Stories About the Legendary"St. Louie Louie" - RIP 12/22/91

Here's a nice compendium of stories/comments.

http://www.thehypertexts.com/St. Louis Louie Roberts Pool Billiards.htm

Also, buried deep in the recesses of my mind is this: he was killed in a motel, not a home, and someone, I cannot recall who, heard the shot(s). Like most, that individual said: no way, no how.

I saw Louie play in Sacramento once, probabaly in the early 80's, at Terry Stonier's Father's Day Tournament at the legendary Jointed Cue. He was all spiffed up in platform shoes, bell-bottom trousers, and a silk shirt and lost the first match of the finals but had to be double-dipped (don't recall who his opponent was). He excused himself, probably went out to his car, came back in jeans, a casual top, and sneakers, and won.

He was amazing and as everyone else has mentioned, looked like a young, trim Elvis. His warm up shot was to freeze a ball on the middle diamond of the end rail, put the CB exactly opposite *on top* of the opposite end rail, and hop/cut/spin it in.

A hugely charismatic player.

Lou Figueroa
 
Tom Ferry and I did play in the finals of the Missouri State Championships in 82

Tom Ferry played a lot at Cue and Cushion - he and Bill Berry were the best players and hung out there there quite a bit, I played mostly at Afton and the SportsCenter, although there was good action in Granite City and some of those East St. Louis towns.

Tom Ferry and I did play in the finals of the Missouri State Championships in 82....I can't remember if Louie was there or not. Tom did play well in the finals and captured the state championship title, I always liked that hat he always wore.


Old Nine Baller said:
Here's one from Tom Ferry (OldHasBeen) in reply to a person who pointed out Louie was a junkie. I spaced out some of the paragraphs for easier reading:
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CJ Wiley said:
The first time I saw "St. Louie Louie" was at the SportsCenter in St. Louis - I remember it was across the street from White Castle (we didn't have WC where I was raised so I remember clearly).

I had been down the street at Afton Billiards and had beat "Water Tower" out of $600, which took several hours. I really liked the old man, Jim, that ran 'The OK Corral," he treated me like a son, and steered me into numerous games through the years.

Entering the SportsCenter for me was like going back to the "Johnson City Days," they had serious pool players, card sharks, dice mechanics, you name your game and they probably had someone to beat you at it.

At 16 years old this place was like the major leagues for pool gambling....I was a lamb among wolves, however, this particular lamb had some fangs on the green felt.

Louie suddenly approached me "Hey kid, I hear you like to gamble" - my head instinctiely jerked in his direction. Apprehensive, I stuttered "I do like this pool game" ( I liked referring it as "the pool game" in my hustling days), looking to see who I was talking to Louie caught my gaze with piercing, blue eyes......I knew this was no ordinary person, but at that moment I went blank.....

My road parter grabbed my arm and pulled me, "CJ, come here for a sec!!!"

"That's Louie Roberts"

"That's Louie....really?" I said in almost disbelief. Louie didn't really look like a pool player, he looked more like a movie character "acting" like a pool player.

"should I play him?" My partner said, "sure, he'll probably give you the moon to play"

To make a long story short, we matched up a game where he gave me "the last 4" playing Two Foul Shootout 9 Ball. I was really nervous playing, but Louie missed a couple of balls early and I gained confidence and momentum. After about 2 hours Louie was 15 games loser and broke......(I gave him a $40 walking $tick)

After playing Louie we went back to Afton for awhile, then drove back to the SportsCenter (they were fairly close together).

Louie met me outside before I even got to the door. "Hey, let's play again, kid, I have a bankroll" - someone snuck over next to us and said "Louie's drunk, I just saw him chug a bottle of wine".......apparently he was right, Louie's eyes were glowing in the dark.

"I can't play you tonight, I'm tired" I said in a tone like I was reading it off a "cue card".

Louie was visibly passionate about playing.....he said "I have to play tonight, I'm flying to Atlantic City tomorrow" - Louie paused, then said "come on, I'll give you the "last 5" that's a ball more than you beat me with!!!"

Of course I couldn't turn that game down and Louie proceeded to show me what an "atomic speed" of 9 Ball really was. At the end I was hoping for a rail to be loose on a bank, because that was the only way he was ever going to miss.

I learned some important lessons during those matches with Louie....one of them was how to beat someone AND borrow $40 off them.....I completely forgot about the "walking stick". :sorry: .....the game really is the teacher.

The next time Louie, would be 3 years later...the game, the place and the outcome would all change......and this is another story for another time.
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The hall across from White Castle wasn't sportscenter. The one you are talking about was at Grand and Gravois the name escapes me ,but neal ran it most of the time. Louie , Terry, Gordon all ran around there.
 
Great nine ball player. The only time I got to see him was at the 1984 US Open Nine Ball Tournament in Norfolk, Virginia. Back then, it was done at the Quality Inn, Lake Wright. Nice big upstair ballroom, perfect for a pool tournament. Earl Strickland would go on to win the tournament. But on the Friday night, Louie had just finished dinner with Mike Sigel and wife, Buddy Hall, wife, and baby. They were in the restaurant at the table next to me. The first match I saw that night was Louie, and a relatively unknown player from the Phillipines. Louie got a lead, and was very talkative. The match got tight, and Louie got more and more quiet as the match progressed. Louie eventually lost the match that evening. His opponent was............. Jose Parica.
 
CJ Wiley said:
Tom Ferry played a lot at Cue and Cushion - he and Bill Berry were the best players and hung out there there quite a bit, I played mostly at Afton and the SportsCenter, although there was good action in Granite City and some of those East St. Louis towns.

Tom Ferry and I did play in the finals of the Missouri State Championships in 82....I can't remember if Louie was there or not. Tom did play well in the finals and captured the state championship title, I always liked that hat he always wore.
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I thought this thread was about St. Louie Louie stories. My mistake.

ONB
 
legendary

Thanks to Terryhanna for posting that video.....for those of us who never knew him or saw him play, it's a great introduction........At about 22:00 of the video, Louie didn't get good shape on a ball near the rail; and proceeds to make a tough cut down the rail at warp speed, just as described by Jay in one of his posts....I could see he played in a fast and loose style, just like Earl, moving around the table like he was in a hurry......that, is what I deem, is an example of a pool legend...
 
I never knew Louie served in Vietnam.
Thanks, I really like learning that even if it is decades too long!

Louie spent some quality time in New Orleans and was a unique individual for sure, well liked and a super talented guy when it comes to pool.

JoeyA
 
JoeyA said:
I never knew Louie served in Vietnam.
Thanks, I really like learning that even if it is decades too long!

Louie spent some quality time in New Orleans and was a unique individual for sure, well liked and a super talented guy when it comes to pool.

JoeyA
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i watched Earl Heisler (sp?) trap him playin that Louisana Hog Pool down in the Sport Palace.

When they started boilin dat shrimp it was curtains for Louie. Louie was giving Earl weight and although he could give him the 5 playing 9B he needed weight playing 1P. If i'm not mistaken he emptied out to include off loading his jacket.

I made the mistake of trying NY Blackie some while i was there
 
pool tables and a cafe on one side and a strip joint on the other

Was it the Sports Palace?

Yes, Neal was the one pocket player that looked like Dracula's nephew. My partner, Rick Thompson, played him on that first table and ended up losing. We got snowed in the pool room and I won $600 off some dope dealer shooting craps (also on that first table).

I got a lot of my early gambling seasoning from playing around St. Louis with Rusty Brandimere, Gary Lutman, Lil' Ricky, Rich Saeger, and of course, St. Louie Louie.

We also won a lot of money at the Forestell Truck Stop. They had pool tables and a cafe on one side and a strip joint on the other....that was a cool combination.


decent dennis said:
The hall across from White Castle wasn't sportscenter. The one you are talking about was at Grand and Gravois the name escapes me ,but neal ran it most of the time. Louie , Terry, Gordon all ran around there.
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ribdoner said:
i watched Earl Heisler (sp?) trap him playin that Louisana Hog Pool down in the Sport Palace.

When they started boilin dat shrimp it was curtains for Louie. Louie was giving Earl weight and although he could give him the 5 playing 9B he needed weight playing 1P. If i'm not mistaken he emptied out to include off loading his jacket.

I made the mistake of trying NY Blackie some while i was there
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New Orleans has a lot of humidity being surrounded by water but unless you experienced ole man Pete (the cook) opening up those doors to the pool room, letting out that steam from boiling seafood, you never really knew what humidity was.

Earl Heisler was skilled at playing under those super humid conditions but it was alien to every traveling pool player for sure.

Louie would go bust in New Orleans quite frequently but everyone liked him and he could get staked even when the stake horse knew it was a bad game. It was exciting to watch him play.

Blackie seldom ever lost a match for all those many years he lived in New Orleans. When he finally got really old and I finally learned a little about one pocket and could break even with him, he quit playing me altogether. I'm curious if I will be that kind of guy when my time comes. In NY Blackie's case, in his latter years, I guess he just couldn't bear losing to a banger like me even if it was for cheap fun.

JoeyA
 
While, as CJ says, it is a sad flashback for those of you who knew him, this thread is also a fitting remembrance, a testimonial and a celebration of a life lived that touched many. A recognition of a talent and person that was unique and should be remembered with the fondness that many contributors to this thread have shown.

I found it, somehow comforting, to be able to read some interesting stories about a talented player; well remembered and with respect. The photo collage set to good music showcased someone who lived life the way they wanted. The video of this player, that I had not seen play before, wrapped up the stories and pictures nicely and gave me brief insight into a one of a kind talent and personality.

Thank you to CJ for starting this thread and to all of you who contributed to it and made it a celebration of a life remembered. Rest in peace, St. Louie Louie Roberts.

Have a Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year to you and yours.

Jerry
 
watchez said:
You can catch a glimpse of Louie as the players are registering for the tourney in Atlantic City in the TCOM. They also announce 'the incomparable St Louie Louie' for one of the matches as they are getting towards the finals.

I have stories, some I have already told on here before......I posted this back in 2009.




TCOMPoster_zps05fc1826.jpg
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You knew him better than a lot of people and I've heard others in the St Louis area who insist he couldn't have killed himself and there are theories as to how it might have happened. He did however have a major substance problem and people can get to a very dark place and not be their normal self when on that stuff.

Sad ending for a guy who entertained a lot of people and was probably more loved than he realized.
 
Have been watching some video of St. Louie Louie and I loved his stroke. Also, in the video he showed his real speed a few times. Looked like he was just cruising with no worries. Thx Watchez who I think posted that video.

Al
 
CJ Wiley said:
Was it the Sports Palace?

Yes, Neal was the one pocket player that looked like Dracula's nephew. My partner, Rick Thompson, played him on that first table and ended up losing. We got snowed in the pool room and I won $600 off some dope dealer shooting craps (also on that first table).

I got a lot of my early gambling seasoning from playing around St. Louis with Rusty Brandimere, Gary Lutman, Lil' Ricky, Rich Saeger, and of course, St. Louie Louie.

We also won a lot of money at the Forestell Truck Stop. They had pool tables and a cafe on one side and a strip joint on the other....that was a cool combination.
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CJ,

The SPORT PALACE was in New Orleans. In the 70's it had 12 +- big tables and a large kitchen, separated by a wall.

Although i didn't see any titty dancers that doesn't mean they wern't there.

It was a gr8 spot and there was always something to do.
 
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From my previous post --- Louie's main hang outs in St Louis in the early years were Affton Billiards, Grand and Olive Billiards (the big pool room that Manwon mentioned) and Saratoga Bowling lanes (also mentioned). Later on he was the house pro at both what is now The Break in Cahokia Il and the Sportscenter in South County. So CJ you probably played him at the Grand and Olive room. I do know that one year, during a huge snow, many players were stuck inside Afton Billiards for over a day.

I didn't correct CJ in his earlier post cause I am always correcting him. :)

Another correction -- Louie was found dead in the house (dining room I believe) in the house he was living in Arizona. The story was the wife came home and found him there.

Also CJ - I have heard this story about Tom Ferry playing you in the finals of the Missouri State Championships. Before the finals started, Tom came up to you and said "Don't worry, just play your normal game, it's all setup". He was wanting you to believe that he was going to dump off the set and had gotten thru other parties side bets for you to win, even though you were the favorite, thus taking your guard down and lowering your game. Then in a race to 6, before you knew it, you were down 4 to nothing (or some score like that) and realized that Tom had put a double move on you. Tom went on to win cause it was too late for you to catch up.
 
He did however have a major substance problem
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Really? In a case of a possible Homicide, suicide, a post Mortem would have been mandatory.

It would have included toxicology. If he was under the influence of any type of Narcotic, it would have come out in the wash.

He was shot so that may have ruled out an over dose.
 
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ssbn610g said:
Have been watching some video of St. Louie Louie and I loved his stroke. Also, in the video he showed his real speed a few times. Looked like he was just cruising with no worries. Thx Watchez who I think posted that video.

Al
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During Louie's time at The Sportscenter, he would wear a shirt from Larry Labarbera's frozen yogurt stand Mr. Wiizards with the name 'Frank' on the shirt. Everyone would call him Frank the Ice Cream Man when some unknowning road player would come thru. The problem was that Louie was not much of a hustler and it was only a matter of time, he would let his stroke out and the cat would be out of the bag. This happened on more than one occassion. He had too much showmanship in him to hustle. The only pool player I knew that would not attempt to try to hide who he was. He would walk into a pool room, say I am the great Louie Roberts, who wants the 7 ball.
 
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