Full video: 1966 U.S. Open 14.1 Finals – Crane’s 150 run vs Balsis

arnaldo

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
First time it's been available as a one-segment youtube containing the entire 150-and-out run during the 1966 U.S. Open Straight Pool Championship (Irving Crane vs Joe Balsis). As mentioned by the uploader, this classic match stands the test of time as one of the best finals ever.

Balsis’s safety at the 12:05 point quickly leads to Crane’s now famous “wrap-around” shot (shooting CB in one direction -- OB travels and drops in opposite direction). (It's quite similar to the wrap-around seen in The Hustler which the film's technical advisor, Mosconi, set up for Gleason to dramatically execute.)

IMO, one of the countless pleasures of everyone’s lifetime of playing Straight Pool is getting to recognize and execute at least a dozen or more of these crowd-pleasing beauties when they arise. As Cisero famously said, “Making them is easy . . . finding them is a little harder.”

Crane’s barely-avoided scratch at the 1:02:10 point would have halted his run. It visibly (and understandably) rattles his composure momentarily.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWLQWYnhHKY

The golly-gee-whiz announcer, a bit out of his element, adds an amusing note to the essentially somber, but remarkable proceedings.

Enjoy.

Arnaldo
 
I've had that on dvd for quite a few years and would watch it on the big screen regularly. I love everything about the video. It's cool classic atmosphere. The pocket sounds and roll of the ball return, the murmuring crowd, the overly anxious commentator--all historical pool glory.

I've read many of the historical books like RA Dyers "Hustler Days" or Danny DiLiberto "Road Player", and those work flawlessly in transporting the reader back in time, but nothing works as good as this video of the 1966 US Open.

Many, if not all, of the souls in that video have since passed on, but it was captured perfectly in time for us to remember and enjoy the pool excellence that was on display. It's quite haunting and amazing all at the same time.

I watch it a few times a year still, and probably will for the rest of my life.
 
About 10 years ago our sorely missed pal, Freddy, posted this humorous (and informative) gem about Crane's run out:
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Joe did it back to him!

A little known fact: The next time Crane and Balsis played it was in Johnston City. This time Joe Balsis ran 150 and out on Crane! The running joke at the time was for them to forego playing and just flip for the break.

The Beard
Bank on, brother! Old school pool
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Arnaldo
 
Reviving an old thread. Can anyone accurately depict the layout of the balls just prior to Irving Crane's shot at 11:21? The video is so doggone dark I can't for the life of me figure out the layout or the chain reaction that resulted in pocketing the two ball. This is the video:
 
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