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Brunswick-Balke-Collender and Lawn Billiards This article from the February 9, 1931, issue of The Miami Herald is the earliest reference I could find to a game combining elements of golf with snooker. It’s clearly not the same game as what we’re accustomed to because it was played with...

Jamaica Joe’s Update from OKC Locals? I assume time has ran out and Jamaica Joe’s is “really” closed now. Can any OKC locals provide an update on who wound up with the snooker table and also the results of the final memorial tournament?

Thanks for reminding me of the Dominguez family. They’re well known as table mechanics, too, aren’t they? Mark Wilson and others say that anybody can reach a high standard of play with the right practice routine. I tend to agree, but with the caveat that some people who are naturally gifted can...

“Born to Play Pool” Article from Billiards Digest https://billiardsdigest.com/new_current_issue/jun_16/bb_index.php Excellent article about John Morra written by Keith Paradise.

Something in the genes? Thanks for sharing, Jay. I noticed something interesting in the interview with Cecil that I posted earlier. Cecil talks about his dad’s reputation as a serious player, good enough to make money on the road but not quite pro standard. Cecil said he grew-up without ever...

Other Father / Son Combinations at Pro Level? Lou and Sal Butera come to mind as another father-son pair whose pro careers ran contemporaneously.

Best DNA for Pool? Maybe this is common knowledge, but John Morra has an incredible pool-playing pedigree. Both John’s parents were pros at the highest level. John’s dad, Mario Morra, is one of the few to play both pool and snooker at a professional standard. His Fargo rating is 726, good...

Here’s an interview with Cecil Tugwell where he’s asked about his switch to playing lefty. http://www.onepocket.org/CecilTugwellMemorial.htm

I shot at Cue & Cushion in St. Louis on Sunday and got to know some of the regulars. Many of them were there back when St. Louis Louie and other greats played high stakes there. There was a whole round of stories about Cecil Tugwell and how he switched hands. These were guys who knew Cecil...

I couldn't find any contemporary accounts about Cokes being arrested or tried in court for murdering the police chief in Hot Springs …*no mention anywhere after the initial report. My guess is that the lack of newspaper attention was no accident. It's not hard to imagine a scenario where the...

Blytheville, Arkansas The Mob presence, political corruption, and illegal gambling (not to mention prostitution) in Hot Springs are all well documented, but I’m curious about the less known hustler jamborees held across the state in Blytheville. (Blytheville is 240 miles northeast of Hot...

Part #3 conclusion by Tommy Thomas, son of Titanic Thompson …

Part #2 of the "tall tales" about Titanic Thompson, Daddy Warbucks, and Minnesota Fats …

There's a thread on the BetFair site with some "tall tales" about high-stakes gamblers including Daddy Warbucks, Titanic Thompson, and Minnesota Fats...

This clipping provides a few more details about the 1964 murder …

I found the following AP story about the earlier murder in Hot Springs in a few newspapers across the country on April 14, 1924. Chief Of Police At Hot Springs, Ark., Killed In Pool Hall LITTLE ROCK, Ark., April 13.--Oscar Sullivan, chief of police of Hot Springs, Arkansas, was killed late...

Bill Schick Billiards in Shreveport? I didn't make it to Shreveport on my "pool hall tour" this summer, but it's always sad news whenever another "players" room closes. What's the remaining pool scene like around Shreveport? A quick search on GoPlayPool.com shows there's still Sidepockets...

I found Herman’s memorial page online. There’s a fantastic video that will mean a lot to people who knew him. And to answer my own question ... yes, I do believe that’s him in the portrait with Mike Massey. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/oklahoma-city-ok/herman-croy-7515885 For the...

There's a portrait on the wall in the part of Jamaica Joe's cordoned off for the snooker table. Is that Herman Croy standing next to Mike Massey? (Please excuse my ignorance of someone obviously well-known and respected. I meant no disrespect. I'm not local to OKC, but made a point to stop at...

There's still time. The farewell event isn't until the end of this month. I'm not local so it unlikely, but I'd like to be there for their final tournament.