Memory Lane...
- Thread starter Tramp Steamer
- Start date
12 years old.. My uncle and I, he had just turned 19, walked into Miami's room in Paterson, NJ where he was the houseboy for 5 years. He was coming into his own and I met his mentor, Miami. Miami was one of the best one handed players, probably in the world at that time and they played on a 5 x 10 quadriple shimmed monster of a Brunswick. What a character, he was talking about going to Clifton to play Ray Martin. I was just looking to play me some Space Invaders...
JV
JV
Are you by chance speaking of St. Elmo's, in downtown Norfolk, Va? I was there in '67, and it looked just like a poolroom should look.
Lassiter's ghost still practices there, you know.
The night I became a man and a playa
I had just turned 16 and just taken to playing pool on GC 9 footers in a bowling alley. One night my Dad took me to the local Fire House, a real fire station with their own bar area upstairs and one table. I was the only minor there. I was a novelty; the kid protegy that was showin 'em all how it was done. I had a blast and even snuck a couple brews out of the pitchers floating about.
My dad left, not having the heart to pull his undefeated son off the table. He entrusted me to his best friend, Dusty Roads. He was a one of a kind hoot. While there, this very pretty gal, she was at least 32, took an interest in me. The 3 of us went to my dad's friends house where we had more to drink and he got the "all clear" from my dad via a phone call. His work accomplished, he proceeded to pass out on the sofa.
Upon reflection, was this a total set-up? I seriously doubt she was paid for. I mean I was a handsome young man, right? Anyway, she promptly tried to defile me. She did extremely well and if I do say so myself, my steady pocketing continued.
It was absolutely fuggin fabulous for this young pup! We spent the night there and Dusty drove me to high school the next morning. I wore the same clothes as the prior night, with plenty of ones stuffed in my pocket, along with a sh1t eatin grin. :smile:
It was my passage into manhood!
I was hooked on pool (and women) from then on. Hell, who wouldn't be?
I had just turned 16 and just taken to playing pool on GC 9 footers in a bowling alley. One night my Dad took me to the local Fire House, a real fire station with their own bar area upstairs and one table. I was the only minor there. I was a novelty; the kid protegy that was showin 'em all how it was done. I had a blast and even snuck a couple brews out of the pitchers floating about.
My dad left, not having the heart to pull his undefeated son off the table. He entrusted me to his best friend, Dusty Roads. He was a one of a kind hoot. While there, this very pretty gal, she was at least 32, took an interest in me. The 3 of us went to my dad's friends house where we had more to drink and he got the "all clear" from my dad via a phone call. His work accomplished, he proceeded to pass out on the sofa.
Upon reflection, was this a total set-up? I seriously doubt she was paid for. I mean I was a handsome young man, right? Anyway, she promptly tried to defile me. She did extremely well and if I do say so myself, my steady pocketing continued.
It was absolutely fuggin fabulous for this young pup! We spent the night there and Dusty drove me to high school the next morning. I wore the same clothes as the prior night, with plenty of ones stuffed in my pocket, along with a sh1t eatin grin. :smile:It was my passage into manhood!
I was hooked on pool (and women) from then on. Hell, who wouldn't be?
I had just turned 16 and just taken to playing pool on GC 9 footers in a bowling alley. One night my Dad took me to the local Fire House, a real fire station with their own bar area upstairs and one table. I was the only minor there. I was a novelty; the kid protegy that was showin 'em all how it was done. I had a blast and even snuck a couple brews out of the pitchers floating about.
My dad left, not having the heart to pull his undefeated son off the table. He entrusted me to his best friend, Dusty Roads. He was a one of a kind hoot. While there, this very pretty gal, she was at least 32, took an interest in me. The 3 of us went to my dad's friends house where we had more to drink and he got the "all clear" from my dad via a phone call. His work accomplished, he proceeded to pass out on the sofa.
Upon reflection, was this a total set-up? I seriously doubt she was paid for. I mean I was a handsome young man, right? Anyway, she promptly tried to defile me. She did extremely well and if I do say so myself, my steady pocketing continued.
It was my passage into manhood!
I was hooked on pool (and women) from then on. Hell, who wouldn't be?
And that's why you are One Kool Kat! I want to be you for a day.
I was 23 years old. A buddy of mine called and said lets go play some pool. I assumed we were going to our usual spot to get drunk and play darts but he wanted to try out the pool hall in town. I had never seen a 9 foot table before. Needless to say I was hooked. I miss that place. Sooooooooooo many characters I can't even tell ya. Crazy good memories. The owner just passed away last monday. RIP Terry Raddatz and The Corner Pocket.
10-01-56.i turned 14 which meant if you lived in mill hill,chelsea,mass you were now old enough to go into patsies pool room.upstairs from the mill hill cab co.one old brunswick open front table will big pockets and wooden ball return.two with drop pockets and a billiard table.was told by the older guys there was only two rules.don't mess with the firemen across the street and don't shit were you live.the hill was home and patsies was my room.boston joey played his first ring game there and i went to everett and played a kid named sullivan.i'm overwhelmed with emotion.joey huber
I was 16 years old. Walked into Eddie's Billiards in Oxnard California. First time I saw straight pool and 3 cushion. There was this older guy (to me at least, I was sixteen). I watched him stroke the ball, like butter, silent and deadly. The houseman explained to me that he was playing straight pool and was on a run of 100+. I was mesmerized. It was so effortless, so precise, and so beautiful. I knew I wanted to play like that and I also knew my life would never be the same after seeing Bill Houck play pool.
I was 14 and going to school yet but my father ran a pool room on Broadway and Osage and I used to clean up and rack balls on the week end. The cost then was .10 per game and if there was a 3rd player it was another dime. I use to watch my father and the better players play after hours when the place was closed. That's where I learned to shoot at.
My first exposure to pool wasn't in a "Room" either. It was at the CPO club in Kodiak Alaska.....yup, I am a military brat. My dad and mom would take us kids there for dinner occasionally. The adults would break away after dinner for some pinochle and we kids would be hustled off to watch the free movie offering for the night. Neeedless to say....the movies were not always interesting for an 8 yr old......so a few of us boys would grab some sticks off the wall and bang em.....nobody knew how to play....hell ....we didn't even know any games to play.....lol but we had a lot of fun just knockin em around.
Just a side note here.....this was in the 50's and Alaska wasn't a state yet...but the dinner at the CPO club was "all you can eat King Crab" for $3 a head......beer was a nickle......but a glass of milk was a quarter....No dairy cows in AK.....lol
Just a side note here.....this was in the 50's and Alaska wasn't a state yet...but the dinner at the CPO club was "all you can eat King Crab" for $3 a head......beer was a nickle......but a glass of milk was a quarter....No dairy cows in AK.....lol
The first time was when I was 7 but that doesn't count. The real first time was when I was 19 and I watched my first 3C game. I said to myself I want to learn how to do that.