African American pool pros

[jay helfert]

Billy Palmer...I feel fortunate to have seen him play. Dunno if he's a full time pro or not though.

He has a full time job, plays on weekends.

 

[Str8PoolPlayer]

Pool Room on State Street ....

The pool room on State Street was used in the book,The Hustler. When Fast Eddie first plays after his thumbs heal, he plays an old man in a room based on the State Street joint. You must have been some kind of a rounder to play in that joint, because even I was a little skittish about playing in there. There was a big sign on the wall that said "No Dope dealing or pimping allowed." There was a real cross-section of humanity in there. The best players were Jew Town Red (a black man, who once saved my life) and Polack Frank the Killer. I think it only had about 4 or 5 tables in the back with a grill up front. It's been closed for at least 30 years. I think all the tables were 5x 10's.

the Beard

Well, being raised in East Saint Louis can toughen-you-up a bit, but Chi-town was a whole nother story, as you well know ... Often times, after non-stop Pool there on State Street, we would jam over to Cicero (Gas was only .18 cents) for the Best Italian Sausage and Meatball Grinders you could wrap your lips around ... It's been 50 years and I can still see (and smell) that little hole-in-the-wall joint in my mind's eye ... You are probably right about the 5x10's ... Lot's of rooms still had them in the 50's & 60's ...

 

[jimmyg]

And I played pool all over Harlem in the 60's. Hell, even McGirr's downstairs in New York was mostly all black then. I played Banks there with a few different men of color. And they all beat me. Cisero liked me, and I got their respect. I had met him first at 7-11.

.

I stopped into McGirr's once or twice back around that same time period, never played there, but don't recall it being particularily a black players room, do remember seeing the actor Peter Falk playing there, by himself. I think he was able to handle a stick fairly well.

Jim

 

[MrLucky]

McGirrs Pool Room...

I stopped into McGirr's once or twice back around that same time period, never played there, but don't recall it being particularily a black players room, do remember seeing the actor Peter Falk playing there, by himself. I think he was able to handle a stick fairly well.

Jim

Was most definitely a black mecca of pool ! Hell most whites in the 60's would not even go into the areas close too or in Harlem much less a Pool Room!

McGirrs was popular in the early 1940's when the area was predomitably white it was brought to notoriety because of Willie Mosconi.... From 1940 to 1941 a league was sponsored by billiard halls with 8 players, and a full round robin took place. Mosconi was sponsored by a hall in New York called McGirr's. He dominated this series, and ran 125 balls from the break five times when only two other players in history had ever done the same.

He continued to dominate pool into the mid 1950s in a manner few have equaled.

 

[freddy the beard]

Naw, it wasn't Rudy Oliver

Sounds like Rudy Oliver. He was respected from the ghetto to Hollywood. Everyone knew and respected Rudy around poolroooms in L.A.
He died in the early 90's and word went all around L.A. that he had passed away.

No, it wasn't Rudy Oliver. I knew Rudy well. While Rudy was well regarded in Hollywood, Rudy would be going for coffee for this guy.

the Beard

Check out my new line of economy cues for under $200 on my website

 

[gulfportdoc]

McGirr's

Was most definitely a black mecca of pool ! Hell most whites in the 60's would not even go into the areas close too or in Harlem much less a Pool Room!

McGirrs was popular in the early 1940's when the area was predomitably white it was brought to notoriety because of Willie Mosconi.... From 1940 to 1941 a league was sponsored by billiard halls with 8 players, and a full round robin took place. Mosconi was sponsored by a hall in New York called McGirr's.

I don't know which black room y'all are referring to, but McGirr's was near 8th Ave. and 44th St. in Manhattan. I played 3C there once in '69, and it was a predominantly white room.

Doc

 

[jimmyg]

I don't know which black room y'all are referring to, but McGirr's was near 8th Ave. and 44th St. in Manhattan. I played 3C there once in '69, and it was a predominantly white room.

Doc

That's what I recall, Doc. At the time, I lived in Manhattan and had a part time job in the Broadway area. Stopped in a few times.

Jim

 

[huckster]

Are you talking about Slim Carney?? Originally from NYC, but I heard he moved to Florida a good many years ago. Would be a lot younger than Latsapapa, though.

He tourtured Troy Frank for the cash playing 9ball. In three sets he missed a grand total of 2 balls. It wasn't even close. I put Double J (sea turtle) in the box against him after that before he won the BCA open (1992?) and a 8 ahead set took 5 hours to take down. I heard that Slim played way over his head that weekend but he didn't miss. I will always remember his fingers they look about a foot long

 

[Andrew Manning]

..."Mommy is a Carpet-Muncher" and "Daddy is a Butt-Pirate" are required reading in Elementary School these days ...

We pay big money to send our Grand-children to Christian School so they won't be subjected to such degenerate filth ...

Did you just call gay people "degenerate filth"? Even if that's not what you meant, way to display your tolerance with the slurs above.

At your grand-children's school, do they teach them to love their fellow man? If so, they'll know more about Christianity than you apparently do. Can you name the speaker of this quote?

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Just curious.

-Andrew

 

[MrLucky]

yikes!

That's what I recall, Doc. At the time, I lived in Manhattan and had a part time job in the Broadway area. Stopped in a few times.

Jim

The place I am thinking about is or was around West 144th street and Amsterdam Ave ! perhaps I am confusing the rooms!

 

[jay helfert]

I stopped into McGirr's once or twice back around that same time period, never played there, but don't recall it being particularily a black players room, do remember seeing the actor Peter Falk playing there, by himself. I think he was able to handle a stick fairly well.

Jim

Maybe it just seemed that way to me, because of all the black hustlers that were in there. And that is a fact.

 

[jay helfert]

No, it wasn't Rudy Oliver. I knew Rudy well. While Rudy was well regarded in Hollywood, Rudy would be going for coffee for this guy.

the Beard

Check out my new line of economy cues for under $200 on my website

That's a good line Fred. Not sure who you're referring to.

 

[MrLucky]

Yes ...

Maybe it just seemed that way to me, because of all the black hustlers that were in there. And that is a fact.

you are correct I know for a fact that was one of Ciceros spots in back the day! I might have the locations confused there were several places I have been in with him but the one I remember was a haven for the "Hustlers" of the time! we are going back 40-50 years

 

[jimmyg]

The place I am thinking about is or was around West 144th street and Amsterdam Ave ! perhaps I am confusing the rooms!

I had a feeling that we were just not thinking about the same room. And you are 100% correct, without being known, respected, and without a personal invitation not too many whites would have ventured up to 144th and Amsterdam Ave.

In fact sometime during the mid sixtys, there were some serious riots in Harlem, serious enough to make the cover of Life magazine.


Originally Posted by jimmyg
I stopped into McGirr's once or twice back around that same time period, never played there, but don't recall it being particularily a black players room, do remember seeing the actor Peter Falk playing there, by himself. I think he was able to handle a stick fairly well.

Jim


Jay Helfert wrote: "Maybe it just seemed that way to me, because of all the black hustlers that were in there. And that is a fact."

Jay, I'm sure that what you say is absolutely true. I spent very little time in those "big league" rooms and I'm reaching back quite a while, but IIRC McGirr's had a reputation of being a very serious poolroom, pretty much in the same league as 7-11 and Ames. All three were, I believe, colorless.

Jim

 

[BigDaddyInc.]

Hey mrlucky i give props to your uncle thats an awesome example of HEART sounds like your uncle had nuthin but heart. I hate the way people say "he wont gamble he aint got no heart". They have no clue what heart is. Sounds like your uncle truly loved the game. Sounds like he faced a lot of adversity and handled it well. Like a true champion. And well worhty of the HOF.

 

[MrLucky]

Yes He did...

Hey mrlucky i give props to your uncle thats an awesome example of HEART sounds like your uncle had nuthin but heart. I hate the way people say "he wont gamble he aint got no heart". They have no clue what heart is. Sounds like your uncle truly loved the game. Sounds like he faced a lot of adversity and handled it well. Like a true champion. And well worhty of the HOF.

As a child I did not recognize all that he really endured to do what he loved! He was very dedicated.
Thanks for the kind words

 

[MrLucky]

A Real Blast From the Past!

I had a feeling that we were just not thinking about the same room. And you are 100% correct, without being known, respected, and without a personal invitation not too many whites would have ventured up to 144th and Amsterdam Ave.

In fact sometime during the mid sixtys, there were some serious riots in Harlem, serious enough to make the cover of Life magazine.


Originally Posted by jimmyg
I stopped into McGirr's once or twice back around that same time period, never played there, but don't recall it being particularily a black players room, do remember seeing the actor Peter Falk playing there, by himself. I think he was able to handle a stick fairly well.

Jim


Jay Helfert wrote: "Maybe it just seemed that way to me, because of all the black hustlers that were in there. And that is a fact."

Jay, I'm sure that what you say is absolutely true. I spent very little time in those "big league" rooms and I'm reaching back quite a while, but IIRC McGirr's had a reputation of being a very serious poolroom, pretty much in the same league as 7-11 and Ames. All three were, I believe, colorless.

Jim

Now AMES that brings back many memories ! Ames was the first big room that I ever saw when I was old enough to go into a real Pool Hall! I remember a $100 dollar a game ( a hell of a lot of money then to play for hell a car was like $1200 back then) that my uncle got into it was amazing the whole room was watching!

 

[jay helfert]

you are correct I know for a fact that was one of Ciceros spots in back the day! I might have the locations confused there were several places I have been in with him but the one I remember was a haven for the "Hustlers" of the time! we are going back 40-50 years

Do you remember Broadway Billiards? I think it was also downstairs and had a similar crowd to McGirrs. Full of hustlers and scufflers and various low lifes. Naturally I loved it, and couldn't wait to get in action. It rarely took me five minutes to get a game in these places.

 

[VIProfessor]

Do you remember Broadway Billiards? I think it was also downstairs and had a similar crowd to McGirrs. Full of hustlers and scufflers and various low lifes. Naturally I loved it, and couldn't wait to get in action. It rarely took me five minutes to get a game in these places.

Up to the last time I played in New York (2002), I spent a good amount of time at a Broadway Billiards in Manhattan that is exactly as you described. IIRC, it was fairly close to the location of the now-defunct Chelsea Billiards. Is this the same place? If so, you are right on point! I've never been in a room where you get a game so quickly (at least at first ).

 

[MrLucky]

I remember the name but can't visualize the room ...

Do you remember Broadway Billiards? I think it was also downstairs and had a similar crowd to McGirrs. Full of hustlers and scufflers and various low lifes. Naturally I loved it, and couldn't wait to get in action. It rarely took me five minutes to get a game in these places.

I went to so many spots with them it wasn't funny ! some nights we hit several in hours looking for a good game!