I edited my post out...apparently one actually exists. Thought I got to it before it was picked up...I own the error.
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Article: What we need is a posh billiards parlour.
- Thread starter gerryf
- Start date
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Actually 3 of the Retirement Comunities in West Valley have Bowling Alley with Pool Roons. Sun City AZ the original Del Webb retirement community has two such areas.
Maybe the newspapers went away because all of that information is more easily accessible now. Like it or not, the age of the internet is upon us.
A bowling place not far from me had some decently setup tables, I think gold crowns even. My son was pleasantly surprised to see them when he went for some work party or something. A year after we found out they had them, they took them all out. There is nothing like pool tables or a pool hall that can be swept away to make room for something else, I would guess more pool halls were pushed out of leases or demolished or pool tables taken out than any other industry or recreation.
fattirewilly
Member
Is quoting a monthly rent per square foot on commercial space a California thing? On the East Coast we'd say it's $36/SF with the annual being implied.
This part not directed at FB, I'm guessing some of the $80k plus folk playing pool have put in home tables and with Covid aren't really thinking about going to a pool hall. Then others of the $80k+ group mentioned are the buddy down the street who comes over once a month.
I do miss playing a total stranger from time to time in a bar somewhere.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
The Schools of Pool
Pool is as much a culture as it is a game or a business. Beyond the actual playing equipment, a pool hall's success does not depend as much on the fixtures, etc., as it does the room's soul. A room's soul emanates from many intangibles. I cannot write down the formula, but I promise it is recognizable by all real players upon entering. Doctors and lawyers play carpenters and plumbers. Socioeconomic status determines nothing except who is most likely to pick up the time. Age means little, but the ability to control your mouth is everything. If you lacked what it took, you just did not stay around very long, and if you belonged, you could be gone for months and walk back in like you had been playing yesterday. "Cohesion" is a word which comes to mind.
I miss the old pool culture we once had here on the Coast, but without decent (clean and safe) poolrooms, my way of life is certainly endangered. The more time that passes without such rooms, the worse the future looks.
Pool is as much a culture as it is a game or a business. Beyond the actual playing equipment, a pool hall's success does not depend as much on the fixtures, etc., as it does the room's soul. A room's soul emanates from many intangibles. I cannot write down the formula, but I promise it is recognizable by all real players upon entering. Doctors and lawyers play carpenters and plumbers. Socioeconomic status determines nothing except who is most likely to pick up the time. Age means little, but the ability to control your mouth is everything. If you lacked what it took, you just did not stay around very long, and if you belonged, you could be gone for months and walk back in like you had been playing yesterday. "Cohesion" is a word which comes to mind.
I miss the old pool culture we once had here on the Coast, but without decent (clean and safe) poolrooms, my way of life is certainly endangered. The more time that passes without such rooms, the worse the future looks.
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Yes your are correct in Ca and Nv we use the monthly $3/ft in other markets I’ve seen $36/ft the annualized number.
I don’t know what it is in Florida lol
Best
Fatboy
Yes this is a tremendous post.
The culture is what I miss more than pool itself. I was part of that. I don’t think league players are part of our culture. They have their own-just judging them. Just 2 different things.
Playing at home isn’t a culture,
I’m part of the gambler, bar hustler(when you get broke) culture. Step up and play a better player to get better and learn that way culture. Wait on the rail for a customer, or wait for good side bets because your at the pool room 12-18 hours a day and can make smart bets-that’s my culture. Sure it got boring and grindy sometimes. But that what I chose to do with my time. Zero regrets. I made more than I lost consistently then. It was great. How we kept score. Didn’t care or know what the stock market did. Only what was happening in the local pool rooms or what we heard on the “pool player wire” which was a real thing.
Jay Helfert knows what I’m talking about. Didn’t have to be a champion to be part of that culture. Life long B players could be a part of it. After they paid their sure and earned their bones. Not everyone did. I made it a point to-when I learned of it.
It’s not a secret society or some make believe thing. It’s a culture that will be my identity until I pass. I still talk everyday with B players to world champions. Why? Because they are my peers. Guys that paid their dues. Not as much with hobby pool players(who I still respect). Anyone who plays pool is good with me. But not all are part of the “thing”. Most are and anyone can be-pay your dues.
Paid in full,
Fatboy
Yes, I remember Dave and Busters in Dallas- around 1988 we held a business conference in Dallas and one night we rented The entire place. Corporations were spending huge money back then on sales conferences and places like D&B were perfect for one of our recreation nights. We had a group of four guys including myself who could play a bit- we stayed on the tables for hours that night- food, drink, etc. etc. man have times changed.
Wonder what he's up to these days?
Mike sold paper to guy, who change it from newspaper Formst, to magazine. The got ran into ground, Mike got back, tries to relaunch. Never flew again.
Dr. Jack aka Jack Drudo I think was name, died off. His rag Billiards Table died with him. Paper was aweful.
Why was it so terrible? Lots of words spelled wrong?
Never said Terrible, you can't read, I can't spell for sh**.
He said "awefull"...as in "full of awe" , loosely translated.."awesome"
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.
Yes this is a tremendous post.
The culture is what I miss more than pool itself. I was part of that. I don’t think league players are part of our culture. They have their own-just judging them. Just 2 different things.
Playing at home isn’t a culture,
I’m part of the gambler, bar hustler(when you get broke) culture. Step up and play a better player to get better and learn that way culture. Wait on the rail for a customer, or wait for good side bets because your at the pool room 12-18 hours a day and can make smart bets-that’s my culture. Sure it got boring and grindy sometimes. But that what I chose to do with my time. Zero regrets. I made more than I lost consistently then. It was great. How we kept score. Didn’t care or know what the stock market did. Only what was happening in the local pool rooms or what we heard on the “pool player wire” which was a real thing.
Jay Helfert knows what I’m talking about. Didn’t have to be a champion to be part of that culture. Life long B players could be a part of it. After they paid their sure and earned their bones. Not everyone did. I made it a point to-when I learned of it.
It’s not a secret society or some make believe thing. It’s a culture that will be my identity until I pass. I still talk everyday with B players to world champions. Why? Because they are my peers. Guys that paid their dues. Not as much with hobby pool players(who I still respect). Anyone who plays pool is good with me. But not all are part of the “thing”. Most are and anyone can be-pay your dues.
Paid in full,
Fatboy
One of the best posts I've ever read about how pool was! Like you I miss it so very, very much! I'm afraid it will never be the same again.
Geosnookery
Well-known member
I disagree that ‘playing at home isn’t a culture’
It’s part of ‘my culture’. Friends and I get together at least once a week at someone’s house to play. A half dozen of us play at each other’s homes.
Snooker at my house and pool on their 9’ tables. Usually 4 of us. It’s ‘free’, no aggravating televisions or background clinking of bottles and glasses. Everything clean. Nobody getting angry. We can talk about science, hiking, history, etc instead of sports or politics. Bring a bottle of beer or have a cup of coffee.
Billiards is doing fine in my city. Many bars have their box table, pool halls their 9 footers and a few Snooker tables. More people than ever have home tables. Those with home tables still play at pool halls….in fact are usually more eager to test their skills.
It’s part of ‘my culture’. Friends and I get together at least once a week at someone’s house to play. A half dozen of us play at each other’s homes.
Snooker at my house and pool on their 9’ tables. Usually 4 of us. It’s ‘free’, no aggravating televisions or background clinking of bottles and glasses. Everything clean. Nobody getting angry. We can talk about science, hiking, history, etc instead of sports or politics. Bring a bottle of beer or have a cup of coffee.
Billiards is doing fine in my city. Many bars have their box table, pool halls their 9 footers and a few Snooker tables. More people than ever have home tables. Those with home tables still play at pool halls….in fact are usually more eager to test their skills.
I can read pretty well. I was just guessing since you weren’t very specific.
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I have to agree with Geosnookery here about the home table culture. Once upon a time, mid-sixties, I was a poolroom regular. Then real work interfered with that aspect of life. Forty some years later I have two tables in the basement and it's a retired culture. Now there are three poolrooms within ten miles of me, one a serious players room. But in our private homes there are eight tables within two or so blocks from me that I know of.
No blasting music, I play Blues or 50's softly, free food, drink, clean and non-smoking. Plus all of us have similar hobbies, fishing, motorcycles or both. It's a geezer culture. But we do go to a bar for lunch that has three tables now and then just for a change. I will say that the players room does have that once upon a time culture from so long ago. I really should stop in.
No blasting music, I play Blues or 50's softly, free food, drink, clean and non-smoking. Plus all of us have similar hobbies, fishing, motorcycles or both. It's a geezer culture. But we do go to a bar for lunch that has three tables now and then just for a change. I will say that the players room does have that once upon a time culture from so long ago. I really should stop in.