Bygone room stories - Harolds in Roselle, IL... others welcome

[Addicted2CuesRU]

Back in 1985-88, when I lived in Cary, Illinois and was new to the game I would shoot in my local hall and the better players would talk about harolds (and of course Chris's) in roselle... and go there to try and take down some of the better players...

As a young kid with a new license and an unbeatable game in my mind I went there 4-5 times on weekends to enjoy the real hall feel and get a game against a bottom tier hustler who would play a cheap game.

I went back 4-5 years later when I was in the Navy and got this card, I saved it for posterity and just discovered it recently...

Anyone play in that hall during that time or know the 2 proprietors on the card... I think those 2 guys are people who bought it to class it up and subsequently lost their shirt on it, but I could be wrong. Any stories about that hall or any other "Dead" hall would be welcomed...

 

[D-Sub]

neat thread.

I started playing obsessively about 1990-1991 or so and went to Bob's Billiards in Stanton, CA every single Tuesday for quite some time. 1/2 price Tuesdays ($3!) so we'd get about 4-6 friends and get a table from 9 or so til close.

Was in there one evening alone, just hitting balls and a guy comes up and says "you're doing this....try this...." and walked away. Turns out it was Keith M, or so I was told. I had no idea who that was at the time, but looking back that was pretty damn cool for someone his speed to offer me advice.

Had a lot of good times at that place! Not sure when it closed as I left the state about 94.

 

[Duane Tuula]

I played at Harold's in Roselle many weekends around '93 to '95 (as best I can recall). My first time there I was approached to play by Rich "Rocketman" Slupik. I knew who he was and wisely passed. I started bringing in friends from Rockford & Beloit after that and the place was great for weekend 24-hour action.

Some of the regulars around that time included Chris Gentile, Randy Tate, Gil Hernandez, Arturo, Jim Engels, Pons Cruz and Paul Navarette. Many players looking for action stopped by including Piggy Banks, Farmer John, Joey Gold, Roger Griffis, Tony Watson and Danny Harriman. I'm sure I forgot many but those come to mind right now.

The room was called Harold's for Harold Simonsen who founded/published Pool & Billiard magazine and I'm guessing owned the room originally (possibly with Bill). He made an appearance in "The Color of Money" as well. I believe Erik was his son and illustrator for the magazine. Bill Henning is a published pool author and I believe had something to do with a line of cues back in those times.

I don't recall the pool hall going under but rather losing the lease.

My main memory of this place is learning not to play strangers "on the wire".

Duane

 

[Black-Balled]

I worked in a 24 hr room that had 9 tables, soda fountain, coffee pot, candy machine, tv.

Almost all table use was solo of for $. Action all day and night...

No lock on the door.

I won/ lost/ learned/ drank/ scored/ worked/ ate/ couple of times, slept/ held PCP freakout-ers down/ bounced CBalls in the parking lot/ doused bathroom with bleach.

I miss that place, miss life w/out a mortgage too!

 

[Jason R]

I hung out at Harolds between 88 and 93 what a great action room.I played most of the players you talked about.Jason Richko

 

[Addicted2CuesRU]

I don't recall the pool hall going under but rather losing the lease.

Going under was just an assumption based on the fact that they werent there anymore the last I checked 3 or 4 years ago...

The put alot into the room to make it look like a respectable room as opposed to a wide open space with dirty white walls, they had transformed it to a pretty, modern looking place... Thanks for the info.

 

[moose man]

I played at Harold's in Roselle many weekends around '93 to '95 (as best I can recall). My first time there I was approached to play by Rich "Rocketman" Slupik. I knew who he was and wisely passed. I started bringing in friends from Rockford & Beloit after that and the place was great for weekend 24-hour action.

Some of the regulars around that time included Chris Gentile, Randy Tate, Gil Hernandez, Arturo, Jim Engels, Pons Cruz and Paul Navarette. Many players looking for action stopped by including Piggy Banks, Farmer John, Joey Gold, Roger Griffis, Tony Watson and Danny Harriman. I'm sure I forgot many but those come to mind right now.

The room was called Harold's for Harold Simonsen who founded/published Pool & Billiard magazine and I'm guessing owned the room originally (possibly with Bill). He made an appearance in "The Color of Money" as well. I believe Erik was his son and illustrator for the magazine. Bill Henning is a published pool author and I believe had something to do with a line of cues back in those times.

I don't recall the pool hall going under but rather losing the lease.

My main memory of this place is learning not to play strangers "on the wire".

Duane

Hey Duane,

I used to go into Harold's on occasion around 1994. I was just starting to get into the game and I used to go to play in Addison Oscar's Billiards. After they closed down at midnight or whatever it was, on occasion out go over to Harold's. I remember a young kid who would be there late at night, and would often be gambling cheap on pool. I'm guessing he was maybe 12 years old or so, and he seemed player really great for his age. I'm wondering if you might know who I'm talking about, and whatever happened to him. He kind of had a catch phrase that sticks in my mind. When trying to negotiate a game, he would say "what are you nuts?" all the time. Ring any bells?