Johnston City - Pocket Size

[Banks]

I was just taking a look around and stumbled across an article from the Southern Illinoisian about the Johnston City tournament, dated Monday, October 23, 1967.

It states:

Since the pockets this year have been "shrunk" to a 4 1/4" opening instead of the nearly 5-inch openings in previous tournaments, shots are not always as easy to make.

It seems George Jansco wanted to cut back on the huge runs(maybe cuz it was to 150?) and even offered a prize to anybody that ran 100. Crane had a 96, but it doesn't say that anybody actually did it.

In other sporting news, DiMaggio signed a 2 year contract with the A's to be the Exec VP. The A's had just received approval to move from Kansas City.

 

[shortyz]

jc

I live a few miles from that building. Its a dive now. A friend of mine eddie lives next door to it and has one of the tables they used.

 

[speedi]

I live a few miles from that building. Its a dive now. A friend of mine eddie lives next door to it and has one of the tables they used.

Could you take a picture of the building and post it? I bet there are a lot of out here that would like to see what it looks like today-------dive or not. It's history and it would sure would be a kick to have a look. Any chance you could do that?????

 

[Mr. Bond]

While yer at it, ask him what he wants for the table

 

[Scott Lee]

That's what I was thinkin'! LOL :thumbup:

Scott Lee
http://poolknowledge.com

While yer at it, ask him what he wants for the table

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

If memory serves me, the old pool and billiards mag had a picture of the Johnson City location, and it reminds you of an old gas station/store more or less lol. Hopefully he will be able to post up a more modern photo of it.

 

[Island Drive]

Museum

Be a perfect place to display all the Industry Billiard HOF stuff that's been collected over the years. Remodel and charge a gate. Its right off the hwy and I'm thinking the property taxes might be realistic....tho it is IL .

I"ve always thought Fat's old home in Dowell might be the place, but this location would be even better since its Right off Hwy 57 and close to a golfing area.

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

From the Oct 1991 edition of Pool & Billiard Mag (Johnson City).

 

[shortyz]

From the Oct 1991 edition of Pool & Billiard Mag (Johnson City).

That's not the building and I'm not sure why they'd have that picture posted in the magazine unless I missed something, I'd say they just got the address wrong. That's a different place across town. I'll get a picture of it today at some point. And I'll ask if that tables for sale or if he knows where any others are or if he has anything else from there.

 

[ironman]

I was just taking a look around and stumbled across an article from the Southern Illinoisian about the Johnston City tournament, dated Monday, October 23, 1967.

It states:

Since the pockets this year have been "shrunk" to a 4 1/4" opening instead of the nearly 5-inch openings in previous tournaments, shots are not always as easy to make.

It seems George Jansco wanted to cut back on the huge runs(maybe cuz it was to 150?) and even offered a prize to anybody that ran 100. Crane had a 96, but it doesn't say that anybody actually did it.

In other sporting news, DiMaggio signed a 2 year contract with the A's to be the Exec VP. The A's had just received approval to move from Kansas City.

I remeber that period so well. It was the talk of every pool hall. Every sotory seemed to involve Ed Kelly and Ronnie Allen. The I heard of Jummy Marino and Billy Incordona and of course Fats.
MY best friend at the time Al Hogue had gone and gotten like 4th in the all Around and talked about it endlessly.Stories flown around like the wind.
I do not remember all the talk about pocket size as today.
I also remember that is when I fist heard of Harold Worst though I never got to see the man play. Ronnie had a real respect for the mans game and Ronnie did not pass out many flowers.
WOW, so many years ago. I am getting old. I think I was about 19 or 20 then.

 

[shortyz]

pic

This is the building. Where it was. Right off I-57.

 

[SCCues]

This is the building. Where it was. Right off I-57.

This looks more like it than the picture that was in the magazine.

 

[Island Drive]

Yeah, and I'm almost positive it said Janscos Show Bar, been awhile.

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

Possibly the magazine has the location of the first events? And it grew? Tournaments do it all the time these days.

BTW, the article with the pic was in an article on Fats. Here is the issue from their website.

http://www.poolmag.com/store/index.cfm/fuseaction/feature.display/feature_id/243/index.cfm

 

[shortyz]

Yeah, and I'm almost positive it said Janscos Show Bar, been awhile.

Yeah i think it was called janscos or something then, now its called hurleys show bar. it was also called wily coyotes or something once lol. Now there's like 3 valley tables in there and one has wood instead of slate. Its not a place ud ever go to. There are very very few tables in this area to play on now. Not even a pool hall. There isn't a 9ft anywhere around.

 

[flyvirginiaguy]

This article tells the story of the Johnson City locations and history.

http://www.onepocket.org/JohnstonCity.htm

 

[Ken_4fun]

Here are some I took about a year ago.

Secondly, as I told Steve from onepocket.org, there is pool room owner in Paducah, that has one of the tables from the Johnson City tournament. It is fully documented, with serial numbers and letters from the factory.

If you are serious about getting it, then I will share. But dont think you are going to steal it, he would want a fair price as he should. He also has probably the most Johnson City memorbilia in one place. He doesnt collect to make money, he collects because he is a pool junkie like the rest of us.

Enjoy the pictures.

Ken