I have done some research and have found some quite interesting facts on the evolution of billiards. I was surprised to find Betmores have been linked with the evolution of billiards for centuries. I would like to share what I have discovered regarding how a Betmore has been involved in many of the advancements that have brought ancient lawn games to what we now enjoy as modern billiard games.
The invention of the “billiard” table:
Betmores were bred in captivity in Europe up to the mid 1600s as an instrument of medieval torture. This was at a dark time in our history when any charge of heresy had grave consequences. The Betmores were bred to have the characteristics of incessant nonsensical jabber, unfounded braggadocio and limited hand eye coordination. Sometimes even the Nobles of the day would face accusations of heresy during these uncertain times. Being of noble decent they were afforded different treatment than the commoners faced with the same accusation. The lawn games of the time that were the predecessor of billiards were popular with those of noble blood and a table game was invented for those unfortunate souls that garnered the wrath of the inquisitor. Rather than being burned at the stake or drawn and quartered the Nobles convicted of heresy often were given the option of a lifetime of being locked in a dungeon with a “billiard table” and a Betmore. Many nobles lived out the remaining years of their pitiful existence in these unimaginable conditions, coincidentally this is the reason why Betmores to this day have always been attracted to persons of nobility and celebrity. Thus the Betmore name is inseparable from the invention of the first “billiard” table.
The invention of the “Mace”:
When the inquisition began to fade away in Europe and nobles no longer faced a surprise charge of heresy the breeding of domestic Betmores no longer was needed. The remaining Betmores scattered across Europe began to assimilate into society to some extent. The lawn games of the time remained popular with the Nobility. The Betmores would roam the countryside looking for a lawn game with noble players. When a Betmore would find a game they were often chased away by the players and spectators with torches and pitchforks. The precise turn of events may never be known but it is widely held that at some point in time one of the nobles fresh from chasing off a Betmore returned to his game and used his weapon as a tool to strike the ball. Now the transition had been made to using a tool or “Mace” to strike the ball in the lawn games. Soon rather than carrying a weapon to a match they carried a mace to be used in the game and could double as a formidable weapon to defend against inquisitive Betmores. Thus the birth of the mace.
The introduction of National Championships:
Betmores continued to spread across Europe wearing out their welcome wherever they went. Betmores eventually settled in Ireland for a short time until they were run off. Bogart Betmore was a failed potato farmer in the mid 1800s it was a common saying that Betmore cant grow three fookin potatoes. He was run out of Ireland and immigrated to New York City. Billiards, celebrity and braggadocio was in his blood so quickly he was known all over the northeast in billiard circles. He would travel long distances to be near the best players of the day and repeat the story about some famous nobility his great grand pappy was locked up back in the old country, played this guy every day for 30 years, blah blah blah. It was from those unlikely series of events that the First National Championships of the late 1800 and early 1900s were held. Nobody really wanted a Betmore in their Billiard establishment so something must be done to select which establishments must tolerate Betmore for the upcoming year. A tournament was established where each Billiard room would send a representative to participate in the Championships. The winner, second and third place would get a medal and their home billiard room would get a one year exemption from any Betmore presence. All other billiard establishments must allow him in for the forthcoming year. The competition was of course fierce as everyone wanted the Betmore exclusion. Thus the National Championships were born.
Widespread popularity of gambling:
During the 1920s Gilmore Betmore made a fortune staring in Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus side shows. Gilmore Betmore himself became a celebrity, the only Betmore ever to do so. He was known as the “Missing Link” He traveled all across the United States scaring children and astounding adults. On his off time he would go to whatever local pool hall was nearby to play some pool with the locals. That is when gambling at pool became popular. He was widely known as the “monkey with the money”. He would get paid substantial sums by the circus and promptly turn it over to anyone in the pool hall that knew which end of the cue to hold. In that way he introduced thousands to gambling on pool games and is widely credited with popularizing this aspect of the sport. Even with the limited communication of the time every pool hall in the country knew when the "monkey with the money" was coming to town. He was the Johnny Appleseed of gambling on pool games.
The next time you read one of Willie’s rambling nonsensical posts with his trademark braggadocio stop and think for a minute of all the Billiards history in his family. Willie, although his gene pool is quite swallow and his family tree looks like a phone pole was the product of centuries of selective breeding and we owe much to the Betmore name for their contributions to our wonderful sport of billiards.
The invention of the “billiard” table:
Betmores were bred in captivity in Europe up to the mid 1600s as an instrument of medieval torture. This was at a dark time in our history when any charge of heresy had grave consequences. The Betmores were bred to have the characteristics of incessant nonsensical jabber, unfounded braggadocio and limited hand eye coordination. Sometimes even the Nobles of the day would face accusations of heresy during these uncertain times. Being of noble decent they were afforded different treatment than the commoners faced with the same accusation. The lawn games of the time that were the predecessor of billiards were popular with those of noble blood and a table game was invented for those unfortunate souls that garnered the wrath of the inquisitor. Rather than being burned at the stake or drawn and quartered the Nobles convicted of heresy often were given the option of a lifetime of being locked in a dungeon with a “billiard table” and a Betmore. Many nobles lived out the remaining years of their pitiful existence in these unimaginable conditions, coincidentally this is the reason why Betmores to this day have always been attracted to persons of nobility and celebrity. Thus the Betmore name is inseparable from the invention of the first “billiard” table.
The invention of the “Mace”:
When the inquisition began to fade away in Europe and nobles no longer faced a surprise charge of heresy the breeding of domestic Betmores no longer was needed. The remaining Betmores scattered across Europe began to assimilate into society to some extent. The lawn games of the time remained popular with the Nobility. The Betmores would roam the countryside looking for a lawn game with noble players. When a Betmore would find a game they were often chased away by the players and spectators with torches and pitchforks. The precise turn of events may never be known but it is widely held that at some point in time one of the nobles fresh from chasing off a Betmore returned to his game and used his weapon as a tool to strike the ball. Now the transition had been made to using a tool or “Mace” to strike the ball in the lawn games. Soon rather than carrying a weapon to a match they carried a mace to be used in the game and could double as a formidable weapon to defend against inquisitive Betmores. Thus the birth of the mace.
The introduction of National Championships:
Betmores continued to spread across Europe wearing out their welcome wherever they went. Betmores eventually settled in Ireland for a short time until they were run off. Bogart Betmore was a failed potato farmer in the mid 1800s it was a common saying that Betmore cant grow three fookin potatoes. He was run out of Ireland and immigrated to New York City. Billiards, celebrity and braggadocio was in his blood so quickly he was known all over the northeast in billiard circles. He would travel long distances to be near the best players of the day and repeat the story about some famous nobility his great grand pappy was locked up back in the old country, played this guy every day for 30 years, blah blah blah. It was from those unlikely series of events that the First National Championships of the late 1800 and early 1900s were held. Nobody really wanted a Betmore in their Billiard establishment so something must be done to select which establishments must tolerate Betmore for the upcoming year. A tournament was established where each Billiard room would send a representative to participate in the Championships. The winner, second and third place would get a medal and their home billiard room would get a one year exemption from any Betmore presence. All other billiard establishments must allow him in for the forthcoming year. The competition was of course fierce as everyone wanted the Betmore exclusion. Thus the National Championships were born.
Widespread popularity of gambling:
During the 1920s Gilmore Betmore made a fortune staring in Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus side shows. Gilmore Betmore himself became a celebrity, the only Betmore ever to do so. He was known as the “Missing Link” He traveled all across the United States scaring children and astounding adults. On his off time he would go to whatever local pool hall was nearby to play some pool with the locals. That is when gambling at pool became popular. He was widely known as the “monkey with the money”. He would get paid substantial sums by the circus and promptly turn it over to anyone in the pool hall that knew which end of the cue to hold. In that way he introduced thousands to gambling on pool games and is widely credited with popularizing this aspect of the sport. Even with the limited communication of the time every pool hall in the country knew when the "monkey with the money" was coming to town. He was the Johnny Appleseed of gambling on pool games.
The next time you read one of Willie’s rambling nonsensical posts with his trademark braggadocio stop and think for a minute of all the Billiards history in his family. Willie, although his gene pool is quite swallow and his family tree looks like a phone pole was the product of centuries of selective breeding and we owe much to the Betmore name for their contributions to our wonderful sport of billiards.
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As a matter of fact what are we going to do with out these 2 poking at each other.
