1974 14.1 Invitational Championship

Hambone · Dec 20, 2008

Heres some stuff from the 1974 14.1 Pocket Billiard Championship.
Held in February of 1974 at the Hollywood American Legion Post.

Some of the men in the event included Def. Champ Lou Butera, "Jersey Red"
Jack Breit, Joe Balsis, Danny Diliberto, Johnny Ervolino, Alan Hopkins, Luther Lassiter, Gene Nagy, Ray Martin, Jim Rempe, Ronnie Allen, Steve Cook, Irving Crane, Richie Florence, Jimmy Moore, Jimmy Mataya, Cisero Murphy, and Wayne Norcross.

The womens side included Jean Balukas, Palmer Byrd, Jeanne Tomasello, Nancy Warren, Joyce Sykes, Geraldine Titcomb, Robin Hansen,Mieko Harada and Kazuko Shimazaki.

Hambone · Dec 20, 2008

Tournament Producer Fred Whalen and Director Dorothy Breit wife of Jack "Jersy Red" Breit.

Hambone · Dec 20, 2008

How do you know when its Billiards Month?
Mayor Tom Bradley says so!

Hambone · Dec 20, 2008

Ernies been doing this a long time. One of his ads from 1974.

Hambone · Dec 20, 2008

So had another California cuemaker.

Hambone · Dec 20, 2008

One more of the great Ronnie Allen. Sitting in "Fast Eddie's" Billiard Room

sjm · Dec 20, 2008

One incident makes 1974 a very memorable one in the annals of straight pool.

The final of the 1974 14.1 US Open, played the same year still lives in infamy. The game ball wasn't a hanger, but a shot that everybody reckoned Jimmy Rempe would make. Wen Jimmy missed, fellow future hall-of-famer Joe Balsis ran out for the 200 - 199 win.

The young Jim Rempe, it seemed, would have many more shots at a World Championship, but he retired from the game a few years ago without having won even one world championship.

Hambone · Dec 20, 2008

Heres a pretty good write up about the womans side of the tounament.

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1088318/index.htm

Ray Martin went on to win the mens World Championship .

sjm · Dec 20, 2008

Hambone said:
The womens side included Jean Balukas, Palmer Byrd ....

The name Palmer Byrd may not be very well-known among today's pool fans, but she figured prominently in the history of women's professional billiards, as she and fellow professional Madeline Whitlow were the two founders of the WPBA in 1976.

jay helfert · Dec 20, 2008

I had my first poolroom in Bakersfield (The Cue Ball) back then. But I did drive down to see the tourney and visit with my buddies. A few recollections: Fred Astaire and Peter Falk in the audience day after day; Gene Nagy lost his first match, quit and went home because he was so mad at himself for losing; Danny Diliberto was staying in a motel down the street with his two large dogs and a lady pool player who shall go nameless; Don Willis in the practice room just sitting there with his newspaper handicapping basketball every day (and winning); Little Jean Balukas, who was only a child then, coming into the arena with a cue taller than she was; Danny Gartner gambling that he had to run a 50 within one hour to win a bet (he did). I think this was the one where "Machine Gun" Lou ran 150 and out on Hopkins in the Finals in 21 minutes!

I'll try to think of more.

boradriver · Dec 20, 2008

Does anyone remember Palmer Byrd? She lives in my town and still plays almost everyday.

thanks

jay helfert · Dec 20, 2008

boradriver said:
Does anyone remember Palmer Byrd? She lives in my town and still plays almost everyday.

thanks

No way, she was a good looking gal who played a decent game of pool. I wondered what happened to her. I heard she went "straight" and got a job. Smart gal!

sjm · Dec 20, 2008

boradriver said:
Does anyone remember Palmer Byrd? She lives in my town and still plays almost everyday.

thanks

I think that my post earlier in this thread makes it clear that I remeer her. I last saw her during the 2001 WPBA Nationals at Soaring Eagle Casino in Saginaw, Michigan. It was the night she was inducted into the WPBA Hall of Fame.

CharlesUFarley · Dec 20, 2008

jay helfert said:
I had my first poolroom in Bakersfield (The Cue Ball) back then. But I did drive down to see the tourney and visit with my buddies. A few recollections: Fred Astaire and Peter Falk in the audience day after day; Gene Nagy lost his first match, quit and went home because he was so mad at himself for losing; Danny Diliberto was staying in a motel down the street with his two large dogs and a lady pool player who shall go nameless; Don Willis in the practice room just sitting there with his newspaper handicapping basketball every day (and winning); Little Jean Balukas, who was only a child then, coming into the arena with a cue taller than she was; Danny Gartner gambling that he had to run a 50 within one hour to win a bet (he did). I think this was the one where "Machine Gun" Lou ran 150 and out on Hopkins in the Finals in 21 minutes!

I'll try to think of more.

Jay...You probably know who Wayne Norcross is....Do you have any memory of him playing in that tourney?.

I believe he was invited in 73 and 74, and If I remember the way he told it correctly, he placed 4th in one of those years...I could be mistaken about that though.

macguy · Dec 20, 2008

sjm said:
One incident makes 1974 a very memorable one in the annals of straight pool.

The final of the 1974 14.1 US Open, played the same year still lives in infamy. The game ball wasn't a hanger, but a shot that everybody reckoned Jimmy Rempe would make. Wen Jimmy missed, fellow future hall-of-famer Joe Balsis ran out for the 200 - 199 win.

The young Jim Rempe, it seemed, would have many more shots at a World Championship, but he retired from the game a few years ago without having won even one world championship.

I was sitting 20 feet away when he missed that ball. It was a 9 ball by the way in the side an pretty easy shot. Coincidentally, that afternoon Jean Balukas had won the women's tournament 100 to 99. Rempy almost fainted after the miss. The girl, maybe his wife, with him had to hold on to him as he was going out of his chair. Balsis made a very hard long shot to start his run out. I believe he needed 17 to get out and he got them.

Terry Ardeno · Dec 20, 2008

sjm said:
One incident makes 1974 a very memorable one in the annals of straight pool.

The final of the 1974 14.1 US Open, played the same year still lives in infamy. The game ball wasn't a hanger, but a shot that everybody reckoned Jimmy Rempe would make. Wen Jimmy missed, fellow future hall-of-famer Joe Balsis ran out for the 200 - 199 win.

The young Jim Rempe, it seemed, would have many more shots at a World Championship, but he retired from the game a few years ago without having won even one world championship.

Great stroll down memory lane here SJM. A heartbreaker for sure.
Him and Pete Margo were two guys that I was all but certain would win a World 14.1 title. Especially Rempe, even though Pete was a 14.1 specialist and Rempe spread his playing out into 9 ball also, along w/ some 1P.
SJM, could you offer a brief comment on Rempe vs Margo in the 14.1 pantheon?

I also fondly remember Palmer Byrd from her days at the National Billiard News. Thanks for bringing up good memories.

boradriver · Dec 20, 2008

jay helfert said:
No way, she was a good looking gal who played a decent game of pool. I wondered what happened to her. I heard she went "straight" and got a job. Smart gal!

She has some health issues but she is still very active in pool. She plays mostly APA and in a local 14.1 league.

jay helfert · Dec 20, 2008

CharlesUFarley said:
Jay...You probably know who Wayne Norcross is....Do you have any memory of him playing in that tourney?.

I believe he was invited in 73 and 74, and If I remember the way he told it correctly, he placed 4th in one of those years...I could be mistaken about that though.

I know Wayne well, he is currently the tournament director at Danny K's. He was a competent 14.1 player, who did play in all the major events back then. I don't think he ever finished as high as 4th though. Top twelve maybe. Wayne was capable of winning a match against a top player. He could hit you with a 50, 60 or 70. You know, about Stuey's speed.

CharlesUFarley · Dec 20, 2008

jay helfert said:
I know Wayne well, he is currently the tournament director at Danny K's. He was a competent 14.1 player, who did play in all the major events back then. I don't think he ever finished as high as 4th though. Top twelve maybe. Wayne was capable of winning a match against a top player. He could hit you with a 50, 60 or 70. You know, about Stuey's speed.

He's certainly a competent 14.1 player...even now in his mid 70's (I believe) it isn't too uncommon for him to run 100 balls. He ran 176 and 130 something in the same week as recently as 2 or 3 years ago.

I play at Danny K's pretty regularly...I'll get his version of the 73 and 74 invitationals and relay them back here. It will probably be middle of next week before I get over there.

fan-tum · Dec 20, 2008

CharlesUFarley said:
Jay...You probably know who Wayne Norcross is....Do you have any memory of him playing in that tourney?.

I believe he was invited in 73 and 74, and If I remember the way he told it correctly, he placed 4th in one of those years...I could be mistaken about that though.

The day I attended, Norcross was 5-0 at that point, and I was asking others "who the hell is this guy?". I found out.
I remember Mataya putting the stall on Crane, resulting in Crane slamming the butt of his beautiful Balabushka to the floor, hard enough that would've damaged a lesser cue.
That was my third tourney, the Stardust's in previous years were the first.

1974 14.1 Invitational Championship

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