Masked Marvel

JB Cases

JB Cases

www.jbcases.com
Silver Member
Got this from Charlie Ursitti's site http://www.charlesursitti.com

masked-marvel.jpg


I find this to be an awesome promotion. I love the way it's written, especially the line at the bottom that this is "the only masked expert recommended by Billiard Magazine".

Who doesn't think that this could work just as well today?

I bet that a good promoter could send Masked Marvels all around the country playing challenge matches where anyone who beats him gets $100.

I thing Gary Abood already tried to apply for the job :-)
 
That's Joe Procita. :yeah:
Chick Seabeck was another Masked Marvel for Brunswick. And I believe Johnny Layton was as well.
 
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JB Cases said:
Got this from Charlie Ursitti's site http://www.charlesursitti.com

masked-marvel.jpg


I find this to be an awesome promotion. I love the way it's written, especially the line at the bottom that this is "the only masked expert recommended by Billiard Magazine".

Who doesn't think that this could work just as well today?

I bet that a good promoter could send Masked Marvels all around the country playing challenge matches where anyone who beats him gets $100.

I thing Gary Abood already tried to apply for the job :-)
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Thank you for putting this up JB. I wrote to Brunswick several times asking for a list of the Masked Marvels. Brunswick never got back to me. I believe my Dad said there were 10 or 12 of them going around the country. I wrote on here a few years ago that I thought it would still work today. Johnnyt
 
One problem with having Masked Marvels today is they might get shot walking into a poolroom or sports bar wearing a hooded mask :eek:. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
One problem with having Masked Marvels today is they might get shot walking into a poolroom or sports bar wearing a hooded mask :eek:. Johnnyt
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would be cool to see that kid florian kohler aka venom do something like this. something old school with a new twist... several new twists lol.
 
jay helfert said:
That's Joe Procita. :yeah:
Chick Seabeck was another Masked Marvel for Brunswick. And I believe Johnny Layton was as well.
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You know Jay, that makes alot of sense to me that you say Procita !

I remember my mom telling me that dad played the masked marvel one time. I was born in 1951 so I was either not around yet or too small to know anything about it. Johnstown and Gloversville , NY is where i grew up and Joe Procita was from Gloversville originally. So you see how your suggestion works for me.:cool:
 
Ole Minnesota Fats (Rudolph Wanderone) use to talk about running into these Masked Marvels all the time. If you were able to beat him, you would win a cue stick. He said he won so many sticks he started giving them away.

That Fatty was a classic. Ya had to love the guy.
 
I was told a story back in the early '60s that Jimmy Caras once came to Asbury Park NJ as the masked marvel and a local player Sam "One Poke" Fauver beat him. This happened before my time so i don't know if it is true or not.
 
oldzilla said:
You know Jay, that makes alot of sense to me that you say Procita !

I remember my mom telling me that dad played the masked marvel one time. I was born in 1951 so I was either not around yet or too small to know anything about it. Johnstown and Gloversville , NY is where i grew up and Joe Procita was from Gloversville originally. So you see how your suggestion works for me.:cool:
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Joe Procita was at a few of the early Johnston City tourneys. That just looks like a much younger version of him. And I remember being told by an old timer that Procita was a Masked Marvel at one time. I think Andrew St. Jean was another one. I never heard that about Caras though.
 
Seems to me that I remember reading that Charles "Cowboy" Weston was a Masked Marvel at one time. Not sure, though.
 
The whole "Masked Marvel" thing was a promotional campaign for Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola hired a few pros for the "Masked Marvel" role.

Ralph Greenleaf was one of the marvels as were the other players already mentioned by Jay Helfert.

Back in the 30's there was a "Masked Marvel" mania..pool had its "marvels", there were also boxing, wrestling, and other masked marvels, and of course there were comic book and movie "masked marvels".

I think it would be pretty cool if some big company decided to bring back the masked marvels.
 
jay helfert said:
Joe Procita was at a few of the early Johnston City tourneys. That just looks like a much younger version of him. And I remember being told by an old timer that Procita was a Masked Marvel at one time. I think Andrew St. Jean was another one. I never heard that about Caras though.
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That poster says Brunswick but weren't there a bunch of MM that were sponsored by Coke a cola? I am almost certain. That being said it would be a good promo for a beer company. I remember a guy called "Silver Fox" doing it once maybe in 1975. His real name I think was something Ross I forget his first name. I have to tell you it was very successful. Everybody knew who he was so he took off the mask after a while as he took on all comers 2 out of three on the bar table. He got the break and you got $20.00 if you won and it cost you a buck to play. He was amazing, he ran so many racks I think maybe 1 or 2 people won the $20.00.. Mean time the bar was selling so much beer and food it turned a Sunday afternoon into what looked like a Saturday night. Also, the week or so that sign was up about the Masked Marvel coming it was all anyone was talking about. The build up was great.
 
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macguy said:
That poster says Brunswick but weren't there a bunch of MM that were sponsored by Coke a cola? I am almost certain. That being said it would be a good promo for a beer company. I remember a guy called "Silver Fox" doing it once maybe in 1975. His real name I think was something Ross I forget his first name. I have to tell you it was very successful. Everybody knew who he was so he took off the mask after a while as he took on all comers 2 out of three on the bar table. He got the break and you got $20.00 if you won and it cost you a buck to play. He was amazing, he ran so many racks I think maybe 1 or 2 people won the $20.00.. Mean time the bar was selling so much beer and food it turned a Sunday afternoon into what looked like a Saturday night. Also, the week or so that sign was up about the Masked Marvel coming it was all anyone was talking about. The build up was great.
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Yes I checked the letter I sent to get the names of the Masked Marvel's. It was Coca Coloa I sent it to. Man I am getting forgetful as hell. First I heard of Brunswick doing it. Johnnyt
 
Johnnyt said:
Yes I checked the letter I sent to get the names of the Masked Marvel's. It was Coca Coloa I sent it to. Man I am getting forgetful as hell. First I heard of Brunswick doing it. Johnnyt
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I was hanging a sway lamp yesterday and was new to the process. I'd get it figured out and start to do the work and then wouldn't have the slightest idea what order to do things in. I'd sit down and figure it out again, get on the ladder and forget the process I had just figured out. After age 50 the brain starts growning teflon.. nuttin sticks. :rolleyes:
 
JimS said:
I was hanging a sway lamp yesterday and was new to the process. I'd get it figured out and start to do the work and then wouldn't have the slightest idea what order to do things in. I'd sit down and figure it out again, get on the ladder and forget the process I had just figured out. After age 50 the brain starts growning teflon.. nuttin sticks. :rolleyes:
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When I can't think 3 ball ahead anymore I'm going to pack pool in. Johnnyt
 
Well thanks everyone. I really do feel that this could work today in some capacity.

We had Dave Matlock do some challenge match exhibitions one time in the Fort Collins area of Colorado and it was a big hit.

We told him no safety play in 8 ball and he ran so many racks in amazing fashion that everyone was blown away.

I can only imagine the buzz and excitement of people trying to figure out who the Masked Marvel is as well trying to beat him.

We need more barnstorming, more grassroots promotion, more getting people excited and happy to play. I have to say that I am a HUGE HUGE fan of what Mark Cantrill and Team CSI is doing.
 
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