Pete Margo & Howie Pearl

Terry Ardeno

Terry Ardeno

I still love my wife
Silver Member
Anybody ever see either of these two around pool anymore? I think Margo quit pool to concentrate on a video store business sometime in the late 1970's or early 1980's. He was a real talent in his specialty, 14.1.
Howie used to post years ago on the Billiards Digest forum but I have not heard his name in years.
Thanks.
 
Peter Margo drops by the Amsterdam Billiard Club on occasion, and he always says hi to me. He's very close with actor Paul Sorvino and legendary promoter and tournament director Charlie Ursitti, so when you see Pete, he's usually with Paul, Charlie, or both. What a player Pete Margo was! I'd say he played about Jim Rempe speed in straight pool.

It's a long time since I've seen Howie Pearl.
 
sjm said:
Peter Margo drops by the Amsterdam Billiard Club on occasion, and he always says hi to me. He's very close with actor Paul Sorvino and legendary promoter and tournament director Charlie Ursitti, so when you see Pete, he's usually with Paul, Charlie, or both. What a player Pete Margo was! I'd say he played about Jim Rempe speed in straight pool.

It's a long time since I've seen Howie Pearl.
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I met Pete Margo in the early 80's. He was an extremely funny guy.
 
Terry Ardeno said:
Anybody ever see either of these two around pool anymore? I think Margo quit pool to concentrate on a video store business sometime in the late 1970's or early 1980's. He was a real talent in his specialty, 14.1.
Howie used to post years ago on the Billiards Digest forum but I have not heard his name in years.
Thanks.
Click to expand...


From what I know Howie is still in Tampa, he doesnt play anymore due to a health issue...BUT when he did play he was triple tough!!! He hadda heart attack while playing in a huge 14.1 tournament...on the table!! He and his wife a precious people in my world.
 
Pete Margo stops by in Comet Billiards in Parsippany NJ once or twice a year, usually around when the Jack Colavita Memorial 14.1 Tournament is held. I have never seen him play in his prime, but when he walks in the door, he exudes this confidence that you know this man could play. I am sure he hasn't played in years, but he still carries that confidence about him that says he could hold his own in a pool room....
 
Howie Pearl was a MAJOR contributor to this forum years ago. He always had great pool stories and a lot of good pool playing tips. If I remember correctly, he had a law degree but never practiced, one of the few pro players with a degree. Not that that matters. He played many 14.1 tourneys in and around NY, and had a great story about every one of the players during his prime. As far as I know, he lives in or around Tampa FL. I think he has some health problems now. I never knew him, but enjoyed all the posts he made. If the AZ archives go back far enough there is some great reading.

Rick
 
I caught a glimpse of Pete Margo at the 14.1 World Championships in NJ this past June; he had come to watch his buddy Mike Sigel. In his prime, I would say he was one of the five best straight-pool players in America, but he was unlucky enough to toil under his then-brother-in-law, the late Steve Mizerak, and never really escaped that shadow. He finished second to Dallas West one year in the 14.1 U. S. Open, but otherwise his luck was not particularly good. In one East Coast qualifier, Margo averaged 75 BALLS AN INNING FOR HIS LAST FIVE GAMES - and still lost! (Mizerak ran 150 and out on him in the final, after he opened with yet another 75.)

Used to enjoy Howie Pearl's posts very much on the BD forum and am sorry he doesn't participate any more. GF
 
Pete Margo is a retired millionaire from his partnership with Pete Balner (son of the founder of Palmer Cues, Gene Balner), in the video rental business. They sold the business many years ago, before the advent of dvd sales, and made out like bandits. Margo is/was married to Steve Mizerak's sister.

Howie Pearl is alive and well, and living in Tampa, with his lovely wife. I see them every time I go down to FL. He and I usually play pool, but only for a short while, due to his health, which was mentioned by Voodoo. Howie is a total sports fanatic, with ESPN going 24/7 at his place. He is especially fond of USF, as it's in his backyard. Back in the late 70's and early 80's Howie had the nickname "Mighty Mouse", and was a terror on a 9' table, in any 14.1 game. He can play other games well too...and still can hold a cue! IIRC, he was voted "Rookie of the Year" in his first year as a pro player. He and Linda were married at the same time as Ewa and Jimmy Mataya, and they all had a big party with all the top players present.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Scott Lee said:
Pete Margo is a retired millionaire from his partnership with Pete Balner (son of the founder of Palmer Cues, Gene Balner), in the video rental business. They sold the business many years ago, before the advent of dvd sales, and made out like bandits. Margo is/was married to Steve Mizerak's sister.
www.poolknowledge.com
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Exactly. Pete and Gene owned Palmer Video, headquartered out of Union, NJ (I still have my "lifetime membership") and sold out to, I think it was, Blockbuster Video in the early 90's?


Eric
 
George Fels said:
I caught a glimpse of Pete Margo at the 14.1 World Championships in NJ this past June; he had come to watch his buddy Mike Sigel. In his prime, I would say he was one of the five best straight-pool players in America, but he was unlucky enough to toil under his then-brother-in-law, the late Steve Mizerak, and never really escaped that shadow. He finished second to Dallas West one year in the 14.1 U. S. Open, but otherwise his luck was not particularly good. In one East Coast qualifier, Margo averaged 75 BALLS AN INNING FOR HIS LAST FIVE GAMES - and still lost! (Mizerak ran 150 and out on him in the final, after he opened with yet another 75.)GF
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How true, George. Were you there at the 1979 World Open Straight Pool Championships in NYC? Margo caught a stroke in a way that few players had ever done. He had, to my recolleciton, six 100+ runs (a friend of mine thinks it was seven), running a century in almost every match he played....but the great Joe Balsis, nearly 60 but still playing great, made a huge run (130 or so) to end Pete Margo's incredible run of excellence.
 
The last time I saw Pete shoot some (and a shooting he did!) was at a charity event that I went to with Tony back in '01 at Amsterdam's:

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Bill, Tony, Pete
 
Petey Margo was a top tne player for sure. One of the few top players that totally retired at an early age (maybe in his early 30's). As Scott said, he got into the video store business at a good time and did quite well for himself.

Steve M. was married to Pete's sister Linda for several years in the 80's.
 
Howie Pearl

I really miss Howie's posts. I enjoyed them so much...he had alot of good stories and insight to the game. I never met him but wish I could have. His knowledge and experiences that he posted were excellent and greatly missed!

Comon Howie, please post again!!

Curly
 
first saw pete play in his fathers room in union city nj, he was a kid ,maybe 16 , he was running 100 balls back then , think he had a high run of 200 at the time,,,
 
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