Greenway Billiards

[lunchmoney]

Back in the 70's I used to play a lot at Greenway Billiards in Baton Rouge, LA. They had the Southern Open there for a couple of years in the late 70's. All the pros were there and action all day and night during the tournament. A lot of players stopped by from time to time, Buddy Hall, Jersey Red, Louie Roberts, Dan Louie to name a few. There was always action. Does anyone remember this place? Is it still open?

 

[cuewhiz189]

when i lived in baton rouge back in the early nineties it was open and the owner was the greatest guy......his name was jessie ......he was a helluva gambler and kept plenty of action going in either pool or cards.....was a great learning experience for me.....taught me alot.....wish it was open would like to go visit.....juston

 

[hemicudas]

Back in the 70's I used to play a lot at Greenway Billiards in Baton Rouge, LA. They had the Southern Open there for a couple of years in the late 70's. All the pros were there and action all day and night during the tournament. A lot of players stopped by from time to time, Buddy Hall, Jersey Red, Louie Roberts, Dan Louie to name a few. There was always action. Does anyone remember this place? Is it still open?

Greatest action pool room in the south back then. Lambert and his wife Dot Louvier (sp) owned it until Lambert's death a few years back. Jimmy (Flyboy) Spears was in also. After Lambert's death it went down hill fast. Along with the Sport Palace in New Orleans. Flyboy had some of it too.

I really miss the Greenway.

 

[lunchmoney]

Greatest action pool room in the south back then. Lambert and his wife Dot Louvier (sp) owned it until Lambert's death a few years back. Jimmy (Flyboy) Spears was in also. After Lambert's death it went down hill fast. Along with the Sport Palace in New Orleans. Flyboy had some of it too.

I really miss the Greenway.

I knew Lambert well. We played a lot of sessions together. What a character. I just recently heard of his passing from Bill Cress. When did the room close?

 

[hemicudas]

I knew Lambert well. We played a lot of sessions together. What a character. I just recently heard of his passing from Bill Cress. When did the room close?

It closed recently LM. Dot ran it for a while after Lambert's death. Everyone loved Lambert. Had a great personality. Did you know Shorty, IP Daniels, Larry Wright, Lendy, Bob Dancer, Etc.?

P.S. Jamie grew ip there too.

 

[lunchmoney]

It closed recently LM. Dot ran it for a while after Lambert's death. Everyone loved Lambert. Had a great personality. Did you know Shorty, IP Daniels, Larry Wright, Lendy, Bob Dancer, Etc.?

P.S. Jamie grew ip there too.

I remember Shorty, IP and Bobby Dancer. I used to play Jamie Farrell before he was 18 at another room in Baton Rouge. He was tough. I also remember Lendy, he had several places called the Rack if I remember correctly. Tremendous gambler. He used to bring Dan Louie down and staked him to play anybody. I came from the Seattle area and knew Danny before I got to Baton Rouge. He and Barb used to stay with us while he was down there.

Thanks for the response, it brought back some good memories, just wish I could go back there and roll the balls around for a while.

 

[hemicudas]

I remember Shorty, IP and Bobby Dancer. I used to play Jamie Farrell before he was 18 at another room in Baton Rouge. He was tough. I also remember Lendy, he had several places called the Rack if I remember correctly. Tremendous gambler. He used to bring Dan Louie down and staked him to play anybody. I came from the Seattle area and knew Danny before I got to Baton Rouge. He and Barb used to stay with us while he was down there.

Thanks for the response, it brought back some good memories, just wish I could go back there and roll the balls around for a while.

Were you there when Dan Louie busted the whole town playing Buddy Hall EVEN on the BIG table with the white bowling ball/cue ball he carried in his glove compartment, lol?

It made me money the next weekend when Dan came to Jackson and busted it. I was the only player in Jackson that knew him, because I had watched him beat Buddy in BR.

After Dan busted the town, one of the local money guys called Memphis and in 3 hrs. Louie Roberts was in town. Louie and Dan played 5 ahead for 1K on the bar box. First set Dan never gets to the table. The next set they bet 2K and I double my bet too. I know you will remember this name, Buddy Bonacast (sp) was staking Dan Louie and tried to bet 5K but LR's stake horse wouold only bet 2K. Louie Roberts never won another set. Dan and Buddy won LR's stake horse's Car too. Those were great times, Lunchmoney.

 

[jungledude]

Great memories of Greenway too

I won a tournament there in the late 80s loaded with champions and sold for only $5 in the calcutta and won $2600 for first place. The guy that rode there with me (Vesta Baker) also sold for $5 and finished third. Done an awful lot of gambling in Greenway and both won and lost a lot of money several times, hated to see it close down....Humphrey

 

[Eieio59]

Greenway

I grew up in Greenway and somehow managed to survive the experience! Back when Jamie Farrell wasn't even old enough to go into bars, I was running into him in the local bar tournaments. He'd come in long enough to stay and win, then hit the road. Always thought he had such great talent. Too bad that someone that plays pool that well has to have such a good work ethic too! (just kidding) Jamies dad, Harry played there as well.

Anyway, the greatest players in the world have passed thru there and to name an important name that was left out..... Jerry Brock. Man.... him and Calvin, Glove, Buster Merchant..... I could go on. How about all those all-night barefoot sessions?? I learned to play there while watching all of those great players. To name a couple of great locals, how bout Earl Rapier and Marvin Efferson? But the one name, the one "action" figure missing here (and the one that I personally miss MOST of all)...... GEROME GAMBINO! Just bring in the bag of money and lay it down. Have thought about Gerome a lot lately and really would like to talk with him.

How about trick shots???? One of the better trick shot artists from that era lived in BR too. Jimmy Wax now owns a copy machine dealership there but man he's talented. Another great talent that played there was Jesse Padilla. Jesse is not only a great friend of Troy and I, but taught us both so much about the game. He's truly a great mind of the game......

Well... ya'll have to excuse me now... I'm getting a little "nostalgic" and feel like going to hit some balls now! Man, I miss that place.

Tammie Wesley-Jones
Greenway Alumni

 

[hemicudas]

Boston-Jackson, accent connection

I won a tournament there in the late 80s loaded with champions and sold for only $5 in the calcutta and won $2600 for first place. The guy that rode there with me (Vesta Baker) also sold for $5 and finished third. Done an awful lot of gambling in Greenway and both won and lost a lot of money several times, hated to see it close down....Humphrey

Cuba in either Boston or Jackson, Miss. is pronounced Cuber. I guess that's why everyone in Jackson thought it was pronounced (Vester Baker), LOL.

I have gambled with (Vesta) many times Hump. You guys that have never met the guy Humphrey went to Baton Rouge with have missed a treat. Big time gambler with more girlfriends than any, non Elvis type guy, on earth.

Back in the 70s, Vesta had platinum blond hair down to his waist and literally a girl on each arm. Pretty tuff to beat too.

Who bought you in that Greenway tourney for $5 Hump? What did Vesta win for 3rd?

P.S. Eieio, you forgot one, J.D. Anders.

 

[cardiac kid]

Hi Folks,

From time to time, one of my local friends wears a flambouant shirt with Lamberts on the back. He told me of a room in Baton Rouge that was owned by "Lambert" who recently passed away. He mentioned that years ago it was one of the greatest gambling rooms in the country. Is there a connection? Please let me know. Thanks.

 

[Rickw]

when i lived in baton rouge back in the early nineties it was open and the owner was the greatest guy......his name was jessie ......he was a helluva gambler and kept plenty of action going in either pool or cards.....was a great learning experience for me.....taught me alot.....wish it was open would like to go visit.....juston

Juston,

I played this guy in Sacramento and his name was Jessie. We played one pocket and he was giving me some lessons. I mean he could really play! I'd move balls over to my hole and he never got worried. He'd put whitey behind the balls in my corner somehow all the time! Anyway, we started talking and wound up going out to dinner and he told me all about Baton Rouge and Flyboy and on and on. From what I understand, he started out in Sacramento and moved to Baton Rouge quite a while ago. I think he still has family or something in Sacramento. Like you said, he was the greatest guy! I still remember all the things he taught me. You don't meet a lot of players of his calibre who are willing to share their knowledge so freely.

 

[lunchmoney]

Were you there when Dan Louie busted the whole town playing Buddy Hall EVEN on the BIG table with the white bowling ball/cue ball he carried in his glove compartment, lol?

It made me money the next weekend when Dan came to Jackson and busted it. I was the only player in Jackson that knew him, because I had watched him beat Buddy in BR.

After Dan busted the town, one of the local money guys called Memphis and in 3 hrs. Louie Roberts was in town. Louie and Dan played 5 ahead for 1K on the bar box. First set Dan never gets to the table. The next set they bet 2K and I double my bet too. I know you will remember this name, Buddy Bonacast (sp) was staking Dan Louie and tried to bet 5K but LR's stake horse wouold only bet 2K. Louie Roberts never won another set. Dan and Buddy won LR's stake horse's Car too. Those were great times, Lunchmoney.

I was in the room when Danny played Buddy with the big cue ball on the 9-footer.
Danny busted everyone before someone (Lambert) finally figured out who he was. I remember Buddy Bonacast also. The first night I ever came into the place he was playing a bookie from New Orleans 10 ahead for 10K. He was the owner for a short time if I remember correctly and was also the person who ran the Southern Open in '78 and '79. Grady Mathews talks about it in his book. You are right, those were great times.

 

[lunchmoney]

Hi Folks,

From time to time, one of my local friends wears a flambouant shirt with Lamberts on the back. He told me of a room in Baton Rouge that was owned by "Lambert" who recently passed away. He mentioned that years ago it was one of the greatest gambling rooms in the country. Is there a connection? Please let me know. Thanks.

There has to be, Lambert owned a small bar in the mid 70's and other than that, it would have to be Greenway. It was one of the greatest gambling rooms in the country, no doubt.

 

[lunchmoney]

I grew up in Greenway and somehow managed to survive the experience! Back when Jamie Farrell wasn't even old enough to go into bars, I was running into him in the local bar tournaments. He'd come in long enough to stay and win, then hit the road. Always thought he had such great talent. Too bad that someone that plays pool that well has to have such a good work ethic too! (just kidding) Jamies dad, Harry played there as well.

Anyway, the greatest players in the world have passed thru there and to name an important name that was left out..... Jerry Brock. Man.... him and Calvin, Glove, Buster Merchant..... I could go on. How about all those all-night barefoot sessions?? I learned to play there while watching all of those great players. To name a couple of great locals, how bout Earl Rapier and Marvin Efferson? But the one name, the one "action" figure missing here (and the one that I personally miss MOST of all)...... GEROME GAMBINO! Just bring in the bag of money and lay it down. Have thought about Gerome a lot lately and really would like to talk with him.

How about trick shots???? One of the better trick shot artists from that era lived in BR too. Jimmy Wax now owns a copy machine dealership there but man he's talented. Another great talent that played there was Jesse Padilla. Jesse is not only a great friend of Troy and I, but taught us both so much about the game. He's truly a great mind of the game......

Well... ya'll have to excuse me now... I'm getting a little "nostalgic" and feel like going to hit some balls now! Man, I miss that place.

Tammie Wesley-Jones
Greenway Alumni

I remember Jimmy Wax, I had forgot all about him. I remember Jamies dad too. He could play. You are right about Jerry Brock, he was a player. He won the Southern Open in '78. Keith McCready was second and Dan Louie third.
I remember "Magic Marvin" also, I think I supported him for several months. Did they used to call you Baton Rouge Red?

 

[hemicudas]

Pay Ball Games

Do you guys remember the enormous Pay Ball games at the Greenway? Jerry Brock was known as one of the top bar table players in the country back then. The first time I saw him in a Pay Ball game with, Buddy Hall, Billy Weir, Danny Jones, Louie Roberts, Bill Lawson and Larry Hubbart on the 5X10, I figured Jerry had no chance. He busted the game for over 30K. Don't ever think Jerry Brock couldn't play. He made a believer out of me.

I miss the Greenway so much.

 

[Eieio59]

Juston,

I played this guy in Sacramento and his name was Jessie. We played one pocket and he was giving me some lessons. I mean he could really play! I'd move balls over to my hole and he never got worried. He'd put whitey behind the balls in my corner somehow all the time! Anyway, we started talking and wound up going out to dinner and he told me all about Baton Rouge and Flyboy and on and on. From what I understand, he started out in Sacramento and moved to Baton Rouge quite a while ago. I think he still has family or something in Sacramento. Like you said, he was the greatest guy! I still remember all the things he taught me. You don't meet a lot of players of his calibre who are willing to share their knowledge so freely.

Justin.... that guy was the Jesse Padilla I was talking about. He now lives half the year in Baton Rouge and the other half in Mexico. Great Guy.... and your right.... one of the great one pocket players ever!



The poolroom in question earlier is "Lambert's RBD" which is at the corner of Flannery and Choctaw in BR. It was the pool room which Lambert owned when he passed away. Lambert had sold Greenway years earlier.

Tammie Wesley-Jones

 

[Eieio59]

I remember Jimmy Wax, I had forgot all about him. I remember Jamies dad too. He could play. You are right about Jerry Brock, he was a player. He won the Southern Open in '78. Keith McCready was second and Dan Louie third.
I remember "Magic Marvin" also, I think I supported him for several months. Did they used to call you Baton Rouge Red?[/QUOTEI



I think everyone supported Marvin at one time or another!

Nope, they never called me Baton Rouge "Red".... don't have red hair (probably referred to Jamie).... they usually just called me Baton Rouge Broke, cuz... round those guys......


The payball games were something else. I've never seen such great gatherings of talent as I did back then. I think DCC is on a roll with the Ring Games, though.... should bring some pretty interesting matchups soon.

Everyone is all too quick to get the "gambling" out of pool..... I say, gambling makes pool! It brings out the true drama (literally life changing experiences).

Keith McCready...... oh, now there's a story.......

 

[Eieio59]

Greenway, Jerry Brock and the FBI

Remembering Jerry Brock reminds me of the time the FBI came into Greenway, walked down the isle, then lined us all up against the wall and grilled us about his whereabouts...... man.....

 

[lunchmoney]

Do you guys remember the enormous Pay Ball games at the Greenway? Jerry Brock was known as one of the top bar table players in the country back then. The first time I saw him in a Pay Ball game with, Buddy Hall, Billy Weir, Danny Jones, Louie Roberts, Bill Lawson and Larry Hubbart on the 5X10, I figured Jerry had no chance. He busted the game for over 30K. Don't ever think Jerry Brock couldn't play. He made a believer out of me.

I miss the Greenway so much.

I donated a few dollars in those pay ball games, although not to the players you named. They seemed to go on for days sometimes. I remember watching some ring games during the Southern Open with names like Buddy Hall, Larry Hubbart, Keith McCready ( who was only about 18 at the time) Flyboy, Grady Mathews etc. playing for a $100 on the nine and guys running 5 or 6 racks in a row consistently. Didn't get much sleep back then. Wish I could do it again.