. I was overwhelmed. Not one pot, vase or ashtray. There were masques, contemporary masques of all sizes and personalities in different stages of completion. This was ceramic art like I had never ever dreamed of. “This is one of my two passions,” he stated, “art and poker.”

I wanted to know everything. He started with poker, “I must have had poker in my blood,” he began. “I got thrown out of three junior high schools and three high schools for playing poker. I did manage to complete my education but I didn’t stop playing poker. I started playing “real” poker in Gardena when I was 17.I played with relatives who played small stake games. Those games were so tight and so tenacious; I called them ‘The Rock Garden.’ I learned a lot in those games that often were as tough as any final table I have ever played. Years later, I finished second in the largest poker tournament ever held on the planet earth - at that time.” [In 1992, the 862 players who participated in the first event in the Winnin’ O’ the Green was a staggering number for a poker competition!] George continued, “I was riding home in a limousine, counting my winnings and thinking, I just won more money in one night playing poker than any of the principals who threw me out of school made in a year… what great vindication!”

Marlowe was a successful professional poker player for a number of years. He then decided to join the “real” world of business. He explains, “Two rules of a professional poker player are to live with no clock and no calendar. When I became a single parent, I knew my life had to change drastically. I started a business and became ‘Superdad.’ I knew there would be no more poker for me for a while but never doubted that one day I would get back to it.” Marlowe became involved in the world of arts and crafts with his emergence into that real world. He developed art and craft products for Mattel, Ceramichrome, Inc. and the craft division of General Mills, Inc. He eventually owned and operated his own company, “VideoPitch”, a very successful and highly specialized new business consultancy for advertising agencies. His ceramic creativity was born during his stint with Ceramichrome where he had the opportunity of working with some of the most highly regarded and talented ceramicists in the world. Another passion was unleashed within Marlowe.

In 1989, he produced his first masques, which were featured at the D. Genero Galleries in Santa Monica and Venice, California. His early work included pieces such as Silly Dali, Picasso Clown and a haunting series on aliens.

In the next issue of Poker Player, we’ll continuing following George Marlowe’

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