An Idea that actually did work.

Herrill Lanes was on Herricks Road & Hillside Ave. at the northwest part of Mineola. The pool hall I mentioned was on the south side of Jericho Turnpike a couple of miles west of the Sheridan Bowl. It was near the Mineola Village Hall. Sheridan Bowl was on the southeast corner of Jericho Turnpike and Sheridan Blvd.
 
Not all bowling/billiard places were bad... Tropicana on the west coast was terrific.
 
pt109 said:
Not all bowling/billiard places were bad... Tropicana on the west coast was terrific.
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I never knew the extent of gambling on bowling until a late night visit to the Gil Hodges Lanes on Ralph Ave. in Brooklyn in the mid 1960s. I had watched crazy money pool gambling at the Golden Cue on Queens Blvd. in Queens, NY but the bowling gambling I watched wasn't far behind. And the bowlers that night were better than most of the pros on tv at that time.

Gil Hodges.png
 
MurrayNevada said:
I never knew the extent of gambling on bowling until a late night visit to the Gil Hodges Lanes on Ralph Ave. in Brooklyn in the mid 1960s. I had watched crazy money pool gambling at the Golden Cue on Queens Blvd. in Queens, NY but the bowling gambling I watched wasn't far behind. And the bowlers that night were better than most of the pros on tv at that time.

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The Windsor Bowling and Billiards in Montreal was like that...as much money bet on either side.
I played a guy for $10 a game, snooker with three reds...the bowlers came through the alcove and gave me side action.
This place was from the 30s so it was nicer than later establishments.
Forty guys gave me action....I just kept piling the money on the next table.....I did pretty good.
 
sjm said:
I used to bowl at a place called Sheraton Bowl in Mineola NY some fifty years ago and remember they had such a setup. As I had a pool table at home, I never actually played pool on one of those Brunswick tables, but the thing I remember most is that they all had red felt.
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I was told Brunswick came out with this new billiard image as part of their campaign to put bowling and pool under one roof. It came out around the time that the movie The Hustler came out, and pool was popular again. For us players, the centerpiece was the AR-6100, or Gold Crown 1, which came in colors other than green (camel yellow and red). to get away from the seedy trappings of traditional pool rooms.

Many of the scenes re-appeared in this Brunswick sales pitch for the 'Golden Opportunity'.

Later, more upscale ideas took hold, such as Amsterdam Billiard Club room concept and pool halls with full service food (Steinway, BQE).
 
ctyhntr said:
I was told Brunswick came out with this new billiard image as part of their campaign to put bowling and pool under one roof. It came out around the time that the movie The Hustler came out, and pool was popular again. For us players, the centerpiece was the AR-6100, or Gold Crown 1, which came in colors other than green (camel yellow and red). to get away from the seedy trappings of traditional pool rooms.

Many of the scenes re-appeared in this Brunswick sales pitch for the 'Golden Opportunity'.

Later, more upscale ideas took hold, such as Amsterdam Billiard Club room concept and pool halls with full service food (Steinway, BQE).
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That's the video I was originally looking for when I started the thread.
 
Back in day my buddy cousin use to work for Brunswick promoting Pool, went town to town doing exhibitions.

Pool had little competition for recreation, so it sort of thrives.

My buddy Cousin was name Wille Mosconi, know a few people heard of him...LOL
 
middleofnowhere said:
Trouble with Dave&Busters and places like that is, they are not pool rooms. Be there 10 minute's and not spending you might get asked to leave. No comfort level for a pool player.
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They probably like paying their bills. How were they/are they charging for table time?
 
middleofnowhere said:
Trouble with Dave&Busters and places like that is, they are not pool rooms. Be there 10 minute's and not spending you might get asked to leave. No comfort level for a pool player.
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That hasn't been my experience at these places. They in fact seem identical to the 1950s bowling alleys described above, with the exception that they also offer video games. I'm not suggesting that these chain restaurants are going to be popular among "real" pool players, but they are the only kid friendly environment I'm aware of with pool tables.
 
HNTFSH said:
They probably like paying their bills. How were they/are they charging for table time?
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Yea, I should not have said that. I am glad they are at least fostering pool on some level. Not really the type of places pool players would hang around. I guess that is what I meant. My place used to be open 24 hours and people were welcome to come in if the spent anything or not. The fact is, baring having no money, people will spend regardless, it's what they do.
 
middleofnowhere said:
Yea, I should not have said that. I am glad they are at least fostering pool on some level. Not really the type of places pool players would hang around. I guess that is what I meant. My place used to be open 24 hours and people were welcome to come in if the spent anything or not. The fact is, baring having no money, people will spend regardless, it's what they do.
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:sneaky: I don't think you're entirely wrong...lol. I'd guess you can stay with a coke and table time on your tab but they are hoping for more. I didn't even know D&B's had tables, there's one a couple miles away! I wonder if those are 8 or 9 footers? Also wonder how much white noise there is from games, people and sports channels. Most of all, what the tables run and hour and how they play.

You are correct, this looks like family billiards or date night stuff for high schooler's. Which is great but...I wonder if you can cuss a lot and not get tossed? :ROFLMAO:
 

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HNTFSH said:
:sneaky: I don't think you're entirely wrong...lol. I'd guess you can stay with a coke and table time on your tab but they are hoping for more. I didn't even know D&B's had tables, there's one a couple miles away! I wonder if those are 8 or 9 footers? Also wonder how much white noise there is from games, people and sports channels. Most of all, what the tables run and hour and how they play.

You are correct, this looks like family billiards or date night stuff for high schooler's. Which is great but...I wonder if you can cuss a lot and not get tossed? :ROFLMAO:
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My recollection is they are 8 footers. The noise (at least during the day when I've been) is deafening from the kids. I'm sure anything that interferes with the kids will get you the boot, but as you can guess they aren't typically near the pool tables.
 
Those with ideas should try, and see results. Pool has been firing in Phx last 10 years.

No rainbows 🌈 in Pool in Arizona.
 
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