Oakland CA circa 1966 poolrooms

[daniel]

Any ol timers out there remember the poolrooms next door to each other Joes & Chinos @ 12th & Broadway with Doggie diner on the corner. I have fond memories as a 18 yr old young player with all the characters including oakland hells angels watchin me play & Jap Joe presiding in all his zen like demeaner @ Chinos. A real cast of characters & great part of oakland to hang out.

 

[T411]

Any ol timers out there remember the poolrooms next door to each other Joes & Chinos @ 12th & Broadway with Doggie diner on the corner. I have fond memories as a 18 yr old young player with all the characters including oakland hells angels watchin me play & Jap Joe presiding in all his zen like demeaner @ Chinos. A real cast of characters & great part of oakland to hang out.

Sounds like a great time!

 

[Baby Huey]

Yes I do. One of my first road trips to he Bay area from LA was 1967. As I recall, one side was a mexican room and the other mostly a african american room? To me it must have been one pool room at some point in the past? Then it was separated? Old timers in LA told me that during WW11 and into the early 50's Oakland was full of action located in this very room. As the action dried up in Oakland it moved to the city to the Palace and Cochrans. I believe I played The Go Away Kid in your room, Johnny something can't remember his last name. Also played him at Tree's in Fillmore. The Doggie Diner fed many a pool player back then. Yummy

 

[Iwishiwasrich]

Back when people didn't get their panties in a bunch when you called a guy Jap Joe or fatty or bucktooth.

 

[Baby Huey]

Inner city pool rooms were pretty much the norm 60 years ago. Not so much these days. In fact pool rooms as we might remember them don’t exist like they once did.

 

[R2PQZ]

Yes I do. One of my first road trips to he Bay area from LA was 1967. As I recall, one side was a mexican room and the other mostly a african american room? To me it must have been one pool room at some point in the past? Then it was separated? Old timers in LA told me that during WW11 and into the early 50's Oakland was full of action located in this very room. As the action dried up in Oakland it moved to the city to the Palace and Cochrans. I believe I played The Go Away Kid in your room, Johnny something can't remember his last name. Also played him at Tree's in Fillmore. The Doggie Diner fed many a pool player back then. Yummy

The player you referred to was named Jesse if memory serves me. Never heard the last name. He came to Seattle in the early seventies.

 

[sixpack]

Yes I do. One of my first road trips to he Bay area from LA was 1967. As I recall, one side was a mexican room and the other mostly a african american room? To me it must have been one pool room at some point in the past? Then it was separated? Old timers in LA told me that during WW11 and into the early 50's Oakland was full of action located in this very room. As the action dried up in Oakland it moved to the city to the Palace and Cochrans. I believe I played The Go Away Kid in your room, Johnny something can't remember his last name. Also played him at Tree's in Fillmore. The Doggie Diner fed many a pool player back then. Yummy

Jesse. He came back and started playing again and then was murdered on the sidewalk shortly after that.

When I met him he was older (70s or 80) and just full of joy at playing pool.

 

[sixpack]

Yes I do. One of my first road trips to he Bay area from LA was 1967. As I recall, one side was a mexican room and the other mostly a african american room? To me it must have been one pool room at some point in the past? Then it was separated? Old timers in LA told me that during WW11 and into the early 50's Oakland was full of action located in this very room. As the action dried up in Oakland it moved to the city to the Palace and Cochrans. I believe I played The Go Away Kid in your room, Johnny something can't remember his last name. Also played him at Tree's in Fillmore. The Doggie Diner fed many a pool player back then. Yummy

https://forums.azbilliards.com/thre...me-of-their-best-players.105420/#post-1297918

Read a few posts starting at this one. I just refreshed my memory.

 

[dhansen]

Some good stories in this thread of yours too @sixpack

Thread 'Luther Lassiter loses to unknown player in Oakland - 1955'

Mar 10, 2006

I was giving a friend of mine a ride home last night and he told me a story about his younger days. Seems he was playing all comers at an old pool room in Oakland, 9 ball $10 & $20 in 1955. He played a fella for a while and finally the guy broke down his cue and said, "Come with me on the road, we'll get rich." My buddy said "now why would I do that?". The stranger said "I'm the best 9-ball player in the world, and I don't know if I can beat you."

Turns out it was Luther Lassiter.

I don't want to post his name, but if someone guesses it I'll tell you you're right.

I don't know if...

• sixpack
• Replies: 76
• Forum: Main Forum

These predate my time in Oakland- wish I had a chance to play at Chino’s!

 

[daniel]

Joe used to let me sleep under a booth in the corner as i was often homeless till i made a score. I had a good friend & hell of a player named Bubba who took me in the heart of the black neighborhood to John Singers to hustle the black players on barboxes. Sometimes we would take the bus to Cochrans in SF & one time saw LA player Steve Carter play 1 eye Hank 4 ahead for 500 on Big Bertha. (5 ×10 with 4" pockets) & Hank dusted him. Circa 1966. What a poolroom.open 24 hrs . I thought i was in heaven. Lol

 

[T411]

Cochrans in SF & one time saw LA player Steve Carter play 1 eye Hank 4 ahead for 500 on Big Bertha. (5 ×10 with 4" pockets) & Hank dusted him. Circa 1966. What a poolroom.open 24 hrs . I thought i was in heaven. Lol

Big Bertha? That must be where they got the name for the 5x10 at Hard Times Bellflower.

 

[Baby Huey]

Some old timers told me that Don DeCoy from Oakland, who died in the 50's in a cross country Roadie may have been the inspiration for Paul Newmans role in the Hustler.