Nicest Pool hall in the U.S.

I've been to Hollywood Billiards many times, I have to say it's one of my favorites. The only problem with the place is there is not much action there. Combine a beautiful poolhall with some strong players and non-stop action, and you've got heaven for me. Even when I am at a place where the players are too strong for me, I love to sit there and watch them play, which is one of the best ways to learn, by watching strong players. All of the action in Southern California is at Hard Times in Bellflower, but even there its been somewhat dead. I hear in the south you can get action any time of the day whenever you want, is that true?
 
I agree with "thebigdog", that if you are looking for both a poolroom and a stellar field of world class players, TODAY Hardtime Billiards, LA (Belflower) is the best; even the golf game on the snooker table is unmatched with heart & skill.

Without sounding argumental, though, I have to ask "thebigdog" if you have ever been to the Jointed Cue in Sacramento? If you have, I can totally understand a lean in direction towards Belflower as the best (today). But if you haven't, then maybe sometime when you have the time to go north of LA (at least a week), check out the Joint? On the way is Championship Billiards, Modesto. Kim is there in the evenings when he is not out of town.
You can even swing over to Meadowview, I forgot to mention California Billiards (great room, great owners, just north of San Jose), then SF, Sacramento, even Reno or Tahoe, (geez, I'm starting to sound like a tour guide), but the Jointed Cue has it all.

It is not the action room it once was, but if you walk in there wanting to play, you will probably get played. For how Much? Just like any room, you never know...
But back in the 70's, I watched Kieth walk in to the "Backroom" at the Joint with a room full of champions - Lassiter, Balsis, Crane, Mizerak, Rempe, Varner, Roberts, Mataya, Miz, Kelly, Massey, Taylor, Sigel, Matlock, Florence, Murphy, Searcy, The Fusco Brothers, Davenport, Fats did the entertainment, the list goes on and on; the room was so tough they were flipping coins for $500.00 just for some action.
Here comes Keith with worn out bell-bottoms, and a personal edge that no player has to like when meeting him in competition, and offered the ROOM the 8-Ball.
This was an example of what Terry Stonier contributed, to putting together the best and virtually only show on the west coast for a couple of decades, starting in 1968. Terry's tournaments grew from his poolroom, to two different major hotels in the Sacramento metropolitan area. He eventually booked a tournament at Ceasar's Palace, So. Lake Tahoe, that posted $100,000.00 for the event; this was during the 70's and into the early 80's.
I saw "Pot-Shots" set on tables, with all takers betting if the player could make the shot or not (one, maybe three tries). Unbelievable!
Other great players like Hawaian Brian, Howard Ikeda, Cole Dixon, David Howard, Roy Futternick, Ron Rosas, these are all champions in their own rite; those were the days.

Now my thought is this - The PGA boasts... These guys are good!
So now, Let's switch sticks and match-up - COLD!

So how do the golfers like it now?

To change the subject, the East Coast seems to have a lot more going for them than the West, when it come to tournaments. It would seem some west coast promoters might follow the lead of what is going on out in the east, then look at Terry's blueprint from back in the 70's and 80's. If you want more information talk to his son David who has taken over the operations of this excellent business.
The business is listed in the yellow pages.

By the way, there will be a hundred plus players for the Jointed Cue Re-union Tournament, typically running in the month of March.
 
Yes I have been to Jointed Cue about 15 years ago my dad played in their Fathers day tournament lots of strong players. The time I was there it seemed a little run down but I was a real poolhall for sure.

You may know my dad or grandpa, my grandpa used to own Boyce's Billiards in Stockton in the 60's. My dad used to play with all the guys from the area back then.

I now play over at Family Billiards in San Francisco 4-5 times a week, nice room with excellent equipment.
 
i agree about hard times in bellflower and the jointed cue.I have seen world champions walk in at any given time.not to mention the action on that damn snooker table.The corner pocket in ft lauderdale is a top notch 3 cushion room and have seen sang lee and blomdalh both play their.saw blomdalh taking a break during a 3c tourny running rack after rack of 9 ball for about 1half hour before quitting.dont forget Bakers in Tampa and yes chris"s in chicago is like walking back in time.San diego has college billiards,thats been around for at least 40 years with a weekly tounament thats been going on just as long,edgies in mipitas has or had a good set up w/great equiptment both pool/3c.vegas has frank torres place thats older than hell.worcester mass has elite billiards its upstares and old as hell w/great equiptment and plenty of action and i dont even want to get into to down south,where they bet on anything that moves.
 
The Garage and Belltown....speaking of loud smokey places. Gotta love a place you can shoot on 9 footers and watch the dance floor at the same time (Belltown). I do miss the hot blonde in black and white zebra pants who worked the front door. Grrooowwll.

211 was a great pool players room. No music...barely any lights. Dark. Only the sounds of pool balls. 2 12x6 snooker, 3 heated 3C, and tons of 9 footers and 10 footers. Started going there when I was 19, get in with the workers and even buy pitchers from em LOL.
Too bad there was no parking. What a shame.

John has done a lot to the Breaking Point. Pretty nice now...besides table 7's terrible pockets. Gotta love a table when you hit it straight into the pocket down the rail and it doesn't go in. Man I was pissed. I don't know how many break and runs were wasted.

Dr. Cues might be loud, but the nice air movers take a lot of the smoke out. And the tables play true. Lots of action to watch.

Jillians of Seattle is just another singles club with pool tables. And the rails are too high. But at least they have a 12x6.

Haven't been to Sunset yet...and its been years since I have been to Harveys. The McDermott NW Tour is having a tournament at Harveys this weekend. Atwell is in Vegas, as well as Vidas and Potier so they won't be there.
 
Hey UW, I used to go to Belltown now and then, thay have always had incredible women working there. My buddy Dan used to be a lead bartender there, now he is 1/2 owner of the Blu Water Bistro on Lake Union.

Sorry we missed last weekend, I actually was out all night Saturday but didnt have your contact info with me.
 
Hey man there is always next time. I went to the Breaking Point in the afternoon from 3-7, had dinner at Olive Garden, and then went to Dr. Cues until 3AM. Watched Todd Marsh play some one pocket. Pretty damn good. No players were out that night...only Mike Shannon and he was just watching. I played pretty well for being the first time shot on 9 footers in two months. God I miss them.
 
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Hey Bigdog,

I didn't know your grandpa but I used to play at his old place in Stockton. Sorry to have to tell you that the place really got run down! It's nothing like it used to be. A lot of the older players talk fondly about your grandpa. Sounds like he was quite a guy back then. They say he had the "midas" touch.
 
One more thing about the Jointed Cue, Banker Burt may have mentioned this already, but the back room has been renovated and they have 4 GC IV's back there. The room is really nice now. It looks 100% better than it did!
 
If you get to Denver check out Shakespeares. Excellent 3C equipment and a nice atmosphere. I don't live there anymore and moved not long after they opened, but it's a nice place. Just across from downtown.
 
UWPoolGod1 said:
Hey man there is always next time. I went to the Breaking Point in the afternoon from 3-7, had dinner at Olive Garden, and then went to Dr. Cues until 3AM. Watched Todd Marsh play some one pocket. Pretty damn good. No players were out that night...only Mike Shannon and he was just watching. I played pretty well for being the first time shot on 9 footers in two months. God I miss them.
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Todd Marsh - Pretty darn good, to say the least. I played him for years in Sacramento ,and we hook up every time he's in town. Did I like playing him? Yes! Did I win? No! On a few ocassions I did, but honestly on the days I came out on top everything I did worked out, where as he was a little bit off.

I learned a tremendous amount about one pocket from him. I don't mean to kill your action, Todd, only meaning to mention to UWPoolGod1, you were probably watching some great one-pocket. I must add that Todd was always a perfect gentlement win or lose. Great guy!

And as far as action goes (for me), "You will only play better, playing better players". I have played many a short-stops and to this I say to all upcoming players willing-to-put-your-money-where-your-mouth-is, don't ask for weight. If you ask this of me I will always oblige with this comment, "Sure, I'll give you weight. How about if WE WAIT a year, and then maybe you'll be ready to play some even?"

The moral may be, my game rose more than in any other way, after I got my brains beat in by a superior player. And yes, I practiced my tail off after every beating I took; growing from the experience.

Somewhere in a recent post, can't remember the specific thread, but it was said that experience plays a huge role in becoming a champion...

No argument here!
 
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where is chalkies billiards in indy?

theirs a hall in terre haute indiana that has potential. imperial lanes. like every other place in the area its primarily bowling and they dont care about their pool tables, but up until a few weeks ago they had about 12 9fts 12 6fts and 1 10ft snooker and a bunch of 6ft quarter tables, but besides the quarters all the tables were first generation brunswick gold crowns, true beauties until they took half of em out and put in a bigger bar.
 
Rickw said:
Hey Bigdog,

I didn't know your grandpa but I used to play at his old place in Stockton. Sorry to have to tell you that the place really got run down! It's nothing like it used to be. A lot of the older players talk fondly about your grandpa. Sounds like he was quite a guy back then. They say he had the "midas" touch.
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Hey rick, do you still play in Stockton? I was wonderring if there are any decent places to play there. I still have alot of family out there and I visit often. It would be nice to be able to find a game there.
You are right about my grandpa's old poolroom, what a shame I am really surprise that it is sill a poolhall after all these years.
 
thebigdog said:
Hey rick, do you still play in Stockton? I was wonderring if there are any decent places to play there. I still have alot of family out there and I visit often. It would be nice to be able to find a game there.
You are right about my grandpa's old poolroom, what a shame I am really surprise that it is sill a poolhall after all these years.
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Bigdog,

There are 3 pool halls in Stockton:

1. Campos Billiards which is what used to be Boyce's. This is the place where there is any action, if there is any, but the tables are worn out and there's not much action. I don't play there anymore.
2. Naughty Nick's which is mostly an arcade/birthday party palace. They have about 27 Rebco tables but it's a kiddie zoo. No players and no action here.
3. Eddie's Billiards. This place has 9 Olhausen tables but the problem here is that the tables were built for home use. Other than that, and the fact that there are no real players there, it's a real nice little place. The prices are a little high too.

I play in Sacramento at Diamond Billiards on Folsom and Mather most of the time. There aren't that many real players there but they have a membership deal (I pay $70 a month and pay no other table time) and it's real close to where I work. The other two places I play at in Sacramento are the Jointed Cue on 24th and Fruitridge and Hardtimes on Garfield and Auburn. Hardtimes is the place to play if you're looking for some action. They have Amar Kang, Tony Chohan and Joey Gebron and they'll give you all the action you could ask for in 9 ball or one pocket. They Have great tables and a kickin' tournament room!

Good luck and hope you have some fun when you visit here!
 
Thanks for the info on Stockton. Its what I thought but was hoping maybe you knew of someplace different. I am really surprised that a town the size of Stockton has no real action. From what my dad and grandpa tell me there was all kinds of action back in the 60's and 70's. I think someone needs to open a poolhall in Stockton or Tracy and it would do real well.

BTW the east bay is also hurting for a good poolroom, there is the Brocken Rack in Emeryville but I do not care for that room, and there is really nothing else in Oakland, San Leandro, or Hayward, I have met quite a few people who play at Family Billiards in S.F. that travel from the east bay. So if anyone is looking to open a room I would suggest one of these cities I think it would to real well.
 
Bigdog,

I grew up on the Penninsula. If I were you, I'd go across the SM Bridge and play at Edgies or California Billiards. When you say Family in SF, are you talking about Delbert's place? That's a nice room too!
 
Family Billiards, SF is the place to play and to get played. It is my favorite pool room. Great people, great players, knowledgable players, great equipment, and most of all a great owner.
Not only does Delbert run an excellent room, he is a very good player. If you all notice, the successful rooms around the country are one's either run by a good player with some business savvy, or know how to promote a room for good players. The exception may be the Illinois billiard Club. I have never been there but good sources tell me that this is a premiere place to visit if you are at all interested in Billiards. The Parkers' sound to be a first class family, with a first class room.
 
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