Hard Times...

Gregg

Gregg

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
It's obvious that most people here know that Hard Times is a Pool Hall located in CA, that much I know, but what I don't know is what exactly Hard Times is most known/notorious for. I can imagine big money games, top flight players, etc, but really, I have no idea.
 
Gregg said:
It's obvious that most people here know that Hard Times is a Pool Hall located in CA, that much I know, but what I don't know is what exactly Hard Times is most known/notorious for. I can imagine big money games, top flight players, etc, but really, I have no idea.
Click to expand...

There was actually a Hard Times in Costa Mesa years ago - before Bellflower - that was known for action/great players. I'm sure Jay Helfert can tell us all about the old Hard Times. When Hard Times in Bellflower opened up, it almost immediately became THE spot to play in Southern California. So, to answer your question, it's notorious for action, great players, and anything else that you might expect out of a truly great pool room.
 
I was down in Sacramento a few years back for work and made it over to Hard Times to check it out. I met up with Tom_In_Cincy, or SacTownTom to play some games. I walk in and there are about 40 tables (my numbers may be off, I didnt count them) in one huge area, differing sizes if I remember. I picked an older 9 footer and played for an hour before Tom showed up. In a seperate section of the building they have a great tournament room with about 8 gold crowns and a grandstand seating area behind to tables with about 4 or 5 rows of seating. Nice for watching tourneys. They have great players there as well and lots of big money added tourneys. It was one of the best rooms I have been in..of course I have net travelled too much for pool, but played around the northwest a bit.
 
Jimmy M. said:
There was actually a Hard Times in Costa Mesa years ago - before Bellflower - that was known for action/great players. I'm sure Jay Helfert can tell us all about the old Hard Times. When Hard Times in Bellflower opened up, it almost immediately became THE spot to play in Southern California. So, to answer your question, it's notorious for action, great players, and anything else that you might expect out of a truly great pool room.
Click to expand...

The internationaly known Hard Times of yesteryear is just that, yesteryear. The pool room is very nice, however it is nothing like it was 10-15 years ago. Non-stop greats from all over in action, big tournament play and the like.
 
Last edited:
UWPoolGod1 said:
I was down in Sacramento a few years back for work and made it over to Hard Times to check it out. I met up with Tom_In_Cincy, or SacTownTom to play some games. I walk in and there are about 40 tables (my numbers may be off, I didnt count them) in one huge area, differing sizes if I remember. I picked an older 9 footer and played for an hour before Tom showed up. In a seperate section of the building they have a great tournament room with about 8 gold crowns and a grandstand seating area behind to tables with about 4 or 5 rows of seating. Nice for watching tourneys. They have great players there as well and lots of big money added tourneys. It was one of the best rooms I have been in..of course I have net travelled too much for pool, but played around the northwest a bit.
Click to expand...

I think the Hard Times he's asking about is the one in Bellflower since, when people refer to "Hard Times", unless otherwise specified, they're usually talking about Bellflower. The owners of Hard Times in Sacramento are the original owners of the Hard Times in Bellflower. They also owned another popular pool room where our very own Rude Dog hung out before Hard Times opened, I think... Varsity Billiards.
 
CrownCityCorey said:
The notorious Hard Times of yesteryear is just that, yesteryear.
Click to expand...

Before our time. Well, before mine anyway. By the looks of your graying hair, I have to think you're significantly older than me! :eek: :D
 
CrownCityCorey said:
The internationaly known Hard Times of yesteryear is just that, yesteryear. The pool room is very nice, however it is nothing like it was 10-15 years ago. Non-stop greats from all over in action, big tournament play and the like.
Click to expand...

In the pool room's defense, it just isn't really like that anywhere anymore ... at least, not anywhere on the West Coast. But, yeah, 15 years ago it was significantly different than it is now.
 
UWPoolGod1 said:
I was down in Sacramento a few years back for work and made it over to Hard Times to check it out. I met up with Tom_In_Cincy, or SacTownTom to play some games. I walk in and there are about 40 tables (my numbers may be off, I didnt count them) in one huge area, differing sizes if I remember. I picked an older 9 footer and played for an hour before Tom showed up. In a seperate section of the building they have a great tournament room with about 8 gold crowns and a grandstand seating area behind to tables with about 4 or 5 rows of seating. Nice for watching tourneys. They have great players there as well and lots of big money added tourneys. It was one of the best rooms I have been in..of course I have net travelled too much for pool, but played around the northwest a bit.
Click to expand...

That one is Sacramento.

The one of notoriety is Bellflower. They had a change of owners some years back and the owners of old opened the Sacramento location (the old Great American Billiards).

There have been many Hard Times (Costa Mesa, San Diego, La Habra, Bellflower and Sacramento). Bellflower and Sacramento are the only ones remaining (dif owners).
 
Jimmy M. said:
Before our time. Well, before mine anyway. By the looks of your graying hair, I have to think you're significantly older than me! :eek: :D
Click to expand...

As I remember, though you and I both worked for Chuck Markulis way back when at the Bellflower location. I was not old enough yet to get a work permit when you were slingin coffee there:D
 
The one I remember....

Back when I used to play money games and the regular California Tournament circuit, Hardtimes was at Costa Mesa.... I'm not that old, but it must have closed down during my seven year lay off from pool....

There was no lack of action there the times I went.....

In fact when I started playing in San Diego about 5 years ago, when people would say they were going up to LA to play at hard times, I would correct them and say I thought it was in Orange county not LA????
 
Jaden said:
Back when I used to play money games and the regular California Tournament circuit, Hardtimes was at Costa Mesa.... I'm not that old, but it must have closed down during my seven year lay off from pool....

There was no lack of action there the times I went.....

In fact when I started playing in San Diego about 5 years ago, when people would say they were going up to LA to play at hard times, I would correct them and say I thought it was in Orange county not LA????
Click to expand...

Hard Times Bellflower, Ca opened in 1988.
 
Jaden said:
Back when I used to play money games and the regular California Tournament circuit, Hardtimes was at Costa Mesa.... I'm not that old, but it must have closed down during my seven year lay off from pool....

There was no lack of action there the times I went.....

In fact when I started playing in San Diego about 5 years ago, when people would say they were going up to LA to play at hard times, I would correct them and say I thought it was in Orange county not LA????
Click to expand...
The late Bob Wallace owned that place.
Keith also honed his skills there.
So did Bob's son Audy ( who supposedly had as much stroke as Keith. I've seen him play and he had a stroke of a God. He used to show his jacked up table length draw at Best Billiards. )
 
Hard Times

Hey Jimmy and Corey! Hard Times Bellflower is known for having the best local tournaments around though. For 20 bucks you get to play with Max, Morro, Hemmah, and numerous other top players. And the 1st Sunday of the month cosistently brings a full field of 96 players. Anyways, the action has dried up significantly according to my dad, but every once in a while some people match up.
 
JoeyInCali said:
The late Bob Wallace owned that place.
Keith also honed his skills there.
So did Bob's son Audy ( who supposedly had as much stroke as Keith. I've seen him play and he had a stroke of a God. He used to show his jacked up table length draw at Best Billiards. )
Click to expand...

Wasn't Keith Bob Wallace's adopted son (kinda)?
 
This is probably unrelated somewhat.......regardless, did anyone here ever go to that pool hall that Toni Annigoni (player from "Playing off the Rail - David McCumber book) owned.......can't remember the name of the place though.

Maybe I'll start a separate thread about this.
 
The Cue Club

I believe was the name of the ph that Tony opened. It was in SF on Golden Gate Ave a block above Market Street. I don't know what happened to that place now. It was a beautiful place but was in a rough neighborhood.

mrpool06 said:
This is probably unrelated somewhat.......regardless, did anyone here ever go to that pool hall that Toni Annigoni (player from "Playing off the Rail - David McCumber book) owned.......can't remember the name of the place though.

Maybe I'll start a separate thread about this.
Click to expand...
 
Rickw said:
I believe was the name of the ph that Tony opened. It was in SF on Golden Gate Ave a block above Market Street. I don't know what happened to that place now. It was a beautiful place but was in a rough neighborhood.
Click to expand...

I think that room is Hollywood Billiards now, and it may have closed. Baaaaaaaaaaaad neighborhood! Nice room though!

Awesome old Brunswicks!!!
 
CrownCityCorey said:
I think that room is Hollywood Billiards now, and it may have closed. Baaaaaaaaaaaad neighborhood! Nice room though!

Awesome old Brunswicks!!!
Click to expand...

I don't know if they still have it but they used to have a beautiful 6X12 snooker table. I watched Tony playing a ring game on it with some of the better players in SF; Piona, Michaels, etc. and Tony ran the table. He could play some snooker back then and probably still does. You gotta have some shot-making talent to run a rack on that table!!
 
You know what room that is don't you?

CrownCityCorey said:
I think that room is Hollywood Billiards now, and it may have closed. Baaaaaaaaaaaad neighborhood! Nice room though!

Awesome old Brunswicks!!!
Click to expand...

That place was the original Cochrans Billiards. Action room of some of the best to ever play the game. Over the years it went through some hard times including when Tony took it over and tried to make a go but as sometimes happens in this business he got screwed over. It became Hollywood and couldn't make it again and then sold to an Asian I think and they opened without a finalized permit and during that process they had a killing that was instigated their. So during the investigating they realized this and closed them down.
That area is not all that bad considering S.F., after all it is in the heart of downtown and depending which way you walk if there is a problem. The Golden Gate theatre is right across the street and during some broadway shows and entertainment the area is inundated with the upper class coming and going in limo's and what not. Walk up Golden Gate aways and it can get scary, but walk on Market and it isn't much different than walking in Times Square or Hollywood Blvd.
That place has some history and was my hangout has a teenager. Won a lot of money there as I was taught by the best how to hustle a game. It was the sign of the times. Ronnie Allen just to come up and give a few lessons on how to steal. LOL
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top