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In the late 1960s I overheard a guy ask "Machine Gun" Lou Butera for a lesson. Lou's response was, "How many hours a day do you play pool" Lou would not teach anyone unless the person said, "Four or five hours a day".

In the late 1960's Los Angeles you could buy a very good Hard Maple or Tiger Wood, a straight grain stripe, cue from Tad for $60. Tad like most cue makers at the time made a terrible plastic window cue that over time would shrink and click when you hit the cue ball. Based on the number stamped...

In an article by raider dated November 5, 2023 that states that: “The game of one-pocket was not invented until Hayden Lingo started it in Oklahoma City in 1931. Today the professional pool players consider one-pocket as the truest test of a player’s ability.” — George Jansco, 1965 While I am...

For a short time Chop Sticks attracted some of the best pool players and pool hustlers in Los Angeles. There were a lot of players but the only three names I remember were Ronnie Allen, Cokes and Harry Cohen. Harry was a hard core hustler who the guys said, "He would take money from his...

While I was talking to Gus in his workshop in the basement of his home when an old style black phone that you only see in the movies rang. Gus was very nice to the caller and ended the with, "I've started your cue". After Gus hung up he turned to me and said, "I can't stand that guy". I...

I won the first celebrity 8-Ball tournament at the Hollywood Athletic Club and the first prize was a Suzuki RF600 motorcycle. When I picked up the motorcycle, the Suzuki Corporation gave me a letter stating that they were giving me the motorcycle for free and the price on the Bill of Sale was...

For several years Fredy Whalen promoted a World Championship 14.1 Straight pool Tournament at the Elk's Lodge on Parkview Avenue just West of Downtown Los Angeles. I seem to remember they charged about $4 to watch the tournament and $1 to watch the players in the practice room. The practice room...

I would like to see it, please post a picture of it or send it to me in a conversation. Thanks!

This is a link to Part One: https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/my-visit-to-gus-szamboti-basement-shop-in-penndel-pennsylvania.560699/ ************************ I asked Gus when he started making cues. Gus, a Tool and Die Maker and or Machinist said the wife of a co-worker asked him to make...

Sorry, this happen in the early 1980's and I do not remember anyone having a cell phone.

I was in New York for business when a friend from New Jersey offered to pick me up and drive to Penndell Pennsylvania to visit his good friend, Gus Szamboti, the best cue maker of his time. When Gus answered the door the first thing he said was, "I understand you want to make cues". I stupidly...

No but when the cue sells I will contact Barry so the buyer will know he is getting a real Szamboti.

Thank you, I didn't realize specs were a requirment. I joined AZB a long time ago but I started posting about two months ago.

Thank you for your interest but the cue has been sold. I will delete the post in a day or two. Thank you AZB. ************** I had this cue listed elsewhere on AZB and I can no longer find it. This cue was made by Gus for Lee Boyer who was famous for taking pictures of the best pool players...

I, like so many other pool players, watched Efren play every chance I got. It was sometime in the 1980s when the guys started talking about what I think is the most important part of a cue stick, the tip. I do not remember who but one of the Filipino players said Efren liked the Blue Elk Master...

In the 1990s I was a B player and I had a very good job. When I heard about a room in the South that had a lot of action I decided to fly down to find out if the stories were true. The stories were true and more amazingly the room was full of players who looked like they played about my speed...

Thank you for the story and I think the mental part of pool is under-estimated.

I do not have any of the cues on your list but I would like to talk to you about cues. If you reply to my ad on Craigslist Los Angeles for a Szamboti I will give you my contact information.

The actual headline in Britian's The Telegraph reads, "My Mind Went Blank". I can relate because I still clearly remember going blind the first time I played 9 Ball for a lot of money. I am not mentioning the amount because the real story is how I went blind on difficult shots. I kept aiming...

I'm in Los Angeles and I am selling my cue collection. I have off brands to one of a kind collectables. If you would like I can meet you at a pool room in Orange County.