Your Favorite Rooms to Visit

[lfigueroa]

Well, I have been to quite a few 'halls' in the past 25 years. So I am probably biased (no I am) about an "old school hall" (and now long closed) in Phoenix, AZ called The GOLDEN EIGHT BALL in early late 1980s-1990s. I'm talking about the hall on Indian School Road, across from the Wendy's.

Smoke-filled, tons of bar tables, and 9-footers—even had a 12-foot snooker table. Large raised bar, arcade games, full snack shop, and tons of hot women. This place was packed with both pool and non-pool players on the weekends. Tournaments every week. Action galore. Road players would often stop by, e.g. The Earthquake, The Hatchet Man, C.J., just to name a few of the dozens I saw when I was in there.

The reason why I LOVED this place was because there was one 9-footer in a sunken area called 'The Pit.' It was THE table to play on at "The EIGHT BALL." Beautiful table, straight and fast as lightning. If you were seen playing "down there" in 'The Pit" either you were in the finals of a tourney or you had some serious action.

I was once saw Ronnie Allen and "Beanie Weanie" (on separate occasions) gamble some one pocket. Man, I'm telling you, I saw some awesome moves. I learned a lot.

So, yes, I am from Phoenix and for those of you in the know you would have to say this was one HELL of a room. Although I don't miss the thick smoke (you could cut it with your hands), I sure do miss playing in 'The Pit.'

Sounds like an awesome room. Sorry I missed it.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

Have to go back in time Lou, but I think you'll agree...In its prime there never was, nor has there been since, a room
like Cochran's in San Francisco...Simply the best ever !

SJD

Dick, I liked Cochran's, as well as The Palace across the street. But at the time, when I was growing up in San Francisco, I was just learning to play. All the heavy hitters were at Cochran's, waaaaay out of my league, so I'd spend more time at The Palace. I still got robbed but at least I wasn't playing a champion

Lou Figueroa

 

[jrhendy]

For memorabilia it's hard to beat Chris's in Chicago...even though it's mostly passe' as a players room. I like Amsterdam in NYC, both Hard Times (Bellflower and Sacramento), Black Diamond in Spokane WA, Snookers in Providence RI, and many more. I've been to most of the rooms mentioned already.

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

I am going to check out Chris's and Red Shoes later this month. I was a regular at both Hard Times and Sacramento is still my home room.

My son built the pool room now called Black Diamond in Spokane. It was originally called McCues.

Don't forget The Jointed Cue in Sacramento. More history on the walls there than any other room on the West Coast.

 

[lfigueroa]

I sure was impressed in 1968 walkin' in to Congress billiards in Miami, and seeing Diliberto and others and 12' ft. pool tables, yikes. I've seen so many good rooms, don't know where to start. Janscos, the pit, with the two Gandys. Wichita, Shooters, the barbers chair for the ring bar table game. Or the snooker action at Jim Mcdermotts old room that also had a 3 cush table. The original hard times in costa mesa when Ether cut his teeth, had a couch and a fireplace. Then there's that bus stop bar in San Franciso, that had a Perfect 4X8 Valley bar table with the heavy cue ball and anyone can get beat there. And all the great below ground rooms, and the open door pool rooms in New Orleans, wow.


Romines in Milwaukee is cool.

Wow. Sounds like you been to a lot of great rooms, ID. And you're talking about The Bus Stop. I actually still have an ashtray from that place some place. It was down on Union Street and all the top guys like Ronnie Barber and Waterdog would have their quarters up to play the stock brokers and lawyers that would come in for drinks. A legendary spot for sure.

Lou Figueroa

 

[lfigueroa]

I am going to check out Chris's and Red Shoes later this month. I was a regular at both Hard Times and Sacramento is still my home room.

My son built the pool room now called Black Diamond in Spokane. It was originally called McCues.

Don't forget The Jointed Cue in Sacramento. More history on the walls there than any other room on the West Coast.

I lived in Sacramento for a couple of year back around the early 80's and loved playing at the JC and also Gene Aloha's place, I think it was called the Golden Cue or Eight Ball.

Lou Figueroa

 

[jrhendy]

I sure was impressed in 1968 walkin' in to Congress billiards in Miami, and seeing Diliberto and others and 12' ft. pool tables, yikes. I've seen so many good rooms, don't know where to start. Janscos, the pit, with the two Gandys. Wichita, Shooters, the barbers chair for the ring bar table game. Or the snooker action at Jim Mcdermotts old room that also had a 3 cush table. The original hard times in costa mesa when Ether cut his teeth, had a couch and a fireplace. Then there's that bus stop bar in San Franciso, that had a Perfect 4X8 Valley bar table with the heavy cue ball and anyone can get beat there. And all the great below ground rooms, and the open door pool rooms in New Orleans, wow.


Romines in Milwaukee is cool.

The original Hard Times was something! Open 24 hours and full of good players and action, especially after 2am on the weekends when players would come in after their local rooms closed. Almost as much gin action as pool sometimes with Charlie The Ape playing or staking.

The Billiard Palace in Bellflower was a great room too. The original owner, Verne Peterson, was the man who put the famous 6 x 12, "Big Bertha" together. The pay ball games on the 5 x 10 out front were legendary. Many of the players in and out of that game are Hall of Famers now.

After Verne sold it to Butch Van Syoc and his dad Brian, you could go busted on Brian's shift, bite him and if you went broke again, put the bite on Butch when he came on at night. Butch would make me leave my cue. Brian was a little softer and did not require anything to hold. I might have made more $$ in those golf and liability snooker games playing the regulars than at any other time in my pool playing life. But I also liked to play in the cheaper pay ball games with the champions and play a little 9ball and one pocket too, so usually my winnings did not stay in my pocket for very long.

 

[ibuycues]

Totally Agree......

I guarantee you if you are a player and get a chance to go to Shooters you'd better stop in. You will most likely be greeted at the ball counter by Dave Matlock.

They also have some of the greatest pool memorabilia and pictures on the walls I've seen.

Like I said earlier I can't say enough about it...it's a pool mecca. :thumbup:

Hope all`s well with you! Saw your Dad last weekend, looks like he`s doing great. He said you are enjoying married life. Hope you don`t end up going to the hardware store more often than the pool room, as happened with most of us after we got married!

And you know how I feel about Shooter`s Olathe! Next time you are here, stay at our home!

Will Prout

 

[Island Drive]

Wow. Sounds like you been to a lot of great rooms, ID. And you're talking about The Bus Stop. I actually still have an ashtray from that place some place. It was down on Union Street and all the top guys like Ronnie Barber and Waterdog would have their quarters up to play the stock brokers and lawyers that would come in for drinks. A legendary spot for sure.

Lou Figueroa

Bus Stop, Ronnnie Barber, he did hang here in Colorado, during Gradys years here and he played a good game on this type of equipment.

Yeah, Lou, I lived at Laguna and Van Ness 1970. I actually tended bar at Henry Africas on Van Ness, then I moved later to the Mission District. I beat Daulton in 14.1 on the top of Van Ness at a pool room. name?? When I looked up after I ran 47 and out, the steak holder had Walked. Ran into Daulton a few yrs later in New Orleans, he laid off in our match and I got my stolden steak money from yrs ago back quickly. His stakehorse never saw it comin' oh well.

 

[lfigueroa]

Bus Stop, Ronnnie Barber, he did hang here in Colorado, during Gradys years here and he played a good game on this type of equipment.

Yeah, Lou, I lived at Laguna and Van Ness 1970. I actually tended bar at Henry Africas on Van Ness, then I moved later to the Mission District. I beat Daulton in 14.1 on the top of Van Ness at a pool room. name?? When I looked up after I ran 47 and out, the steak holder had Walked. Ran into Daulton a few yrs later in New Orleans, he laid off in our match and I got my stolden steak money from yrs ago back quickly. His stakehorse never saw it comin' oh well.

I remember Henry Africa's -- kinda one of the original fern bars, no?

The name of the pool room on Van Ness was Van's, a kinda two-story affair.

Sounds like you and I were running around there about the same time. I learned to play at the Billiards Palacade not too far from my house. Then a few years later, when I got a car (I was in HS), started hanging out at Town & Country up in Daly City.

Lou Figueroa
now I'm going to have to
go hunting for that damned ash tray

 

[jtompilot]

I've been to almost every room mentioned.

The Golden Eight Ball, was some kind of nice room. Lots of action. 14-1, 9 ball, and 1P. Danny D. was the house pro for a while.

My fav's are Q Master, it's set up for a little of everything.
Diamonds in Cape Coral, if you like smoking.
Red Shoes, if you can't get action there you must be dead.
The old and new Amsterdam Billiards.
I'm sure I've left some out.
Golden Fleece

 

[DoubleA]

Q Master X2, JOB's,