New gallery of images from the Dallas pool scene in the 1980s

BillPorter

BillPorter

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Mike Haines has suggested creating a new Smugmug gallery using photos he shot about 20 years ago in Dallas, mostly at Clicks Billiards. Granted that this gallery will have a pretty limited appeal, but we think there are enough DFW people out there to make it worth doing. I will probably take me a couple of weeks to edit the 50+ images and put them into a gallery, but I thought I check on the interest before I spend the time to do it. If there are even 8-10 of you guys who want to see Jimmy Foster, Larry Fisher, Dick Lane, Frank Thompson, Jack Potter, Johnny Sanchez, Eddie Phillips, Mickey Stone and some others, then we'll get it together for you. Any interest?
 

Attachments

  • Image0022-edited.jpg
    Image0022-edited.jpg
    81.1 KB · Views: 878
Last edited:
always interesting

I shouldn't know many of the Dallas crowd but always fun to see who might have snuck through. Hope you post the pictures.

That is a clean sharp looking bunch you have a picture of there. Did any of them really play pool or work in a pool hall?

Hu
 
ShootingArts said:
I shouldn't know many of the Dallas crowd but always fun to see who might have snuck through. Hope you post the pictures.

That is a clean sharp looking bunch you have a picture of there. Did any of them really play pool or work in a pool hall?

Hu
Click to expand...
Dick Lane (glasses in front row) was one of the top straight pool players in the world. (check this link: http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2000-01-01/sports ) Eddie Philips, at far left, played at what I would call shortstop level. Maybe some others in there I don't recognize myself. Mike Haines would be the authority on these guys.
 
Last edited:
never knew most of them

BillPorter said:
Dick Lane (glasses in front row) was one of the top straight pool players in the world. (check this link: http://www.texasmonthly.com/preview/2000-01-01/sports ) Eddie Philips, at far left, played at what I would call shortstop level. Maybe some others in there I don't recognize myself. Mike Haines would be the authority on these guys.
Click to expand...

As you know, back in the seventies and eighties TV exposure was almost zilch and we didn't have the net. I had ran across Keith, Mike Massey, and a few more but they weren't anything special to me at the time. Most of the greats of the day I wouldn't have known if I tripped over them.

One guy I played claimed he could walk into any pool room in the country and the owner would back him. He wanted to get together for a little traveling and left his name and where he could be contacted but it eventually joined a big pile of names and numbers I couldn't remember why I saved and was thrown away. No idea who he was. Doubt I would recognize him if I saw him. Average size, average looks, nothing special to stick out about him, pretty much the perfect appearance for a road warrior. I gave him back a couple of bucks for gas and never saw him again. this was from the early to mid-eighties era and he would be in his fifties or sixties now.

I like looking at the old pictures and occasionally something clicks, pretty sure I met this one or that one.

Hu
 
Just a morning bump. Still trying to gage whether there would be enough interest in a Dallas pool scene of the 1980s gallery to warrant the effort to create it.
 
Yes!!!

BillPorter said:
Well, I guess that makes two people so far. :o
Click to expand...


I'm surprised more people havn't responded! :confused:
I love your photos and being from Dallas would really love to see this gallary.
 
Anyone know this guy? I do...or maybe I should say I did.

Can you name this Dallas player of some years ago? Whoops! Forget to resize the image. Sorry!
 

Attachments

  • who.jpg
    who.jpg
    81.3 KB · Views: 699
BillPorter said:
Can you name this Dallas player of some years ago? Whoops! Forget to resize the image. Sorry!
Click to expand...

I'll tell you something funny Bill. I played Pool with this guy. I remember the tattoo. But for the life of me, I can't remember who he is and where we played. My last extended visit to Texas was in the early 80's and I played in a Clicks and another chain poolroom (Fast Eddies?). And then we went to Rustys. Is this guys name Jimmy something? I did play someone named Jimmy in Dallas. And of course, I played Tonk with big Norm and won a telephone number from him. That was at Rusty's. I remember all my big scores quite well.

One poolroom I played in had a section in honor of U.J. Puckett. I remember that. Puckett took me in there to play someone. I played a couple of guys in there. U.J. bet 20 a game on the side and laughed every time I shot. He criticized my play, but kept betting on me, and winning! He didn't give me a dime of the money he won either. I think Robin Adair was with us for part of the time.

What was the name of that chain of poolrooms? That may help me remember more. It wasn't Clicks either. Although I went to one and had dinner later with Dick Lane. We DIDN'T play! Although I wouldn't have been afraid to play him some One Pocket, but he just didn't play the game. No way was I going to play 9-Ball with him.
 
Last edited:
jay helfert said:
I'll tell you something funny Bill. I played Pool with this guy. I remember the tattoo. But for the life of me, I can't remember who he is and where we played. My last extended visit to Texas was in the early 80's and I played in a Clicks and another chain poolroom (Fast Eddies?). And then we went to Rustys. Is this guys name Jimmy something? I did play someone named Jimmy in Dallas. And of course, I played Tonk with big Norm and won a telephone number from him. That was at Rusty's. I remember all my big scores quite well.

One poolroom I played in had a section in honor of U.J. Puckett. I remember that. Puckett took me in there to play someone. I played a couple of guys in there. U.J. bet 20 a game on the side and laughed every time I shot. He criticized my play, but kept betting on me, and winning! He didn't give me a dime of the money he won either. I think Robin Adair was with us for part of the time.

What was the name of that chain of poolrooms? That may help me remember more. It wasn't Clicks either. Although I went to one and had dinner later with Dick Lane. We DIDN'T play! Although I wouldn't have been afraid to play him some One Pocket, but he just didn't play the game. No way was I going to play 9-Ball with him.
Click to expand...
I'll give you a hint about the guy with the tatoo: first name was Larry. And you probably beat him? As I recall, Puckett wasn't all that generous with his cash. And as for Dick Lane, I'll bet you would have been even less inclined to play him a little 14.1. Maybe if he had played 70 no count?:D

I just emailed Mike Haines in Dallas to ask him to chime in on this thread as he may be able to answer your question about the chain of pool halls.
 
another Dallas Chain

Jay,

There was a chain of rooms in Dallas back then called Speeds. Is that the one you were thinking of?

Jerry
 
Of course I know who it is!!!

This is a very young Larry Parker. He never was a great player but could hold his own in a bar.

Mike Haines
 
Larry Parker died about 10 years back (give or take) and never really got his life straightened out. He had a lot of health problems but everyone who knew him knew that he had other issues that finally took its toll on the body.
 
Maybe the chain of pool halls Jay is thinking about are the "Speeds" pool halls of which there were around 10 in the Dallas area at the time - mostly competing against Clicks Billiards. Clicks ended up purchasing a few of them but they eventually went out of business. Dick Lane made Clicks a success, being a pro player and a person of integrity. Speeds never had anyone to back them who had talent on the pro-tournament level.
 
Mike Haines said:
Maybe the chain of pool halls Jay is thinking about are the "Speeds" pool halls of which there were around 10 in the Dallas area at the time - mostly competing against Clicks Billiards. Clicks ended up purchasing a few of them but they eventually went out of business. Dick Lane made Clicks a success, being a pro player and a person of integrity. Speeds never had anyone to back them who had talent on the pro-tournament level.
Click to expand...

Mike,
FWIW, there is still a Speed's in Arlington, near the intersection of SH360 and Interstate 30. There is a Click's within walking distance of it and also another Click's several miles to the north.

Jay,
FWIW, Rusty's is still alive and kickin' (if the one in Arlington is the one you were talking about in your post).

Bill,
Thanks for the pics. Pictures are ALWAYS interesting even if you don't know anyone in them.

Maniac
 
Ain't Goin' For It!!!

BillPorter said:
Can you name this Dallas player of some years ago? Whoops! Forget to resize the image. Sorry!
Click to expand...

You guys ain't foolin' me. That's JOE PESCI!!!
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top