A few years ago when the Flax Barn Sale moved up to Syracuse, my wife took me along on promise we would go to SCBilliards afterwards. I abandoned the mayhem of middle aged and older ladies ripping off tops and dropping trou to try on the merch from bins and heaps to wander the tired semi-abandoned mall. It struck me that there were 4 fitness/or dance centers, and 3 various type Martial arts storefronts in that single, medium sized, old style suburban complex.
Each one about the size of a small to medium pool hall.
It occurred to me that if pool could be promoted and sold like gym memberships as essential to the whole family, plus a meeting place for single young professionals, it might have a chance.
I live in a rural area so the following would not work for me. However, i have worked for extended periods in major metro areas. In such an environment, i'd be interested in clubbing with say 50 - 100 other interested responsible individuals to incorporate a private venue with key card access (to record who is in & out). Ideally it would grow, but i think it would take close to 100 to start to make it viable unless some were heavy hitters who willingly funded a large portion most years. I participate in a flying club started on similar model, and these are growing.
Perhaps regretfully, the above models would tend to eliminate many of the "colorful" habitues of the traditional pool scene of yore. That might or might not be good for the growth of the sport.
Various histories i have read seem to indicate that "Billiards" was a highly respectable skill & passtime from inception through the late 1920's. Locally, minister Thomas Beecher (brother of abolitionist preacher Harry) and Mark Twain were regular practitioners and famous promoters of the game. When the depression hit, pool halls became one of the few locations for penniliess indigents to hang out, attain bathroom facilities, sometimes sleep, and possibly grift a stake to move on or connect for whatever day work might be available.
"Respectable" people stopped attending, the average person still with a job didn't have time, the war came along and the postwar boom, and people lost the habit, while a generation grew up with a "bad" impression of pool halls.
Pool has another path to popular appeal - it might be the only sport where women can compete heads up with men, and potentially win. Or (sorry, Duchess! :^) ) "grandmothers" can beat youngsters in tournament play on occasion.
Random ruminations, if you made it this far, thanks for reading.
Flame suit on. :grin:
smt
Each one about the size of a small to medium pool hall.
It occurred to me that if pool could be promoted and sold like gym memberships as essential to the whole family, plus a meeting place for single young professionals, it might have a chance.
I live in a rural area so the following would not work for me. However, i have worked for extended periods in major metro areas. In such an environment, i'd be interested in clubbing with say 50 - 100 other interested responsible individuals to incorporate a private venue with key card access (to record who is in & out). Ideally it would grow, but i think it would take close to 100 to start to make it viable unless some were heavy hitters who willingly funded a large portion most years. I participate in a flying club started on similar model, and these are growing.
Perhaps regretfully, the above models would tend to eliminate many of the "colorful" habitues of the traditional pool scene of yore. That might or might not be good for the growth of the sport.
Various histories i have read seem to indicate that "Billiards" was a highly respectable skill & passtime from inception through the late 1920's. Locally, minister Thomas Beecher (brother of abolitionist preacher Harry) and Mark Twain were regular practitioners and famous promoters of the game. When the depression hit, pool halls became one of the few locations for penniliess indigents to hang out, attain bathroom facilities, sometimes sleep, and possibly grift a stake to move on or connect for whatever day work might be available.
"Respectable" people stopped attending, the average person still with a job didn't have time, the war came along and the postwar boom, and people lost the habit, while a generation grew up with a "bad" impression of pool halls.
Pool has another path to popular appeal - it might be the only sport where women can compete heads up with men, and potentially win. Or (sorry, Duchess! :^) ) "grandmothers" can beat youngsters in tournament play on occasion.
Random ruminations, if you made it this far, thanks for reading.
Flame suit on. :grin:
smt
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