Hustle_Bustle
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I was wondering which pro player planted the seed in Price and Scorsese's ears when they chose to highlight Balabushka cues in the film.
Does anyone know?
thank you-
HB
Does anyone know?
thank you-
HB
Wht did they use a Balabushka cue in the film "The Color of Money"?
- Thread starter Hustle_Bustle
- Start date
It may have been AZB's own Jay Helfert that suggested it. He consulted for the movie.
In event you didn't know however, it wasn't really a Balabushka. IIRC, it was a JossWest?
In event you didn't know however, it wasn't really a Balabushka. IIRC, it was a JossWest?
Hustle_Bustle
Registered
They used the Joss because they didn't----
want to throw and bash a Balabushka- but I was curious as to the reason "that" cuemaker is the one they chose.
Exotic is definitely memorable
thanks
HB
want to throw and bash a Balabushka- but I was curious as to the reason "that" cuemaker is the one they chose.
Exotic is definitely memorable
thanks
HB
Link to the cue used in the movie
http://www.josscues.com//cue_archives/Archive/html/1985-brochure/18.html
Hope this helps
Hustle_Bustle
Registered
I'll ask him-
someone also said it was because the name sounded exotic...
No one wanted them to throw and bash a Balabushka-
but I was curious as to the reason "that" cuemaker is the one they chose.
Exotic is definitely memorable
thanks KoolKat,
HB
someone also said it was because the name sounded exotic...
No one wanted them to throw and bash a Balabushka-
but I was curious as to the reason "that" cuemaker is the one they chose.
Exotic is definitely memorable
thanks KoolKat,
HB
Unlike "The Hustler", "The Color of Money" doesn't closely follow Tevis's book and I can't remember if Balabushka was mentioned in the book or not.
Balabushka was the most revered and recognizable name in cue making at the time. Easily. Nobody else close. It just makes sense that they would choose that brand when it came to Eddie passing down a revered instrument. I guess its interesting to assume that one of the pros suggested it, but considering the passing down of a precious cue probably existed in the script before casting, I think it was doubtful.
In the 80s if you walked in any pool room on the East Coast and asked what were the best cues, 95% would answer Balabushka. West Coast, Gina.
In any case, that "Balabuska" launched the interest in cue collecting to the heights it achieved before the recession. That movie really changed the nature of cue collecting, but Balabushka had collectable cache before TCOM came out.
Kevin
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The movie cues were JOSS J18. Later on the N7 "carried the torch".
Why JOSS? I dunno. Why not? They needed more than one cue for stunts and in case one got damaged, so a one of a kind wouldn't work. I once read that model was chosen because it was relatively simple and would show up on camera well.
I believe I once read that somebody (director or producer, somebody?) was in Maryland and stopped in Janes' shop. The cue model was picked out at that time.
Mike Sigel was also a consultant on that film and remember he was strongly affiliated with JOSS, not only as a player but he also worked in the shop. That may have had something to do with it.
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Why JOSS? I dunno. Why not? They needed more than one cue for stunts and in case one got damaged, so a one of a kind wouldn't work. I once read that model was chosen because it was relatively simple and would show up on camera well.
I believe I once read that somebody (director or producer, somebody?) was in Maryland and stopped in Janes' shop. The cue model was picked out at that time.
Mike Sigel was also a consultant on that film and remember he was strongly affiliated with JOSS, not only as a player but he also worked in the shop. That may have had something to do with it.
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Hello Chop Lock,
I see you are really representing the world famous Lock Society of good pool players and teachers of pool to people that want to improve their pool game, in your post and on your AZB page. Very good Sir! keep up the good work! I am very Proud of you.......
:thumbup:Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Color of Money
I’ll try to tackle this one.
The technical director for the film was Mike Sigel
Mike was using a Joss at that time and he suggested to Scorsese that he use the Joss Cue.
We made 99% of the cues used in the movie. From the house cues used in the opening bar action to the last game with Tom Cruise and Paul Newman.
Martin Scorsese is a real stickler for accuracy (I was told) and the movie was a follow up of “The Hustler”. The cue was supposed to be Newman’s cue from then.
I wasn’t making cues when Hustler was out so that meant the Joss Cue wouldn’t work for this.
Balabushka was making cues then and had passed away in December of 1975.
Movie was made in 1986.
So no conflict or advertising for a person that was not here.
The movie cue was called Balabushka no credits were given at the end of the movie.
I think this is it in a nutshell.
Any more questions I’ll try to help.
Dan
Joss Cues
I’ll try to tackle this one.
The technical director for the film was Mike Sigel
Mike was using a Joss at that time and he suggested to Scorsese that he use the Joss Cue.
We made 99% of the cues used in the movie. From the house cues used in the opening bar action to the last game with Tom Cruise and Paul Newman.
Martin Scorsese is a real stickler for accuracy (I was told) and the movie was a follow up of “The Hustler”. The cue was supposed to be Newman’s cue from then.
I wasn’t making cues when Hustler was out so that meant the Joss Cue wouldn’t work for this.
Balabushka was making cues then and had passed away in December of 1975.
Movie was made in 1986.
So no conflict or advertising for a person that was not here.
The movie cue was called Balabushka no credits were given at the end of the movie.
I think this is it in a nutshell.
Any more questions I’ll try to help.
Dan
Joss Cues
Hustle_Bustle
Registered
Hustle_Bustle
Registered
Hi Dan,
You mean they didn't include Joss or Balabushka in the credits?
thank you for sharing this!
HB
Sort of ...
The J18 picture is close, but the veneers are the wrong color and there are extra inlays within the points. How much of a difference does it make? Not a whole lot, but it's not exact and probably done to change it just enough for the movie.
The N7 has almost the right veneers, but the wrong butt cap and has the extra inlays. It's also close, but not quite right. The N7 is just what it's called today.
Attachments
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HB
You are welcome. When Newman grabbed that "Balabushka" and handed to Cruise as if he was giving him the keys to the kingdom, every Bushka in the world went up in value a strong 20%. It doesn't matter that it was a Joss movie prop. Newman called it a Balabushka and Cruise's eyes went wide.
Gus, to the mainstream at the time, was that guy you built some parts for Babushka, and his cache started to rise on those coattails. People started to notice the superior quality and workmanship of Gus's product,and Gus's stuff took right off too. Barry's integrity didn't hurt either in that regard.
The economy has hurt all collectibles, cues included. Add in to that equation that every year that passes is another year further from TCOM, and there you have it.
The world according to me.
Kevin
Indeed. Dan Janes can probably confirm this but the "movie cue" wasn't actually a production cue, it was simply based on a production cue or perhaps the production cue was based on it...the J18.
I though I mentioned that in my post, I guess I didn't.
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