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George only liked to play Straight Pool and was an amateur level player, capable of running a rack or two at the most (I'm guessing a high run for him would be anything over 40). He didn't like to play good players because he wanted a chance to shoot too. Playing me he got that opportunity, as 14.1 was not my best game. I played about the same speed as him.
If George liked you then he was a great guy. He always treated me well and was friendly at all times. In fact if he was around and someone was giving me a hard time, he would intercede. NO ONE messed with George! Now if he didn't like you (and there were several in The Billiard Den he didn't like) it was best to steer clear of him. He would stare holes through you if you came near him. Even a bad ass like Brooklyn Butch was very cordial to George. In fact EVERYONE was cordial to George! I never knew him to be a tough guy (never saw him lift a finger to anyone), just that he had that reputation. I got along great with him and he loved to talk with me about pool and pool players.
I'm pretty sure George played with a Balabushka as I recall. He always wore shorts in California and no one made fun of his hefty legs (he had Tyson sized thighs!). He loved to play pool in his spare time and went to all the West Coast tournaments. He was friendly with all the top players, but he could do without the hustlers. George was a serious man, who didn't waste time on idle conversation (except maybe about pool if he liked you). He was kind of a mystery man to me and I never asked him about his job or anything else. I learned early on to keep my mouth shut, just to listen and pay attention. I learned about George from what other people told me.
He never let me pay the time when we played and we never played for money. I may have asked him once and he said no in a way that I realized it wasn't a good idea to ask him again. Like I said I didn't know him that well, only seeing him at the poolroom and at tournaments. I never socialized with him away from the poolroom.
I have a clear picture of George in my head; always clean cut, mid to late 40's, a full head of curly graying hair, maybe 6' or 6'1 and well over 200 lbs (I'd guess 220-230). He was a barrel chested guy, not bad looking, kind of ruggedly handsome. Never saw him with a woman but he was clearly not gay. He didn't have a lot to say but when he did people paid attention because he had a clear strong voice, didn't stutter and didn't need to repeat himself. You got the message the first time! George was a man's man, walked to his own drummer and lived life on his terms.
I have no idea when he passed away. Of course I got away from that scene when I moved up to Bakersfield and opened my first room.
P.S. As I recall the Cue and Cushion was on Pico Blvd. at the corner with La Cienega in West L.A. It was there in the late 70's to late 80's I believe. I went in there a couple of times looking for a game and was told to come back later. Nothing ever came of it. I think George had a partner who ran the room for him.
The weather is still good.
George only liked to play Straight Pool and was an amateur level player, capable of running a rack or two at the most (I'm guessing a high run for him would be anything over 40). He didn't like to play good players because he wanted a chance to shoot too. Playing me he got that opportunity, as 14.1 was not my best game. I played about the same speed as him.
If George liked you then he was a great guy. He always treated me well and was friendly at all times. In fact if he was around and someone was giving me a hard time, he would intercede. NO ONE messed with George! Now if he didn't like you (and there were several in The Billiard Den he didn't like) it was best to steer clear of him. He would stare holes through you if you came near him. George did not suffer fools well! Even a bad ass like Brooklyn Butch was very cordial to George. In fact EVERYONE was cordial to George! I never knew him to be a tough guy (never saw him lift a finger to anyone), just that he had that reputation. I got along great with him and he loved to talk with me about pool and pool players.
I'm pretty sure George played with a Balabushka as I recall. He always wore shorts in California and no one made fun of his hefty legs (he had Tyson sized thighs!). He loved to play pool in his spare time and went to all the West Coast tournaments. He was friendly with all the top players, but he could do without the hustlers. George was a serious man, who didn't waste time on idle conversation (except maybe about pool if he liked you). He was kind of a mystery man to me and I never asked him about his job or anything else. I learned early on to keep my mouth shut, just to listen and pay attention. I learned about George from what other people told me.
He never let me pay the time when we played and we never played for money. I may have asked him once and he said no in a way that I realized it wasn't a good idea to ask him again. Like I said I didn't know him that well, only seeing him at the poolroom and at tournaments. I never socialized with him away from the poolroom.
I have a clear picture of George in my head; always clean cut, mid to late 40's, a full head of curly graying hair, maybe 6' or 6'1 and well over 200 lbs (I'd guess 220-230). He was a barrel chested guy, not bad looking, kind of ruggedly handsome. Never saw him with a woman but he was clearly not gay. He didn't have a lot to say but when he did people paid attention because he had a clear strong voice, didn't stutter and didn't need to repeat himself. You got the message the first time! George was a man's man, walked to his own drummer and lived life on his terms.
I have no idea when he passed away. Of course I got away from that scene when I moved up to Bakersfield and opened my first room.
P.S. As I recall the Cue and Cushion was on Pico Blvd. at the corner with La Cienega in West L.A. It was there in the late 70's to late 80's I believe. I went in there a couple of times looking for a game and was told to come back later. Nothing ever came of it. I think George had a partner who ran the room for him.
Hi Jay, it has been a while since this post but I wanted to share with you some things that I learned about George from the man that taught me pool...
My teacher said that you were spot-on in describing George's personality...
He also said that the pool hall that George owned and ran was called the Cue & Cushion, located at the intersection of Chapman and State College Boulevard near Cal State Fullerton. The establishment was in business in 1964 for sure, and George was the sole proprietor...
He also mentioned that at that time (1964-1965), George was far better than an amateur level player and was able to run 100+ balls in 14.1...
He asked me to ask you if you remember Daisy May and Moonglow (after hour bars)?
Thanks for sharing Jay
Of course I remember them, two big action spots. Everyone went to Daisy Mae's for bar table action! All the top Mexican players hung out there and would take on anyone, including the big table champions. Sigel, Hubbart, Hopkins and Diliberto are just a few I saw try and fail to beat Big Sergio and Mario. I made my first big score in California there, teaming up with Navy Gary when he played Charlie the Ape, a notorious drug dealer. We won a few thousand and had to make a run for it to get out with the money. I didn't go back there for a long time after that.
The Moonglow was another all night action spot where I met Little Al and got hustled by Mario (he gave me the 7,8 & 9 and took the break on a bar table and robbed me). That was my introduction to bar table pool and I learned how much the break was worth. He couldn't have given me that game on a big table.
As for George, I may have played him 9-Ball as well as Straight Pool and I could beat him pretty easily at that game (I could play a little back then). I don't think I ever saw him run more than a couple of racks at Ye Billiard Den, maybe three racks at the most. I know he liked to play 14.1, but I'm not sure I played him much of that. I just remember playing with him a few times and he was very nice to this little hustler. Of course I was on my best behavior too. He might have been one of the only guys I ever played in there for no money. The poolroom I was talking about was in West L.A. in the 80's and I think George was a part owner. I'm not 100% sure about the name.
