Pool Halls Golden Opportunity 1963 Brunswick Corp

I really enjoyed watching that. What a great old video. I was definitely born in the wrong era. I'll have to download this tonight. Thanks for posting.


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I was fifteen when this would have originally aired.

This is exactly how it was. In June of '63, Brunswick opened Shaw Lanes in East Cleveland, Ohio.

For some reason, they didn't go with Gold Crowns. They installed c. a dozen Anniversaries. Not to be outdone, the very first mall on the east side of Cleveland, Severance Center, had a huge AMF bowling center. In a sunken area right in the center of all the bowling, they placed an array of white AMF tables; very reminiscent of the white Gold Crowns. Don't know the model of these tables, but they seemed to play very well.

Even with rejuvenated interest after the success of The Hustler, it was sadly a failed attempt to bring the game more into the mainstream. It evokes some fond, but also some sad memories of what might have been... :(
 
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Thanks Bob, it reminded me of the brunswick room above the bowling alley that I first played in.
 
When I started to play as a kid. Thomaston lanes in Thomaston, CT had the exact Brunswick set up as in the ad. 12 GC 1s had the 60s style moulded chairs, and cue racks in a seperate room from the bowling. Brunswick must have sold this set up as a basic package.

Sadly the bowling alley is still there but I had heard they turned the pool room into a dance hall or something:frown:

Yikes http://thomastonlanes.com/Victorian_Room.html
 
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The major problem to opening a pool room , in the 60s and 70s was that no bank would loan a quarter to you for a pool room, unless you already had double the collateral.
You could go in partners with a vending company owned by the mob if you didn't mind doing time in prison somewhere down the road, to prove your loyalty.
By the time I had enough money to open one on my own in the mid eighties, it was the last thing I wanted to do with my hard earned money.
I still enjoyed playing.
Owning a pool room destroys that for most people.
 
GREAT old film reel. Gotta love the early sixties fashion and those great renditions of modern open pool rooms.

Two things I noticed....
1. They stated that there were more people playing billiards than golf. That's crazy to even think that was possible at one time in this country. Must have been great to witness.
2. they were using black ferrules. Mike Deshaine would be happy.

Excellent post. Thanks for sharing.
 
That is a cool video. I loved seeing all the old Gold Crowns in the various color combinations that were available at the time.
 
Cardigan Kid said:
GREAT old film reel. Gotta love the early sixties fashion and those great renditions of modern open pool rooms.

Two things I noticed....
1. They stated that there were more people playing billiards than golf. That's crazy to even think that was possible at one time in this country. Must have been great to witness.
2. they were using black ferrules. Mike Deshaine would be happy.

Excellent post. Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

that was a great video. The video quality was outstanding considering the era. Who knows about the numbers they cited though- they could have just made those up.
 
1. in all of the pool rooms I've ever been in I have never seen this many wholesome looking people playing. They must have been hanging out in the rooms I never visited. :confused:

2. I want every car in that Kresge parking lot. Even the white corvair, which, btw, was likely the most unsafe american car of the last half of the century. :eek:

3. Green rep to the op for posting this very enjoyable link. :thumbup:

4. Very effective, indeed, they sold me. :cool:

best,
brian kc
 
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