Luther Lassiter loses to unknown player in Oakland - 1955

[Ron Cook]

I heard recently that he is still in the City playing and playing pretty good.

"Goaway Jesse" is still playing. I see him at the Broken Rack about once a month in Emeryville. He still likes to play one pocket and he can still play well. In 1994 at California Billiards in San Jose and he must have been over 60 years of age he took 3rd in the Open One Pocket tournament there. John Henderson won the event, I believe Billy Palmer took 2nd or it could have been Jessee and I took 4th beating the Tooth, George Michaels and Tall Paul. That was a good year for me for right after that I took 2nd in Roseville's McDermotts 1st Open 9-ball tournament in Califoria in Roseville, and won $1,100. & everybody in the Bay Area was there. Jeff Carter won the tournament and I beat him on the winners side but lost to him in the finals.

 

[daniel]

I knew Chico in the 60's when I hung out @ Chinos & Joes next door. Doggie diner was on the corner. Chicos hero was Joe Cosgrove. Wimpy could have given him the 5 ball without stetching out. The only local in Oakland in those days who played near top speed was Jap Joe. I ran around w/ a pretty sporty black player named Bubba who took me to the infamous John Singers to hustle the black pimps etc. Pretty good seasoning for a young player! Herbie Derby Taylor was also around & I hear he is still somewhere on the scene. Fun days!

 

[sixpack]

I knew Chico in the 60's when I hung out @ Chinos & Joes next door. Doggie diner was on the corner. Chicos hero was Joe Cosgrove. Wimpy could have given him the 5 ball without stetching out. The only local in Oakland in those days who played near top speed was Jap Joe. I ran around w/ a pretty sporty black player named Bubba who took me to the infamous John Singers to hustle the black pimps etc. Pretty good seasoning for a young player! Herbie Derby Taylor was also around & I hear he is still somewhere on the scene. Fun days!

Sorry to be the one to tell you, but if that's the same Bubba that started coming back into the rack about a year and a half ago, he was killed a little while back in a dispute about some money. From what I heard he struggled with some addiction problems for many years then was trying to make a comeback in pool.

Cheers,
RC

 

[floppybear]

Thanks for the interesting comments on the old days....Oh how I miss hanging out at the pool rooms. I didn't know Chico was THAT good of a player. Now I have to get back to my work

Thanks, Bryce

 

[glee]

I knew Chico in the 60's when I hung out @ Chinos & Joes next door. Doggie diner was on the corner. Chicos hero was Joe Cosgrove. Wimpy could have given him the 5 ball without stetching out. The only local in Oakland in those days who played near top speed was Jap Joe. I ran around w/ a pretty sporty black player named Bubba who took me to the infamous John Singers to hustle the black pimps etc. Pretty good seasoning for a young player! Herbie Derby Taylor was also around & I hear he is still somewhere on the scene. Fun days!

Great report,Chicos real name is Russeau Brussauard his old buddy Volley Bell played 9 ball better than he did. Chico played strong snooker on the 6x12 table. I watched Chico get destroyed by Marvin Henderson playing one pocket at Chinos on a 5x10 table. Chico had made a big score at Golden Gate Fields and left a good part of it in Marvins pocket. I can't remember the exact spot something like 10 to 6 or 9to 5. Chico went off pretty big $6 or $7 hundred, mid 60's
Bubba started off in Alemeda known as Bubbles, he played in a room on Atlantic Ave run by a guy named Otis, I knew him very well.
John Singers on 7th St across the St from Esters Orbit Room. The last time I saw Rusty Jones was in Singers, he was with Richie Marquez and another player I didn't know. Rusty came over and asked me if I had a hundred so I gave it to him. I picked up the envelope at Cocorans a few days later. Rusty was quite a guy I'd lend him a hundred before I'd lend the Pope a ten.
Oaklands top players 1960, Jap Joe, Fillipino Rudy, Mexican Frank Ramerez and Spare, also known as Jitterbug. Spare probably played better than any of them for the cheese. Fun days, George

 

[Ron Cook]

Oaklands top players 1960, Jap Joe, Fillipino Rudy, Mexican Frank Ramerez and Spare, also known as Jitterbug. Spare probably played better than any of them for the cheese. Fun days, George

"Oakland Blackie" was one the best one pocket player on the Oakland side of the Bay from about 1940 - 1950. He just happens to have been my uncle. He was the best player in Oakland back then at one hole. On the other side of the Bay was "Big Nose Roberts." There were not many players in the country that could have beat Big Nose Roberts and it would take a world class player to beat Oakland Blackie (Harless Cook) or Roberts at one hole. Blackie gave Jap Joe (2) balls & beat him along with Rusty Jones.

I talked to Bucktooth today and he agreed with me and said Marv Henderson was the best black player in the 50's in the Bay Area, but I don't think Marv could ever keep up with Luther / Whimpy.

In the 70's in the Bay Area I would say Cole Dixon could beat anyone playing 9-ball and at the age of only 17 years I don't think anyone in the Bay Area would have steped up to play him. "Billy the Kid" most likely the 2nd best player who ran over 450 balls in my pool room when he was only 17 years old I don't think he would have played Cole. Billy ran 450+ balls in 5 shots playing Boy's Club Line-Up pool and he set the US Boy's Club record in my billiard room in Alameda, CA when he was 17 years old. When Cole went to LA I heard he beat everyone there according to Poker Paul playing pay ball on a 5' x 10'.

Maybe someone else can add to stories about Cole, always a character to watch and listen too.

 

[jazznpool]

Edited...didn't read on.............

No, this cat is much older than the guys mentioned. He's probably in his late 70s or early 80s now.

Cheers,
RC

 

[wincardona]

He is Black.

No one has mentioned rotation slim, he's about the right age. Jay, is he still living?

 

[freddy the beard]

Rotation Slim?

No one has mentioned rotation slim, he's about the right age. Jay, is he still living?

Billy, I seen Rotation Slim at Johnston City in 1963, he was in his 70s and used a cane. That would make him about 115 years old! Him I could probably beat now.

the Beard
PS On my new blog I will be pontificating on the sociopathic, political, and philosophical views I garnered and honed, on pool,, and the world in general, during my 50 years in the underworld.

 

[wincardona]

Billy, I seen Rotation Slim at Johnston City in 1963, he was in his 70s and used a cane. That would make him about 115 years old! Him I could probably beat now.

the Beard
PS On my new blog I will be pontificating on the sociopathic, political, and philosophical views I garnered and honed, on pool,, and the world in general, during my 50 years in the underworld.

Freddy,
Your'e probably right on trivia questions, being one of your strong suits. What year did Johnston City hold their first tournament? In 1963 you were about 22 years old, right? And are you sure Slim was 70 at that time? I know i'm not going to get rich challenging your excellent memory,but you could be starting to slip. But you doubt it.

 

[freddy the beard]

1961

Freddy,
Your'e probably right on trivia questions, being one of your strong suits. What year did Johnston City hold their first tournament? In 1963 you were about 22 years old, right? And are you sure Slim was 70 at that time? I know i'm not going to get rich challenging your excellent memory,but you could be starting to slip. But you doubt it.

1961 was the first year for Johnston City. I didn't attend the first year, but every year thereafter. The reason I am so sure, is that that was the year I got out of the Army. In 1963 I was 23. I remember Rotation Slim well, because when he showed up he was limping badly with the cane and crying the old man blues. He got a game the next day, and miraculously, all his aches and pains and limps seemed to go away, and he robbed his customer. My memory is good enough to remember you playing in a "Dago T-shirt" when you played Mexican Johnny in Bensingers in the 60s. I also remember you squealed about his racking prowess constantly.

the Beard

PS On my new blog I will be pontificating on the sociopathic, political, and philosophical views I garnered and honed, on pool, and the world in general, during my 50 years in the underworld.

 

[jay helfert]

No one has mentioned rotation slim, he's about the right age. Jay, is he still living?

Long gone. Maybe 20+ years ago. I guess he was in his 80's. They put a short bio in the Biliiard News when he died.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

1961 was the first year for Johnston City. I didn't attend the first year, but every year thereafter. The reason I am so sure, is that that was the year I got out of the Army. In 1963 I was 23. I remember Rotation Slim well, because when he showed up he was limping badly with the cane and crying the old man blues. He got a game the next day, and miraculously, all his aches and pains and limps seemed to go away, and he robbed his customer. My memory is good enough to remember you playing in a "Dago T-shirt" when you played Mexican Johnny in Bensingers in the 60s. I also remember you squealed about his racking prowess constantly.

the Beard

Freddy is right again on both accounts.
Johnston City started with "one pocket only" in 1961 (won by Johnny Vevis) and then went to the format of 1 pocket,9 ball, 14.1 and all around also in 1962.

George "Rotation Slim" Hairston was born in 1883. Freddy also mentioned he limped. This was because of a bad auto wreck he was in in 1957 that caused him to become partially disabled. He even won a lawsuit that claimed in part that his ability to ply his profession (pool player) was hindered due to the seriousness of his injuries. Of course, he always felt just a little better physically when he could "bet it up."

 

[jay helfert]

Freddy is right again on both accounts.
Johnston City started with "one pocket only" in 1961 (won by Johnny Vevis) and then went to the format of 1 pocket,9 ball, 14.1 and all around also in 1962.

George "Rotation Slim" Hairston was born in 1883. Freddy also mentioned he limped. This was because of a bad auto wreck he was in in 1957 that caused him to become partially disabled. He even won a lawsuit that claimed in part that his ability to ply his profession (pool player) was hindered due to the seriousness of his injuries. Of course, he always felt just a little better physically when he could "bet it up."

That means he lived into his 90's. I guess it's possible. He never worked a day in his life I'm sure. And the heaviest thing he ever picked up was a 20 oz. cue.

 

[Terry Ardeno]

That means he lived into his 90's. I guess it's possible. He never worked a day in his life I'm sure. And the heaviest thing he ever picked up was a 20 oz. cue.

I think he may have died in his 90's. I believe he died in 1982 but I'm not 100% sure on that. I'll have to check.
He actually worked in a tobacco field until he was 21, THEN he never worked at anything other than pool.
Not sure about the weight of his cues. If he had a case for them, it would have been over 20 oz.

Of all the major American players, Rotation Slim is the one player I've had the hardest time finding information on. It's "slim pickens'" when it comes to good info on him. He supposedly ended up in Erie, Pa and died there.

One of my very good friends is Dave "Super Dave" Williams, who used to own a poolroom in Claysville, Pa. He's told me that Hairston came thru one time in the 1960s' and played great. Very quiet, polite and business like. Well mannered. Moved around the table real slow and that's how he took his coat on and off as well. Seemed like he was in pain. Dave is in his late 70's and still plays strong. He said that Slim was one of the best he's ever seen.

 

[wincardona]

Freddy is right again on both accounts.
Johnston City started with "one pocket only" in 1961 (won by Johnny Vevis) and then went to the format of 1 pocket,9 ball, 14.1 and all around also in 1962.

George "Rotation Slim" Hairston was born in 1883. Freddy also mentioned he limped. This was because of a bad auto wreck he was in in 1957 that caused him to become partially disabled. He even won a lawsuit that claimed in part that his ability to ply his profession (pool player) was hindered due to the seriousness of his injuries. Of course, he always felt just a little better physically when he could "bet it up."

If memory serves me right didn't Vevus win the one pocket in Macon Ga. Then they ( Jansco's ) moved the tournament to Johnston City?

 

[Terry Ardeno]

If memory serves me right didn't Vevus win the one pocket in Macon Ga. Then they ( Jansco's ) moved the tournament to Johnston City?

Billy,
I collect info on pool players and tournaments. I had never heard what you asked re; Macon, Ga. However, being that you are an icon in pooldom and the fact that you lived what I read about, I thought it best to double check.

In the July 2001 issue of Pool & Billiard Magazine on page 112, Tom Shaw had written the first in a series of articles on the Johnston City tournaments. The first one in 1961 was held in Johnston City. Hubert Cokes had lived in Evansville and Fats lived in Dowell, so there was already a lot of action happening in the area. The Jansco's just orginized the tournament and broadened it the following year.

Johnny Vevis (aka Johnny Vives) may have won a one pocket tournament in Macon, Ga. However, it was not under the auspices of the Jansco's.

PS- You still know more than me