The Salina Journal from Salina, Kansas • Page 21

Page 22 The Sallna Journal Wednesday, July 22,1981 Gambling income funds acting career By VERNON SCOTT HOLLYWOOD (UPI) Silvana Gallardo is a darkly exotic actress who supports herself in high stakes card games when she's not working in front of the camera. There ere times, in fact, when Sll- vana's professional gambling income surpasses her screen earnings. Currently starring in "Deathwish II," and preparing for a top role in a new CBS series, "The Vintage Years," Silvana may have to cut back on her gambling to devote full time to acting. A product of New York City's South Bronx where violence and street crime were facts of life, Silvana learned to play cards at home. Given the proper time and a single- deck dealer, she says she very rarely loses at the tables.

She plays blackjack on twice-monthly forays to Las Vegas and has beaten the house in casinos throughout Europe. "I began supporting my acting habit with gambling 10 years ago," said Silvana, who is proud of her American Indian-Venezuelan heritage. "The best place for me is Estoreil, Portugal. I've made some of my biggest killings there because the casinos don't have the know-how of most places. The operators are more naive.

"I don't shoot dice or play roulette or any of the other games in a casino. I stick strictly to blackjack. I'm not exactly a card counter, but I do have a system, depending on how the game is going. "I'm a little psychic, which helps. I have a feeling for the rhythm of the game and I understand the percentages.

I win 95 percent of the time because I'm very disciplined. I'm not a compulsive gambler. I know when to quit. "Gambling pays for my acting lessons and it tides me over financially That's Entertainment The Salina Journal between acting assignments. Look, it beats taking a waitress job or being a part-time secretary.

"Dad taught me how to play blackjack when I was a youngster. I managed to get out of the Bronx by winning enough money at cards." Gambling has afforded Silvana the opportunity to travel to the posh spas of the world. She has played cards professionally in London, Venice, Puerto Rico, Monte Carlo, and Nice among other places. The first time she invaded Monte Carlo Silvana put up a miniacule stake of $20 and collected $1,000. The next night she returned with $100 and ran it up to $5,000.

It was her first trip abroad. Other, more sophisticated gamblers, were attracted to the pretty, slender young actress and cleaned up by betting heavily against the house on Silvana's blackjack hands. Why, when she is so successful at the tables, does Silvana continue to fritter away her time as an actress? "I'm an actress and a part-time gambler," she said. "I act because I love it. I gamble because it's necessary.

But gambling is fun, too. Even if I made millions as an actress I'd continue to play blackjack for the excitement. Also I really love to win! "There's a thrill of accomplishment of beating the odds that very few things in acting or any other art or business can match. You use all your talents and senses when you gamble. In that way it's a lot like acting.

"My boyfriend is a professional gambler, too. He's a real card-counter and his system is so good they won't let him gamble in Las Vegas. As soon as they spot us at a table they come over and ask us very nicely to leave." Silvana has not been quite as successful an actress as she has been a gambler, principally because she has been type-cast in ethnic roles. Her Indian heritage stood her in good stead last year in "The Windwalker." She also played an Indian, Crooked Eye Clark, in "Fathers and Sons" on Broadway for Joe Papp eight years ago. "I thought I was going to play a beautiful Indian princess with long black braids and a beaded deerskin dress," Silvana said.

"As it turned out I wore pants, short greasy hair and my first line in the play was, 'I ain't a "I'm a quarter Seminole Indian and I look it with my olive skin, black eyes and high cheekbones. My paternal grandmother was a full-blooded Indian. "I knew from the beginning I would have to play ethnic roles if I wanted to establish myself as an actress. There Fox "Endless Love." Vogue "The Cannonball Run." Sunset Plaza Cinemas "For Your Eyes Only." "The Fox and the Hound." "Once Upon a Mouse." Mid State Cinemas "Raiders of the Lost Ark." "The Great Muppet Caper." 81 Drive-in "Superman II." "Any Which Way You Can." TV Tonight PM Magazine, 6 p.m., Channel 10 Segments on a chess wizard and a paper clothing designer. Real People, 7 p.m., Channels 3 and 4 Episodes on a cat doctor who makes house calls, a whistling contest and a sun tanning contest.

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Faced with drastic food shortages, an insurgent group from the Soviet Union seizes American oil fields near the Arctic Circle and demands provisions in return for the release of the petroleum. DISAGREEMENT Conrad Bain (left) doesn't appreciate the way his adoptive son (Todd veterinarian whose specialty is cats. TV Movies "In Like Flint," 7 p.m., Channel 41 A group of women, using a beauty resort as a front, make plans to take TUOENT DISCOUNT CARDS Now available at All DICKINSON THEATRES Bridges) tries to cling to his heritage on "Diff'rent Strokes" Wednesday night on NBC. over the world. "A New Life," 8 p.m., Channel 13 Angie Dickinson stars as a guilt-ridden wife who must make a new life for herself and her family after her husband commits suicide.

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Inez "My problem is that not many scripts are written for leading ladies of Hispanic origins, much less Indians. But things are beginning to get a little better for me. I'm playing roles that don't specify national origins. "Until they start writing parts for minorities, I'll have to continue playing supporting roles when I should be playing lead when I'm not playing cards." ONE 200 CT. BOTTLE OF BAYER ASPIRIN BAYER ASPIRIN WITH EACH NEW AND TRANSFERRED PRESCRIPTION.

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