The Casino Maltese : a socio-historical and artistic overview of Malta’s premier gentlemen’s club, with a focus on the first century of its existence

Abstract

When Professor Henry Frendo approached me to write about the Casino Maltese I was at first somehow hesitant. Eventually, I decided to give it a try, and this, primarily, because of my deep respect towards him. In time I realized that there was a need for such a compilation even to satisfy a broad sense of inquisitiveness in club life in Malta. My essay would delve into club life with a particular emphasis on the Casino Maltese. This would be the first holistic work on this specific subject. The journey was long and daunting for more than one reason. This case study focused on the Casino Maltese which saw its birth in the early nineteenth century in the heart of Valletta. The period of my study fell mainly between 1852 and 1953. The worst problem encountered was the dearth of information at hand. To date, no comprehensive literature has been dedicated to the study of social life and customs at Clubs situated in Malta. Foreign literature is also limited. The study was based initially on archival material housed at the Casino Maltese which comprised solely of minutes taken during Committee meetings dating back from the year1887. This left a hiatus from the year of inauguration of the Casino Maltese; which is generally assumed to have been the year 1852. Much of what was not irretrievably lost is trivial and therefore other sources such as diaries and biographies had to be tapped to incorporate into a general survey. Since Clubs frequently were the target of much gossip, periodicals, especially those with a satirical edge, were examined. I spent long months reading daily newspapers through deficient microfilm machines and much to the detriment of my eyes. Since local newspapers reported whenever special events unfurled within the Casinos, it was at least fruitful in this respect. I was lucky enough to interview surviving Casino Maltese members and also an employee to get a wider feel from various sides of the spectrum. In the meantime, a three month full-time study of archival files belonging to La Borsa, the present Chamber of Commerce in Republic Street, served another function. Here I studied not only minutes of Committee meetings but also correspondence files incorporating both outgoing and incoming letters. These uncovered actual events that transpired within their walls: insights into real life situations. The archives at La Borsa are very vast and well-kept, although the presence of wood worm was not lacking. The earliest documents I investigated date to 1852 which coincide with the inception of the Casino Maltese group. Through this study I discovered that members at the Casino Maltese were also members at La Borsa, which had its own Casino and aptly named Casino della Borsa. These people were therefore sharing the same premises, especially so, when the Casino Maltese actually moved its seat to La Borsa whilst the venue at No 247 was being utilized as The Grand Hotel. The Borsa also hosted the Casino Maltese members whilst No. 247 was being reconstructed in the early 20th century and after World War II. The historical chapter therefore includes a finely interwoven mesh of anecdotes that help construct and shape a more tangible idea of Club life in Malta during the British period. Though my work is all-inclusive it is not definitive, for there is much documentation that has been lost. Besides, there may be other scholars who will follow up with new facts, still to be unearthed, which might give dissimilar insights to mine.