Great 9-page article about famous Johnston City “Hustlers Jamboree” 1960s

arnaldo

arnaldo

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I post this message every few years or so, as a tiny holiday season gift to fellow AZBers knowing that newer AZBers will thoroughly enjoy reading it, and longtime members would very likely enjoy a re-reading of it. This article -- so masterfully and knowledgeably written -- truly brings the proceedings of that era alive for us once again, anytime we read it:

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Here's an exceptional 9-page article from a 1970 Playboy about the famous Johnston City "Hustlers Jamboree" excitingly and colorfully written by an eye-witness reporter. It's filled with various mentions of the more than 20 top-level players “convening” from all around the country, with a great deal of attention to the gambling between Luther Lassiter and a very cocky Ronnie Allen. (Also includes *plenty* of historical background about decades of American pool hustling during the 20th Century):

https://tinyurl.com/ycw3vw8b

Enjoy.

Arnaldo
 
great read
i almost cry every time i hear of ronnie
when I remember the l;ast years and now he's gone
a real shooting star,but before it starts it is gone

Ronnie,Red,Eddie,just like grade school
little boys playing and having fun

thanks for posting the story
I would love a copy of the magazine

dean
 
deanoc said:
great read
i almost cry every time i hear of ronnie
when I remember the l;ast years and now he's gone
a real shooting star,but before it starts it is gone

Ronnie,Red,Eddie,just like grade school
little boys playing and having fun

thanks for posting the story
I would love a copy of the magazine

dean
Click to expand...
________________________________________________
A dozen different sellers offer used copies of that issue on Ebay, Dean.
Just enter "november 1970 playboy magazine" in Google's search box; you'll see who they are.

Arnaldo
 
That was a great read. never saw it before. The author did a good job of capturing these two guys and their respective personalities. The year was 1969 and I was in California and missed that tournament. By then Ronnie was the One Pocket king and Lassiter was still considered the best at 9-Ball and Straight Pool. Ronnie did win the One Pocket the following year but young Keith Thompson from Texas upset everybody and won the 9-Ball and All Around....and then disappeared from the pool world!
 
i had never seen that article
thanks fr the link
i enjoyed the read
 
jay helfert said:
That was a great read. never saw it before. The author did a good job of capturing these two guys and their respective personalities. The year was 1969 and I was in California and missed that tournament. By then Ronnie was the One Pocket king and Lassiter was still considered the best at 9-Ball and Straight Pool. Ronnie did win the One Pocket the following year but young Keith Thompson from Texas upset everybody and won the 9-Ball and All Around....and then disappeared from the pool world!
Click to expand...

Jay - Did you ever see the Playboy article from that same general era ( 1972 or thereabouts ) on Danny DiLiberto? I seem to recall a photo of him in a white tux or suit but, it may simply be memory playing tricks ( again! ). It was *also* extremely well written and long-ish. I wouldn't doubt someone has posted it here at one time or another...
 
jay helfert said:
That was a great read. never saw it before. The author did a good job of capturing these two guys and their respective personalities. The year was 1969 and I was in California and missed that tournament. By then Ronnie was the One Pocket king and Lassiter was still considered the best at 9-Ball and Straight Pool. Ronnie did win the One Pocket the following year but young Keith Thompson from Texas upset everybody and won the 9-Ball and All Around....and then disappeared from the pool world!
Click to expand...

Jay, doesn't he post on onepocket.org now?
 
bbb said:
pushout if you are referring to keith thompson he does post ccasionally on onepocket.org.
he has told some great stories of the past
Click to expand...

That's him! I've had a couple of comments back and forth with him online.
 
Michael Andros said:
Did you ever see the Playboy article from that same general era ( 1972 or thereabouts ) on Danny DiLiberto? I seem to recall a photo of him in a white tux or suit but, it may simply be memory playing tricks ( again! ). It was *also* extremely well written and long-ish. I wouldn't doubt someone has posted it here at one time or another...
Click to expand...
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Michael you might have in mind this outstanding 1977 article that captures many of the highs and lows (and perils) of Danny's hustling days as well as those of his road contemporaries:

Sports Illustrated, August 8, 1977 entitled "Easy Times the Hard Way"

https://www.si.com/vault/1977/08/08/626364/easy-times-the-hard-way

And AZBers should definitely read this Danny Diliberto interview at onepocket.org which -- pertinent to this thread -- includes lots of details and color about young Danny's experiences eagerly learning from well-known hustlers at Johnston City:

https://www.onepocket.org/DannyDilibertoInterview.htm

Arnaldo
 
Thinking about it..these tales are kind of sad. But feel sorry for 'em? Nope...while I was grinding life out. playing the game of life by the rules, they lived lives of excitement. That's something my investment portfolio never delivered...

So, recreational banger am I. Age 75, trying to get better at a game I know I'll never excel at.

You make your choices and live with them.

(edit) BTW, I enjoy Danny D.'s stream commentary...
 
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arnaldo said:
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Michael you might have in mind this outstanding 1977 article that captures many of the highs and lows (and perils) of Danny's hustling days as well as those of his road contemporaries:

Sports Illustrated, August 8, 1977 entitled "Easy Times the Hard Way"

https://www.si.com/vault/1977/08/08/626364/easy-times-the-hard-way

And AZBers should definitely read this Danny Diliberto interview at onepocket.org which -- pertinent to this thread -- includes lots of details and color about young Danny's experiences eagerly learning from well-known hustlers at Johnston City:

https://www.onepocket.org/DannyDilibertoInterview.htm

Arnaldo
Click to expand...
Where are you from Arnaldo?
 
arnaldo said:
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Michael you might have in mind this outstanding 1977 article that captures many of the highs and lows (and perils) of Danny's hustling days as well as those of his road contemporaries:

Sports Illustrated, August 8, 1977 entitled "Easy Times the Hard Way"

https://www.si.com/vault/1977/08/08/626364/easy-times-the-hard-way

And AZBers should definitely read this Danny Diliberto interview at onepocket.org which -- pertinent to this thread -- includes lots of details and color about young Danny's experiences eagerly learning from well-known hustlers at Johnston City:

https://www.onepocket.org/DannyDilibertoInterview.htm

Arnaldo
Click to expand...


Arnoldo - I don't think that's the article I remember but it's possible. I'm 99% sure it was Playboy and a few years earlier and also I distinctly recall a photo of Danny standing, and pretty sure in a suit. But, I'm going to read the one you posted and thanks for it. I've read every interview with the classic players posted in onepocket.org. Great stuff. My two favorites are Eddie Taylor and Ronnie Allen. Danny's was great as well.
 
jay helfert said:
That was a great read. never saw it before. The author did a good job of capturing these two guys and their respective personalities. The year was 1969 and I was in California and missed that tournament. By then Ronnie was the One Pocket king and Lassiter was still considered the best at 9-Ball and Straight Pool. Ronnie did win the One Pocket the following year but young Keith Thompson from Texas upset everybody and won the 9-Ball and All Around....and then disappeared from the pool world!
Click to expand...

I can confirm, Keith does post regularly on onepocket.org...
 
Low500 said:
I grew up playing with and learning (at great expense) from Danny Jones at York's Pool Room in Atlanta.
He eventually left Georgia for the road and never came back. He was originally from Thomaston and then Kennesaw.
I'd like to know where he's buried if anyone knows. (last I heard, when he died he was in Texas)
Click to expand...

Someone asked that question @ 6 months ago and I tried finding something and came up empty. Someone somewhere has to know but it seems well-hidden, wherever it is.
 
Michael Andros said:
Someone asked that question @ 6 months ago and I tried finding something and came up empty. Someone somewhere has to know but it seems well-hidden, wherever it is.
Click to expand...

Where was he when he died? As I recall he was playing pool somewhere in the South.
 
jay helfert said:
Where was he when he died? As I recall he was playing pool somewhere in the South.
Click to expand...

I did find that, but not sure where I found it. Someone here tonight seemed to verify it. Texas.

Hopefully he had family somewhere. If so, maybe they took him back to Georgia.
 
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