And another old room dies

Its ok OP... a couple quizno's by my house closed down, but we don't have to declare the hot and fresh hoagie dead just yet.
 
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Seriously??....

I remember that room, I grew up in Peabody. That room opened in 1991-1992, I know because the original owner,Bobby "Pags" Pagliarulo bought those tables, the first Diamond Tables I'd ever seen,at the BCA trade show in 1991 in Nashville,TN. I was there for the show and knew Bob from playing locally and in Tournaments. Those tables were beautiful when new...are they For Sale??
FYI..."Pags" is an inductee of the New England Hall of Fame.

Once again quoting myself,sorry, is there any body but me that played in the era of Nicky V., the "Squash", "Shorty", Bob Walsh, Tom McGonagle,.......come ON, DIG DEEP, Tony Pavoni, Howie Meltz, "Chickenman",Lynn,"Sully"Sullivan, Manny Hamel, Marty Herman, "Lefty" Hunt, "Ingie"...........
 
Is pool really this dead? Is it the end for the game and the way that we treat it all over? Another New England room died. World Class Billiards in Peabody. He must have been open for 40 years. I'm thinking Snookers is the only room left that held an All About Pool Tour tournament. Every once in awhile I get these crazy ideas that I would like to open another room. Any time I am in the car I am scouting possible locations. But I am really getting the feeling that pool is in fact dead. Just like bowling here in the northeast. There is no interest any more except for people like us. The hardcore fanatic. I'm thinking that pool is moving into a cult stage. Why can't these rooms make it any more?

Same here in Baltimore, Running out billiards has been in business since the 60s, well no more they closed the doors for good 3 weeks ago!

Baltimore has always been a hotspot for duckpin bowling also, Our local bowling alley is 3 doors down from the pool hall, they are struggling very bad also, their days are number just like the pool halls was!

Those 2 businesses keep old Dundalk (a baltimore suburb) alive and kicking for a very long time, they only place that had more business in Dundalk (poolhall n bowling alley) was Mcdonalds and they are still going very strong!

Boy i miss the 70s n 80s!
 
Once again quoting myself,sorry, is there any body but me that played in the era of Nicky V., the "Squash", "Shorty", Bob Walsh, Tom McGonagle,.......come ON, DIG DEEP, Tony Pavoni, Howie Meltz, "Chickenman",Lynn,"Sully"Sullivan, Manny Hamel, Marty Herman, "Lefty" Hunt, "Ingie"...........

Dave,

See "Chickenman" all over. Bill is still playing and playing well. Moooorty Herman is still a TV reality show all unto himself. Tom was in Vegas last year playing the Seniors and Open team events. Mr. Valehos was a legend. Watched him grind Jim Rempe in Binghamton years ago. All About Pool was a great tour. It "could have been a contenda". Thanks for the memories.

Lyn
 
I must KNOW U!

Dave,

See "Chickenman" all over. Bill is still playing and playing well. Moooorty Herman is still a TV reality show all unto himself. Tom was in Vegas last year playing the Seniors and Open team events. Mr. Valehos was a legend. Watched him grind Jim Rempe in Binghamton years ago. All About Pool was a great tour. It "could have been a contenda". Thanks for the memories.

Lyn

I must know you, what is your REAL NAME, if you played In those Circles, we must have BUMPED into each other!
I worked at the Charlie Horse in Lynn,MA back in the late 80's,early 90's, eventually ending up as the GM ....jogging memories, remember Rich Kravetz, the Mattarazo's, the Mills',.....come on, really, am I the only one left??
 
Once again quoting myself,sorry, is there any body but me that played in the era of Nicky V., the "Squash", "Shorty", Bob Walsh, Tom McGonagle,.......come ON, DIG DEEP, Tony Pavoni, Howie Meltz, "Chickenman",Lynn,"Sully"Sullivan, Manny Hamel, Marty Herman, "Lefty" Hunt, "Ingie"...........
I definitely played many of those guys over the years, wandering down from NH looking for a little competition. In fact Ingie was my favorite over at World Class -- I like to say I learned One Pocket from him. And I did -- not only him of course, but I had a great time for a year or so late in his life playing him about every week or so. I'd drive down from NH and pick him up at a bowling alley down the road and bring him to World Class.

I think you might mean "Tony Pirone" who was kind of house pro at Brighton for a while (now in CA on the poker circuit, but still plays pool). McGonagle of course is still around and played all of those guys for sure. I've bumped into Chicken Man at DCC the last couple years I think.

Rick Mattarazo now lives up here in NH.
 
I must know you, what is your REAL NAME, if you played In those Circles, we must have BUMPED into each other!
I worked at the Charlie Horse in Lynn,MA back in the late 80's,early 90's, eventually ending up as the GM ....jogging memories, remember Rich Kravetz, the Mattarazo's, the Mills',.....come on, really, am I the only one left??

The Mills had a small poolroom for a while in Seabrook, NH. Laddie Mills and his son ?? Definitely remember Rich Kravetz -- hard-nosed player, we played a little One Pocket before he seemed to have left the area.
 
Wow, those names bring back some memories. A few others I remember like Ed Gregory, Joe Frady, Tallman and Billy Ray Suda(sp). The good old days
 
I must know you, what is your REAL NAME, if you played In those Circles, we must have BUMPED into each other!
I worked at the Charlie Horse in Lynn,MA back in the late 80's,early 90's, eventually ending up as the GM ....jogging memories, remember Rich Kravetz, the Mattarazo's, the Mills',.....come on, really, am I the only one left??

Dave- you aren't the only one left. Some of us, though very few, are still around. Had my arse kicked by just about everyone you named. And don't forget that New York crowd; Ginky; Frankie Hernandez; Tony Robles; Neptune Joe; et al.

Bob
 
Caps Cue Club in Syracuse bought by Dunkin Donuts, opened over 40 years ago.
In upstate NY the game has been on life support for 3 years.

That just reminded me, the room I met my wife in, and the room that is pretty much directly responsible for 3 marriages and 6 kids being born, also now has Dunkin Donuts in it's old spot. Chalkies in Wesboro MA. It was a hang-out for mostly teens to go hang out and smoke in, soon as the no smoking laws passed, room was closed soon after. It's odd how the two are so related.
 
Its ok OP... a couple quizno's by my house closed down, but we don't have to declare the hot and fresh hoagie dead just yet.

That's because they can't compete with Subway. If a pool room closes down, is there another one down the block you can go to instead? For every local bakery and coffee shop that closes down, 4 Dunkins and Starbucks take it's place, the pool rooms do not get replaced.
 
Its ok OP... a couple quizno's by my house closed down, but we don't have to declare the hot and fresh hoagie dead just yet.

One closed by me too. No one can make a living with sanwiches anymore. Pretty soon, the submarine sandwich will disappear and become a cult like niche that is only made and consumed at home.

Seriously, the traditional pool hall has been dead in my area for many years. But the sports bar/pool room that serves food and has a full bar is alive and well. They are numerous and full with leagues and tournaments. Times have changed and the venue has changed. The traditional pool hall does not get replaced and that is for a reason.
 
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Once again quoting myself,sorry, is there any body but me that played in the era of Nicky V., the "Squash", "Shorty", Bob Walsh, Tom McGonagle,.......come ON, DIG DEEP, Tony Pavoni, Howie Meltz, "Chickenman",Lynn,"Sully"Sullivan, Manny Hamel, Marty Herman, "Lefty" Hunt, "Ingie"...........

I played in a few of those tournaments back in the 90s and played many of those players listed above. I wish I had known then that the pool scene of the 90s wouldn't last forever. I would have played in a lot more tournaments.

And I am very disappointed that World Class has closed down. I always enjoyed playing there.
 
Wow, those names bring back some memories. A few others I remember like Ed Gregory, Joe Frady, Tallman and Billy Ray Suda(sp). The good old days
"Tallman". Are you referring to a big black guy in Providence RI area?
An incredibly creative player. I saw him on a breakshot of 14.1. Dead straight shot just by the rack.

He jumps the cue ball and pockets the break ball. Cue ball then lands on top of the pack and spreads them open to continue the run. Never knew his real name, but I remember that shot vividly. He taught me some principles of bank shots as well.
 
Joe Balsis played that same shot in a championship match during the US Open, when it was held in Chicago back in the early 70's. Totally freaked out the ref and the audience!

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

"Tallman". Are you referring to a big black guy in Providence RI area?
An incredibly creative player. I saw him on a breakshot of 14.1. Dead straight shot just by the rack.

He jumps the cue ball and pockets the break ball. Cue ball then lands on top of the pack and spreads them open to continue the run. Never knew his real name, but I remember that shot vividly. He taught me some principles of bank shots as well.
 
Well, World Class closed but, not because of lack of business. It closed because of lack of proper management. I am actually surprised they stayed open THAT long.
However, i believe the way it goes - The king is dead, long live the king!
There is a new pool room/private club opened in Malden, MA. Great place, lots of 9 ft tables, 5-6 3c tables. Place is nice, clean, everything is new. The owner, Mazin Shooni, is a world champion in 3c and huge pool/billiards enthusiast.
I started playing there since World Class closed and WHAT A DIFFERENCE.
Not to mention that most of regulars from World Class moved to Amnazin Billiards in Malden.
They provide table service, serve beverages, food, snacks. Tables are being cleaned after each use.
All types of games for everyone.
They also host BCA, APA and a house league. Have house 9 ball, 3c tournaments and host national 3c tournaments as well. Mazin is really into bringing pool back up in our area.
I highly recommend it to people that did not visit Amazin Billiards yet.
 
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