greatest pool room city in the history of the usa? nyc? Chi?

[ktrunout]

San Francisco

No doubt San Francisco...Cochrans and The Palace had the toughest action on the planet in the 60s.

 

[SJDinPHX]

No doubt San Francisco...Cochrans and The Palace had the toughest action on the planet in the 60s.

Heres a guy who knows what he's talking about. Thank God, there was ZERO 3-cush. billiard action, to slow it down

PS..Check out post #39 !...Billiard player's think 'breaking even', is really good action..I'm impressed ???

 

[Palmerfan]

NYC in 50's - 60's

I guess everyone at these rooms were all "No Gamble Nits"
A friend of mine Toby Sweet found plenty of action in NYC.
Ames
McGirrs
Seven-Eleven
Julians

Heard from most of the older gentleman that tell the stories of the "great pool halls in NYC" back when they were serious players and seems that Julians was considered the best and the 14.1 haven..then Ames - McGirrs - 7/11 - Fat Cat.

50's and 60's it seems that NYC was the mecca of Pool Rooms. Not the case today obviously.

 

[philly]

Did not see a mention of Philadelphia. I started playing in the late sixties. There was Moulon Rouge which later became Country Club Billiards. Mosconi's in south Philly and Olney. Burlhome Billiards on Cottman Avenue. The Cue & Cushion at 19th & Cheltenham and 17th & Walnut. And then there was the Boulevard Social Club which required membership and was open all night and where all the best players met. Of course there was Allingers at 13th & Market which closed in the fifties that was something like a Bennigers in Chi Town.

 

[Ken_4fun]

Freddy told lots of stories and knew lots of folks. I read all of this books, and like most pool players, I 'nibbled around the edge' of and didn't believe every story as gospel.

My favorite story from Freddy was "The Rat Story". I felt so sorry for Freddy as I have played folks that were similar to A/B and never gave up a shot.

Besingers must be a complete dump.

Ken

 

[AtLarge]

... Of course there was Allingers at 13th & Market which closed in the fifties that was something like a Bennigers in Chi Town.

Allingers lasted longer than that, ending with an auction of the contents in July, 1971.

 

[3kushn]

Freddy told lots of stories and knew lots of folks. I read all of this books, and like most pool players, I 'nibbled around the edge' of and didn't believe every story as gospel.

My favorite story from Freddy was "The Rat Story". I felt so sorry for Freddy as I have played folks that were similar to A/B and never gave up a shot.

Besingers must be a complete dump.

Ken

Yes the downstairs joint Freddie talked about was certainly a dump. At least in the 70's but the original ones they say were incredible.
Look here for a glimpse. http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=326764 and post #28 http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=329374&page=2

 

[Tahoedirt]

Cochran's, on Market st. in San Francisco

If you want to give any credence, to two guys who have probably been in every pool room in the country...Grady Matthews & Ronnie Allen both said the same thing...For a well maintained, high class operation, 24 HOUR ACTION, and every size pool, snooker and billiard table available, there was no place in the world (in modern times) quite like Cochran's, from the 50's to the 70's..Sadly, its gone now too.

I played there regularly in those days, and I certainly agree with their findings...Nothing came close, especially for consistent high dollar, daily action..The Rack in Detroit was a freak, because it had millionaire 'go-offs' hanging out in there regularly...But it was also, like Bensinger's in Chicago, a rat infested dump !...And, as Freddy the Beard often lamented (many times) Bensingers, and all the big fancy room's in New York City, were populated, for the most part, by 'no gamble' nit's, who wouldn't play anyone without having the mortal nuts.

Sure, there were some good, even great players, who came out of there. But most of them got smart, and soon left for greener pastures...Many, like Jersey Red, wound up either at Cochran's, or the LeCue (another nice room) in Houston.

I’m 76 and often drove Cole Dickson, before he was old enough to drive… across the bay to Cochrane’s….the greatest pool hall ever. Up two flights of old wood stairs and thru the double doors to the 3rd floor of this grand building with circular facade. It’s on the right in this pic. As a kid, I loved this place.

 

[NathanDetroit]

The Rack in Detroit...

What he said.

 

[kling&allen]

I think it would be hard to beat pre-WW2 Times Square.

 

[Island Drive]

I remember seeing an early picture of the Chicago area. There was an area that had probably 50 pool rooms/bars in a row on the same block.