Shooters in Upland CA

R

Run the Century

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It is no longer there - I used to run the Saturday afternoon tournamnent there - just wondering if any other AZers remember this place. I fell in love with pool as a kid there watching the likes of guys like Frank "da barber" Almanza, Joe Salazar, Texas Bob, Big John and Johnny Borba. I have since reconnected with Frank through here and even Corey Harper.

My name is Chris Trulin. Anyone else remember this place and its colorful cast of characters?

There always seemed to be a good golf game in that place!

Chris
 
I don't remember it being in Upland, but I could be all wrong. I certainly remember all the guys you mentioned. Bill Igel and I used to go there once in awhile.
 
8ballEinstein said:
I don't remember it being in Upland, but I could be all wrong. I certainly remember all the guys you mentioned. Bill Igel and I used to go there once in awhile.
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The place was in Montclair right behind the mall. Been closed for at least 15 years now.
 
You might be right

It was across the street from the Mall - might have been Montclair. I lived in Upland close by. I sometimes wonder what happened to all these guys. I befriended an asian kid Eric Friar. Ran around with him for a long time. Great young player. There was another guy I just remembered too Fat Richie. He had a mouth that rivaled Fats. I remember many times guys offering him money just to shut up.

2 other guys I just remember - Alan and Larry.

Shooters had bar none the hottest waitresses of any pool joint I have ever been to.
 
Ironside Aaron used to go there as well. He caught me there, just right, after I had won a tournament beating Texas Bob in the finals.

I gave him the 7 and got drilled for all my dough...

I remember just about all of those names you mentioned. Joe Salazar sells cues now and lives in Texas.
 
My friend Paul Roberts built that place about 20 years ago. It lasted a good ten years. Paul and I promoted the Peter Vitalie Invitational in 1987 at the Biltmore Hotel in downtown L.A. This was the site of the very controversial match between Sigel and Efren where my ref (Bill Igel) fell asleep and missed a key shot. I'll tell you the whole story how it worked out some other time.
 
Paul Roberts

He did a real nice job on that one Jay. The set up in the joint was perfect. That place was a cash cow on Friday and Saturday nights. Long wait for tables, people crowded around every table, and some seriously hot waitresses. Here where I live in Texas I never see "true" pool rooms - at least in my area here in Fort Worth. Lots of action in that place. Frank Almanza can attest to that.

Chris
 
jay helfert said:
This was the site of the very controversial match between Sigel and Efren where my ref (Bill Igel) fell asleep and missed a key shot. I'll tell you the whole story how it worked out some other time.
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I remember asking Billy about this. He told me the previous night he was out late and got to the Vitale event praying that nothing out of the ordinary would come up. Sure enough, all hell broke loose after a ball was accidently moved.

I know there's more to the story but Billy getting caught up in the mess made me laugh. I know he felt bad about it for a long time.
 
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