Looking for VERY rare 1968 footage of tournament

Clark_the_Shark

Clark_the_Shark

Has 9-Ball-itis
Silver Member
On April 19th, 1968, the final round of a 14.1 straight pool tournament was televised. We are looking for the televised footage which was probably only the final day of the tournament.

The details:

It was called the World's Pocket Billiard Championship.
It was held at the "Statler Hilton" Hotel in New York City.
The tournament was from April 12th through April 19th 1968.
Irving Crane won the tournament.

The following players were in the tournament.
...Luther Lassiter
...Jack Breit
...Joe Balsis
...Lou Butera
...Irving Crane
...Frank McGown
...Art Cranfield
...Cicero Murphy

If ANY of you have ANY information that could lead to the finding of this video a few people I am trying to locate this for would be VERY appreciative.

Thanks in advance.
 
Last edited:
Good luck, a lot of people would love to see that. The three major networks are where I would start.
 
Actually I have it, but it's all stills. You have to page through the album really fast to see the motion and it's black and white. Don't blame me for this, I was like 2 months old when this match occurred. What's really weird is that you can see a man on a grassy knoll poking Irving Crane with a stick while he's shooting. That's how he lost the tournament.
 
i THINK?

JERSEY RED showed me a tourny that was on the wide world of sports abc of course..i would look there it might be what you are looking for i am not sure just tyring to help...red was playing lasiter as far as i can remember...i remember how proud he was about being on tv...he was such a cool dude....
 
Yes, I am absolutely sure of the date. We have a copy of the original flyer with all the information that I pulled directly off and put in the first post. Thanks for looking.
 
I'm not sure who bought National Billiards News, but I'd find out who did and see if you can get the editions for 1968, maybe June or July.

I have all the ones from 1975 to 1985, but I did not get the ones from that far back to 1968.

There might be information there about this event, leading you to who may have televised it. :)
 
Clark_the_Shark said:
On April 19th, 1968, the final round of a 14.1 straight pool tournament was televised. We are looking for the televised footage which was probably only the final day of the tournament.

The details:

It was called the World's Pocket Billiard Championship.
It was held at the "Statler Hilton" Hotel in New York City.
The tournament was from April 12th through April 19th 1968.
Irving Crane won the tournament.

The following players were in the tournament.
...Luther Lassiter
...Jack Breit
...Joe Balsis
...Lou Butera
...Irving Crane
...Frank McGown
...Art Cranfield
...Cicero Murphy

If ANY of you have ANY information that could lead to the finding of this video a few people I am trying to locate this for would be VERY appreciative.

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

I think Lassiter won that one. Points to you for getting all the names spelled right, even McGown and Cicero.
 
JAM said:
Are you sure about the date? Here's Crane versus Balsis in 1966: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSbZaQADc8
Click to expand...

There's a shot at 2:45 of that video that looks ammazingly similar to one of the shots Willie set up for Jackie Gleason in The Hustler movie. I think it's the shot where Fast Eddie says "I didn't leave you much" and the Fat Man says "Enough" and wacks a ball out of the pack to run the rack...and amny more I believe.

The exciting part about Cranes shot was that it was live and not set up. That is the most exciting part about straight pool in my opinion, picking the rack apart and finding those 'obscure' combinations that break the rack wide open.

I wish I had info to help you out, Clark, but I don't. Keep looking, you'll find it somewhere. If I may ask, what do you want that particular film for? Do you just have enough other stuff related to that tournament that you want to expand that collection or are you collecting many events? Just curious.

L8R...Ken
 
A couple of friends of mine are sitting in the first row watching the tournament. I want to get it for them so they can watch themselves watching the greats of the day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top