I came across this article in the October 1966 issue of National Billiard News. It's amazing how much still rings true and how much "progress" has been made in 44 years
Page 6 BILLIARD NEWS October, 1966
PARADISE CUSTOM CUES CO.
307 MORRIS AVENUE
ELIZABETH, N.J. 07208
AN OPEN LETTER TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
These wonderful United States of ours are enjoying a wave of prosperity, and sports is reaping its benefits, but Billiards, which started to grow again and fan popularity started to increase five years ago after a long period of suspended animation, may be digging its own personal depression--unless it wakes up to the hard facts of life.
The work that Willie Mosconi and some of the other touring pros did to keep the sport alive during the lean years may be washed down the drain and billiards may be hard-pressed to make another comeback. Don't forget, billiards has already gone through three deep depressions in the last forty years.
THIS GAME IS NOT, NEVER WAS, AND NEVER WILL BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
Sure, billiards seems to be revived, what with the many new plush multi-colored, wall to wall carpeted houses opened in recent years, but what life has been breathed into the sport is being suffocated by the moneymad manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and room owners who take and take and take but do no giving. THIS GAME IS NOT SELF-SUSTAINING, The success or failure of this game depends on the players and don't ever forget it for one moment.
Pro-football has done a fantastic job of building up its pros and names like Jimmy Brown, Tucker Fredrickson and Bart Starr are household words which even mom knows—thanks to television and the promotional job of the sport's publicity men.
The same must be said of golf and bowling. Yes, it's time that the profiteers started putting back some of that easy money into the game.
I understand that AMF contributed a sizeable amount of cash in addition to providing tables and other equipment to the BRPA of America world's tournament in the Commodore Hotel in N.Y.C.
This boosted the pot and helped to boost the prestige of the tournament and some good newspaper and television exposure was the result, but we need lots more of the green stuff put back into the sport, we need more tournaments with bigger prizes so that the pros can make a living on the tour instead of scratching out an existence at two jobs— one a tableside and the other at the side job—which incidentally, provides most of the meat and potatoes for the dinner table. Associations and promoters such as the BRPAA George Jansco, the Burbank, California, the Las Vegas, Nev the Long Beach, and more recently the Billiard Congress of America must be given more financial support from manufacturers, dealers, and etc., membership must be expanded. They can't do a good job on a limited budget. It is too great a burden to be carried by one promoter or organization. THIS GAME IS NOT SELF-SUSTAINING.
Few, if any pros, can make a decent living playing billiards and it's no secret that a pro generally has to finish in the top five or six of a big tournament to meet expenses, and as of this writing there are only six such tournaments. What does the future have to offer any of the potential professional players to say nothing of the present day players under these sad un-aided conditions? Where would the manufacturers of baseball equipment wind up if there was as little professional baseball brought before the public as there is professional billiards?
The glamour of the appealing new modern billiard rooms is wearing off. A host of investors un-informed and un-educated in the ways and means of Billiards reaped early profits and everything looked rosy, but now many of these people are realizing that it takes more than a fast start to continue to realize a fair profit.
Many of the room owners do not realize that it takes more than a fast start to continue to realize a fair profit.
Many of the room owners do not realize that you must know billiards inside and out before you can properly and successfully sell the game to the public. Many are discourteous to customers, don't have proper teaching facilities for newcomers, such as a book of rules and a lending library of magazines, and etc.. and very often let the room gradually fall into a state of disrepair. Repair men very often do not know their jobs, tables are not checked often enough to insure excellent playing conditions, old chalk is not replaced often enough, wearing out the ferrules too soon, increasing the cost to replace parts plus labor.
Music is too loud. Music should ACCOMPANY the room noises rather than to drown out all sounds in the room. To me no sound in this world could ever stimulate my desire to play more than the clicking of the balls, also there is not enough versatility in billiard rooms in the matter of equipment, Billiard rooms should be planned in advance for not just the present day players but also for the potential customers, - Rooms should have 4-1/2 x 9 tables for good or seasoned players, 4 x 8 for average players and beginners, and 3-1/2 x 7 with LARGE POCKETS (6 or 7 inches) for those just starting to learn, and there should be a billiard table for straight rail and three cushion play. Any seasoned player will tell you that straight rail and three cushion experience is a great help in learning to use a cue ball to its fullest advantage plus which it increases the player's knowledge of angles, the proper use of English and etc.
There are not enough exhibitions in local rooms and NOT ANY TOURS with top-name pros to give the youngsters a hero image -- because owners don't want to spend a few dollars. It is better that they realize that money spent now insures more customers and money for the future. Every room owner should commit himself to at least five or six exhibitions per year, thereby not only helping to popularize the game but in turn benefiting himself and the players. Many of the exhibitions that are played are held on inferior tables, where the pros have trouble getting off a decent run.
What are the spectators to think but; if the pros can't run more than five or six at a time, how am I ever to do better? I have seen many exhibitions in which the players could not perform up to par because of faulty equipment, but NEVER, I repeat, NEVER have I ever heard a player publicly blame the equipment for his subpar showing. Exhibitions fall in the category of show business. I would have to think the most successful people in show business are in Hollywood. When they send a star on the road on a personal appearance tour to help promote a particular film they do everything possible to present that star at his or her best. Take a lesson from Hollywood, if you put on an exhibition in your room, be sure the table is in top condition, keep the spectators back, and try to impress on them the necessity of quiet and orderliness so that the players can concentrate and not have play under any handicaps.
Duly elected player representatives— pros and amateurs should also have a say in the operation of tournaments and the rules of the game. Make the players feel they are the heart and soul of billiards and watch their numbers grow.
Sure, it's easy to be negatively critical of anything, but I have sweated in this business for forty years trying to earn a living and I've been through it all as a customer, room manager, room owner, exhibition player, tournament player, two bit hustler, and presently manufacturer of custom cue sticks. We've got to make a positive move and make it now to save the game and the players.
It's up to you people involved in the money end of billiards to take stock of yourselves—and this includes me-- and make some constructive moves.
There should be a concerted effort on the part of all those interested in inviting and encouraging new customers, to embrace this game, in addition to MAINTAINING the new and old clientele, by bringing the players before the public. Remember, if you allow this game to slump, it can only follow one pattern and that is—THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST! Can you be sure you are the fittest? Visit your competitor or examine your competitor's merchandise and then let your conscience help you decide if you are or not. It won't be too many years before we all know if the right moves, the wrong moves, or no moves at all were Made. IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE HEALTH OF BILLIARDS, NOW QUICKLY AQUIRING A SICKLY PALLOR, If anything said in this letter seems to have any merit and you would like to discuss this further please feel free to contact me at your convenience, I beg to help, Thank you for your patient consideration if you have read this far I am your friend:
Frank Paradise
copy of the original page
Page 6 BILLIARD NEWS October, 1966
PARADISE CUSTOM CUES CO.
307 MORRIS AVENUE
ELIZABETH, N.J. 07208
AN OPEN LETTER TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
These wonderful United States of ours are enjoying a wave of prosperity, and sports is reaping its benefits, but Billiards, which started to grow again and fan popularity started to increase five years ago after a long period of suspended animation, may be digging its own personal depression--unless it wakes up to the hard facts of life.
The work that Willie Mosconi and some of the other touring pros did to keep the sport alive during the lean years may be washed down the drain and billiards may be hard-pressed to make another comeback. Don't forget, billiards has already gone through three deep depressions in the last forty years.
THIS GAME IS NOT, NEVER WAS, AND NEVER WILL BE SELF-SUSTAINING.
Sure, billiards seems to be revived, what with the many new plush multi-colored, wall to wall carpeted houses opened in recent years, but what life has been breathed into the sport is being suffocated by the moneymad manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and room owners who take and take and take but do no giving. THIS GAME IS NOT SELF-SUSTAINING, The success or failure of this game depends on the players and don't ever forget it for one moment.
Pro-football has done a fantastic job of building up its pros and names like Jimmy Brown, Tucker Fredrickson and Bart Starr are household words which even mom knows—thanks to television and the promotional job of the sport's publicity men.
The same must be said of golf and bowling. Yes, it's time that the profiteers started putting back some of that easy money into the game.
I understand that AMF contributed a sizeable amount of cash in addition to providing tables and other equipment to the BRPA of America world's tournament in the Commodore Hotel in N.Y.C.
This boosted the pot and helped to boost the prestige of the tournament and some good newspaper and television exposure was the result, but we need lots more of the green stuff put back into the sport, we need more tournaments with bigger prizes so that the pros can make a living on the tour instead of scratching out an existence at two jobs— one a tableside and the other at the side job—which incidentally, provides most of the meat and potatoes for the dinner table. Associations and promoters such as the BRPAA George Jansco, the Burbank, California, the Las Vegas, Nev the Long Beach, and more recently the Billiard Congress of America must be given more financial support from manufacturers, dealers, and etc., membership must be expanded. They can't do a good job on a limited budget. It is too great a burden to be carried by one promoter or organization. THIS GAME IS NOT SELF-SUSTAINING.
Few, if any pros, can make a decent living playing billiards and it's no secret that a pro generally has to finish in the top five or six of a big tournament to meet expenses, and as of this writing there are only six such tournaments. What does the future have to offer any of the potential professional players to say nothing of the present day players under these sad un-aided conditions? Where would the manufacturers of baseball equipment wind up if there was as little professional baseball brought before the public as there is professional billiards?
The glamour of the appealing new modern billiard rooms is wearing off. A host of investors un-informed and un-educated in the ways and means of Billiards reaped early profits and everything looked rosy, but now many of these people are realizing that it takes more than a fast start to continue to realize a fair profit.
Many of the room owners do not realize that it takes more than a fast start to continue to realize a fair profit.
Many of the room owners do not realize that you must know billiards inside and out before you can properly and successfully sell the game to the public. Many are discourteous to customers, don't have proper teaching facilities for newcomers, such as a book of rules and a lending library of magazines, and etc.. and very often let the room gradually fall into a state of disrepair. Repair men very often do not know their jobs, tables are not checked often enough to insure excellent playing conditions, old chalk is not replaced often enough, wearing out the ferrules too soon, increasing the cost to replace parts plus labor.
Music is too loud. Music should ACCOMPANY the room noises rather than to drown out all sounds in the room. To me no sound in this world could ever stimulate my desire to play more than the clicking of the balls, also there is not enough versatility in billiard rooms in the matter of equipment, Billiard rooms should be planned in advance for not just the present day players but also for the potential customers, - Rooms should have 4-1/2 x 9 tables for good or seasoned players, 4 x 8 for average players and beginners, and 3-1/2 x 7 with LARGE POCKETS (6 or 7 inches) for those just starting to learn, and there should be a billiard table for straight rail and three cushion play. Any seasoned player will tell you that straight rail and three cushion experience is a great help in learning to use a cue ball to its fullest advantage plus which it increases the player's knowledge of angles, the proper use of English and etc.
There are not enough exhibitions in local rooms and NOT ANY TOURS with top-name pros to give the youngsters a hero image -- because owners don't want to spend a few dollars. It is better that they realize that money spent now insures more customers and money for the future. Every room owner should commit himself to at least five or six exhibitions per year, thereby not only helping to popularize the game but in turn benefiting himself and the players. Many of the exhibitions that are played are held on inferior tables, where the pros have trouble getting off a decent run.
What are the spectators to think but; if the pros can't run more than five or six at a time, how am I ever to do better? I have seen many exhibitions in which the players could not perform up to par because of faulty equipment, but NEVER, I repeat, NEVER have I ever heard a player publicly blame the equipment for his subpar showing. Exhibitions fall in the category of show business. I would have to think the most successful people in show business are in Hollywood. When they send a star on the road on a personal appearance tour to help promote a particular film they do everything possible to present that star at his or her best. Take a lesson from Hollywood, if you put on an exhibition in your room, be sure the table is in top condition, keep the spectators back, and try to impress on them the necessity of quiet and orderliness so that the players can concentrate and not have play under any handicaps.
Duly elected player representatives— pros and amateurs should also have a say in the operation of tournaments and the rules of the game. Make the players feel they are the heart and soul of billiards and watch their numbers grow.
Sure, it's easy to be negatively critical of anything, but I have sweated in this business for forty years trying to earn a living and I've been through it all as a customer, room manager, room owner, exhibition player, tournament player, two bit hustler, and presently manufacturer of custom cue sticks. We've got to make a positive move and make it now to save the game and the players.
It's up to you people involved in the money end of billiards to take stock of yourselves—and this includes me-- and make some constructive moves.
There should be a concerted effort on the part of all those interested in inviting and encouraging new customers, to embrace this game, in addition to MAINTAINING the new and old clientele, by bringing the players before the public. Remember, if you allow this game to slump, it can only follow one pattern and that is—THE SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST! Can you be sure you are the fittest? Visit your competitor or examine your competitor's merchandise and then let your conscience help you decide if you are or not. It won't be too many years before we all know if the right moves, the wrong moves, or no moves at all were Made. IT WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE HEALTH OF BILLIARDS, NOW QUICKLY AQUIRING A SICKLY PALLOR, If anything said in this letter seems to have any merit and you would like to discuss this further please feel free to contact me at your convenience, I beg to help, Thank you for your patient consideration if you have read this far I am your friend:
Frank Paradise
copy of the original page
