Johnston City

travis92

travis92

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I live probably an hour away from Johnston City, Illinois, and after the tournament got shut down around 1970 I was wondering if there is still a pool scene there today. Are there still a lot of places to play and a lot of players that live or come through there?
 
I don't know for sure but doubt it. There's big reason without the tournament. I suggest you check out the College Towns Carbondale, Champaign, Normal. Used to be a lot of road players going through Carbondale.
 
travis92 said:
I live probably an hour away from Johnston City, Illinois, and after the tournament got shut down around 1970 I was wondering if there is still a pool scene there today. Are there still a lot of places to play and a lot of players that live or come through there?
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The tournament stopped after the 1972 edition. Feds, IRS, etc.

I do believe the building is still standing, as I seem to remember a recent photo posted here on AZB in the last 3-4 months (?).

I suspect the answer to your last two questions are No and No. Not a heavily populated area and I don't ever recall reading about or hearing about amy pool happenings of note being held in or around there ever since.

Freddy Bentivegna and / or Jay Helfert will know for sure. Of that I am sure. :)
 
travis92 said:
I live probably an hour away from Johnston City, Illinois, and after the tournament got shut down around 1970 I was wondering if there is still a pool scene there today. Are there still a lot of places to play and a lot of players that live or come through there?
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Maybe if it's possible you could take that hour trip and get permission to take some photos of the building (if it's there) from the outside and inside and post them here.

Some photos of the surrounding area would be cool too. Maybe for us that didn't get a chance to see the happenings there, we could conjure up the images in our minds of what was witnessed by the players that were there.

This is a designated historical area for all of us because of the era it represented.
 
I missed it /was in the Army.

:(
dabarbr said:
Maybe if it's possible you could take that hour trip and get permission to take some photos of the building (if it's there) from the outside and inside and post them here.

Some photos of the surrounding area would be cool too. Maybe for us that didn't get a chance to see the happenings there, we could conjure up the images in our minds of what was witnessed by the players that were there.

This is a designated historical area for all of us because of the era it represented.
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Frank-have you ever heard any of Wayne Norcross's stories of Johnson City?

Don't get him started-just kidding-he has some great stories about straight pool matches he played/almost didn't play and the two brothers running the deal.

Take care. Sorry I missed it.

3railkick
 
The Jansco Bros. (George and Paulie) were as different as night and day...but they were characters of the First Order. The truth is, though, that the tournaments would have nevered happened without the intervention of Minnesota Fats/Rudolph Wanderone. He talked them into it, and got the ball rolling, getting all the players to show up that first year. Then it sort of took off with a life of it's own! :grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

3RAILKICK said:
:(

Frank-have you ever heard any of Wayne Norcross's stories of Johnson City?

Don't get him started-just kidding-he has some great stories about straight pool matches he played/almost didn't play and the two brothers running the deal.
Take care. Sorry I missed it.

3railkick
Click to expand...
 
dabarbr said:
Maybe if it's possible you could take that hour trip and get permission to take some photos of the building (if it's there) from the outside and inside and post them here.

Some photos of the surrounding area would be cool too. Maybe for us that didn't get a chance to see the happenings there, we could conjure up the images in our minds of what was witnessed by the players that were there.

This is a designated historical area for all of us because of the era it represented.
Click to expand...

After fats died, I drove to Dowell IL and did a video interview of her/Evelyn Wanderones life with fatty, I also videoed the surrounding area, Crab orchard lake, Janscos bar, the golf course and the road in and out of JC. Someday I will sell copy.
 
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The Akron Open is the only thing that springs to mind when it comes to big Mid-West tournaments.
 
Scott Lee said:
The Jansco Bros. (George and Paulie) were as different as night and day...but they were characters of the First Order. The truth is, though, that the tournaments would have nevered happened without the intervention of Minnesota Fats/Rudolph Wanderone. He talked them into it, and got the ball rolling, getting all the players to show up that first year. Then it sort of took off with a life of it's own! :grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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It was the fat man that got them to include one pocket also wasn't it scott?
 
There is that little event that use to be in Louisville that is now in a close city with a casino...

I think the event is called the Derby City Classic. It doesn't last 2 weeks but is a fun filled 10 days.

RunoutJJ said:
The Akron Open is the only thing that springs to mind when it comes to big Mid-West tournaments.
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3RAILKICK said:
:(

Frank-have you ever heard any of Wayne Norcross's stories of Johnson City?

Don't get him started-just kidding-he has some great stories about straight pool matches he played/almost didn't play and the two brothers running the deal.

Take care. Sorry I missed it.

3railkick
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I'll see if I can get him started the next time I see him. thanks
 
Pictures

dabarbr said:
Maybe if it's possible you could take that hour trip and get permission to take some photos of the building (if it's there) from the outside and inside and post them here.

Some photos of the surrounding area would be cool too. Maybe for us that didn't get a chance to see the happenings there, we could conjure up the images in our minds of what was witnessed by the players that were there.

This is a designated historical area for all of us because of the era it represented.
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Good idea Frank.
 
Black-Balled said:
Sounds like vacation to me!
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Evelyn was pretty cool and smart, before I arrived she stocked the frig and got me to cook dinner for her. I did the dishes and was she was so nice she let me stay the night, quite a woman we had never met before. She would still be alive I think but left us early because of falling down and breaking her hip on the way to the hairdresser, the dose of daily meds she took I'm sure shortened her life.
 
dabarbr said:
Maybe if it's possible you could take that hour trip and get permission to take some photos of the building (if it's there) from the outside and inside and post them here.

Some photos of the surrounding area would be cool too. Maybe for us that didn't get a chance to see the happenings there, we could conjure up the images in our minds of what was witnessed by the players that were there.

This is a designated historical area for all of us because of the era it represented.
Click to expand...




barber.....I've got one picture for you anyway, of the outside of the 'infamous hustler's shrine'...it was taken back in the day...I don't know who the guy in the pic is.



- Ghost

PS, And if I'm not mistaken, that white car in the pic is a 62' Plymouth Fury...a very cool car with a wild body design - sideways fins, front and back...I wouldn't mind having a black/white two-tone, mint cond. one of those today....:)
 

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1 Pocket Ghost said:
barber...I don't know who the guy in the pic is.
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I squinted best I could. It may be Paulie Jansco. But the guy looks like he has a slight part on his left & Paulie did not. It's for sure not George Jansco.

He also bears a slight resemblance to "Detroit Whitey", Ed Beauchene. But it being a clean car just about rules that out. Unless it wasn't his car!
 
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