Anybody here know "The Back", Joel Solomon?

T

Tommy Joe

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I used to play him and hang out with him occasionally when he stayed in Hollywood. He went back to Chicago for a while and came back for a brief visit once. I left Hollywood in '91. For all I know the guy has died. But if anyone knows if he's still alive, or knows anything about him at all, please let me know as I sort of liked "The Back" and in fact as far as I know am the one who gave him that nickname. I'd like to know how to get a hold of him. If that doesn't sound right, giving out info without someone's permission, then if you know the guy or see him, please tell him Tommy Joe from Hollywood Billiards says hello and my email address is as follows. Thanks.

joss@bellsouth.net
 
Tommy Joe said:
I used to play him and hang out with him occasionally when he stayed in Hollywood. He went back to Chicago for a while and came back for a brief visit once. I left Hollywood in '91. For all I know the guy has died. But if anyone knows if he's still alive, or knows anything about him at all, please let me know as I sort of liked "The Back" and in fact as far as I know am the one who gave him that nickname. I'd like to know how to get a hold of him. If that doesn't sound right, giving out info without someone's permission, then if you know the guy or see him, please tell him Tommy Joe from Hollywood Billiards says hello and my email address is as follows. Thanks.

joss@bellsouth.net
Click to expand...

He has been dead for a while. His Chicago nickname was Joe the Grinder. He used to be a schoolteacher. He didnt have many friends. You are in a minority.

Beard
 
Joe Solomon

Is he a retired high school physical ed instructor? He came through southern Illinois in spring of 2009 (I think). This was either 2009 or 2010, as Gatsby's closed the side of the building that had the AE Schmits in it soon after that. I, too, wondered about this guy.
 
He played tournament-level table tennis, and could bench-press over 400 lbs. Try finding that combination someplace else. GF
 
freddy the beard said:
He has been dead for a while. His Chicago nickname was Joe the Grinder. He used to be a schoolteacher. He didnt have many friends. You are in a minority.

Beard
Click to expand...


You are in the minority as well. We talked about the Back before, remember - a few years ago. I remember now you said he was called The Grinder. Appropriate. Yeah, he was an odd character but I liked him. He played better than he looked. I fell for it, I admit it. I saw him and thought he couldn't play based strictly on his looks. Pretty narrow of me I realize. At least I'm able to admit it. I had a feeling he might be dead. I heard he inherited some cash and was living in a trailer with a bunch of cats. He liked cats. He also liked roof tops. First thing he said when I brought him to my apartment was, "Where's the roof?" When we went to his little room, where he kept an always opened suitcase on a coffee table, he took me to his roof. He liked roofs. I am not surprised he's dead. He worked out with weights, but aerobically I don't think he did much other than walk around the table. I told him once, "Joel, no matter how often you work out or how much weight you lose, you will never have a Christian body." He laughed at that one. Anyway, regardless of how much of the minority I'm in, I'm sorry to hear he's dead. Him and another oddball I liked a lot named Jack Moussa who hung at Hollywood Billiards. He died like 20 years ago. I am no longer surprised to hear of anyone dying. Thanks for the reply.

TJ
 
George Fels said:
He played tournament-level table tennis, and could bench-press over 400 lbs. Try finding that combination someplace else. GF
Click to expand...


They had ping pong tables at Hollywood Billiards and I've seen him play. He would play all the Thai guys down there. He was more nimble than he at first appeared. And as Freddie says, he was indeed a grinder. I want to tell a little story about the Back but am pressed for a dentists appointment and have to get there on foot. I'll tell it later. Thanks for your response as well.

TJ
 
ac11 said:
Already like this guy....how bout some stories???
Click to expand...


They may be boring stories on the surface but I have a few and will relate them later. Gotta get to the dentist. My teeth are going the way of The Back - gone daddy gone.

TJ
 
Wheaties said:
Is he a retired high school physical ed instructor? He came through southern Illinois in spring of 2009 (I think). This was either 2009 or 2010, as Gatsby's closed the side of the building that had the AE Schmits in it soon after that. I, too, wondered about this guy.[


You wondered about the guy? What, that he might be a pedophile or something?

TJ
Click to expand...
 
You wondered about the guy? What, that he might be a pedophile or something?

TJ[/QUOTE]

Ha. Not at all but he certainly comes across as an odd character. I guess it's possible he might set alarms off in the heads of the parents of any small children he might encounter, but no, I did not think that.
We had just started talking about matching up when a guy I'd met a few years back playing league pool walks in wearing a "world's greatest dad" t-shirt. This guy likes to talk about his sons and so I said "nice shirt" to him by way of a greeting. He told us he'd just been in line at the gas station with another guy who was also wearing a "world's greatest dad" t-shirt and that he'd joked with the other guy indicating his shirt, and said to him: "Now you know we have to fight, right?" It was a joke.
But I remember Joe saying flatly: "You shouldn't say that." First to him, and then more quietly, as a kind of aside to me: "He shouldn't say that to people."
"But he meant it as a joke" I'd said.
"Yes, but he shouldn't say things like that to people."
"Well, you're in the south now, and strangers do speak to each other for better or worse." I'd said.
But he shook his head and repeated what he'd said a fourth time.

So, odd character, but interesting...I'd like to know more about him.
 
Wheaties said:
Ha. Not at all but he certainly comes across as an odd character. I guess it's possible he might set alarms off in the heads of the parents of any small children he might encounter, but no, I did not think that.
We had just started talking about matching up when a guy I'd met a few years back playing league pool walks in wearing a "world's greatest dad" t-shirt. This guy likes to talk about his sons and so I said "nice shirt" to him by way of a greeting. He told us he'd just been in line at the gas station with another guy who was also wearing a "world's greatest dad" t-shirt and that he'd joked with the other guy indicating his shirt, and said to him: "Now you know we have to fight, right?" It was a joke.
But I remember Joe saying flatly: "You shouldn't say that." First to him, and then more quietly, as a kind of aside to me: "He shouldn't say that to people."
"But he meant it as a joke" I'd said.
"Yes, but he shouldn't say things like that to people."
"Well, you're in the south now, and strangers do speak to each other for better or worse." I'd said.
But he shook his head and repeated what he'd said a fourth time.

So, odd character, but interesting...I'd like to know more about him.
Click to expand...


Wow. I knew the guy pretty well - but I guess that's a relative term. I saw him almost daily for a long time when we hung at the same poolroom. Yes he was odd. In appearance mostly. Kind of introverted it seemed to me, which is why I can't picture him butting into a joke between two strangers. He had his own sense of humor. He got mine and I got his.

I don't have many pool stories about The Back. But I have one where me and The Back and this other loony I knew and liked from Hollywood Billliards rode to an all nite poolroom in the other loonies car which was an old Checker Cab. We got pulled by a cop and the loony, who was actually a nice guy named Lee - a bit nuts though. He had some tickets that had gone to warrant. They took him in and impounded his car.

I asked where the bus station was so we could go back to Hollywood. The cop said it was about 3 miles away. It was after two, no booze, and I wanted a beer bad. So we started walking to the bus station, The Back and me, and somehow on the way we got into a friendly dispute about how many blocks we had walked so far, or maybe how many we needed to go to the bus station. I remember at one point feeling very sure about the distance and saying so by saying, "Let's bet on it."

Now, I knew The Back well. He did not make bad bets. When he said, "Are you sure you want to bet?", I said, "Yes." Then just as quickly I remembered this is The Back, he's not going to bet on a bad thing. So I said, "Uh, let me think about it a minute." And I did. And I realized I had counted wrong and would have lost the bet. The Back did not want my money, but he was willing to bet if challenged. I resisted the challenge because I knew the Back did not make bad bets. I thought that was funny and I enjoyed the lesson. Sometimes I love learning I'm wrong.

TJ
 
ac11 said:
Already like this guy....how bout some stories???
Click to expand...


Not many of interest involving pool match ups or anything of that nature. The Back was not a hustler, at least not a run of the mill one. Nothing spectacular to draw on. He did not drink or smoke. He went to bars to play for money. How he did that without drinking is beyond me. He was a very serious and determined player. But I never saw him lay down. He would try anyone he didn't know, but if he lost it would never be much.

What I'm going to say here I will copy and paste and put in a response to Freddy The Beard as well because I was going to respond to him on this anyway. Recently I came in here just to check it out and saw a thread about Cecil Tugwell. I didn't know he had died, but I was not surprised, it's not like anyone is going to live forever.

Anyway, Freddie and AC both - also knew Cecil and frankly did not care for the guy. Yet when I checked out that thread about his death it was loaded with tons of positive comments. It made me wonder if I am not an asshole. I was reminded of Cecil when you, Freddie, mentioned The Back being "not very popular" or whatever. I understood that. Anyway, it was funny to me that The Back's move to "the other side" was met with no comment from anyone, yet the guy I didn't like, Cecil, got rave reviews. Now let me say this about Cecil though. Even though I didn't care for the guy I did admire that he would match up against other good players. I just didn't like his hollow hustler attitude. But I understand it. Some people are born into hustling from day one. When The Back beat Cecil after Cecil had the accident and switched hands, The Back beat him playing nine ball. I applauded it and told The Back how it made me feel good. The Back said it made him sad to beat someone whose play he idolized. He was serious.

TJ
 
freddy the beard said:
He has been dead for a while. His Chicago nickname was Joe the Grinder. He used to be a schoolteacher. He didnt have many friends. You are in a minority.

Beard
Click to expand...



I posted to ac11 what I was going to post to you. I'm obsessive that way, must respond to all posts. Maybe selfish is a better word. Anyway, I sort of misquoted you in a harmless way. You said The Back didn't have many friends. I said you said he was "not popular". Sort of the same thing. Anyway, I wrote a response regarding The Back and posted it to ac11, so you'll see it there. Why type it twice?

TJ
 
Wheaties said:
Ha. Not at all but he certainly comes across as an odd character. I guess it's possible he might set alarms off in the heads of the parents of any small children he might encounter, but no, I did not think that.
We had just started talking about matching up when a guy I'd met a few years back playing league pool walks in wearing a "world's greatest dad" t-shirt. This guy likes to talk about his sons and so I said "nice shirt" to him by way of a greeting. He told us he'd just been in line at the gas station with another guy who was also wearing a "world's greatest dad" t-shirt and that he'd joked with the other guy indicating his shirt, and said to him: "Now you know we have to fight, right?" It was a joke.
But I remember Joe saying flatly: "You shouldn't say that." First to him, and then more quietly, as a kind of aside to me: "He shouldn't say that to people."
"But he meant it as a joke" I'd said.
"Yes, but he shouldn't say things like that to people."
"Well, you're in the south now, and strangers do speak to each other for better or worse." I'd said.
But he shook his head and repeated what he'd said a fourth time.

So, odd character, but interesting...I'd like to know more about him.
Click to expand...


The Back had issues. (Sounds like the start of a detective novel), "The Back had Issues." But he did. He had an odor about him. I don't think he showered much. But it's not like the reek was pouring out of him like water sprinkling from a hose, you had to get close, and the reek was intermittent. To me, odor is one of the first signs of "we're got an odd one here." He loved smoking weed and he also loved cats. He loved roof tops. Every different apartment he went to visit someone he'd ask them if he could see their roof. I thought The Back was a gentle soul. But even though I call him that, let's not forget he was a human being and could possibly have turned into a wild beast if pushed the wrong way. I just said that to be funny. I like adding violence to stories where there is none. Sort of a feeling of a need to spice things up, especially since you asked for interesting stories about The Back and I can't really think of any even though he was an interesting character. Maybe I'm just too lazy to work at describing his interesting ways and doing them justice. He was, as Freddy The Beard says, a grinder.

TJ
 
.... Him and another oddball I liked a lot named Jack Moussa who hung at Hollywood Billiards. He died like 20 years ago. I am no longer surprised to hear of anyone dying. Thanks for the reply.

TJ[/QUOTE]

Jack "Mouse" Moussa was better known around the Hollywood hustling mob as "The Filthy Beast." I give him a little play in my new book. No ink for the Grinder, however.

Beard
 
freddy the beard said:
.... Him and another oddball I liked a lot named Jack Moussa who hung at Hollywood Billiards. He died like 20 years ago. I am no longer surprised to hear of anyone dying. Thanks for the reply.

TJ
Click to expand...

Jack "Mouse" Moussa was better known around the Hollywood hustling mob as "The Filthy Beast." I give him a little play in my new book. No ink for the Grinder, however.

Beard[/QUOTE]


No ink for the Grinder, LOL............. I get it, you didn't care much for the back. He was a solemn dude. Perhaps it came from his name, Solomon. The Moose was quite a character, always lit the place up. I used to tell him all the time that there are degrees of stench - rich stench, poor stench, whatever, it's all stench - and from then on whenever Moose would see me, which was often, he'd yell out, "Stench" really loud. I called him The Caveman Artist. He was creative. But he was filthy, no doubt about it. Sometimes he'd even flaunt it. "Look at this, just look at this", he'd laugh, grabbing an old pair of shit-stained drawers from the back of his cave man car and fluffing it up and down in the air laughing. He was not really proud of it, of course - probably more ashamed - but he was very open about such things, including hilarious stories regarding surgery on his pecs to make him look like Steve Reeves. He showed me the scars. I liked Jack and always looked forward to seeing him. The Back may not be as ink worthy, but I liked him too.

TJ
 
ac11 said:
Thanks for the replies Tommy Joe.
Click to expand...


Can you handle one more story not related to pool? The Back was staying in an apartment only half a block from me. He stayed there about a year, never unpacking his suitcase. It sat on a coffee table, opened, to be used like a chest of drawers. When we partied or got together, a bunch from the poolroom, we'd often go to my place.

I had a record at the time, a 33rpm record, but it was small in size, like a 45. It was a collection of 'songs' from pro wrestler Freddie Blasse from the Chicago area. One of the songs was "Pencil Neck Geek". The Back loved it. I liked it too.

One day he informed me at my place that he was going back to Chicago. I assumed he would be driving. I asked him about it. He said no, he's taking the plane. I asked what he's going to do with his car - a 63 Buick. He said, "Well, you can have it", then a brief pause, "in exchange for one thing." I asked what, and he said, "The Freddie Blasse Record." I said "Done", and it was. I used the car for a year or so until it came down with things that couldn't be fixed without the aid of money and professional help, one of which I didn't have, the other which I didn't trust. Anyway, I got The Back's car in exchange for Pencil Neck Geek. In other words, the Back gave me his car.

TJ
 
Tommy Joe said:
Jack "Mouse" Moussa was better known around the Hollywood hustling mob as "The Filthy Beast." I give him a little play in my new book. No ink for the Grinder, however.

Beard
Click to expand...


No ink for the Grinder, LOL............. I get it, you didn't care much for the back. He was a solemn dude. Perhaps it came from his name, Solomon. The Moose was quite a character, always lit the place up. I used to tell him all the time that there are degrees of stench - rich stench, poor stench, whatever, it's all stench - and from then on whenever Moose would see me, which was often, he'd yell out, "Stench" really loud. I called him The Caveman Artist. He was creative. But he was filthy, no doubt about it. Sometimes he'd even flaunt it. "Look at this, just look at this", he'd laugh, grabbing an old pair of shit-stained drawers from the back of his cave man car and fluffing it up and down in the air laughing. He was not really proud of it, of course - probably more ashamed - but he was very open about such things, including hilarious stories regarding surgery on his pecs to make him look like Steve Reeves. He showed me the scars. I liked Jack and always looked forward to seeing him. The Back may not be as ink worthy, but I liked him too.

TJ[/QUOTE]

The Beast had a car and it had its own nickname, it was called the Beastmobile of course. No back seat as it was needed to be a depository for his garbage.

Beast

Here is a scene from my screenplay Roxanne's Game, loosely based on the life of Jack and Barbara Cooney. Moussa's name has been changed to Ansel:

… and the broad gets in the back.
Ansel smiles wickedly, as he pushes forward the passenger seat for her to get in. It’s not a seat at all. The seat has been removed. It’s more like a wooden platform. Flies
are everywhere.
Wherever she puts her hand down she lifts it to reveal goo on
it — gum or a melted chocolate bar.
There are ladies’ underwear, beer bottles, fast-food
containers, Spam, tennis shoes, etc.
Ansel laughs.
ROXANNE
(holding her nose)
The Beastmobile!
Freddy hands her some newspaper to put down. Roxanne has to
sit on her haunches.
 
Last edited:
Tommy Joe said:
I used to play him and hang out with him occasionally when he stayed in Hollywood. He went back to Chicago for a while and came back for a brief visit once. I left Hollywood in '91. For all I know the guy has died. But if anyone knows if he's still alive, or knows anything about him at all, please let me know as I sort of liked "The Back" and in fact as far as I know am the one who gave him that nickname. I'd like to know how to get a hold of him. If that doesn't sound right, giving out info without someone's permission, then if you know the guy or see him, please tell him Tommy Joe from Hollywood Billiards says hello and my email address is as follows. Thanks.

joss@bellsouth.net
Click to expand...

Tommy; This is Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion", I was the Manager of "Hollywood Billiards" from, 1987-1990 for Seymor and George Aronek.

Joel left Hollywood before I got there and came back to Chicago. Around Chicago, Joel was known as, "The Grinder" a tireless scuffler around the poolrooms and bars everyday!

Tommy, I don't know if you were aware that Joel was an EXCELENT table tennis player, even as BIG as he was!

Don't know much about these days, I been in FL. for the past 9 years. If you call Chris's Billiards today, (773) 286-4714, I think someone there will be able to give you a line on him, alive or dead.

Good luck;
Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top