Names from the past
- Thread starter jay helfert
- Start date
I was thinking about some of the players I knew many years ago who have slipped into oblivion. Just wondering if anyone out there remembers any of these guys.
Arizona Sean (deceased) - He was a slender handsome young man out of Arizona who became best friends with Don Johnson and worked on Miami Vice as a writer. He was good enough to win a qualifier to play in Fred Whalen's Los Angeles World Championship in 1972. Sean also was a stunt double for Warren Beatty on Shampoo and Kaliediscope. He was a fascinating guy who I last saw at the tourney we held at the Biltmore Hotel in 1987.
Harold Johnson - The all time biggest crybaby I ever saw in pool. And he played pretty good too. He would carry on like his life was coming to an end if he missed a ball or two. He was from Illinois I believe.
Billy Ray Suden - A degenerate hustler who played pretty good back in the 70's. He came into my poolroom in 1973 and we played a Race to Eleven for $200. I was down 9-2 and came back to win. He flipped out and broke his cue. I heard he was still playing back East. Originally from Rhode Island I believe.
Jimmy Harris - From Florida, a damn good little player who had this shit eating grin plastered on his face all day long. Maybe it was the weed. I snuck Jimmy Reid in on him and after that he left California, returning to Florida.
Junior Harris - I called him the June Bug. He traveled the country playing pool for years. Played a pretty good speed too. Last I heard he turned to preaching.
Bill Mielke - A damn good shortstop out of Wisconsin. I saw him grind down a lot of good players, he had no quit in him. His drinking may have gotten the best of him.
Crazy Bruce - From New Jersey by way of Miami. He was certifiable, one screw loose at all times. Played good Eight Ball but was always his own worst enemy. Heard he made it big in real estate. Could barely read or write!
"Johnny Dollar" Overton - From Ohio and Indiana. He was the first real pool hustler I ever saw in action. He snuck around Dayton beating up on light weights like me. Heard his grandson is John Overton, the pro golfer.
Paul Baker - From Iowa, another triple sneaky and smart hustler who played good golf and pool. His hustle was to go in the pool room and tell everyone he was a golf hustler. And also go to the golf course and tell them he was a pool hustler. Worked for him!
Little Frankie - From New York. He was playing for serious money when he was only 13. A predecessor to Keith, an East Coast version. The cockiest little kid you ever saw. He cussed like a man and he was just a little boy. He could play too!
Augie Donatelli - He came out to California with Freddy and was the better player of the two back then (except for Banks). It took a strong player to beat Augie.
Buddy Dennis - One smooth operator. He was so low key you wouldn't even notice him in the poolroom. That is until he beat the best player in the house out of all his money. :smile:
"Three Fingered" Ronnie Sypher - Out of Baltimore, he was a strong money player and a pretty fun guy to hang around with. I wonder what happened to him.
Steve Carter (deceased?) - A fairly good player that was another head case. I took him around a little out here and he never could do much. Last I heard he put on a tournament and disappeared with the money. This was over 20 years ago.
Where's Toby anyway? I really liked that little guy. He had more heart per square inch than any living human! And Roger Griffis is another very good player that fell off the map. He beat Efren to win the Hollywood Billiards tourney in 1990.
A more famous player that I really liked was Marvin (Henderson). We spent a lot of time together in the 60's just hanging out and getting high. I loved hanging with Marvin, we always had a good time. I miss that ole son-of-a-gun! And what a player he was, simply the best around wherever he went. Although when Richie came up so fast out here Marvin took a pass on him. He was no dummy.
I can probably come up with a lot more, but these are just a few I was wondering about.
Jay what ever happen to Rick R from L.A. i think. Ron R. use to come down to S.D. in the late 70's to play on Tuesdays, very good player. One guy i always liked was Mexican Johnny, a good hustler and could drink beers by the pictures and slam in long tough shots with the cue ball on the rail. the good old days. Jeff O
Dick Hertz? Its been a long time since I heard that name. Didn't he also have a band called, Ronnie Rollback and the Skin Tones?
Jay,
I did not get to LA all that often, but when I did I would alway hook up with Popcorn...He was hanging around Hollywood and Western in those days..He always liked to see me, because I actually had a CAR...
He was used to sending his 'stable' out on busses...I would haul Portland Don, or old MacDonald (or whoever he had around) to various spots. It worked out pretty well, as I would act like the stakehorse, and if the known player got knocked, many times the guy we were after, would challenge me.
I didn't play 9 ball as well as Don, (very few did).. but I was not all that far under him... I actually had a little edge on him playing one pocket, if it came up...But most often, I didn't need to play THAT good...My job was to stir up action, and keep the guy's sober. (that didn't always work out too well, because I liked to drink too)
.. I have some hilarious stories about some of those adventures, and one of these days I'll share them with you all. (while I can still remember them)..PS..Jay, have you heard of Corn lately ?..Wonder if hes still around ?.. The last time I saw him was about 10-12 yrs. ago, at Tom Delorenzo's joint in Mesa. (He was broke, and bit me for a C-note)..
..Great thread Jay, lots of mem's.
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Billy was a tall good looking kid who played strong enough to make other people very aware of him and his exploits. He never (rarely) played the tournament scene out West, just hustled all the tournament players!
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Thanks for the great photos of Louie. Last time I hung with him in Reno, we caught some band playing at a casino downtown and Louie jumped up there with his "mouth harp" and lit 'em up on stage. He could wail on that thing! I loved the guy.
I think Rick went back home, never to be heard from again. Ron Rosas was one of L.A.'s top player in the 80's and 90's before dropping out due to some personal problems. He just started to show his face again and has a new pool DVD on the market. I have one DVD of him playing Allen Hopkins at the Sands in the semis over 20 years ago. Ron makes the most amazing shot in the match, but Allen finally gets him at the end.
Jay,
I did not get to LA all that often, but when I did I would alway hook up with Popcorn...He was hanging around Hollywood and Western in those days..He always liked to see me, because I actually had a CAR...
He was used to sending his 'stable' out on busses...I would haul Portland Don, or old MacDonald (or whoever he had around) to various spots. It worked out pretty well, as I would act like the stakehorse, and if the known player got knocked, many times the guy we were after, would challenge me.
I didn't play 9 ball as well as Don, (very few did).. but I was not all that far under him. In fact, I actually had a little edge on him playing one pocket, if it came up...But most often, I didn't need to play THAT good...My job was to stir up action, and keep the guy's sober. (that didn't always work out too well, because I liked to drink too)
PS..Have you heard of Johnny lately ?..Wonder if hes still around ?.. The last time I saw him was about 10-12 yrs. ago, at Tom Delorenzo's joint in Mesa. (He was broke, and bit me for a C-note)..
Corn has been working behind the counter at a pool hall in Hot Springs, AR for quite a few years now. I hear about him from time to time.
nice thread jay, Eldridge Tucker from Charleston S.C. was pretty strong. he won S.E. 9ball tourny at one time, and played all road players that came through including Ronnie Allen, Portland Don, New York Blacky, Grady, Beenie and many more. Donn Guffy also travled with the best, including Eddie Taylor, was pretty good player from midwest but moved to Chas. S.C. in the 70s and had 5 black jack games goin at one time. don still comes to most local tournys and does well despite goin through cancer treatments.
Jay,
I did not get to LA all that often, but when I did I would alway hook up with Popcorn...He was hanging around Hollywood and Western in those days..He always liked to see me, because I actually had a CAR...
He was used to sending his 'stable' out on busses...I would haul Portland Don, or old MacDonald (or whoever he had around) to various spots. It worked out pretty well, as I would act like the stakehorse, and if the known player got knocked, many times the guy we were after, would challenge me.
I didn't play 9 ball as well as Don, (very few did).. but I was not all that far under him. In fact, I actually had a little edge on him playing one pocket, if it came up...But most often, I didn't need to play THAT good...My job was to stir up action, and keep the guy's sober. (that didn't always work out too well, because I liked to drink too)
PS..Have you heard of Johnny lately ?..Wonder if hes still around ?.. The last time I saw him was about 10-12 yrs. ago, at Tom Delorenzo's joint in Mesa. (He was broke, and bit me for a C-note)..
SJD,
PLEASE WRITE THOSE STORIES DOWN!!
You know we'd all love to hear them:thumbup:
Hey JoeyA,
Not only is this a great thread, and Jay has a good memory! But he used to push his cue pretty good too! He probably does good in a lot of subjects regarding pool and all the players. And being a good guy does not hurt his personally either!!!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
You wannabee gamblers, just know that you have been warned.....
It's not only his cue that he knows how to move.
It is reported that Jay was the choreographer in each of these videos.
It's not only his cue that he knows how to move.
It is reported that Jay was the choreographer in each of these videos.
So JoeyA,
The J in Jay's name is like the J in Jackson's name, Wow! I never knew that!!!
Jay can dance. Good to know that JoeyA. I never saw jay in San Diego, Ca. Leave it to you to give us the insight on Jay......
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Hey Jay did you ever run into Danny Jones "Handsome Danny" during your travels?
I met him when he was a much older man through my brother, but he could still play plenty good well into the late 90's, and early 2000's before he died.
I think he won a Johnson City 9-Ball tournament way back when, he played one pocket alot in Shreveport,LA. also.
Danny liked to bet the ponies too!, that was an everyday thing for him to go out to the track and get a daily double down, he would study the racing form religiously.
Danny liked to dance!, I've seen him cut a rug several times in Texarkana on the dance floor, as a matter of fact , he had a heart attack while/after dancing over in Shreveport, he was still living life to the fullest when he left this world!
I remember there was a big 9-Ball tournament in Shreveport out at the Sand Piper Club in the mid- 90's, all the big guns were playing, me and Calvin spent the weekend with Danny and his roommate Little Wayne that worked the poolroom Guy's N Dolls.
I rode out to the tournament with Danny, Calvin and Little Wayne had already gone ahead of us, I was running short, so Danny paid my way in and spotted me $20, I really did like that man alot, he didn't give no bullshit or take none, he let the stick do the talking.
David Harcrow
I met him when he was a much older man through my brother, but he could still play plenty good well into the late 90's, and early 2000's before he died.
I think he won a Johnson City 9-Ball tournament way back when, he played one pocket alot in Shreveport,LA. also.
Danny liked to bet the ponies too!, that was an everyday thing for him to go out to the track and get a daily double down, he would study the racing form religiously.
Danny liked to dance!, I've seen him cut a rug several times in Texarkana on the dance floor, as a matter of fact , he had a heart attack while/after dancing over in Shreveport, he was still living life to the fullest when he left this world!
I remember there was a big 9-Ball tournament in Shreveport out at the Sand Piper Club in the mid- 90's, all the big guns were playing, me and Calvin spent the weekend with Danny and his roommate Little Wayne that worked the poolroom Guy's N Dolls.
I rode out to the tournament with Danny, Calvin and Little Wayne had already gone ahead of us, I was running short, so Danny paid my way in and spotted me $20, I really did like that man alot, he didn't give no bullshit or take none, he let the stick do the talking.
David Harcrow
More of Jay's Talents
Don't forget this one:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=129539
Ed
Don't forget this one:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=129539
Ed
Hey Catman,
Where have you been? Jay is a bad man, he plays piano and dances with Michael Jackson. Moon walk too! Keep both eyes on Jay!!!
Many Regards,
Lock N load.
Glad you asked Lock, I have been riding old gravel roads drinking cold beer, peeping off bridges, and getting my truck door locked by my rat terrier while it was running out in the middle of nowhere!, just having a good ole time!:smile:
David Harcrow
