Photos from pool tournaments in the 1980s

[BillPorter]

i have 1700 pics on Flickr 98% non pool and in 3 years i think i have received 4-5 comments. Im sure they make it just as hard. Signing in with Facebook means you have to turn 'apps' on and then they tell you-"Ok you realize we now have access to everything you post, your FRIENDS list and so on. I just wont allow that.

I don't blame you. Before Smugmug changed its format, we had 298 posted comments, many of which were very informative. But with this new format, we will probably get very few additional comments. If you or any other AZ poster wants to put a comment on a photo, you can just PM it to me and I'll put in ont the Smugmug site for you. That's the best I can do.

 

[puertorociii]

Very nice love the pics.

Sent via Samsung hand held device.

 

[Mike Haines]

Pool Photos

I spent about 32 years with the Dallas Police Department and 20 years of it as a detective in the Swindle Squad. But I have been playing pool about 45 years or more and it all started when I bought an old Willie Hoppe for $8.00. My parents were convinced that I would be ruined and would be in the penitentiary in no time as a result of playing pool.

During the 1980's I put my 35mm to good use and enjoyed tournaments where I could photograph players who were eager to pose for a photo. They probably thought I was a magazine photographer and this was their chance to become noticed. Anyway, years later I thought it strange as I looked back, that there were few photos being taken during the mid 1980's. Now everybody has a camera and there are literally thousands of photos of Efren Reyes. In 1984, you do not find that many photos of him. Now that many players during that era have passed away, those photos bring back a lot of memories. I am glad so many people still enjoy them.

Mike Haines

 

[Blue Hog ridr]

Great pictures Bill. You are a lucky man to have been able to record all those moments in history.

Did you know that Leonard Bludworth is Rodney Dangerfields long lost cousin.
If you don't believe me, have a look.

 

[Badbeat13]

Nice trip down memory lane, thanks Bill and Mike for the great pics.

 

[BillPorter]

Shirts Schmirts- he just doesn't look like Sigel to me-not to mention the 20 years he aged from the Fla tourny the same year.

We shall see

Mike Haines, who took the photo, replied to my question (via email) by saying, "He had a beard at this time. I would not steak my life on this being Sigel but I do believe it is him."

 

[Alf Taylor]

I spent about 32 years with the Dallas Police Department and 20 years of it as a detective in the Swindle Squad. But I have been playing pool about 45 years or more and it all started when I bought an old Willie Hoppe for $8.00. My parents were convinced that I would be ruined and would be in the penitentiary in no time as a result of playing pool.

During the 1980's I put my 35mm to good use and enjoyed tournaments where I could photograph players who were eager to pose for a photo. They probably thought I was a magazine photographer and this was their chance to become noticed. Anyway, years later I thought it strange as I looked back, that there were few photos being taken during the mid 1980's. Now everybody has a camera and there are literally thousands of photos of Efren Reyes. In 1984, you do not find that many photos of him. Now that many players during that era have passed away, those photos bring back a lot of memories. I am glad so many people still enjoy them.

Mike Haines

Hi Mike. Thanks to Mr. Porter, I know a bit about you, but, I had no idea you were with the Dallas police. Did you ever hear of sheriff Bill Decker? I had an interesting meeting with that scary rascal.
Anyway, if a picture really is worth a thousand words, you and Bill are saying volumes. The world of pocket billiards is in your debt. Myself, especially for your help with my book.
Keep it nice...and honest. Alfie

 

[BillPorter]

Confirming evidence that it is Mike Sigel in the photo

This one doesn't look like Sigel to me- I was unable to comment which is probably good

Mike Sigel - Ernie Costa of Brooklyn in the gray shirt behing Sigel

Mike Haines, who took the photo, said he was almost sure that it was Sigel, but "almost sure" wasn't good enough for me. So I emailed Mary Kenniston, who played in the tournament and who knows Mike well. She replied, "I am positive that it's Mike Sigel."

We maintain those galleries, in part, because of their historical value, so we try really hard to be accurate in the photo captions. Mary took the time to make over a dozen comments which added or corrected information and I really appreciate her efforts.