Poolroom Closed after 52 years

[FranCrimi]

I'm glad to hear Florence is still around. She did a lot for the game by hosting so many events over the years.

I was told that the place used to be a movie theater before it was a poolroom. I remember walking uphill towards one end of a table and downhill towards the other end of it. I always got a kick out of it when I played there.

 

[Nostroke]

I'm glad to hear Florence is still around. She did a lot for the game by hosting so many events over the years.

I was told that the place used to be a movie theater before it was a poolroom. I remember walking uphill towards one end of a table and downhill towards the other end of it. I always got a kick out of it when I played there.

I think an old theater was operating in the same building around 2001 or so. I kinda remember $2 movies and as you walked in the theatre there was a window where you could see into the tournament room. On the other hand that doesnt seem feasible so i might have dreamed it!

 

[pt109]

I could've bought a cue in that room when I was a kid.
....plain collar, linen wrap....$150
....I wanted a fancier one.

It was what Geo Balabuska called his 'business' cue....:banghead::speechless:

 

[Pushout]

I think an old theater was operating in the same building around 2001 or so. I kinda remember $2 movies and as you walked in the theatre there was a window where you could see into the tournament room. On the other hand that doesnt seem feasible so i might have dreamed it!

No, you're right! Fran, the lower part of the room used to be a bowling alley! That's why the lighting was the way it was and Florence never changed it. It took some getting used to, believe me.

 

[Cashplayer]

Rumor has it the room in Utica NY is next. Currently with reduced hours and may be on life support.

 

[FranCrimi]

No, you're right! Fran, the lower part of the room used to be a bowling alley! That's why the lighting was the way it was and Florence never changed it. It took some getting used to, believe me.

Oh, OK. I remember a pretty steep floor where if you walked from one end of the room to the other, you were walking up a hill. Was that the bowling alley?

 

[WildWing]

The pictures remind me of Cap's Cue Club in Syracuse. Another casualty of the dying out of the old-style pool rooms.

 

[PoolBoy1]

The poolroom in Binghamton, NY closed today after 52 years of play. Ballbusters, formerly The Pocket Billiard Lounge, was shut down by the Binghamton Fire Marshall for code violations. We believe this to be permanent, because to bring it into code and correct the violations would cost thousands.

First opened in 1963, this room had about 30 4 1/2 x 9s, a 3 cushion 5 x 10 and a few bar boxes, a dart league, grill and bar. It hosted the New York State 9 Ball tournament for many years and many women's tournaments as well when Florence Fuller operated it.

Players that played in here at times, include Efren Reyes, Mike Segal, Mike Lebron, Danny Diliberto, Alan Hopkins, Willie Masconi, Earl Strickland, Corey Deuel, Ray Martin, Jim Rempe, Dennis Hatch, Karen Coor, Steve Mizerak....and the list goes on.
Can you believe Efren played in a $5. 9 ball race with the local guys? He plays the same speed for $5 as he does for $5000.

I saw many good money matches over the years. Some lasted throughout the night and well into the next day.
I know people will ask how Florence is doing, so I'll answer ahead of time; just fine as far as I know. I haven't seen her in months.

Sounds like they abused the Grandfather's rule and pushed Great Grandfather!
Hard to keep a small business going in this Country for 5 years. They did well!

 

[Pushout]

Oh, OK. I remember a pretty steep floor where if you walked from one end of the room to the other, you were walking up a hill. Was that the bowling alley?

Yes, it's where she put the Gold Crowns as she acquired them. In spots one end of a table might seem higher than the other if you looked at how the table was set up. Most were pretty level, however.

 

[cardiac kid]

I lived in that town for two years about eight years ago. Never heard of the place, would've spent a lot of time/$ if I had. That might hav been part of their problem!

Might have been called Ball Busters during your time there. Big Sam from PA owned it for a short period. There were also two rooms in Endicott. One on the second floor of a building on East Franklin (I think). The other on Exchange St. Not sure of the street names. My memory isn't what it used to be.

Lyn

 

[cardiac kid]

I was told that the place used to be a movie theater before it was a poolroom. I remember walking uphill towards one end of a table and downhill towards the other end of it. I always got a kick out of it when I played there.

Fran,

That's the table I remember. Way more than an inch or two between the two ends of the table. Remember Florence also holding Womens events from time to time. Where I first met Karen Corr.

Lyn

 

[pt109]

). The other on Exchange St. Not sure of the street names. My memory isn't what it used to be.

Lyn

That's the room Lee Sibley played out of...Anniversary tables.
I hope it's still there, I like that room.
....took them some pool-sized snooker balls for some group game they played there.

 

[Pushout]

Might have been called Ball Busters during your time there. Big Sam from PA owned it for a short period. There were also two rooms in Endicott. One on the second floor of a building on East Franklin (I think). The other on Exchange St. Not sure of the street names. My memory isn't what it used to be.

Lyn

Sam never owned it. He had a place with bar tables downtown, so I'm told. Happened after I moved and only lasted a very short time.

 

[cardiac kid]

That's the room Lee Sibley played out of...Anniversary tables.
I hope it's still there, I like that room.
....took them some pool-sized snooker balls for some group game they played there.

Paul,

Bob Osbourne, Mike Lane, Alan Keil, Lee Sibley and a couple of others played at TPBL. Jerry Fields could always be found in the small pool room in Endicott. For a guy almost as old as me, you have a pretty good memory .

Lyn

 

[Pushout]

That's the room Lee Sibley played out of...Anniversary tables.
I hope it's still there, I like that room.
....took them some pool-sized snooker balls for some group game they played there.

Only place I knew that Lee played was/is Triangle Billiards on Washington Avenue in Endicott. Gordon {Bucky} Fluharty and I were just talking about Lee the other day.

 

[pt109]

Only place I knew that Lee played was/is Triangle Billiards on Washington Avenue in Endicott. Gordon {Bucky} Fluharty and I were just talking about Lee the other day.

Triangle...that's the place!

 

[pt109]

Paul,

Bob Osbourne, Mike Lane, Alan Keil, Lee Sibley and a couple of others played at TPBL. Jerry Fields could always be found in the small pool room in Endicott. For a guy almost as old as me, you have a pretty good memory .

Lyn

I used to buy Jerry in the calcuttas....'cause I liked him...and I cashed a lot.
Bought an old Joss off Bob....old enough to have an 18 thread pin.

 

[cardiac kid]

Only place I knew that Lee played was/is Triangle Billiards on Washington Avenue in Endicott. Gordon {Bucky} Fluharty and I were just talking about Lee the other day.

Boy, you must be way younger than me! Thought Triangle was on Exchange St. Way off. The other room is on North Street not E. Franklin. Age has sure tempered my memory. Thanks guys for the corrections.

Lyn

 

[nightmare]

Sad to hear...

Florence was one of the early supporters of the WPBA & a WPBA player herself. I remember going to The Pocket Billiard Lounge a couple times a year in the mid to late '70s for WPBA events. Some names from those days were Jean Balukas, Loree Jon (Ogonowski, Jones) Hasson , Gloria Walker, Vicki (Frechen) Paski, Fran Crimi, Astrid Coil, Debbie Smith, Nancy Warren, Cheryl Cohen, Mary Orlandi & many more.

Mary Kenniston

 

[bountybuddy]

I also hate to see old pool halls close. I was never there but It sounds like a cool place. Such a shame. I hoped that someone would come out with a good movie with lots of pool in it nut not likely to happen. After all these years I still love to play.