Baton Rouge in the late sixties, seventies, and early eighties had nice action at all levels. I can't speak for before or after. There was enough money floating around that you could get played even at almost any skill level. Greenway was a major hub of pool and you could sit at their counter and see anybody that could swing a stick pass through sooner or later. Buddy spent a fair amount of time there, Jose Parica hung around for awhile. Keith passed through, I think several times. Local shortstops were a ball or two below these guys but could take the measure of many road players.
Besides those paying off once or twice a month there were different companies in town that paid off on every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. At least one or two that paid off on Tuesday. As a result, there was always some ready cash on hand!
Last couple years I was in town somebody at Greenways was steering road players at me. Some admitted being steered from Greenway, none would admit who was doing the steering so I don't know if they were trying to help me or hurt me! I think I made considerable more than I lost but nobody ever came looking for jelly.
Seemed everywhere had a pool table or two and small action was everywhere. I could make several times union construction wages without making waves and the occasional really nice score.
I was young, the girls were pretty, the living was easy! Baton Rouge and the oil patch to the South and West were the places to be.
Hu
