Most Influential Pool Rooms???

CallShotCowboy

CallShotCowboy

AZB Rose Gold
Gold Member
Silver Member
I know there was an AZB thread a couple of weeks of ago about the most influential figures in the billiard industry, and was curious to see what the most influential pool rooms across the country were?

a couple that stand out for me are (in no particular order)

- Amsterdam Billiards (NYC)
- Jillian's (national)
- Clicks (TX and throughout the South)
- Hollywood Billiards (LA)
- Fargo Billiards (North Dakota)
- Buffalo Billiards (Austin, DC, Philly)
- Trick Shots (FL)

Would love to hear your thoughts, and comments.
 

Attachments

  • _JLS0309.jpg
    _JLS0309.jpg
    77.7 KB · Views: 527
Last edited:
The top rooms I've visited were Cochran's in San Francisco during the mid-60s. Denny Searcy was king of the hill, but many great players visited that room. Across the street sat Palace Billiards, another nest of 24-hour action. Played a guy there named Paul Silva for peanuts, and got robbed.

Out east, I played in Guys and Dolls, a room outside Baltimore owned by Bill Staton (Weenie Beanie). That place attracted lots of action as well.

Here in Denver, the old Family Fun Center was on the map for visiting road players, and I watched many of them in the early '60s. That room remains open, now called Hank's.
 
Q-Masters in Virginia Beach, Virginia for sponsoring the US Open 9-Ball for the last 35 years.

Minnesota Fats working with Jansco brothers bar/poolhall for promoting their annual tournament. Put Johnston City on the map, and on the radar for the IRS.
 
Last edited:
This is a nice thread, but I must ask: How do you define influential? Are your criteria based on number of tournaments, instruction, leagues, live streaming events etc?
 
Baker's in downtown Tampa (across from police station) was where the most action was in Florida for many years. They still had rack-boys when I came down from NY in 1980. Johnnyt
 
What could be more Iconic/influential than "Ames"

"no bar, no pinball machines, no bowling alleys,
just pool, nothing else, this is Ames mister"
 
It was before my time but I think "The Rack" in Michigan should be on this list. There was a thread about it on here somewhere and it seemed like that was the place to be in the 70's for the money games.
 
Not sure what you mean by "influential", but as far as gambling: The Capitol Billiard Club aka: "The Rack" in Oak Park, MI, just outside Detroit city limits, was the nuts. Also I would say Jansco Brothers where the All-around was played for years, although I was never there.

I would also vote for Hardtimes, Bensingers in Chicago, and probably too many to name, may cities had there influential rooms.

Dave
 
There are dozen's of pool rooms that have and / or do have huge influences: There are too many to really mention, but a few off the top of my head are:

Magoos (Tulsa, OK)
Hard Times (Bellflower, CA) and
Hard Times (Sacramento, CA) not the same owners by the way
Danny K's (Los Angeles area)
Pool Sharks (Las Vegas)
Cue Club (Las Vegas)
Mickey's (Las Vegas)
Kolby's (Tempe, AZ)
The Golden Fleece (Outside Seattle, WA)
Wynkoop (Denver, CO)
Table Stakes (Denver, CO)

*Note on Hollywood Billiards...historically no doubt, that would also be said about the Gas Lamp in San Diego. However with the ownership changes at Hollywood this past year, it's golden days in pool I fear are behind it now, it will still have tables but I understand is becoming more clubby in it's direction.

Will head east of the Mississippi later today

Man too many to mention...also RIP to one of the most influential and best in the country for years: Comet Billiards in Parsippany, NJ
 
Last edited:
Sarnia Shorty said:
It was before my time but I think "The Rack" in Michigan should be on this list. There was a thread about it on here somewhere and it seemed like that was the place to be in the 70's for the money games.
Click to expand...

Agree about "The Rack"
 
Chris' - Chicago

Illinois Billiard Club - Chicago/Suburbs

For those of you outside of IL, IBC founder Jim Parker is the greatest man you've never met.
 
I'll throw a couple in here that haven't been mentioned...

Before it changed it's motif: Chelsea Billiards in NYC. One of the best PH's I've been to, to this day. Great action...unfortunately they went upscale a few years ago and it lost that atmosphere.

One that is still going strong up in Providence, RI: Snookers Steve and Regina Goulding run a FANTASTIC establishment. Great food, great equipment, and they host two Joss NE 9-Ball tour stops a year, to include the Ocean State Championships, which is the 2nd biggest drawing tournament in the NE aside from the Turning Stone events. Have not been to the new location yet, but I've heard it's phenomenal.

A couple others that are no longer around but were influential: Jack and Jill's in Glenn Burnie, MD just outside of Baltimore and Chelmsford Country Club USA just outside of Boston, MA.

I would say the Gold Crown Billiards in New London, CT was somewhat influential in the formation of the WPBA during its infancy. It was more due to the owners at the time, Sy and Dolly, as they would always put the players up in their house when they were on their way through from what I understood. Fran Crimi would know more about that than I though.
 
The Markulis family owned all of the Hard Times Billiards pool rooms in Southern California prior to 1998. They sold the Bellflower room and then purchased the Sacramento room.
The Markulis family has been a long time promoter of pool tournaments since the 80s.

Truely an influential room and generous owners. The most recent calculation is over $600,000 of added money in the last 20+ yeras.

Holly said:
There are dozen's of pool rooms that have and / or do have huge influences: There are too many to really mention, but a few off the top of my head are:

Hard Times (Bellflower, CA) and
Hard Times (Sacramento, CA) not the same owners by the way
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
CallShotCowboy said:
I know there was an AZB thread a couple of weeks of ago about the most influential figures in the billiard industry, and was curious to see what the most influential pool rooms across the country were?

a couple that stand out for me are (in no particular order)

- Amsterdam Billiards (NYC)
- Jillian's (national)
- Clicks (TX and throughout the South)
- Hollywood Billiards (LA)
- Fargo Billiards (North Dakota)
- Buffalo Billiards (Austin, DC, Philly)
- Trick Shots (FL)

Would love to hear your thoughts, and comments.
Click to expand...


I would definitely cross Hollywood Billiards off the list and put Hard Times in its place. HB was more influential in in its previous life at the old location in the basement of the office building in Hollywood. There it was open all night (at least on the weekends), had snooker and 3C as well, and plenty of action, especially into the early morning hours when all the local spots around town would close for the night. But that was years ago.

For the all time list, I second the nomination for Bensinger's. For decades it was the premier room in Chicago and also the site of World Championships.
 
Tom In Cincy said:
The Markulis family owned all of the Hard Times Billiards pool rooms in Southern California prior to 1998. They sold the Bellflower room and then purchased the Sacramento room.
The Markulis family has been a long time promoter of pool tournaments since the 80s.

Truely an influential room and generous owners. The most recent calculation is over $600,000 of added money in the last 20+ yeras.
Click to expand...

Hi Tom...I knew at one time they owned Bellflower. I was just noting that now the ownership is separate. Thanks for sharing the details of these two room's illustrious history. Also players...if in the Sacramento area stop by HTB...they have a ton of in-house tournaments.

Also in California the following rooms have to be mentioned:

BUTERA's in Moorpark (southern CA). Owner and operated by Sal Butera, who is a great player and coach to one of the most talented young players in the country today, Brendan Crockett. Also son of the dear Lou Butera :) need I say more.

FAMILY BILLIARDS in San Francisco

HOT SHOT BILLIARDS - Like Sal Butera, Hot Shot owner Terry is a big supporter of the Socal tourney scene.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top