And Here's The Way It Was

Johnnyt

Johnnyt

Burn all jump cues
Silver Member
For those not old enough or didn’t play in the 1950’s to 1980’s, let me tell you how it was for action in bars on the bar boxes.

If you were a strong “B” player or above (and there weren’t but about 20% then that there are now) you could make a weekly blue collar union wage just hustling a list of bars in a 10 sq mile area of the East coast. Myself and many others took home on average $200-$400 a week w/o playing for more than $5 or $10 a game. $20 a game in the 1960’s was considered real good action. $5 was like $25 today and $20 was like $100 today. Most union workers were making less than $100 a week, and that was considered a good job in 1950-1960.

When I saw how easy it was to make good money in bars with a little talent, and a good act, I stopped trying to knock heads making money in a pool room. Unless you were the big fish in a pool room you wouldn’t get to keep your money long or you would run out of action fast if you didn‘t play the better players. I had a regular route of bars I hit on a schedule. I kept track in an old paperboy’s route book of dates, players, and who I won from last time I was there. Bars across from racetracks (horses), bars near big factories, and hospitals were some of my hunting grounds. Most of the time I had a regular job to go to or a business to run by day, so I averaged about 3 to 4 nights a week hustling pool. I can honestly say that I always made as much or more a week at pool than I did on a job until the mid 1980‘s. Pool, gambling, partying, what a life it was. Johnnyt
 
Mikjary said:
Understandable, Johnny. I've had to nurse a few beers waiting for action to walk through the door.
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LMAO. I mean I became a nurse. My biker buddies still can't believe it to this day...or my family. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
LMAO. I mean I became a nurse. My biker buddies still can't believe it to this day...or my family. Johnnyt
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You shold be proud of that fact, Johnny. According to my first wife, I became an card carrying a**hole. :wink:
 
worked fine

Johnnyt said:
For those not old enough or didn’t play in the 1950’s to 1980’s, let me tell you how it was for action in bars on the bar boxes.

If you were a strong “B” player or above (and there weren’t but about 20% then that there are now) you could make a weekly blue collar union wage just hustling a list of bars in a 10 sq mile area of the East coast. Myself and many others took home on average $200-$400 a week w/o playing for more than $5 or $10 a game. $20 a game in the 1960’s was considered real good action. $5 was like $25 today and $20 was like $100 today. Most union workers were making less than $100 a week, and that was considered a good job in 1950-1960.

When I saw how easy it was to make good money in bars with a little talent, and a good act, I stopped trying to knock heads making money in a pool room. Unless you were the big fish in a pool room you wouldn’t get to keep your money long or you would run out of action fast if you didn‘t play the better players. I had a regular route of bars I hit on a schedule. I kept track in an old paperboy’s route book of dates, players, and who I won from last time I was there. Bars across from racetracks (horses), bars near big factories, and hospitals were some of my hunting grounds. Most of the time I had a regular job to go to or a business to run by day, so I averaged about 3 to 4 nights a week hustling pool. I can honestly say that I always made as much or more a week at pool than I did on a job until the mid 1980‘s. Pool, gambling, partying, what a life it was. Johnnyt
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I drove a little more down here. I usually put a hundred or two miles a night on my vehicle. No big deal when cars were a few thousand dollars for a nice one and gas was 25-50 cents a gallon. Same deal though, small action a lot of places. Big action in the pool halls killed my little action and cost me a lot more money than I made even if I won. A biggish match in Greenway and for weeks every time I was in action anywhere around Baton Rouge in a bar somebody would clue in the other player or players. In the seventies I made 9-14 dollars an hour working construction in the petro-chem plants as a top hand or foreman. I could easily slide 40-50 dollars an hour off of pool tables in busy bars without raising a fuss most of the time. When the job market crashed as it always did in cycles in petro-chem I just stepped up my evening activities a little and made the same or more take home.

For small time gamblers those were the good old days although I see the same kind of action in the rare trips to bars around here now. Funny thing, they are still playing for the same 3-5 dollars the starting stake often was then but the money sure doesn't go as far now.

Hu
 
L.A. in the 60's and 70's was bar table heaven for me. Literally thousands of bars, and every one had a bar table in it. Like Johnny I had my favorite spots, but on a weekend night just about any bar would do. I would hear about a place and go over and try it out. I can remember playing for $1-3 a game and holding the table for hours. Everyone in the joint wanted to be the guy who beat you and knocked you off the table. Weird thing was, when someone got close to winning a game, they usually would dog it. Too much pressure, on them! I left a lot of bars with my pockets stuffed with bills, mostly ones and a few fives. A $100 night was possible and damn good!

I did not "hustle" in bars! I gave them my best game, because that was how you got their respect. And you better be a helluva nice guy. An asshole would get run out of place, or worse. I did have a couple of problems in redneck bars in Bakersfield and ghetto bars in South L.A. I learned early on to make friends with the biggest guy in the joint, because usually I came in alone. I must have played in a thousand bars over a ten year period and only had two bad experiences. Once a knife wielding guy chased me out of a bar in Gardena over a $3 game of Eight Ball. And in Oildale, I was about to get my ass kicked before the bartender (who was betting on me) saved my ass.

Oh and I did have a nasty experience outside Santa Barbara in a biker bar. But I won so much money, it was almost worth it. ;)
Yes, bars could be hazardous to your health, but the money was almost free, so how could you not go for it. I learned that drinking and gambling could be a volatile mix, but they were ways to avoid trouble, even losing a game once in a while. And definitely buying drinks for the ornery guys.

When I first came out to California I got a job as an accountant, making $125 a week. That lasted about six months. I was making that much or more on weekends playing pool (mostly in bars) and it was a lot easier than getting up at 7AM to go to work. I quit that job and never worked again until I had my first poolroom five years later. I didn't have another straight job until I was 38 and went to work in the post office sorting mail. That lasted through the Christmas holidays and when they asked me to stay on, I thanked them and took my leave. My next job was my next poolroom and then I started working at pool tourneys.

So I guess you could say I made my living from pool all my adult life. Sick huh?
 
Like jay said, be friendly with the biggest guy in the joint you might need him on your side later on. He came to my aid at least a few times that I can remember.

One thing that I always did was tip the bartender good. This way he didn't interfere in your games. Owners of most establishments frown on their customers giving up the cash to someone else other than to them. Especially in cocktail lounges where a regular there could spend a hundred or more on a weekend night. Cocktails lounges that cashed payroll checks were my favorites.

I tried not to burn up a good bar by going there too often. Like JohnnyT said if you have enough of these stops you can spread the visits apart.

It was always important to keep your eyes and ears open to the surroundings. You might need to get out of there in a hurry and also you needed to be prepared to lose back what you've won if you valued your health. The worst thing was to embarrass the local hot shot in front of his people, that along with the mixture of alcohol could spell trouble.
 
Like Jay said above, winning money in bars weather you were hustling or playing your top speed could be hazardous to your health. But if you lived through it the memories are awesome. I think 50% of the reason I liked hustling in bars was the excitement of getting out with the money by talking your way out of a jam, making friends with the biggest dude in the joint like Jay said, or leaving a few dollars on the pool table as I went out the bathroom window, backdoor or run through the front door jump on my bike or in my car and get out of Dodge. One thing a good hustler knows is when the gig is up just a little before it hit’s the fan and get the hell out of there. Fun times though. Johnnyt
 
dabarbr said:
Like jay said, be friendly with the biggest guy in the joint you might need him on your side later on. He came to my aid at least a few times that I can remember.

One thing that I always did was tip the bartender good. This way he didn't interfere in your games. Owners of most establishments frown on their customers giving up the cash to someone else other than to them. Especially in cocktail lounges where a regular there could spend a hundred or more on a weekend night. Cocktails lounges that cashed payroll checks were my favorites.

I tried not to burn up a good bar by going there too often. Like JohnnyT said if you have enough of these stops you can spread the visits apart.

It was always important to keep your eyes and ears open to the surroundings. You might need to get out of there in a hurry and also you needed to be prepared to lose back what you've won if you valued your health. The worst thing was to embarrass the local hot shot in front of his people, that along with the mixture of alcohol could spell trouble.
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Yep, you've been there and done that I see. Good memories though right? Johnnyt
 
Tramp Steamer said:
And then what happened?
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To give you an honest answer it was a number of things. One was pool began to grow and bars were putting more then one table, many had a dozen tables. That began to put an end to the open challenge table. You had no right to really go over to a group of guys and say "Can I play"?

Two, credit cards and ATM's. It used to be on a Friday you had to decide how much money you would need to Monday, because unless you could cash a check somewhere if you spent all your money you would be broke till Monday and could go to the bank. You would go into a bar on a Friday night and people had their whole weeks pay in their pockets. With the advent of the ATM no one carries any money anymore.

Third may be the bar leagues. People can get their rocks off playing in leagues instead of matching up. I am sure there are others but I see these three things as what killed bar action.

By the way, the OP is not exaggerating. If you could draw your ball your could make a living playing bars. We are talking about a time when minimum wage was $1.60 an hour and you could raise a family on $200.00 a week. Hustling pool was a very good paying job if you treated it that way. I remember buying a brand new car and walking in the dealership paying cash with just a few weeks winnings. I bought a car cash and the biggest bill I gave them was a 50, most were 10's and 20's.

When the bar tables first came out it was a bonanza for pool players and you didn't have to be any champion, the level of competition was so very low. You were always running to guys who said they used to play in collage but hadn't played in years or were completely new players who would still bet a few dollars.
 
With me it was a little different. I started playing in bars in my early to mid teens, my father would go to the bar and drag me with him. It was not long before I discovered a 6'x3' table in the corner and started playing. My dad would sit and drink and I would play. This went on for a few months and one day my dad decided to teach me a thing or two about the game but it was to late I could already beat him consistently. By the time I was 15 years old I was playing many of the men in the bars for a couple of bucks a game. I always played to win and rarely had a problem since everyone new my dad and most felt "the kid" was kind of a novelty in that area of Nebraska. The action for me dried up and I went to college....got married ....had more kids then you could shake a cue stick at and the rest is history. You are correct Johhnyt the memories live on.
 
jay helfert said:
L.A. in the 60's and 70's was bar table heaven for me. Literally thousands of bars, and every one had a bar table in it. Like Johnny I had my favorite spots, but on a weekend night just about any bar would do. I would hear about a place and go over and try it out. I can remember playing for $1-3 a game and holding the table for hours. Everyone in the joint wanted to be the guy who beat you and knocked you off the table. Weird thing was, when someone got close to winning a game, they usually would dog it. Too much pressure, on them! I left a lot of bars with my pockets stuffed with bills, mostly ones and a few fives. A $100 night was possible and damn good!

I did not "hustle" in bars! I gave them my best game, because that was how you got their respect. And you better be a helluva nice guy. An asshole would get run out of place, or worse. I did have a couple of problems in redneck bars in Bakersfield and ghetto bars in South L.A. I learned early on to make friends with the biggest guy in the joint, because usually I came in alone. I must have played in a thousand bars over a ten year period and only had two bad experiences. Once a knife wielding guy chased me out of a bar in Gardena over a $3 game of Eight Ball. And in Oildale, I was about to get my ass kicked before the bartender (who was betting on me) saved my ass.

Oh and I did have a nasty experience outside Santa Barbara in a biker bar. But I won so much money, it was almost worth it. ;)
Yes, bars could be hazardous to your health, but the money was almost free, so how could you not go for it. I learned that drinking and gambling could be a volatile mix, but they were ways to avoid trouble, even losing a game once in a while. And definitely buying drinks for the ornery guys.

When I first came out to California I got a job as an accountant, making $125 a week. That lasted about six months. I was making that much or more on weekends playing pool (mostly in bars) and it was a lot easier than getting up at 7AM to go to work. I quit that job and never worked again until I had my first poolroom five years later. I didn't have another straight job until I was 38 and went to work in the post office sorting mail. That lasted through the Christmas holidays and when they asked me to stay on, I thanked them and took my leave. My next job was my next poolroom and then I started working at pool tourneys.

So I guess you could say I made my living from pool all my adult life. Sick huh?
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I will tell you what is sick,
My uncle drove a bus in NY city for 35 years, he could have retired at 30 but worked 5 more to get a better pension. The first trip they took two weeks after he retired he was killed in a car accident, my aunt died a few days later from her injuries. I was only 16 at the time but it made an impression on me. I knew then life was more then working your youth away for a pension that may never come or you are too old to even enjoy. I have never been a bum in fact I have been very successful at everything I have done, but I never did anything I didn't want to do and have no regrets.. Life is to short.
 
Johnnyt said:
Yep, you've been there and done that I see. Good memories though right? Johnnyt
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The truth for me Johnny is I never think about it anymore, unless it comes up in a discussion. I kind of wish I had more sense at a young age and got a better education. I might have had a better life instead of being a lifetime scuffler. I did okay owning pool rooms but not like being a doctor or a lawyer.

I don't have any regrets because it's what I wanted to do at the time, and I was kind of lazy. I didn't want a real job. But in hindsight, it was not the best decision I could have made. Yes, it was always a thrill to leave with the cash, but somewhat short sighted of me in the long run.

We used to call some of our victims suckers, but who was really the sucker. These guys had good jobs and made a good living. We were struggling to keep a decent bankroll together. I was one of the more fortunate pool players of my era. I seemed to hold onto money and always had a healthy bank account. But I knew a lot of champions who stayed broke most of the time. They laid around the pool room hoping for a mark and were even lazier than me.

I will say this. I had a lot more fun in the poolrooms than in the bars. Working a bar was a job that took cunning, skill and patience. All that to make a measly forty or fifty bucks. It did seem great at the time, but I wouldn't wish that life on anyone. This is not a career goal to aspire too. I at least had the sense to realize I couldn't do this all my life and bought my first poolroom at age 27. That's when I learned about real work. Seven days a week, 12-14 hours a day. But I was making real money and not chump change.

Just a word to the wise, you young guys out there that think this is cool. It's not.
 
Well for me Jay, they are very good memories. I agree that if I put all the effort I put into pool over the years into school and business I might be better off today for it, or maybe not. It's true I never wanted my kids to live the life I did and they haven't. I have known dozens of people with a lot of money and I can't think of any of them that are truely happy. All they think about is making more money and worrying who will take what they have away from them.

I really can't think of anything else in life I missed from playing pool. Wife of over 40 years, four great kids, nice house and car, and money in the bank. And I did it on my own. No one gave me anything. So I'm good to go.

If you don't know how to manage your money in anything in life (including pool) you will go broke over, and over, and over again. Johnnyt
 
jay helfert said:
The truth for me Johnny is I never think about it anymore, unless it comes up in a discussion. I kind of wish I had more sense at a young age and got a better education. I might have had a better life instead of being a lifetime scuffler. I did okay owning pool rooms but not like being a doctor or a lawyer.

I don't have any regrets because it's what I wanted to do at the time, and I was kind of lazy. I didn't want a real job. But in hindsight, it was not the best decision I could have made. Yes, it was always a thrill to leave with the cash, but somewhat short sighted of me in the long run.

We used to call some of our victims suckers, but who was really the sucker. These guys had good jobs and made a good living. We were struggling to keep a decent bankroll together. I was one of the more fortunate pool players of my era. I seemed to hold onto money and always had a healthy bank account. But I knew a lot of champions who stayed broke most of the time. They laid around the pool room hoping for a mark and were even lazier than me.

I will say this. I had a lot more fun in the poolrooms than in the bars. Working a bar was a job that took cunning, skill and patience. All that to make a measly forty or fifty bucks. It did seem great at the time, but I wouldn't wish that life on anyone. This is not a career goal to aspire too. I at least had the sense to realize I couldn't do this all my life and bought my first poolroom at age 27. That's when I learned about real work. Seven days a week, 12-14 hours a day. But I was making real money and not chump change.

Just a word to the wise, you young guys out there that think this is cool. It's not.
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Read this one Cocobolo Cowboy. It couldn't be more eloquent in it's truth and honesty.
 
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