Joss original color of money?
- Thread starter Rossblankinship
- Start date
That looks like a JOS176 not sure after seeing the butt pic. The Color of Money remake is the JOSN7, my understanding anyway. No expert here but I do have the Fast Eddy remake Joss “Aces” so I am familiar with the movie cues and then there is https://josscues.com/product/the-color-of-money-n7-2019/
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Rossblankinship
New member
Thanks! I believe that there were several production runs where they made minor changes. I’ll see if I can find a couple different versions and post here for context.
I know from my limited exploration of this site, that there are members here that were in the movie and can tell you specifically the cues used.
Found one of the threads and this quote from Dan Joss himself:
“
Color of Money
I’ll try to tackle this one.
The technical director for the film was Mike Sigel
Mike was using a Joss at that time and he suggested to Scorsese that he use the Joss Cue.
We made 99% of the cues used in the movie. From the house cues used in the opening bar action to the last game with Tom Cruise and Paul Newman.
Martin Scorsese is a real stickler for accuracy (I was told) and the movie was a follow up of “The Hustler”. The cue was supposed to be Newman’s cue from then.
I wasn’t making cues when Hustler was out so that meant the Joss Cue wouldn’t work for this.
Balabushka was making cues then and had passed away in December of 1975.
Movie was made in 1986.
So no conflict or advertising for a person that was not here.
The movie cue was called Balabushka no credits were given at the end of the movie.
I think this is it in a nutshell.
Any more questions I’ll try to help.
Dan
Joss Cues”
Thread:
Looks as if you are correct, there were, I guess, some iterations of the Joss J18. I wouldn’t be surprised if the original movie cues are in the possession of an AZ member.
“
Color of Money
I’ll try to tackle this one.
The technical director for the film was Mike Sigel
Mike was using a Joss at that time and he suggested to Scorsese that he use the Joss Cue.
We made 99% of the cues used in the movie. From the house cues used in the opening bar action to the last game with Tom Cruise and Paul Newman.
Martin Scorsese is a real stickler for accuracy (I was told) and the movie was a follow up of “The Hustler”. The cue was supposed to be Newman’s cue from then.
I wasn’t making cues when Hustler was out so that meant the Joss Cue wouldn’t work for this.
Balabushka was making cues then and had passed away in December of 1975.
Movie was made in 1986.
So no conflict or advertising for a person that was not here.
The movie cue was called Balabushka no credits were given at the end of the movie.
I think this is it in a nutshell.
Any more questions I’ll try to help.
Dan
Joss Cues”
Thread:
Wht did they use a Balabushka cue in the film "The Color of Money"?
I was wondering which pro player planted the seed in Price and Scorsese's ears when they chose to highlight Balabushka cues in the film. Does anyone know? thank you- HB
forums.azbilliards.com
Looks as if you are correct, there were, I guess, some iterations of the Joss J18. I wouldn’t be surprised if the original movie cues are in the possession of an AZ member.
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Here's a thread from 2015 with one of the old versions.
Opinions on the Joss JN-7
Hey all! :) I've been searching for someone who owns a JN-7 "the color of money" cue, and can provide some feedback on the cue. Does anyone mind telling me how it plays? Pros and cons? Is it worth the money? Will it play better then say, a Bushka...
forums.azbilliards.com
The Old Jaybird
Active member
i just bought a COM Joss cue, and I haven't missed a shot with it yet. Then again, its still unchalked.
I believe the cues used in the Hustler movie were made by Rambow, to Willie Mosconi specs. I don't think they were ever called Balabuska's in the first movie. They were in the COM movie.
I believe the cues used in the Hustler movie were made by Rambow, to Willie Mosconi specs. I don't think they were ever called Balabuska's in the first movie. They were in the COM movie.
George Balabushka had only started making cues when the Hustler was made (1960-1961). I think he wasn't well known until the mid-sixties.
Joss N 7 is the cue that Tom Cruise holds over his head in the famous movie scene that is reproduced in an iconic photo and poster. You can still buy that cue today - retails at about $750 - I bought one this Christmas for one of my sons who just installed a classic Brunswick Anniversary table in his new home - got him the cue and the framed poster.
Cicerone88
New member
Dan says they made 99% of the cues, but watching the movie you can clearly see theres quite a few McDermotts in there. Both Forest Whitaker and Keith McCreadys characters were using McDermotts.
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Oh for sure, in my digging around this site, I have read the stories. I believe there were a Schon or 2, I thought Keith used a Schon?
Again I am absolutely no expert just regurgitating what I have found in the pages of this wonderful forum! I love my Joss and the movies!
Cues used in "The Color of Money"?
OK, I know the "Balabushka" was actually a Joss. But there were other cues used later by Vincent and Julian at the tournament. When Eddie and Julian are playing each other. They show Eddie break and leave the 1/9 combo in the jaws. Then the...
forums.azbilliards.com
From the thread garczar posted above:
Keith Quote:
“
First of all, I sure would like to know who has that cue stick right now.
Me giving Steve Meeker that pool cue, there was an agreement to that. I gave it to him as a favor, and he was to give me $2,000 when he sold it. That was the stipulation. I haven't heard from Steve about it, and it's funny that now I see it on eBay.
It was my Schon, and it is a good-playing cue. Actually, it was one of my better playing cues that I've had in my lifetime, and yes, I did use it in the movie.
I would appreciate it if the current holder of this cue contacts me, and I will give him all the information that he may need. I am not too comfortable expressing myself on the Internet.”
Keith Quote:
“
First of all, I sure would like to know who has that cue stick right now.
Me giving Steve Meeker that pool cue, there was an agreement to that. I gave it to him as a favor, and he was to give me $2,000 when he sold it. That was the stipulation. I haven't heard from Steve about it, and it's funny that now I see it on eBay.
It was my Schon, and it is a good-playing cue. Actually, it was one of my better playing cues that I've had in my lifetime, and yes, I did use it in the movie.
I would appreciate it if the current holder of this cue contacts me, and I will give him all the information that he may need. I am not too comfortable expressing myself on the Internet.”
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
To my way of thinking it is ridiculous for this controversy to exist. Are there pictures of the cues? Are they custom? Production? What is the problem?
They changed some color and inlay details, but they all had the same general design.
The story I had heard years ago was that McDermott desperately tried to get his cues into the movie production but Joss already had the arrangement in place thanks to Sigel. They also used Murrey tables because Murrey was based in California and was local to the Hollywood headquarters. Meanwhile, they filmed most of the movie around Chicago, which was a short drive from Brunswick headquarters. This kind of irked Jim Bakula at the time.
Cicerone88
New member
Keith Quote:
“
First of all, I sure would like to know who has that cue stick right now.
Me giving Steve Meeker that pool cue, there was an agreement to that. I gave it to him as a favor, and he was to give me $2,000 when he sold it. That was the stipulation. I haven't heard from Steve about it, and it's funny that now I see it on eBay.
It was my Schon, and it is a good-playing cue. Actually, it was one of my better playing cues that I've had in my lifetime, and yes, I did use it in the movie.
I would appreciate it if the current holder of this cue contacts me, and I will give him all the information that he may need. I am not too comfortable expressing myself on the Internet.”
Looks like a McDermott D17 to me
The white joint isn’t typical for a Schon.I wonder if McDermott ever commented about having any involvement in Color Of Money
I’ve read somewhere that they donated 80 cues.Dan says he made 99% of the cues, but Amos and Grady Seasons seem to contradict that statement. Maybe it’s 98% hahah
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Cicerone88
New member
I have noticed Dan Janes signed some of the N7 cues before his passing. I wonder how many he signed?