Chicago player

ribdoner said:

Although i stopped playing in 12-65 until relocating from CHI in 76 (military, job, life and other sundry bs) to the woderful metropolis of memphis i stayed somewhat abreast of the pool scene and can't recall Artie booking many, if any, losers.

That said i also can't recall any reports of him getting into the pit with monsters such as Shorty, Worst,Cook, etc......not to say he did or didn't

RJ, do you recall him playing "Champions" ?

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Rico said:

Ya that Don McCaughy in Iowa couldnt play 1p either because most never heard of him. All around Dallas W.,gambling still take Artie.

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pt109 said:

Anybody know the years Artie owned Bensingers?
...I played there briefly when I was a kid....didn’t know anybody till after I left.

....it was one floor in the basement by then...can’t remember the address.

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mr3cushion said:

Artie owned it in 70,71, the lease ran out. He sold it to Bob Segal owner of Howard & Palina Billiards. Clark Diversey Billiards (Bensingers) was at the intersections of, Clark, Diversey and Broadway, they opened New Years day 1960.

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pt109 said:

Thanx, Billy....I guess I never seen Artie then.

I would’ve loved to see the original Bensingers...the room Tevis called Bennington’s in
his book.......five floors...with the billiard floor on top.

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mr3cushion said:

He played Shorty a race to 30 for 5K at Bensingers in 1970. He beat Shorty 30-5!

He beat Jersey Red in 68, Red gave Artie 10-8 and Red got ALL the breaks!

He beat Gene Nagey playing straight pool, Nick Varner wouldn't quit playing Artie for $300 a game because he was learning so much from him! His father begged him to quit! Robbed Jimmy Reid, He played Bugs his entire life, 9-8. The only reason Artie took the 9-8, and didn't play even is not to give up all the same spots Bugs did on the Southside of Chicago!

I'd really like to know where the people that NEVER seen him play get their info!

In the 60's and 70's, if a road player came to Chicago to play ANY game on the green felt we had it covered at Bensingers! If they came with a big smile and bank roll they'd leave without both!

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ribdoner said:

APPRECIATE your contribution to this thread

reinforces the opinion i had of ARTIE

i didn't know that RORY (O'SHEA) stayed with the game as alluded to in the link earlier in the thread

is ARTIE in his mid-seventies?

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mr3cushion said:

Artie will be 75 this year, 1 year older than myself. Rory O'Shea came from a,' Fighting Irish' family! ALL 5 brothers, except Patrick were, 'Golden Gloves' champions! Rory and his brother Mike were Chicago Fire fighters for most of their lives.

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ChicagoRJ said:

Yeah, where did the time go. I'm 57. So, when I was 15 at the club, you all were in your early 30's. I remember Rory well. One guy nobody fugged with I mean, other than Race Track Phil, lol

I really wish someone would have FORCED me to learn 3 cushion... damn, that would have helped tremendously !!!

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mr3cushion said:

Artie owned it in 70,71, the lease ran out. He sold it to Bob Segal owner of Howard & Palina Billiards. Clark Diversey Billiards (Bensingers) was at the intersections of, Clark, Diversey and Broadway, they opened New Years day 1960.

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1 Pocket Ghost said:

Saw this thread, and thought I would post up...

Well, as far as I know, I believe that along with Bill "Mr. 3cushion" Smith, I am, sadly, the only other pool player left around who was a regular at Bensinger's Billiard Academy, and after that, Freddy, Bobby (R.J.'S dad), and Phil's North Shore Billiard Club during the 1960's and 70's....and after those two memorable rooms closed, the action, and yours truly, were to be found at Marie's Golden Cue, The Billiard Cafe, and Chris's Billiards....that said, let me say two things...

#1. It gets asked a lot (as in this thread) whether Artie in his prime, really was as good as, if not better than, the top few One Pocket players of that era - the answer is, he was - and trust me, I'm not being a 'homer' in saying that...and also, having watched Artie play Boston Shorty, Nick Varner, my old friend Bugs, etc. etc. and knowing the game of One Pocket to the extent that I do, my assessment of Artie's game is qualified.......and I'm always having to when someone from another part of the country pretends to have a very informed opinion re. the level of Artie's One Pocket game back in the day, when they really weren't there, and don't really know.

#2. I just want to say a few words about my old friend, R.J.'S dad Bobby...

Bobby was a really great guy, a super funny guy, and a real good gambler...he was my pinochle partner a good amount of the time, and we won more than our share of games - except when his ego got a little bit the best of him and he bid too high ...and speaking of ego's, Freddy, Bobby and Phil each thought that they were the best pinochle player in the room, if not the country......RIP my brothers, and bank on.

- Ghost

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1 Pocket Ghost said:

Saw this thread, and thought I would post up...

Well, as far as I know, I believe that along with Bill "Mr. 3cushion" Smith, I am, sadly, the only other pool player left around who was a regular at Bensinger's Billiard Academy, and after that, Freddy, Bobby (R.J.'S dad), and Phil's North Shore Billiard Club during the 1960's and 70's....and after those two memorable rooms closed, the action, and yours truly, were to be found at Marie's Golden Cue, The Billiard Cafe, and Chris's Billiards....that said, let me say two things...

#1. It gets asked a lot (as in this thread) whether Artie in his prime, really was as good as, if not better than, the top few One Pocket players of that era - the answer is, he was - and trust me, I'm not being a 'homer' in saying that...and also, having watched Artie play Boston Shorty, Nick Varner, my old friend Bugs, etc. etc. and knowing the game of One Pocket to the extent that I do, my assessment of Artie's game is qualified.......and I'm always having to when someone from another part of the country pretends to have a very informed opinion re. the level of Artie's One Pocket game back in the day, when they really weren't there, and don't really know.

#2. I just want to say a few words about my old friend, R.J.'S dad Bobby...

Bobby was a really great guy, a super funny guy, and a real good gambler...he was my pinochle partner a good amount of the time, and we won more than our share of games - except when his ego got a little bit the best of him and he bid too high ...and speaking of ego's, Freddy, Bobby and Phil each thought that they were the best pinochle player in the room, if not the country......RIP my brothers, and bank on.

- Ghost

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DynoDan said:

I loved playing on the old 10’ tables in that basement location (I had never even SEEN one before). I’m curious though, about the specifics re: why/when the move to across the street/upstairs. When I went back to that basement room and found it had closed (I think there was a sign directing you to the new location), I crossed & climbed, and found a room so seedy looking, I just turned around and never went back! It was gone for good the next time I passed there.

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lfigueroa said:

Saw Varner many times in the late 90s, past his prime; Bugs a couple of times, past his prime; you, several times (past your prime?); and Artie, once, admittedly past his prime.

No way he could hang with Varner or Bugs. They had way too much finesse and firepower for him. I’ve seen what I’ve seen. You Chicago lads want to say otherwise, have at it.

Lou Figueroa

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1 Pocket Ghost said:

#2. I just want to say a few words about my old friend, R.J.'S dad Bobby...

Bobby was a really great guy, a super funny guy, and a real good gambler...he was my pinochle partner a good amount of the time, and we won more than our share of games - except when his ego got a little bit the best of him and he bid too high ...and speaking of ego's, Freddy, Bobby and Phil each thought that they were the best pinochle player in the room, if not the country......RIP my brothers, and bank on.

- Ghost

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ChicagoRJ said:

Right, you never saw him play in his prime, but of course, you have an opinion on the subject. Sorry, St. Louis couch potatoes should probably sit this one out, it's what they do best.

And Ghost saw them all play, and he knows 1P like that back of his hand. Sorry, I'll take the ghost's knowledge in 1P every day and twice on Sunday over yours. Heck, I'm guessing he'd still spank you on the table even in his 70's lol

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lfigueroa said:

Saw Varner many times in the late 90s, past his prime; Bugs a couple of times, past his prime; you, several times (past your prime?); and Artie, once, admittedly past his prime.

No way he could hang with Varner or Bugs. They had way too much finesse and firepower for him. I’ve seen what I’ve seen. You Chicago lads want to say otherwise, have at it.

Lou Figueroa

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