Attn; John Barton !!!

Yes, yes .... we want to hear some Herman the German stories.

Dick, I remember hearing a "Doosey of a Story" about You being
held for ransom in Las Vegas after you played some Asian guy
and couldn't pay. That story was going around back in the late
1960's, but I didn't put much stock in it. Any truth there ?
 
I'm going to bump the old thread....why let a good thread disappear.

....yeah, I knew Herman the German....
 
I'm going to bump the old thread....why let a good thread disappear.

....yeah, I knew Herman the German....

PT..Do you have any recent info on Herman?..Is he still around?..I guess Barton is MIA!
 
Yes, yes, we want to hear some Herman the German stories. Dick, I remember hearing a "Doosey of a Story" about You being held for ransom in Las Vegas after you played some Asian guy
and couldn't pay. That story was going around back in the late1960's, but I didn't put much stock in it. Any truth there ?

Glad you didn't put much stock in it, because (a) I never played 'some Asian guy', and lost in Vegas, and (b) I could never 'not pay'!..Funny, I never heard any story like that! :( ..I did run up some pretty hefty casino tabs at times, but they all got paid off!

PS..In my prime days (50's-60's), there was 'zero' pool action in Vegas!
 
I was back in OKC last year and Herman was still doing well. Not playing much pool but health wise he was doing well and attends a lot of the tournaments at Jamaica Joe's to watch.

-don
 
I was back in OKC last year and Herman was still doing well. Not playing much pool but health wise he was doing well and attends a lot of the tournaments at Jamaica Joe's to watch.

-don

Thanks Don..As I said in my OP, we were quite good friends, just lost touch!..If you should run into him again, please PM me for my
phone #, (or get his) and have him give me a call! ;)

PS..Any 'Jamaica Joe' regulars, please do likewise..Thanks!
 
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Glad you didn't put much stock in it, because (a) I never played 'some Asian guy', and lost in Vegas, and (b) I could never 'not pay'!..Funny, I never heard any story like that! :( ..I did run up some pretty hefty casino tabs at times, but they all got paid off!

PS..In my prime days (50's-60's), there was 'zero' pool action in Vegas!

Just as I figured, but you know how full-o-shit the average rail bird is. That tall tale originated from Circus Billiards. Lots of drugs found their way in and out of that place in those days.
 
Thanks Don..As I said in my OP, we were quite good friends, just lost touch!..If you should run into him again, please PM me for my
phone #, (or get his) and have him give me a call! ;)

PS..Any 'Jamaica Joe' regulars, please do likewise..Thanks!

I was just told he doesn't have a phone.
 
Just as I figured, but you know how full-o-shit the average rail bird is. That tall tale originated from Circus Billiards. Lots of drugs found their way in and out of that place in those days.

Tell me about it!..If you were around in the Circus days, you should remember I was partners in it, with Al Kallman, when he died..
..His wife and I sold it to Clay Roby, and I moved to Texas! (around '62 or so)... Clay kept it afloat for 3-4 more years!..The pool action seemed to die out considerably, when I left SJ!
 
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Tell me about it!..If you were around in the Circus days, you should remember I was partners in it, with Al Kallman, when he died..
..His wife and I sold it to Clay Roby, and I moved to Texas! (around '62 or so)... Clay kept it afloat for 3-4 more years!..The pool action seemed to die out considerably, when I left SJ!

Yes, NO real action near the end. I was lucky to get a game for $2.00 + table time.
My routine was Sleep until Noon or later, make the rounds looking for a game, show up at Circus around Midnight, purchase a "jar of beans" from the local Pharmacist, and play 1-hole for 36 hrs. straight. Aah, those WERE the days.
 
Yes, NO real action near the end. I was lucky to get a game for $2.00 + table time.
My routine was Sleep until Noon or later, make the rounds looking for a game, show up at Circus around Midnight, purchase a "jar of beans" from the local Pharmacist, and play 1-hole for 36 hrs. straight. Aah, those WERE the days.

I used to come home quite often, to visit the kids..There was still a lot of good action at Cochran's (in SF)..I think what little action there was in SJ, moved to 4th st. Bowl, and a pool room in Campbell where Chuck Bailey used to hang out..Not that much 1P in SJ, in those days..Mostly 9ball, or golf.
 
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Tell me about it!..If you were around in the Circus days, you should remember I was partners in it, with Al Kallman, when he died..
..His wife and I sold it to Clay Roby, and I moved to Texas! (around '62 or so)... Clay kept it afloat for 3-4 more years!..The pool action seemed to die out considerably, when I left SJ!

Where was Circus located? Was it a San Jose room?

Sorry for the questions; seems your time in the South Bay was before mine, and I would love to hear the billiard room history of this area.

My playing days started at California Billiards on Stevens Creek in the late 70's. Loved that place and have many great memories of those days. If you remember, it was located next to Futurama Bowl with the dome at its entrance.

Futurama.jpg

Futurama2.jpg
 
Yes Dave, the Circus was located at 4th st. and Santa Clara, near downtown SJ..BTW, I knew the guy who built Futurama Bowl quite well, but can't recall his name right now..My time in SJ did precede yours by quite a few years.. California Billiards on Stevens Creek did not even exist in my days.. It was originally the name of an old dump of a pool room, on South 1st st., right downtown (late 50's)..After he went under, I guess the name was up for grabs!.. You're bringing back some good old memories for me too..Thanks! :p

PS..My good friend Bill Tuttle (pro bowler) tended bar at the Futurama, so I became quite familiar with it in later years..Don't recall there ever being much $$$ pool action in there, or at the new Cal. Billiards, at that time. ;)
 
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