This thread would not be complete without mentioning
The Q-Ball Billiard Lounge in Vineland, NJ. Opened by "Zip" D'orio in 1962 and owned by Jose Garcia for the last 27 years. Remodeled inside & out in 2008, the Q-Ball with it's 17 Gold Crowns is immaculately maintaind by Jose and is rich in history. Many of yesterday's champions and/or road players have past through and played at The Q-Ball. Players like Ray Martin, The "Miz", Gene Nagy, Frank McGowan, Jimmy & Pete Fusco, Cisero Murphy, Joe Balsis, Lou Butera, Don Willis, Allen Hopkins just to name a few. 400 plus watched The World Straight Pool Challenge Match held here in 1967 in the tournament room at the Q-Ball between Jack Breit and Luther Lasiter. They played a race to 1200 points over 6 days, 200 per day. Lasiter retained his title winning handedly 1200 - 632 and pocketing $1,500 while Jersey Red walked away with $1,000. Jersey Red stayed in Vineland for the next 6 months playing here & locally. Jose remembers one day three or four of the older players were each putting in $200.00 to back Jersey Red against this young player from Philadelphia. The game was one-pocket and Jersey Red was one of the best one-pocket players at the time. They (the backers) came home broke, Jimmy Fusco won money that night in 1967. Mosconi played a number of exibitions here between '64 & '66 and "Cueball" Kelly wowed the crowds before matches. There are many photos hanging on the walls at The Q-ball. I've taken photos of some that were taken at The Q-ball. I'm going to attempt post them!