Free cue history
- Thread starter Ched
- Start date
Who was Jimmy Marino? I remember seeing a Palmer window cue for sale years ago with that name in the clear window on the butt cap?
A local 18 year old was playing pretty sporty at one of the places I used to shoot. He really needed something to help him with consistency, and to keep him playing. I worried about some outside influences taking him away from pool. I contacted his dad and explained that I would like to split the cost of a decent cue with him, in the interest of keeping him in the game. Dad said great, and we discussed budget. I bought him a nicer Schon, but Dad never came through with any money, for whatever reason. I decided it didn't matter and gave the boy the cue. He took a pretty big jump, and now he can play any of the regulars and win. Glad I did it.
Last edited:
I ask the same question about other Palmer and Paradise cues with personalized foils. Most were just regular people who excercized the free option to have their name embossed on the foil/label.
Jimmy was a player from the late 60s and early 70s. He's perhaps best known for a couple of his Johnson City runs/wins. He was a tall thin man who was just amazing at the table. He decided to retire from "the road" at a pretty early age, and opened a pool hall in Bridgeville PA. (just southwest of Pittsburgh). I guess from a girl's standpoint, he was a good looking guy - and in his younger days I've heard he liked to have a good time.
Jimmy was a quiet and down-to-earth kind of guy .. but he kicked ass on the green. I was one of his very first "regulars" at the 'Golden Cue', and he taught me a LOT. He never took money from me (other than table time), and was always fair in setting me up with games. He seemed to prefer 10-ball to other games .. but could shoot just about anything. He was 7 or 8 years older than me, and he treated me like a kid brother.
A lot of the big names back in the day knew him, and would visit his place. Miz, Mike, Earl, etc. I'm under the impression that he and "Pittsburgh Paul" (Paul Mottey) were pretty good friends. I've heard that the lighting system he installed in his pool hall was something he and his father actually patented .. although I don't know that for a fact. I do know that he kept a super clean place, and he had these really comfortable seats from out of some old airplane.
Jimmy was a good guy - and by far the best shot that I ever knew personally. Every time I decided to get "back into the game" .. I could count on Jimmy being there ... until this last time. Sadly, Jimmy passed in January of 2015 - and I didn't even know it at the time. The truly big names like Paul Huebler, Bob Meucci, and Dan Janes knew Jimmy ... and I never heard a bad word about him.
Thank you very much for asking about him.
I visited the Golden Cue in '85.....had some long talks with Jimmy.....
...that lighting system was developed by Jimmy's father-in-law. who was a lighting
engineer....he saved many thousands on electric bills.
Jimmy won a world title at Joe Burns' Forrest Park room in the 70s...
...here's what he looked like when he was known as The Hippie....
Later, of course, he became a more conservative businessman.
Jimmy could play for the cash.
...that lighting system was developed by Jimmy's father-in-law. who was a lighting
engineer....he saved many thousands on electric bills.
Jimmy won a world title at Joe Burns' Forrest Park room in the 70s...
...here's what he looked like when he was known as The Hippie....
Later, of course, he became a more conservative businessman.
Jimmy could play for the cash.
Thanks! Now I wish I had that Palmer- great to have cues with known history of special people.
Getting back to topic. Back in the late-80s, I was at my parents house in PA while they were in DC. Had a table in the parlor, and most folks were welcome. I was in my 30s and a half decent shot. A young kid in his teens was there ... and was all up to playing for money. Personally I never asked for a money game, but didn't refuse them either.
Anyway, the kid's down about $60 bucks, and wants to play again ... for his cue. I told him we didn't have to play for anything, we could just shoot for fun ... but he was insistent. He says his McDermott is a $150 stick. Fine - I've got a $300 Huebler ... so what? We play 8-ball and I win his stick.
In the end, I gave him $20 and kept his stick. I never cared for the McDermotts .. and sold his for $60.
Anyway, the kid's down about $60 bucks, and wants to play again ... for his cue. I told him we didn't have to play for anything, we could just shoot for fun ... but he was insistent. He says his McDermott is a $150 stick. Fine - I've got a $300 Huebler ... so what? We play 8-ball and I win his stick.
In the end, I gave him $20 and kept his stick. I never cared for the McDermotts .. and sold his for $60.
I got my McDemott D-2 back in the eighties. Got it from a guy that couldn't cover his bet...he lost...I got the cue. Still have it. It was my break cue for years.
A few years back I won a Predator off a guy playing 9 ball. Beautiful 8 point with veneers and steel joint. Almost brand new, not a mark on it. He swore he was going to beat me silly but came up somewhat short and lost the cue. Traded it here on AZB for a C Series Mcdermott in mint condition with a vintage It's George case.
We had kind of a running joke here about $35 pool cues a few years ago. And AZB member sent me such a cue...China made...for nothing. I think I did kind of a tongue in cheek review of it in the Gallery. Still have it. It actually shoots OK. :smile:
.
.
The "Buddy" cue.....................
In 1980 i'd been playing a few months at BoulderBilliards in Tulsa,Ok. At that time it was run by local legend Fat Randy Wallace. Well it just so happened that one Cecil "the Rifleman" Hall was living in town at the time and made his home base at BB. I got to know Buddy and he was super-cool about teaching me a few things. One day he was looking at my cheap cue and said "Bill,come out to my car". So, out we went, he opened the trunk and it was FULL of Meucci Originals. I got a BH-1 for 40bux and used it the next couple yrs. Wish i still had it considering how i came to get it.
In 1980 i'd been playing a few months at BoulderBilliards in Tulsa,Ok. At that time it was run by local legend Fat Randy Wallace. Well it just so happened that one Cecil "the Rifleman" Hall was living in town at the time and made his home base at BB. I got to know Buddy and he was super-cool about teaching me a few things. One day he was looking at my cheap cue and said "Bill,come out to my car". So, out we went, he opened the trunk and it was FULL of Meucci Originals. I got a BH-1 for 40bux and used it the next couple yrs. Wish i still had it considering how i came to get it.
............................
Last edited:
The cue on the left was a gift from a buddy. He had a small collection that he needed to liquidate when he lost his job. I sold off his cues and cases for him and he gave me this cue as a thank you. This cue was one he had bought 10 years prior and had converted by a local maker, Greg Sowder. It was an old 60's full splice billiard cue, now it's a full splice with an homage to Bushka. I eventually sold the Runde and the Falcon, but I can't part with the conversion as it was a gift, it plays really well and it's exactly what I want a cue to look like. Brazilian Rosewood into Birdseye with abalone and ivory. Now it's bumperless ala early Palmer's/Rambow's.
