Oldest Surviving Pool Hall in USA
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Recently returned from a trip to Wilmington, NC where I visited Ortons Pool Room. They claim to be "America's Oldest Pool Room". It is located on Fromt Street in downtown Wilmington right on the boardwalk. You would hardly know it is there except for the sign above a single door leading to the basement where the Orton Hotel stood...built in 1888. The Hotel burned to the ground back in the '40's, but the basement pool room is there still. Tons of local stories about it being haunted including people who have taken pictures with shadowy pictures in the background. I took several pics, but no apparitions!
I am including a few photos showing the infamous dark stairway leading to the underground poolroom and a picture of the table that Mosconi set a world record ball run on in 1953.
Neat place, but time changes everything and it has become a bit of a dive, with tons of college kids and live music several nights played on a stage built back at the end of the room. Its a piece if pool history that is worth a visit!
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I am including a few photos showing the infamous dark stairway leading to the underground poolroom and a picture of the table that Mosconi set a world record ball run on in 1953.
Neat place, but time changes everything and it has become a bit of a dive, with tons of college kids and live music several nights played on a stage built back at the end of the room. Its a piece if pool history that is worth a visit!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The idea of something being built in the 70's being ancient/oldest is quite mind boggling.
You chaps need some depth to your history:
http://www.thelyonsdownclub.com/
You chaps need some depth to your history:
http://www.thelyonsdownclub.com/
150 years ago 98% of the whole country was wilderness. Actually, a good percent of it still is, it's a big country. It is funny sometimes though to see a business with a sign saying "Same location since 1989" like that is a long time. We build buildings and then tear them down to build more buildings. You people just keep using them.
I remember being in a photo store in England one time. The floors were so crooked it was hard to walk from one end to the other. They told me the building was like 200 years old. This was not some historic structure it didn't seem. In the US that place would have been condemned and torn down.
I stayed in a bed and breakfast that was worse then that. The stairs were so crooked you had to hold on and almost pull yourself up the stairs and forget about hot water. I will take new and modern over old and dumpy any time.
If you can get yourself on the guest list, New York City's oldest poolroom is worth the visit. It's located on the 10th floor of the New York Athletic Club and has been in existence for about 80-85 years. Unfortunately, NYAC is a private facility and requires membership to enter. What's more, even as a guest, you must wear a sports jacket & tie at all times. It's been about 15 years since my only visit but if memory serves, all pool tables are 8-foot, probably Brunswick from around the 1920's. They also have a few snooker tables. The place is like a time capsule.
http://www.nyac.org/default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=235926&ssid=89288&vnf=1
http://www.nyac.org/default.aspx?p=DynamicModule&pageid=235926&ssid=89288&vnf=1
Chicago has an amazing array of antique buildings still in use. None of the original pool hall (businesses) have survived but there are many bars with tables that have, and we have several hotels and fraternal clubs that predate 1900 with their original billiard rooms intact.
The best part is all the other buildings that still exist, where untold dozens of world championship matches were held..the Congress hotel, the Opera house, the Fisher building, the Conrad Hilton....the Color of Money locations....Chicago is packed with billiard history and every champion in the world used to play here.
The best part is all the other buildings that still exist, where untold dozens of world championship matches were held..the Congress hotel, the Opera house, the Fisher building, the Conrad Hilton....the Color of Money locations....Chicago is packed with billiard history and every champion in the world used to play here.
Chicago saw an amazing array of pool halls over the years, from the modest hustler dens all the way up to lavish cathedrals of worship for billiards complete with drapes, murals and Italian marble.
The Victorian era came to a close, the man malls with everything from barbers to brandy faded away and the 1920s saw the rise of new multi story recreation " factories", with whole floors dedicated to various games; bowling, billiards, pool, sometimes even golf.
They were the "walmarts" of the pool world as they relied on sheer volume to cover their enormous overhead. In all reality they were cursed by the common man for putting smaller rooms out of business all over the city.
Karma ultimately got her way when the Great Depression brought them all to a close, which was a pretty big deal considering the fact that there were dozens of them. Hundreds of used tables and bar equipment were being sold off for pennies or destroyed.
( the Chicago suburbs are littered with antique tables from this giant table liquidation event still to this day)
Here are a few examples of the multi story pool Meccas....
Many of the buildings still exist all over town, but obviously the purposes of them has changed...
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1918_Bensinger_health_factory.JPG
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1929_schuenemans.JPG
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1929.JPG
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1929_kieckhefer.JPG
The Victorian era came to a close, the man malls with everything from barbers to brandy faded away and the 1920s saw the rise of new multi story recreation " factories", with whole floors dedicated to various games; bowling, billiards, pool, sometimes even golf.
They were the "walmarts" of the pool world as they relied on sheer volume to cover their enormous overhead. In all reality they were cursed by the common man for putting smaller rooms out of business all over the city.
Karma ultimately got her way when the Great Depression brought them all to a close, which was a pretty big deal considering the fact that there were dozens of them. Hundreds of used tables and bar equipment were being sold off for pennies or destroyed.
( the Chicago suburbs are littered with antique tables from this giant table liquidation event still to this day)
Here are a few examples of the multi story pool Meccas....
Many of the buildings still exist all over town, but obviously the purposes of them has changed...
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1918_Bensinger_health_factory.JPG
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1929_schuenemans.JPG
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1929.JPG
http://www.chicagobilliardmuseum.org/files/1929_kieckhefer.JPG
That is an excellent location! Gotta love pool halls you have to either walk down into or up to. Great atmosphere. And the mosconi sign is perfect. Definitely going on the list.
Thanks for the photos and post!
Triangle Billiards in Endicott, NY was established in 1971 but a few greats came through the area in that era. Irving Crane owned one of the 5 halls on the same street years before that. Loads of history in those walls. Hell I watched Bugsy get beat by a road player (dan from tampa area) pretty good. Great player and a nice guy with loads of stories
In San Diego - College Billiards. Been there since 1962 or '63.
Clifton Billiards sign says since 1960. I believe Ray Martin opened it. I could be wrong but I know Martin, Rempe and a host of others used to play there. The owner could give you more history, but its been around for a long time.
Recently returned from a trip to Wilmington, NC where I visited Ortons Pool Room. They claim to be "America's Oldest Pool Room". It is located on Fromt Street in downtown Wilmington right on the boardwalk. You would hardly know it is there except for the sign above a single door leading to the basement where the Orton Hotel stood...built in 1888. The Hotel burned to the ground back in the '40's, but the basement pool room is there still. Tons of local stories about it being haunted including people who have taken pictures with shadowy pictures in the background. I took several pics, but no apparitions!
I am including a few photos showing the infamous dark stairway leading to the underground poolroom and a picture of the table that Mosconi set a world record ball run on in 1953.
Neat place, but time changes everything and it has become a bit of a dive, with tons of college kids and live music several nights played on a stage built back at the end of the room. Its a piece if pool history that is worth a visit!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thanks for the story and the pics.
Awesome!
Booche's is not in the original location... the original table type is unknown, but at some point the tables were all BBC Alexandrias, as is shown in a Billiards Magazine page photo that I saw. That photo was probably about 1920. The original location, I am told, was across the street. The name is "Since 1885" or whatever, but as far as I know it has not been continuously running even if the location had stayed the same. Not only is the equipment not original, but the tables are not Alexandrias. The cue rack up front, and a few of the smaller ones in back, do match Alexandrias. I like the place but it seems less than on the level for them to imply that this is an 1885 poolroom. But kudos to them for making a great room that is well worth seeing...with equipment from the 1910s-1920s....
Smith's Billiards, Springfield MA
The Buffalo Hippodrome is in its 3rd location. Even if it were in its original location, it would be beaten easily by Smith's Billiards in Springfield MA, which I believe was started in 1902. Original location, some original equipment and furnishings, original name, never closed. Going by what I am told. But I have been there twice. I think this is the champion of early originals.
The Buffalo Hippodrome is in its 3rd location. Even if it were in its original location, it would be beaten easily by Smith's Billiards in Springfield MA, which I believe was started in 1902. Original location, some original equipment and furnishings, original name, never closed. Going by what I am told. But I have been there twice. I think this is the champion of early originals.
Boston Bowl on Morrisey Blvd in Dorchester, MA has been there since the late 50s open 24 hours a day. The was the best action spot in New England for years. They have some Gold Crown 1s that have been there since the doors opened. Action is no longer the same but if the walls could talk. There were only 12 tables with a glass enclosure that spanned the lentgh of the room guys would line up to watch action and wait for a table
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MalibuMike
Banned
Hip, Hip and Cherios!
The House of Billiards in Los Angeles was established in 1979!
For Los Angeles that's like the Pre-Reformation times!
They tore down Ships just like they tore down Tiney Nailers,
They'll tear down anything in this town!
Our oldest resturaunt is Musso & Franks 1919!
But then agian at least we don't live on an Island!
The House of Billiards in Los Angeles was established in 1979!
For Los Angeles that's like the Pre-Reformation times!
They tore down Ships just like they tore down Tiney Nailers,
They'll tear down anything in this town!
Our oldest resturaunt is Musso & Franks 1919!
But then agian at least we don't live on an Island!
MalibuMike
Banned
Huh, I wonderf if GK Chesterton shot pool there?
Well I know there is an awesome turn of the century pool room at Hearst Castle, complete with Solid Ivory Billiard Balls. I wonder if The White House has a Billiards room?
The Lyons Down Club, Isn't that were Professor James Moriarty invented the Morri Tip? And where the League of Redhedded men shot pool? Yeah the English Empire is quite arcane, but you just been around longer, didn't they say in one of King Tut's anti-chabers he had a 24 Karret Solid Gold-Crown?
I can picture GK Chesterton expounding over a game at Ye Ol Lyons Downsyndrome club, over a game of 10 ball:
"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
― G.K. Chesterton,
Well I know there is an awesome turn of the century pool room at Hearst Castle, complete with Solid Ivory Billiard Balls. I wonder if The White House has a Billiards room?
The Lyons Down Club, Isn't that were Professor James Moriarty invented the Morri Tip? And where the League of Redhedded men shot pool? Yeah the English Empire is quite arcane, but you just been around longer, didn't they say in one of King Tut's anti-chabers he had a 24 Karret Solid Gold-Crown?
I can picture GK Chesterton expounding over a game at Ye Ol Lyons Downsyndrome club, over a game of 10 ball:
"Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, "Do it again"; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.”
― G.K. Chesterton,