When I saw the thread about what region in the country had the best action it got me to wondering. What were the best action cities in the country back in the 70s, 80s, 90s, and now? I remember back in the early and mid 90s dallas had a ton of action, especially at cj's. Any stories or memories would be greatly appreciated. One of my most favorite things about Az is reading the stories of the past about this game we all love.
Best action cities
- Thread starter billy's boy
- Start date
70-80's
Back in 70's and 80's, Wichita had a lot of action. All one had to do was stop at Burke's Steakhouse to find action of all kinds, from $10 a game to several thousand dollar sets. Sometimes, it spilled over into other Poolrooms, but Burke's was where the action was.
I was there when Buddy Hall walked in there, right before he turned pro, and was the best roadplayer in the country.
Back in 70's and 80's, Wichita had a lot of action. All one had to do was stop at Burke's Steakhouse to find action of all kinds, from $10 a game to several thousand dollar sets. Sometimes, it spilled over into other Poolrooms, but Burke's was where the action was.
I was there when Buddy Hall walked in there, right before he turned pro, and was the best roadplayer in the country.
I would have loved to have seen Buddy back then. That must of been heck of an experience that created some great memories. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, it did, and was he a picture with his shoulder length wavy dark red hair, and that waist length leather jacket that he wore. He was rather lanky back in those days. Many a road player came into Burke's, and even Greg Stevens popped in a couple of nights to play.
I'll give a shout to Shooters in Olathe Kansas. They have had great tournaments for 20 years.
I personally had the chance to watch Efren Reyes, CJ Wiley, Jose Parica, Jack Cooney, Shannon Daulton, Reed Pierce, Keith McCready, Roger Griffis, Johnny Archer, Grady Matthews, Dave Matlock, Jimmy Wetch, to name a few match up over the years. This isn't even mentioning the pro tournaments that Shooters has hosted including the Camel tour stops, CJ's PCA tour, Seniors event, Legends of One Pocket. Still a great room!
I personally had the chance to watch Efren Reyes, CJ Wiley, Jose Parica, Jack Cooney, Shannon Daulton, Reed Pierce, Keith McCready, Roger Griffis, Johnny Archer, Grady Matthews, Dave Matlock, Jimmy Wetch, to name a few match up over the years. This isn't even mentioning the pro tournaments that Shooters has hosted including the Camel tour stops, CJ's PCA tour, Seniors event, Legends of One Pocket. Still a great room!
Baltimore had its share of action in the 70s 80s 90s,over at bill and billies was a gambler paradise,all the top player had bill and billies on their map,that place never closed,it was open 24hrs everyday,i myself had seen players like,don polo,crazy jerry from buffalo,buffalo frank,shannon dalton,mataya,sigel,fusco brothers they were there a few times,philly phil,calhoun,patch eye,cigar tom vanover,black mike,amdom,efren,lebron,spin your ball go broke peter rabbit,archer,at any time you could go in this pool room an get in action,the weekends,after the bars closed,this room was mob with lots of good players,all betting it up,dam i miss that place!oh sorry bobby legg also was a regular when he moved to baltimore!
I use to go to CJ's back in the time frame , 90-92 , and the majority of the action i saw was 1p action , especially day time . I was helping remodel an old house on Swiss Ave. and would get off early on Fri. and always somebody shooting 1p . They also played 1p at the Clicks at Abrams and Northwest during the day .
I remember seeing a young Tony Watson come through town , his uncle was Del Ballard the professional bowler , who was with him . Regular high dollar action is a myth , it only happened at locations like the Rack in Detroit where there was a benefactor like Jew Paul or people like Viffer who create money for others to gamble with .
Sure , occasionally there will be some hot spots but today's action wouldn't come close to rivaling 40 years ago , hell , prize money hasn't met cost of living increases compared to 60's and early 70's prize money .
I watched a Mexican-American named Reuben lose about 5,000 playing 1p at CJ's one afternoon , he drove a Toyota Celica and lived out of it, think he dated Penny, one of the bar tenders at one time . High dollar gambling in this day and time is a myth , the only one i've heard of is Scott Frost and the Viffer dude , and it ended up controversial.
Challenge matches have taken over , and they really aren't high dollar , There may be some high dollar action , but you won't hear about it . The real gamblers are the backers and people who buy players at tournaments in the calcuttas . Everything is romanticized , and people like stories of people playing high dollar or people getting the shit beat out of them.
I watched Dillard Allen beat a road player out of about 250 dollars at CJ's and he(the road player ) was pissed and left with his backer . Is that high dollar ? I've seen more money change hands in a strip joint playing 8 ball on a barbox . They fluxuations and the fact that there are many competent pool players prevents any but a few to make a living.
I'm just saying what i saw over 20 yrs. or so , and only recently have i started observing again , i bet Luther Lassiter saw more action than most anybody today , and he was taking advantage of American servicemen .
A lot of 1P players traveled a circuit , Memphis , Tulsa , Dallas and Houston . I'm sure there were other stops , not trying to come off as an expert at anything but just name one modern player who can kick back and relax from their gambling profits .
I'm sure many had a great time as young men and had fun playing pool and gambling , but high dollar ? Observations of somebody setting on the rail , and little better than a ball banger . Don't get me wrong , i enjoy watching and playing pool , i enjoy watching people who play good pool , but much pool lore is embellishment.
I think you may have misunderstood the spirit of this thread but I do appreciate your input. You mentioning Dillard brings back all kinds of memories of sitting at Cjs late night til early morning watching some great action.
Wow! Thats a heck of a list of players you would see get into action at that place. I was wondering if you knew anything about a player that was called Baltimore Danny. I knew him when I was a kid, I never found out how he got the name, whether he was from the Baltimore area or not I dont know. But back in the mid 90s in Dallas I saw him play some great pool. He could play jacked up one handed pool like nobody's business.
Sorry about that , i may not know as much as i think , just an observation . Hey , it was open 24 hours
, The grill had great french fries , think i ate some everytime i went in there , best pool room i ever entered .8 or 10 9-foot GC'S
12 or 14 8-foot GC'S
bout 14 Valley 7 footers
1 12-foot snooker
1 10 X 5 American snooker
1 billiard table
couple of foosball tables
I could camp out there , and did a few times , oh , and a pro shop .
great pool room!
No worries bro, it was the best pool room for me too. My dad and I used to go there whenever we could for the action, the atmosphere, and the food. I loved their burgers, fries, and shakes. My pops passed away 7 years ago but I have some great memories of the many nights we spent at Cjs.
Sorry about that , i may not know as much as i think , just an observation . Hey , it was open 24 hours
8 or 10 9-foot GC'S
12 or 14 8-foot GC'S
bout 14 Valley 7 footers
1 12-foot snooker
1 10 X 5 American snooker
1 billiard table
couple of foosball tables
I could camp out there , and did a few times , oh , and a pro shop .
No worries bro, it was the best pool room for me too. My dad and I used to go there whenever we could for the action, the atmosphere, and the food. I loved their burgers, fries, and shakes. My pops passed away 7 years ago but I have some great memories of the many nights we spent at Cjs.
I was at CJ's one night and Amarillo Slim walks in and starts talking about playing some one pocket. Efren was there and they started telling Slim about this guy and somebody said Efren could give Slim 10 to 5 at one pocket and Slim said NO WAY. So Slim jumps up there and says he has 40 thousand to play this Efren guy and Jim Mataya and I think it was Lou Butera put up 20 thousand each to get the game going.
This was years ago and if anyone was there and has corrections to my story, please respond.
I think it was a race to five and at one point Slim had four games and only needed one ball to win the cash. I think Efren had two or three games at the time. Slim had a ball around where the break spot is and had the cue ball near the side pocket, almost straight in and he missed it. Slim said that his cue was deflected by the side pocket lip, etc.
Anyway, Efren comes back and wins that game and the rest of the match for the 40 thousand. The guy with Slim comes over to the table where Mataya and Butera are sitting and starts yanking on his pockets, he had a hard time getting that wad of cash out of each of his pockets, 20k in one, 20k in the other.
I heard that Slim went back home and came back the next day with a suitcase full of money and Efren got up on him for about 250k but then lost it back.
This was years ago and if anyone was there and has corrections to my story, please respond.
I think it was a race to five and at one point Slim had four games and only needed one ball to win the cash. I think Efren had two or three games at the time. Slim had a ball around where the break spot is and had the cue ball near the side pocket, almost straight in and he missed it. Slim said that his cue was deflected by the side pocket lip, etc.
Anyway, Efren comes back and wins that game and the rest of the match for the 40 thousand. The guy with Slim comes over to the table where Mataya and Butera are sitting and starts yanking on his pockets, he had a hard time getting that wad of cash out of each of his pockets, 20k in one, 20k in the other.
I heard that Slim went back home and came back the next day with a suitcase full of money and Efren got up on him for about 250k but then lost it back.
Heard that Slim made money playing just after WW2 but never heard of him playing anybody good like Efren , thats high dollar there :grin: . I would have though Efren would walk all over Slim , maybe 1p is an equalizer.
Nice comma usage.
Hey billy, the only danny that i knew of was rockville danny,his last name was wolford,are something like that,rockville danny did bet hi and often!
Thanks Richie, bit I am pretty sure thats not the Danny I was talking about.
Back in the 80's and 90's Columbus, Ohio was a must on the road trip map. Not only were there more great players than can be named, good old Stutter Man kept it interesting around here. Some of the stories about him are just ridiculous.
If you get the chance I know I'm not the only one who would love to hear some of those stories.
What kinda list is that?! You forgot the Boggs bros, Rockville Danny, Danny Green, Gary Flannery, Playing off the Rail, Bus Driver Ronnie...Bo and Mike Newport, Max Sch, Bobby Hawk, Timmy Crown, Mr. Lee...
Haha, great place. That's quite a rundown there, between us.
Got any more??