Aprons

Biloxi Boy

Biloxi Boy

Man With A Golden Arm
My old one pocket buddy would often wear an apron when we played. It made sense to me at the time, because he was often attired in serious suits. I got the idea that there was some other significance to the apron beyond clothing protection. Despite my inquiries, I never got the full story on aprons. Can anyone fill me in on billiard aprons? Background/history? Worn in other countries? Are they sold anywhere today?
 
This topic has come up here a few times in the past, too tired to look right now. Aprons were useful and kinda cool.
 
If you wear light-colored pants, some tables with metal trim will leave nasty black streaks on them. I've also seen aprons with chalk pockets, which would keep chalk off your pants as well if you're a chalk-in-pocket person.
 
First time I saw an apron was Dan Louie in the 70s. I recall Danny Medina was also using one at the time. If there were others I wouldn't have known their names anyway. I always thought it was just to keep chalk dust off the snazzy clothes. Nowadays, cargo shorts and t-shirts; chalk stains is battle grime; a badge of honor.
And I suppose you can have money pockets and other supplies handy.
 
I’m pretty sure the biggest reason for aprons were the aluminum borders on tables..especially Gold Crowns.
...it wasn’t just dirty rails which is easily corrected. The aluminum actually left black marks.
Aluminum is funny stuff, I had an aluminum-jointed snooker cue that I would turn bright silver...
...I lent to a friend for a month, it came back matte black....alkalinity vs acidity
 
In casting about for answers about billiard aprons, I remember that Masons wear ceremonial aprons that they evidently adopted from traditional stonemasons. This caused me to recall other trades whose workers wore aprons while plying their trades -- butchers, bakers, cooks, blacksmiths/farriers -- and wonder if somehow their aprons made the jump from tradewear to recreational wear. Just trying to understand how the apron entered the billiard world. I mean, they had to come from somewhere. On the other hand, it could have all started with a pair of ruined suit pants and a wife/girlfriend who said, "here . . . ".
 
I just found this through a google search, still reading:

Pool waist aprons

I was just watching a Jimmy Reid instructional 8-ball VHS tape. He was wearing a tie-at-the waist 'apron' (I don't know what else to call it). It looked like it might have a couple of pockets in front. What's the story on these? Still used? What was/is their function? I have seen only...
forums.azbilliards.com

Bad AZB search engine.
 
Amazing. Still reading. Okay, got it. Seems it's all about keeping the pants clean. Sartorial protection in the billiard table jungle.

Thanks all.
 
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Biloxi Boy said:
In casting about for answers about billiard aprons, I remember that Masons wear ceremonial aprons that they evidently adopted from traditional stonemasons. This caused me to recall other trades whose workers wore aprons while plying their trades -- butchers, bakers, cooks, blacksmiths/farriers -- and wonder if somehow their aprons made the jump from tradewear to recreational wear. Just trying to understand how the apron entered the billiard world. I mean, they had to come from somewhere. On the other hand, it could have all started with a pair of ruined suit pants and a wife/girlfriend who said, "here . . . ".
Click to expand...
A lot of machinists/toolmakers wore aprons when I was in the trade in the late sixties. When I came out of the service and went to work in a steel mill, none of the machinists there wore one. We had a laundry service, so we had work specific clothing that got dirty.
I've only seen maybe three people in my area wear an apron while playing. Makes sense if you're wearing nice clothing.
 
Back in the day, people smoked in pool rooms, and that got the tables dirtier than you think. The apron kept your pants clean. Someone mentioned Babe Cranfield above. He did not wear an apron, but rather, tucked a dish towel under his belt to keep the pants clean.
 
straightline said:
First time I saw an apron was Dan Louie in the 70s. I recall Danny Medina was also using one at the time. If there were others I wouldn't have known their names anyway. I always thought it was just to keep chalk dust off the snazzy clothes. Nowadays, cargo shorts and t-shirts; chalk stains is battle grime; a badge of honor.
And I suppose you can have money pockets and other supplies handy.
Click to expand...
Yep, Danny Medina was the first one I saw wearing the apron back when he played a lot in The Pool Hall on Hampden in Denver/Aurora. It was a room with nothing but Gold Crowns so fairly certain that nasty aluminum trim was the reason he wore those around his waist.
 
Babe + Aprons =

Babe Cranfield

I just saw this thread about Babe Cranfield and not much information was shared about him so far. I also did a search for his name, but it looks like he is only mentioned in passing from time to time. So I thought I'd pick your guys' collective mind. I know that he is rumored to have run 768...
forums.azbilliards.com
 
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