Money was a lot looser in the 1960’s- 1970’s. If you had a job paying $100 a week you could support a family. I bought my four bedroom waterfront house in Amityville, Long Island for $18,000 in 1967. Most people paid with cash except their house and maybe a car. If you spent $30 on food you were living large. Gas was under $0.50 a gallon I believe. I can remember $0.22 a gallon in the late 50’s. A glass of beer in an average bar was $0.25 or less, and a pitcher was a buck. If you walked out of a bar 5 nights a week $20 winner you just doubled your salary. Johnnyt
You put it in a pretty honest perspective. When you tell a young player today you supported yourself playing pool they think you are making it up. For a little more full disclosure just how myself and many others did it here is a few examples. For one thing it was a job and you had to treat it that way. I had several well worn uniform shirts I bought from a uniform supply like you may see a truck driver ware. I also liked to ware hats like a baseball type hat also dirty and worn. I never showered or cleaned up before going out and just looked like I had been working.
I would often hit the bars around 4:30 in the afternoon and catch guys coming off work especially on Friday's. In those days a lot of working guys cashed their checks at the bar. Bars had a big bank roll on Fridays just to cash checks, this was before ATM's, people had their money in their pockets. I never went near the pool table when I first got there. Just sat at the bar and blended in for a while before moving to the table.
I was good at getting along with people and rarely had a problem. I try not to be too preoccupied with the pool game. The last thing I want is to look like I am there to play pool. Then you just see what happens and begin grinding out a little money, you may end up staying there all night. I was always alone I never liked being with anybody when I was out.
I kind of liked staying put for a while and give the place a chance. I knew so many guys who spent every night running around from bar to bar maybe making nothing. You also may pick up information when you are there as well. Some bars also have a rep for having pool action and there are players there, I am not talking about that kind of place. In those places it is all business and you are there to play pool.
I am talking about your general bar preferably a place on a main road. A place with a pretty good turn over of customers. Half the people in there don't even know each other. If you go to a neighborhood bar where everybody know everybody it will be highly unlikely you will win anything unless they have a some champ that wants to play. But even then you are taking a risk of getting hurt.
I never drank and still don't. I always bought canned beer so you can't tell I am not drinking it. Then I toss it in a garbage and buy another after a while. I never over tipped or got into heated conversations that would make me memorable. I wanted to come and go and never be noticed or remembered if I could. Just another working bum in the place.
I have to really laugh at some of the pool room guys who would try to hustle the bars. They would walk in maybe 2 or 3 guys. Cleanly dress looking like they just stepped out of a shower. Walk over around the table and be standing there with their hands in their pockets, (The classic pool player stance) If the bar maid asked them if they wanted something they always declined as they watched the pool table. Then they would talk with the players asking them what they are playing for or offer to play them for like $10.00 a game. After like 15 minutes they would leave never making a dime mumbling "There no action in this place". Mean time I could spend a night there and grind out $50 to a $100. easy dollars and have a good time doing it.
I truly believe this is all in the past now and there is little one could do today to grind out a living playing pool. Costs alone today would eat you up and what you can win is no more then you won 40 years ago. Today in the bars they still bet $2 or maybe $5 but mostly they play for drinks. In 1971 I actually bought a new car with a couple months of pool winnings. I walked in the dealership and paid cash for it. The funny thing is, I paid for the car with 5s 10s and 20s.
Fun to think about those days, confessions of a small time pool hustler. I was never really embarrassed by that though. At a tournament once Grady was selling me in the calcutta and I will never forget what he said.
"A lot of you people don't know this man, he may be the best $5.00 player on the east coast".
It brought a big laugh.