Butch used to hang out in Hollywood at the Billiard Den in the 1970's. Cuban Joe, Crazy Bruce, Gene the Mechanic, a guy named George, they were all regulars. I came in when I could and always got a game there.
I got to know him a little there. He was actually a friendly guy, loved to talk, and a friend to pool players, but an enemy to smack talking rail birds. He more or less befriended me. I knew he liked to come off as a tough guy, but I actually found him to be intelligent and quite pleasant.
I don't know how Butch plays - we never played. My assumption was that he was a good "B" player but he liked hanging around players and gambling cheap, etc.
Butch was like a character in a movie. He reminded me a lot of "Sach" in the Bowery Boys movies.
Anyway, I was dating a girl who lived in a run-down apartment house near Highland and Franklin. Hollywood was kind of a nasty place in the 1970's. There were hookers, drugs, and a lot of street life types right in that area.
One night I was leaving her apartment late, when this creepy looking druggie guy comes through the apartment area. I see Butch charge up and I say "Butch". He does a double-take and says "Hi Chris. I'm the manager here, excuse me." then he proceeds to chase down the guy and in the booming voice says "don't let me see you here again". The guy says "oh yeah? Who are you?" . His mouth opened about a foot wide, he charged forward and booms "I'm from Brooklyn, where you have to be tough. I'm Butch, that's who I am!". That loud voice would scare the crap out of anyone.
That was it - the guy took off running. Butch turns to me and laughs.
Anyway, I always found Butch to be a perfect gentleman and I like him. I ran into him a few years ago and he called me a few times. It was fun to catch up.
Chris
