Hardtimes/Bellflower question

Years and years ago when I was out there, I believe Hemmah worked there or lived there lol. I liked to play one pocket but was a D player and Hawaiian Jimmy jumped on me.

He is always fun to watch.
 
u12armresl said:
Years and years ago when I was out there, I believe Hemmah worked there or lived there lol. I liked to play one pocket but was a D player and Hawaiian Jimmy jumped on me.

He is always fun to watch.

Back then, the money circulated from player to player around the pool room and always seemed to stop at Hawaiian Jimmy. The guy had more moves than MC Hammer.
 
Jimmy,

Do you happen to remember a guy named Mark Kendall?

He was from that music group Great White, and I was in there with him. He played pretty well and matched up with lots of people in there.
 
u12armresl said:
Jimmy,

Do you happen to remember a guy named Mark Kendall?

He was from that music group Great White, and I was in there with him. He played pretty well and matched up with lots of people in there.

i used to see him at South Bay Billiards often, the pool room is gone gone now this was in 94, he played good. not a world beater but respectable
 
u12armresl said:
Jimmy,

Do you happen to remember a guy named Mark Kendall?

He was from that music group Great White, and I was in there with him. He played pretty well and matched up with lots of people in there.

I played that guy a few $20 sets before (about 6-7 years ago). I have not seen him around since then.
 
u12armresl said:
Jimmy,

Do you happen to remember a guy named Mark Kendall?

He was from that music group Great White, and I was in there with him. He played pretty well and matched up with lots of people in there.

Yeah. I actually got to be okay friends with him since we both lived out in the same area (kind of - compared to where Hard Times was, we lived in the same area). I went and saw him once when Great White played here in Phoenix but I haven't talked to him in years. He has a website now. I recently emailed the address on his site to try to get in touch with him but never got a reply.
 
Slider said:
Even though it's not often, I make it a point to roll through Hard Times every time I am in SoCal. It's just a legendary West Coast room, and I almost get goosebumps when I walk in the door. I didn't really notice any bad element, but I work in an area that is considered pretty rough, so maybe I'm just used to it.

The last time I was there, maybe 6 years ago, I was practicing in the tournament section and a very nice older black gentleman helped me out of about $50, in $5 increments, playing one-pocket, showing just enough speed to win. (not that a lot of speed would have been necessary) He introduced himself by some other name, but the houseman called him by the name of 'Cecil'. Hmmm. I always wondered if it was Tugwell (sp).

Ken


He got me too goin by the name Roosevelt i think but i knew i was being had and didnt mind for $30 or so. I think HE needed it..
 
I stayed with him when he lived in Tujunga, he now is broke and living in Utah with his wife.

Blew through literally millions of dollars.

Think his game was a bit past respectable, he won a few tournaments out in CA and beat some good named players gambling. Played Jeff Beckley's speed or around there (up or down a bit)
 
As it turned out, I was able to stop by Bellflower one night during my trip. I arrived after 11 pm, but the room was busy. There was a C tournament in progress on the tournament side. The bleacher seating made it easy to grab a seat and watch.

Dave Hemmah was the only pro I spotted. He was at one of the front tables practicing by himself. He was very impressive freewheeling and was running out with ease.

As far as safety is concerned, the room certainly was no worse than many others I have been to. My stay was brief, but I will be sure to swing by again when I’m in the area.
 
Jimmy M. said:
Yeah. I actually got to be okay friends with him since we both lived out in the same area (kind of - compared to where Hard Times was, we lived in the same area). I went and saw him once when Great White played here in Phoenix but I haven't talked to him in years. He has a website now. I recently emailed the address on his site to try to get in touch with him but never got a reply.

I often wondered if he was with the band when they had the big fire in Chicago that killed all those people. It was only a few years ago. I haven't heard anything about Great White since then, except in court battles and law suits.

The band members got off as far as I could tell (at least criminally) and the guy who rigged the stage (for the fire effects) was the one who went to jail. And the owners of the club where it happened went down to.
 
jay helfert said:
I often wondered if he was with the band when they had the big fire in Chicago that killed all those people. It was only a few years ago. I haven't heard anything about Great White since then, except in court battles and law suits.

The band members got off as far as I could tell (at least criminally) and the guy who rigged the stage (for the fire effects) was the one who went to jail. And the owners of the club where it happened went down to.

Hey Jay-Just a small point- The Great White fire was in Rhode Island somewhere.

The Great Chicago fire was started by Mrs. Murphy's cow and you were no more than just a little boy at the time.
:)
 
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LA local

Love Hard Times. Go there once a month to play with a friend. Parking lot has security. We have lunch at Johnny Rebs (super southern cuisine) north on Bellflower Blvd. and if needed, I get a new tip put on by Little Al Romero who runs the cue shop upstairs. Awsome gold crowns on the tournament side. A big action room. Last of a dying breed. No fern barn this.
 
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