How good did Jimmy Marino play?

[Williebetmore]

....and tell us stories of spectacular shots done by players like "The Miz" on the very table we were using.
Billy Jack

BillyJ,
I saw Jimmy Marino play several times in the exhibition tournaments they had for a couple of years at the Hawk's Nest downtown (Mizerak, Hopkins, Rempe, Margo and a bunch of others - usually 8 per year). Jimmy played on a par with the best (though at that time, the early 70's Mizerak was in a class of his own).

I grew up near there, and played my pool (high school banger style) at Cue and Cushion (on McLaughlin Run Rd, right near Bower Hill Road - if my street name memory is intact from 30 years ago). It sounds like Jimmy's place is right near there. I will definitely drop by if I'm ever in the area.

 

[Snapshot9]

Greg

GREG STEVENS....can someone post a pic?

I played a tall (6'1'' to 6'3") slender (apprx 150 to 170lb) blond/lt brn headed guy at the MULLINS BROS pool hall on MANHEIM RD. just outside of CHICAGO. It was 64 or 65 and we played for 10 or 20 a game. The "mystery man" never missed a ball and I pulled up after 8 or 10 games. The guy left an impression and I've wondered from timr to time who he was.

Pool has changed in the respect that in the "old days" it might take a while to figure who you played. There aren't many mystery's nowadays.

Greg Stevens was from Wichita, Ks., and was not one to pose for a picture. Freddy or Jay, do either of you have a pic of Greg? He owned a Family Game Room here in Wichita on West street for years and years.
Wichita was a booming town back in the 50's into the 60's, several 24/7 places would stay open. Road players would always make a stop here clear up through the 70's.

Greg showed up a couple of times in mid 70's at Burke's Steakhouse when I was playing down there at night. He would give anyone the 7 ball for $20 a game. (Same as Buddy did when he came through). Greg had a long stroke at that time, longer than most, and he could get lots of english on the ball, but it was a smooth move, much like Efren or Busta today. It was pretty common knowledge that Greg played on speed most of the time.

Before I moved to Wichita, I lived 4 years down in Houston (went to college down there) and used to make trips down to Le Cue downtown when several great players were hanging out down there, Jersey Red, Boston Shorty, Eddie Taylor, the other Squirrel (keith). My first initiation to the place was to watch a $100 1 pocket game where 1 player was spotting the other by shooting with a broom handle. I worked at a couple of Pool rooms while going to college, and I did okay down there. I played Alfie Taylor (Eddie's youngest brother) a lot who was the 9 ball Champion of Texas at the time.

 

[billyjack]

Willie,
McLaughlin Run Rd at Bower Hill Rd is exactly where Jimmy's place is located. If you're an old Pittsburgher, you might be thinking of Cue & Cushion on Rt 51 in Whitehall. That's where I learned to play in high school. Pool was an intermural sport at a then all boys Catholic H.S.-quite a bold move for a Catholic school in the sixties to haul students off to a pool hall for after-school game. It's still there, and on it's way back after falling into disrepair when the original operators passed away. According to Jimmy, he was banned from C&C after beating the best "house" player first time out.

 

[jay helfert]

Greg Stevens was from Wichita, Ks., and was not one to pose for a picture. Freddy or Jay, do either of you have a pic of Greg? He owned a Family Game Room here in Wichita on West street for years and years.
Wichita was a booming town back in the 50's into the 60's, several 24/7 places would stay open. Road players would always make a stop here clear up through the 70's.

Greg showed up a couple of times in mid 70's at Burke's Steakhouse when I was playing down there at night. He would give anyone the 7 ball for $20 a game. (Same as Buddy did when he came through). Greg had a long stroke at that time, longer than most, and he could get lots of english on the ball, but it was a smooth move, much like Efren or Busta today. It was pretty common knowledge that Greg played on speed most of the time.

Before I moved to Wichita, I lived 4 years down in Houston (went to college down there) and used to make trips down to Le Cue downtown when several great players were hanging out down there, Jersey Red, Boston Shorty, Eddie Taylor, the other Squirrel (keith). My first initiation to the place was to watch a $100 1 pocket game where 1 player was spotting the other by shooting with a broom handle. I worked at a couple of Pool rooms while going to college, and I did okay down there. I played Alfie Taylor (Eddie's youngest brother) a lot who was the 9 ball Champion of Texas at the time.

Sorry, no pic of Greg S. He WAS one of the top 9-Ballers alive in his heyday, during the 60's and 70's. He owned several pool rooms in his later years. By the way. Alfie is a nephew of Eddie Taylor, not a brother.

 

[jay helfert]

BillyJ,
I saw Jimmy Marino play several times in the exhibition tournaments they had for a couple of years at the Hawk's Nest downtown (Mizerak, Hopkins, Rempe, Margo and a bunch of others - usually 8 per year). Jimmy played on a par with the best (though at that time, the early 70's Mizerak was in a class of his own).

I grew up near there, and played my pool (high school banger style) at Cue and Cushion (on McLaughlin Run Rd, right near Bower Hill Road - if my street name memory is intact from 30 years ago). It sounds like Jimmy's place is right near there. I will definitely drop by if I'm ever in the area.

The Hawks Nest was owned by Bernie "The Hawk" Schwartz, another high speed 9-Ball player to come out of Pittsburgh. At one time, he may have been better at 9-Ball than Billy I. or Jimmy Marino. In the early 70's, he would gamble with anyone, and there were few takers.

Bernie was one of the original guys who started the "ovenware" scam of the 70's that made a lot of money for broke poolplayers, myself included. It was Jew Paul out of Detroit and Bernie who organized the whole thing. There must have been over a 100 pool players working it at any one time. Danny D. broke me in on the West Coast and I sold that stuff for over a year, until I got pumped up enough to buy my first poolroom in Bakersfield.

 

[jay helfert]

GREG STEVENS....can someone post a pic?

I played a tall (6'1'' to 6'3") slender (apprx 150 to 170lb) blond/lt brn headed guy at the MULLINS BROS pool hall on MANHEIM RD. just outside of CHICAGO. It was 64 or 65 and we played for 10 or 20 a game. The "mystery man" never missed a ball and I pulled up after 8 or 10 games. The guy left an impression and I've wondered from timr to time who he was.

Pool has changed in the respect that in the "old days" it might take a while to figure who you played. There aren't many mystery's nowadays.

I wouldn't call Greg tall, slender and blonde. He may have been about 5'10" or so, and was not slim. More like average weight with brown hair. Who might fit that description would be a very young (20ish) Tom Spencer; tall, thin and blond. And Tom could flat play, one of the best from the Chicago area for many years.

Another player that comes to mind is "Lefty" Don Lanforman, who would have been around about that time. Tall, thin and blond also, but a lefty. I saw him beat a young Jimmy Reid at 9-Ball, so he could play.

 

[Williebetmore]

Willie,
McLaughlin Run Rd at Bower Hill Rd is exactly where Jimmy's place is located. If you're an old Pittsburgher, you might be thinking of Cue & Cushion on Rt 51 in Whitehall.

BJ,
No, it was Cue and Cushion in that little strip mall in the late '60's and early 70's; gone by the mid-70's. I suspect Jimmy's place is just newer, but in a similar location. I know I can find it, grew up just a couple of miles away.

 

[ribdoner]

I wouldn't call Greg tall, slender and blonde. He may have been about 5'10" or so, and was not slim. More like average weight with brown hair. Who might fit that description would be a very young (20ish) Tom Spencer; tall, thin and blond. And Tom could flat play, one of the best from the Chicago area for many years.

Another player that comes to mind is "Lefty" Don Lanforman, who would have been around about that time. Tall, thin and blond also, but a lefty. I saw him beat a young Jimmy Reid at 9-Ball, so he could play.

Thanks for the reply. I'm between 6' and 6'1"' and the guy was taller and right handed.

Pete Spencer played mostly in straight pool tournaments. Pete was a good, solid player on the local level but not a factor beyond that. Pete had a son by the name of Tom(my) but I think he was still a kid when the mystery man played as good as the game can be played in our abbreviated match. Pete's son Tommy ended up being one of the top players around CHI sometime after the heist on Manheim Rd.

Of course it's always possible that there were 2 Tom(my) Spencers.

Perhaps Freddy or one of the other old CHI town guys can shed some light on this...

 

[Stones]

I caught this thread just before meeting my league buddies for a nite of play at Jimmy's South Hills Golden Cue. Jimmy showed up later in the night so I asked him the glasses story. He claims he only needed glasses for distance, so the antics mentioned in a previous post were probably just for show. He hasn't shared any road stories yet, but he is proud of the road players who came to his room for weekend shows he used to do years ago. His hall has a nice high ceiling back room with a 9 ft Brunswick, theatre style seating for 100, and an old projection TV screen right over the table. We had rented the room for the nite, and he would stop by periodically to make sure we were having a good time, and tell us stories of spectacular shots done by players like "The Miz" on the very table we were using. If you're ever in the South suburbs of Pittsburgh, stop by and say hello. Website is www.web-friend.com/goldencue. You'll not likely find a hall where they thank you for coming as much as they do here.

Billy Jack

Next time you see Jimmy, ask him if he remembers a guy named Bob Vanzin. That was my road partner.
Also, ask him if he remembers Meucci giving him a cue to play with in the tournament and the joint seperating on it after he broke the balls with it. Meucci immediately replaced it and the second one worked just fine.
The end of the eye glasses story is when Jimmy quit playing after being sharked by the drunk ( I believe the guy's name was Larry Smith), I asked him, "What do the balls look like, ---Fuzzy basketballs? All Jimmy said was, "Something like that."
Another rather interesting fellow came down with Jimmy from Pitt on that trip. I don't remember his real name but everyone called him "Face". Funny guy.
I believe Bill Porter might have some old pictures of that '83 tournament and a few include some shots of Jimmy.

 

[freddy the beard]

Don Rose

.

Perhaps Freddy or one of the other old CHI town guys can shed some light on this...

There were two guys with light hair from the Western Suburbs that played that kind of speed in the '60s, one was Don Rose from Maywood, IL. (I dont think he was that tall) and the other guy I cant remember (Thompson?). Don Rose ran 100's and lives in Arizona today.

the Beard

 

[Hambone]

Without getting into all the stories right now, I will tell you Jimmy played REAL REAL GOOD!!! I think he won one of the last Johnson City or Stardust tournaments and was the second "Hippy Jimmy". Jimmy Reid being the first.

Jimmy Marino won the 9-ball division and the All-Around Title in 1971. Lassiter won the straight-pool division and Rempe won the One-pocket.

 

[jay helfert]

Thanks for the reply. I'm between 6' and 6'1"' and the guy was taller and right handed.

Pete Spencer played mostly in straight pool tournaments. Pete was a good, solid player on the local level but not a factor beyond that. Pete had a son by the name of Tom(my) but I think he was still a kid when the mystery man played as good as the game can be played in our abbreviated match. Pete's son Tommy ended up being one of the top players around CHI sometime after the heist on Manheim Rd.

Of course it's always possible that there were 2 Tom(my) Spencers.

Perhaps Freddy or one of the other old CHI town guys can shed some light on this...

The only tall thin player that I can think of from that era who played that good was Bob Osborne (Ogburn). He is about 6'4" and was thin and blondish brown hair.

 

[freddy the beard]

It might have been him!

The only tall thin player that I can think of from that era who played that good was Bob Osborne (Ogburn). He is about 6'4" and was thin and blondish brown hair.

Virginia Bob, Big Bob, Black Bart, Bob Osborne and in actuality, Bob Ogborn, did do a tour down in Bensinger's in the '60s. So it could have been him. If you ask him about it, he calls it his Basic Training, as we put him in every trap known to man. He never missed a ball, and stayed broke the whole time he was there. However, when he left Bensinger's he could have been accepted in the Navy Seals of hustling, that's how turned out he became.

the Beard

Wait a minute! Isnt Bob left-handed?

 

[George Fels]

GREG STEVENS....can someone post a pic?

I played a tall (6'1'' to 6'3") slender (apprx 150 to 170lb) blond/lt brn headed guy at the MULLINS BROS pool hall on MANHEIM RD. just outside of CHICAGO. It was 64 or 65 and we played for 10 or 20 a game. The "mystery man" never missed a ball and I pulled up after 8 or 10 games. The guy left an impression and I've wondered from timr to time who he was.

Pool has changed in the respect that in the "old days" it might take a while to figure who you played. There aren't many mystery's nowadays.

That's a reasonable description of "Canadian Pete" Tasik, a protege of the missing link known as Detroit Whitey. He was in Chicago in the early to mid-'60s for a while, mostly hanging around the new incarnation of Bensinger's. Pete was a taco or two short of a combo plate, and I understand he met his end when he wandered in front of one of San Francisco's famed trolley cars. GF

 

[George Fels]

Hi George,

Welcome to the boards. I've always enjoyed reading your articles.

Chris

Thank you, Chris. I'm sure it'll be instructive. GF

 

[ribdoner]

Virginia Bob, Big Bob, Black Bart, Bob Osborne and in actuality, Bob Ogborn, did do a tour down in Bensinger's in the '60s. So it could have been him. If you ask him about it, he calls it his Basic Training, as we put him in every trap known to man. He never missed a ball, and stayed broke the whole time he was there. However, when he left Bensinger's he could have been accepted in the Navy Seals of hustling, that's how turned out he became.

the Beard

Wait a minute! Isnt Bob left-handed?

YEP, Bob's a southpaw.

The mystery man had fine "nordic" features, short bridge, not a long "backstroke" but a normal to long follow thru. Never did anything OLYMPIC, just played perfect on a big table and made all the 1' to 4 ' shots. He was apprx. 25 yrs old. I knew Don Rose, it wasn't him. We didn't talk enough to determine if he was from the north or south.

Thanks to you and Jay for your input.

 

[ribdoner]

That's a reasonable description of "Canadian Pete" Tasik, a protege of the missing link known as Detroit Whitey. He was in Chicago in the early to mid-'60s for a while, mostly hanging around the new incarnation of Bensinger's. Pete was a taco or two short of a combo plate, and I understand he met his end when he wandered in front of one of San Francisco's famed trolley cars. GF

George, thanks for your reply. My name is Adam and it seems we met many,many years ago. I stopped play
ing serious pool in 65 when I went in the ARMY. Playing little RICHIE and "whodathunk" guys like the mystery man factored in my decision. When I got out of the service I played for a while, thought I was in stroke, and proceeded to try COOKIE and WADE CRANE (had no idea who they were). That cemented my business career path.

A mutual friend (John Wright) offered me your old cue (titliest blank BOTI or BUSHKA?) about 15 yrs ago.....anyway, glad you signed on the site.

 

[freddy the beard]

Canadian Pete

That's a reasonable description of "Canadian Pete" Tasik, a protege of the missing link known as Detroit Whitey. He was in Chicago in the early to mid-'60s for a while, mostly hanging around the new incarnation of Bensinger's. Pete was a taco or two short of a combo plate, and I understand he met his end when he wandered in front of one of San Francisco's famed trolley cars. GF

As per George, it could very well have been Pete. When the mixture was right he could play near perfect, as evidenced when he held Jimmy Rempe to a 3 hr draw playing 9 ball in Bensinger's. They had to wake Pete up off the bench to play Rempe. John the Greek gave him $20 to play with -- one barrel at $20 a game! Midway through the match Rempe remarked to me, "Who's this guy?!"

the Beard