Hello ,
As I sit here during the Covid -19 show stopper I often reflect back on my time as a Kid and a lot of Memories of the Pool Hall's I played in but one 2 in Particular was were I learned the game and the tricks of the trade so to speak. I thought it would interesting to read about the pool halls you grew up in and Fond memories of days gone by and the Players also. In our small town we had around 4-5 pool rooms , but 1 was a real genuine pool hall. Remind you of Ames from the Hustler.I can still see it , 6 tables , house sticks lined down the walls . A jukebox in the corner with old 45's Such as Elvis and Johnny Cash etc. The Counter stood and there was 6 Stool's going down in front so you could sit down and eat at the Counter and have the Best Chili you ever put a spoon in. The Owner made this Chili himself , along with his Wife and they called it Chili Gravy. It was thick and orange and the best chili I have ever eaten. He also made the best greasy cheeseburgers to go along with the Chili. The burgers were flat and thin but they had the best taste and paired with that Chili you had a meal. They gave you a bowl of Oyster crackers and that topped it off. Along with a bottle of Ice cold Pepsi and you was in business. The pool tables were steeple ton's and back when I was a kid it was 0.25 cents a game . loser paid if you were playing someone. He would have 8 ball tourny's as well. This was before 9 ball really became popular. There was some real pool shots that came there and it was just as much fun to watch them also. The Comradery with everyone made you look forward to going. Our town did not have much to do so pool was a form of entertainment as well as something for the kids to do . The Owner ran this pool room from the 50's until 1998 I believe so he had a good run but it had that old school vibe. What I would give to get that Chili recipe . I can taste it now. I grew up in that old building which is long gone now. The owner died last year, Now just Memories. Fast Forward to the late 90's The last standing pool room was owned by a friend of mine and I played there until it burned down from a grease fire. I played a lot of tournaments there, they had 8 ball singles on Friday night and 8 ball partner on Saturday night. There was a guy who lived in a few towns over who was one of the best I had ever seen with a cue ball. When I was about 15 a Friend and Me and his Dad went to watch this guy play in the back of a old service station were 1 old pool table was setup. We get there and were met by 2 guy's with guns on there sides and they let us in. He was playing another guy for $ 10,000 a rack. He beat the guy 3 straight for $ 30,000 and the other guy quit and said he was to good and could not beat him. I never seen a guy who could control the Cue ball like he could , almost as if he was talking to it and it was listing . I have to admit when I seen the 2 cat's with the guns at being 15 I was wondering what we had got into but luckily we made it out ok and got to watch some of the best shooting I had seen at that time. If you have any cool pool room stories please tell them. I am Sad to say That the old way of the Pool Hall is gone. Now they are all Bars it seems.
As I sit here during the Covid -19 show stopper I often reflect back on my time as a Kid and a lot of Memories of the Pool Hall's I played in but one 2 in Particular was were I learned the game and the tricks of the trade so to speak. I thought it would interesting to read about the pool halls you grew up in and Fond memories of days gone by and the Players also. In our small town we had around 4-5 pool rooms , but 1 was a real genuine pool hall. Remind you of Ames from the Hustler.I can still see it , 6 tables , house sticks lined down the walls . A jukebox in the corner with old 45's Such as Elvis and Johnny Cash etc. The Counter stood and there was 6 Stool's going down in front so you could sit down and eat at the Counter and have the Best Chili you ever put a spoon in. The Owner made this Chili himself , along with his Wife and they called it Chili Gravy. It was thick and orange and the best chili I have ever eaten. He also made the best greasy cheeseburgers to go along with the Chili. The burgers were flat and thin but they had the best taste and paired with that Chili you had a meal. They gave you a bowl of Oyster crackers and that topped it off. Along with a bottle of Ice cold Pepsi and you was in business. The pool tables were steeple ton's and back when I was a kid it was 0.25 cents a game . loser paid if you were playing someone. He would have 8 ball tourny's as well. This was before 9 ball really became popular. There was some real pool shots that came there and it was just as much fun to watch them also. The Comradery with everyone made you look forward to going. Our town did not have much to do so pool was a form of entertainment as well as something for the kids to do . The Owner ran this pool room from the 50's until 1998 I believe so he had a good run but it had that old school vibe. What I would give to get that Chili recipe . I can taste it now. I grew up in that old building which is long gone now. The owner died last year, Now just Memories. Fast Forward to the late 90's The last standing pool room was owned by a friend of mine and I played there until it burned down from a grease fire. I played a lot of tournaments there, they had 8 ball singles on Friday night and 8 ball partner on Saturday night. There was a guy who lived in a few towns over who was one of the best I had ever seen with a cue ball. When I was about 15 a Friend and Me and his Dad went to watch this guy play in the back of a old service station were 1 old pool table was setup. We get there and were met by 2 guy's with guns on there sides and they let us in. He was playing another guy for $ 10,000 a rack. He beat the guy 3 straight for $ 30,000 and the other guy quit and said he was to good and could not beat him. I never seen a guy who could control the Cue ball like he could , almost as if he was talking to it and it was listing . I have to admit when I seen the 2 cat's with the guns at being 15 I was wondering what we had got into but luckily we made it out ok and got to watch some of the best shooting I had seen at that time. If you have any cool pool room stories please tell them. I am Sad to say That the old way of the Pool Hall is gone. Now they are all Bars it seems.