Peoples Billiard Parlor

[danquixote]

Sitting here thinkin bout the places I have played and characters I have met over the years. One of my fondest memories is spending time in Memphis Tn. at Peoples watching about 4 elders play 3 cushion. I think that is where my fascination with pool began. Just wondering if anybody here may have passed thru Memphis in the 60's -70's that may have tried their hand there. The room was rarely full.....but there were always a few players lookin for a game.

 

[Tom In Cincy]

I had to take the bus to d'town in the early 60s to Peoples. I got off at the Court Square bus stop on main.
Peoples was downstairs (IIRC) two flights and was dark and musty smelling.
Those HUGE 6x12s and 5x10s were monstrous compared to the 4.5x9s.

Nothing but a radio playing loud enough to hear the Cardinals play one of their league rivals. Candy and soda pop was available at the counter. If you really wanted to eat, there was plenty of good restaurants available in all the d'town hotels and cheap too.

I saw Fats play a local in the early 60s. I didn't really know who he was at the time... except he filled the room with his stories and kept his mouth so active that it actually heated the damp cool basement air. I don't remember the game or if he won or not. Just that constant jabber. He did order food for everyone there one time. Chicken and biscuits.

They closed and now a replica pool hall bearing the venerated name is on Beale Street and that street is now a tourist attraction.

How times change.

Sitting here thinkin bout the places I have played and characters I have met over the years. One of my fondest memories is spending time in Memphis Tn. at Peoples watching about 4 elders play 3 cushion. I think that is where my fascination with pool began. Just wondering if anybody here may have passed thru Memphis in the 60's -70's that may have tried their hand there. The room was rarely full.....but there were always a few players lookin for a game.