Jack and Jill Cue Club in Arlington Virginia

[JAM]

You are jarring my memory. Did WB have two places?...one in Seven Corners and one in Arlington. The Arlington room was the main action spot. I could be all wrong on this.

I may not be as old as some of the other posters on this thread, which is hard to believe, but I am relaying my memories as a tween. :grin:

The one in Seven Corners I went to was in a strip mall, and you had to go down a staircase to get into the joint after you walked in the front door. It was dark in there, only one way in and one way out.

And yes, it was in Seven Corners. Arlington Proper is a huge stretch on the map. What may look like Falls Church on a map may be Arlington in Virginia. My birth mother for years lived across from Ft. Myer in Arlington, and then they moved to Falls Church in Pimmit HIlls. I used to spend a lot of time in Virginia, so this is my childhood memory of Jack and Jill's in Seven Corners area and Weenie Beenie's hot dog stands.

I also am familiar, as I'm sure Black-Balled is, with the first so-called Champion's pool room off Glebe Road, in a strip mall with a cop shop. It's funny the things you remember. Nobody liked hanging out in the parking lot of this pool room because of that cop shop where they sold cop-related items. Seattle Sam worked this place graveyard shift. Bill Staton came there to play Freddie Boggs in the '80s era, after Jack and JIll's was long gone. The pool grapevine worked overtime, because by teh time the match began, the place was packed with spectators, hoping to see a good show. After the first game, Staton got pissed off at Freddie Boggs for taking too long between shots. He lost one match for a nickel and unscrewed, leaving us there with nothing to do.

Geese, my friend, got in an action against Bobby Hawk. Geese had to play one-handed to Bobby's two, with Geese getting a spot. Geese was robbing. We drove home with a smile on our faces at sunrise that day.

In Metro DC area today, there aren't very many pool rooms. The ones that do exist seem to be in Virginia.

 

[Black-Balled]

Since mapman is no longer offering his input...

The 7 corners area is a convergence of a few localities: falls church city, falls church part of fairfAx county and the city/ county of Arlington.

The j/Jill's that was there was in falls church part of fairfax county. The shopping area is still there, though has surely been renovated many times.
I am sure there is no longer a business in the basement area, though I will admit I do not know exactly where the pool room was.

Gunn: I understand Calhoun passed away a few years ago...and wasn't it in a westmont matchup between f. Boggs and Beenie that Freddie had to go to the laundromat? I believe they are still waiting for him to return, no?

I am also told that beenie had a mean-tight gold crown in his house that he used to trap folks. when the word got out that he was near invincible on his home table and the action there evaporated, he moved the table to the pool room in Alexandria and when folks turned down the home invite, he'd take them there.

 

[WildWing]

I am also told that beenie had a mean-tight gold crown in his house that he used to trap folks. when the word got out that he was near invincible on his home table and the action there evaporated, he moved the table to the pool room in Alexandria and when folks turned down the home invite, he'd take them there.

This is probably true. In his Arlington Room (not Alexandria), all but one of the tables were Gandy Big G tables. The one that wasn't was a Brunswick Gold Crown. The pockets on it were so small, they resembled snooker pockets. If you ever wanted to play on it, the guy at the counter would often say, "Are you sure? It's awfully tough."

I suspect that table was Beenie's Gold Crown that was in his home at one time.

Also, it makes sense that he owned both Arlington and Seven Corners Jack and Jills. The tables in both rooms all had names of the states painted on them for some reason, so it stands to reason that this was something that Beenie did.

 

[richiebalto]

I somehow stumbled across this old article http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1084567/1/index.htm

Being from Virginia I was curious if anyone has any memories about the JJ cue club in Arlington.

awesom thread, brother!

Tom Vanover played Shannon the cannon Dalton there when Shannon was very young 15-16, according To Tom.

What year did it close and what was the reason for closing?

I remember what happen to Jack Cooney and his wife (iam pretty sure it happen here).

For who ever didnt hear about that ordeal, here it goes, i hope i get it rite!

Cant remember the year, this robbery and shooting took place, its been talked about a couple of times here at AZBILLIARDS that iam aware of, so here it goes i hope i get it rite!

Robbers came in at Jack n Jills pool room with shotguns and emptied everyones pockets i believe, but when they went up to Cooneys wife to get her money, she stood her ground and didnt give them her money, then she was shot (i believe in the chest) i cant remember if the robbers took her money after shooting her or not.

But man what balls did Cooneys wife have (i forgot her name, sorry) she wasnt giving anybody anything guns or not!

Iam curious if this had anything to do with the closing of the pool room, and was the robbers ever caught?

 

[WildWing]

What year did it close and what was the reason for closing?

Jack and Jills closed in mid to late 1980. The stated reason for the closing was that very small shopping center (only a couple stores) was condemned for safety reasons. I think developers played a big part in that though, as townhouses replaced that little shopping center quickly afterwards.

 

[richiebalto]

Jack and Jills closed in mid to late 1980. The stated reason for the closing was that very small shopping center (only a couple stores) was condemned for safety reasons. I think developers played a big part in that though, as townhouses replaced that little shopping center quickly afterwards.

Wild, thank you for that answer, i would think who ever bought that land, Offered MR.STATON money that he couldnt refuse!

 

[Gunn_Slinger]

Hey BB. There was a match between Bennie and Freddie Boggs in the 80's as reported. I was out of pool then with a torn disk until "88.
The match where Freddie had to go do his laundry was in the early 90's against Tommy Golley from Pa. Tommy ran 5-6 racks on Freedie with Freedie getting the 8 in the back room of westmont ( Champions ). Freedie pulled up and said he had to do laundry...lol. Dont know about Bennie's table in his house, but there was a gold crown in J&J ( table 21 ) in front of the tournment room when I started hangin there in late 1970. It was tighter than the big G's, but not real tight.

 

[Gunn_Slinger]

Benies closed long before the Cooney incident. The shooting happened in bladensburg md in the gold crown billiards room ( I dont think Cliff Maclin ( spell check...lol ) had bought that room then. He changed the name to guys and gals...I think..after the big gambling room guys and dolls in suitland md. He also bought Bill and Billies off crain hy and changed it to jack and jills after Bennies place. Cooney's wife always handled the money and she was shot by some dope head. She didn't give up the money! By 1978-79, pool ( gamblin ) was just about dead in va. 2 gas hikes, no working guys with cash to gamble with, left hustlers playing hustlers. No percentage there. Beenie had moved to Myrtle Beach for his algeries, and J&J was almost dead. Only 2 rooms in n va left then, Cue & Chalk and Westmont. Very little action. Beenies closed in 1980. By the late 80's, some rooms had opened around the area. Westmont was bought by Champion Billiards. It became the action room for n va. Open 24/7 with gold croen tables ( 3 double shimmed ), It was the only " doze but we never close " room around. It was old, dirty, and not in a good area, all the componets gamblers love!...lol.
Md had some good gamblin rooms. Jack & Jills, USA Billiards ( may of "89 ) and a few more I dont remember much.
There never has been another Bennies and I dont believe there ever will be..
ps
Tom and Shannon must have played at Jack & Jills ( prob when it was Bill & Billies ) in glen burnie md, not Bennies place. Shannon was born in 1972.

 

[JAM]

awesom thread, brother!

Tom Vanover played Shannon the cannon Dalton there when Shannon was very young 15-16, according To Tom.

What year did it close and what was the reason for closing?

I remember what happen to Jack Cooney and his wife (iam pretty sure it happen here).

For who ever didnt hear about that ordeal, here it goes, i hope i get it rite!

Cant remember the year, this robbery and shooting took place, its been talked about a couple of times here at AZBILLIARDS that iam aware of, so here it goes i hope i get it rite!

Robbers came in at Jack n Jills pool room with shotguns and emptied everyones pockets i believe, but when they went up to Cooneys wife to get her money, she stood her ground and didnt give them her money, then she was shot (i believe in the chest) i cant remember if the robbers took her money after shooting her or not.

But man what balls did Cooneys wife have (i forgot her name, sorry) she wasnt giving anybody anything guns or not!

Iam curious if this had anything to do with the closing of the pool room, and was the robbers ever caught?

That incident with Cooney in action with his lady getting shot, that definitely happened at the Golden Cue in Bladensburg, MD. I know some people who were in the house when it happened. She refused to give up the money to the robbers.

That was Geese's home pool room where he grew up as a kid and where he was donned the moniker "Geese." Somebody wrote his name on the tournament chart as "Geace" instead of "Gerace," leaving the "r" out. When they called his name to come play his match, it sounded like "Geese," and the name stuck with him ever since.

 

[Gunn_Slinger]

Yes Jam . Tks. I had the name of the room wrong. "Geese from the east ", what a guy! I miss Mike. Even though we gambled with each other, I counted him as a friend. I met him when he was about 13. He played in a room on new hampshire ave in langley park, md. He was being schooled at pool by a good player named Tom Jenkins. He was a good player then. Had one of the best strokes I've ever seen. RIP Mike

 

[Black-Balled]

Thanks for setting the record straight, folks. Kinda tough to keep the tales accurate, not having been in the scene then.

Gunn- I have some pics of westmont that bill stansbury took, including one of breezy out front. I thought they were lost forever, but my mom told me the other day that they are still at the parents house. I intend to share them with the azb someday, if I can ever remember to put my paws on them.

 

[richiebalto]

Big thanks to Gunn and Ms.Jam, for the correct information!

I can count on JAM to correct me when i speak about pool playing in our area, iam wrong alot, thank GOD She is here most the time to pick up the peices!

 

[richiebalto]

Benies closed long before the Cooney incident. The shooting happened in bladensburg md in the gold crown billiards room ( I dont think Cliff Maclin ( spell check...lol ) had bought that room then. He changed the name to guys and gals...I think..after the big gambling room guys and dolls in suitland md. He also bought Bill and Billies off crain hy and changed it to jack and jills after Bennies place. Cooney's wife always handled the money and she was shot by some dope head. She didn't give up the money! By 1978-79, pool ( gamblin ) was just about dead in va. 2 gas hikes, no working guys with cash to gamble with, left hustlers playing hustlers. No percentage there. Beenie had moved to Myrtle Beach for his algeries, and J&J was almost dead. Only 2 rooms in n va left then, Cue & Chalk and Westmont. Very little action. Beenies closed in 1980. By the late 80's, some rooms had opened around the area. Westmont was bought by Champion Billiards. It became the action room for n va. Open 24/7 with gold croen tables ( 3 double shimmed ), It was the only " doze but we never close " room around. It was old, dirty, and not in a good area, all the componets gamblers love!...lol.
Md had some good gamblin rooms. Jack & Jills, USA Billiards ( may of "89 ) and a few more I dont remember much.
There never has been another Bennies and I dont believe there ever will be..
ps
Tom and Shannon must have played at Jack & Jills ( prob when it was Bill & Billies ) in glen burnie md, not Bennies place. Shannon was born in 1972.

Ed Sukanis owned Bill and Billies in glen burnie, then he sold it to Cliff, Man what a beautiful Wife Cliff has or had, i went to Cliffs house one night to play him some 1 pocket on his home table, iam pretty sure Cliff lived in greenbelt,md, big Beautiful house and his wife treated us like kings!

Oh btw Cliff played a little bit better on his home table then he showed in Jack n jills!

 

[pwd72s]

Loved the old Sports Illustrated article...thanks for posting the link.

 

[JAM]

Big thanks to Gunn and Ms.Jam, for the correct information!

I can count on JAM to correct me when i speak about pool playing in our area, iam wrong alot, thank GOD She is here most the time to pick up the peices!

You're more familiar with the northern Maryland area around Baltimore way, and I'm more familiar with Southern Maryland, D.C. proper.

 

[richiebalto]

You're more familiar with the northern Maryland area around Baltimore way, and I'm more familiar with Southern Maryland, D.C. proper.

Together with a little help from Black ball we have the state of Maryland pretty much covered!

 

[Island Drive]

Together with a little help from Black ball we have the state of Maryland pretty much covered!

Hell, the mother of both my daughters is from Beltsville.

 

[Wedge]

Weenie and Jimmy Marino Photo

Great Photo!!!

 

[JAM]

Courtesy of the Bill Staton ("Weenie Beenie") Collection via Mary Kenniston's Wall of Fame volumes, check out this photo of Jack and Jill's Cue Club in Arlington, Virginia. It's from 1975, the Fats-DeValliere One Pocket Challenge. That's Charlie DeValliere on the left, and I think you-all know which one Fats is in the photo. :grin-square:

 

[Black-Balled]

Is that tucker in the white shirt on the left if the photo, gunn?