How and where did you first start playing

I was 9 years old on the world's longest trip from Michigan to Florida took nine days to get from Michigan to Florida we broke down in every state but one we got towed thru that state. but when I got to my step dads house I seen the most beautiful thing in the world. a7 foot Valley table. I played on that table all summer I think I cruddy when the vacation was over. When I turned 15 a friend of mine from school told me he knew of a place where we could score! So we headed out, when we walked thru that door I about fell over they had table after table action everywhere. I think he hooked up but I was stuck on a table in the back. Five years latter I was running another pool hall for the owner and the house hustler was my besrfriend.
 
How and where did you first start playing?

When was 11 years old, our family traveled to southern Illinois to attend my cousins funeral. It was the first trip to my Aunt and Uncles new home on the lake. The home had a large lower walk out from the bottom level and there was a 9 foot Brunswick with leather drop pockets in the back recreation room. I remember watching the older men in the family while they played and waited for my time to get a turn.
When all of the extended family left and went home it was my turn. I was on the table as much as I was allowed until we left for home 3 days later. I remember my cousins would try to get me to go outside and swim or play ball but all I was interested in was that pool table.
The day that we left for home my cousin was messing around with a scroll saw with some plywood on the long rail of the pool table and cut into the beautiful dark wood. I did not realize at the time that the table was an early 1900,s table and was worth a lot of money. Now I understand why his father was so upset.
I did not play again until my son was 11years old. I really enjoy shooting with him today. He is 21 and plays very well. We play all of the games but prefer one pocket. I have taken advantage of a common interest to help increase our time together when he is home from college.
 
In the late 60's in northeast los angeles I turned 18 and was finally legally ok to hang around inside the local family billiards room. the room was just a few years old and everything was still almost brand new...14 9' gold crowns, a 10' snooker table, 3 pinball machines, a foosball machine and they had a state of the art tuner/turntable that the deskman kept spinning with fm radio and rock and jazz albums from the day (led zeppelin, credence clearwater, quincy jones, etc). I was there night and day when I wasn't at work and then I was there all of the time when I got the job as the deskman at the pool hall.

I was there from noon to 2:00am and it was overwhelming, the personalities, the sounds, the action - I was a kid in an adult world and couldn't believe that this world existed. I learned a lot about people and life and I couldn't play enough pool (it was free for me when I wasn't working).

There was a second floor towards the back of the building that had been offices for the previous business and were converted into a large bachelor style apartment that the owner and his wife lived in and it seemed like there was a card game up there every weekend, all weekend.

The owner's wife refused to live there after the Sylmar earthquake in the am hours of February 1971 because the room was sort of suspended between the floor and ceiling and the place was swinging like a hammock in a hurricane.

I thought life was good before that but it got even better for me because they let me move in and I basically traded my earnings for rent...I was 19 and had my own key to the room and could come and go when I wanted.

Of course I got myself kicked out within 6 months for having some 17 year old girl there all night and her older sister was parked out front in the morning and gave my boss hell when he drove up. The girl was actually long gone by then but he woke me up, gave me hell and two weeks to move out but he did let me keep my job.

Society was changing very quickly back then and I had some legal issues (no jail time) and eventually started college, got a degree and a couple of careers but I wonder how things would have turned out if I only knew then what I know now.

Still love the game, the sounds, the equipment and am looking forward to spending some time at the tables when I retire.

Sorry to ramble but it's been a long time since I thought about those days.
 
I've been playing as long as I can remember. My aunt & uncle owned a little redneck bar with one table. I have very distinct memories of standing on a crate to I could see over the table to shoot. It got in my blood at a very young age & I still love it.
 
Going back to when I was but a wee lad, I've always harbored an intense curiosity about the game, but never had any opportunities to play. No one in my household ever had any interest in it.

I actually remember the date: December 26, 2001. At 16, with my new learner's permit in hand and a handful of Christmas cash, I took a drive straight to a Billiards and Barstools and bought a Cuetec.

Not long after, I roped in a few friends to join me in my foray into the wide world of pool and the cue became a hand-me-down almost as fast as I had bought it.

I've been making up for all those years of curiosity ever since.
 
I began playing in (1949) on the 5'x10' Brunswick "Kling" in our parlor.
As a teen, I played regularly at Panorama Bowl (full Pool Room) on the lower level,
and was given free lessons by an old-time Pro Player named Gus Mueller. There
were 8x10 photos of Gus and every Top Player in the World hanging on all the walls.
He taught me Straight Pool (still my favorite game), Rotation, and Snooker (6'x12') tables.
I remain eternally grateful for his patience with this young snot-nosed kid.
 
I have taken many breaks in my 27 years. In the last 10 years I have only played 2 or 3 years all put together. I would play about 6 months and get mad about my play and quit for a while up to 3 year break one time. I have gave up on giving up and I plan on playing till I can't.
 
Port Harcourt Nigeria 1964. I was 14 years old exploring the PH club and stumbled into the snooker room. They had three 12 ft tables and over the next few years I became a regular. There was a strong contingent of indian players who guided and challenged me. The Biafran war / subsequent evacuation of expatriates took me away from cue sports until my 20's.

Bert
 
Started at 12 years old, my brother took me to a pool hall. All you heard were the clicking of balls, nothing else. There were 4 pool tables and several snooker tables. You payed by the game. 9 ball was a nickel, 8 ball was a dime, and snooker was 15 cents. I loved it so much my folks bought me a tabe (7 footer) with a plywood bed that had adjustment screws underneath so you could level it every day.:smile:

I have been hooked ever since. By the time I was 13 I was beating all my brother's high school friends like they were drums, especially in snooker. One thing I do miss is no halls have snooker tables in them anymore. I love that game.
 
When I was 11 dad took me to the Village Bowl in Muncie, IN and they had a separate side room with 7 or 8 barboxes in it with red cloth. He showed me the basics and I was hooked. That room they had was pretty cool. It had one unique feature I've never seen before or since. Instead of being on the table the chalk was in little plastic boxes that were screwed to the ceiling. You had to jam your cue into them and twist.
 
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