This has always been a very interesting subject for me. Being a pool room owner in the past, I was sensitive to what customers wanted / needed to stay interested.
I think the success of pool is more complicated than which specific game may or may not have influenced it's popularity.
I wrote this a few years ago ... but I strongly feel this is the problem with pools popularity. The short version of the following things I've seen is that pool is doomed from any major popularity explosion by it's own very nature of the game and it's complexity.
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Exposure to sports / games is what makes them popular to a large degree along with the ability to enjoy performing them, even if only at a novice level. So a game or sport that is aired on TV often, or is available to see live, will get people interested. As far as pool, aside from the pool movies, none of that existed. That's why pool's popularity exploded with the release of the pool movies.
Take for example bowling. Exposure to the game is a natural. It's on TV a lot. A guy and girl go on a date and decide to go bowling. Within one or two attempts they are both at least able to knock down pins with a REAL chance to see themselves make a strike.
Since it is relatively easy to knock down pins and perhaps strike, it even draws kids, families, couples. The resulting atmosphere is an open, fun laugh and jump enjoyable experience. Shouting and fist pumping is the norm. Fun stuff for the novice.
Golf is another, and different example. Golf is an outdoor game where spectators and players can enjoy the outdoor environment without feeling inhibited or closed in.
Even if they don't perform well, wives and girlfriends are with their men enjoying a day outdoors. Further, they actually can get a feel of golf in another family type environment with mini-golf, which provides yet another form of exposure to the game in a fun outdoor environment.
All these exposures spark interest which in turn promotes popularity.
Baseball, while worlds apart from the previous examples, still attracts huge TV and novice involvement. Its both an outdoor game, a family event, and just about anyone can catch a ball in a glove (which is an addictive feeling) as well as swing a bat. You go to enough ball games, feel the breeze, enjoy the excitement in the atmosphere of the stadium, and anyone can get hooked on the sport.
Now take pool. It comes from a seedy past. It certainly is intimidating to walk into a pool room as well. You don't really have a great deal of "your own space" while playing. When I had my poolroom, even though it wasn't small, it was obvious to see newcomers lost for a place to stand, what to hold, or how to act when it wasn't their turn. Newcomers are intimidated by the complexity of the game.
Newcomers often came in slightly larger groups also. Maybe, double dates trying it out. Perhaps for the extra moral support. They stood between tables holding the shaft of the sick with two hands, balancing on the butt end placed on the floor. When it was their turn, they were so uncomfortable that they were happy to wail at a shot quickly just to get back to trying to find a space to stand where no one would notice how badly they had just embarrassed themselves.
Now, add to that, the fact that playing the game itself,for the most part is very frustrating to a beginner. Nothing at all like the open fun feeling from bowling or even golf.
Did you ever try playing opposite handed? Try it, maybe while playing with your eyes closed, which is about the same as a newbie who has no idea where to hit the OB or CB. It won't be long before you get a feel for how most new to the game get christened. Nothing like bowling where they are knocking down pins right away.
How long would most of us play with a Rubic's Cube before we wanted to throw it through a window? It simply is more frustrating than fun. By its very nature and complexity it destroys it's own chances of motivating folks to continue to play.
Unlike miniature golf, the idea isn't to laugh and giggle among yourselves when the ball bounce off the Windmill. Rather, you stand there, uncomfortable, holding the stick, feeling people around you look at you like you don't have a clue what your are doing. Its just not a comfortable thing for most to do. Certainly not the experience that says. "I can't wait to come back again."
And these days you add to that, ridiculously loud intimidating garbage music and the atmosphere becomes even less appealing to neophytes. With so many other choices of things to do, its no wonder to me that pool is much less popular than other sports.
The only chance is to create better, friendlier atmospheres for people so they can be given half a chance at being comfortable playing the first time.
I always thought a poolroom in an indoor shopping mall, well lit with lots of room, visual exposure from the main mall floor for all to see and become exposed to, and no off the wall ( I use the term loosely) music blaring, would offer a more inviting atmosphere. Maybe even a nice pizza area for folks to come in for a bite and a quick look at folks playing.
But, that's not pool, and one or two of those type pool rooms won't change the popularity of the game.
As far as prestige ... I'm not sure that's the right word. Years ago there wasn't so much to do, and with so many out of work, I think it was more the thing talked about among the guys. The fact that straight pool was the primary game was just the way it was. BTW, straight pool is the game I love, but can't say that because of it's decline in favor of the rotation games that did anything negative to pool.
