Pool in Los Angeles California in the Late 1960s

B

brunswick1901

AzB Gold Member
Gold Member
For several years Fredy Whalen promoted a World Championship 14.1 Straight pool Tournament at the Elk's Lodge on Parkview Avenue just West of Downtown Los Angeles. I seem to remember they charged about $4 to watch the tournament and $1 to watch the players in the practice room. The practice room was the clear choice because I was going to school and making $1.80 an hour at a part time job.

The practice room was packed but I was able to slowly moved forward until I had a clear view of a 10-Ball Ring Game. I saw a real old looking guy smoking while waiting for the being racked. He set his cigarette down, broke the balls then picked up his cigarette. While smoking he slowly walked around the table then set his cigarette down and ran out.

While I was watching I heard a voice say, "Why aren't you in the game?". Another voice said, "I just told them I want in". To prevent an incoming player from choosing who he will follow, the new player has to tell the table he wants to play in the next game. This prevents the new player choosing to follow a player that keeps missing.

While the older gentleman was waiting for the balls to be racked he used his old cigarette to light a new cigarette. After making a ball on the break the older gentleman walked around the table looking at all the possible shots and ran out again.

While the balls were being racked I heard a voice say, "I thought you were going to get into the game". The other voice answered, "I did and my backer is not happy about paying off without me getting a shot".

The older gentleman ran out the fourth rack and did not make a ball on his fifth break.

I would later learn that the gentleman who ran all the racks was Don Willis and the player who never shot was Lou Butera.

I never learned the names of the other players except for Ed Kelly. I recognized Ed because his picture was at the entrance of the tournament room and Ed won the straight pool tournament.
 
Last edited:
brunswick1901 said:
For several years Fredy Whalen promoted a World Championship 14.1 Straight pool Tournament at the Elk's Lodge on Parkview Avenue just West of Downtown Los Angeles. I seem to remember they charged about $4 to watch the tournament and $1 to watch the players in the practice room. The practice room was the clear choice because I was going to school and making $1.80 an hour at a part time job.

The practice room was packed but I was able to slowly moved forward until I had a clear view of a 10-Ball Ring Game. I saw a real old looking guy set his cigarette down, broke the balls then picked up his cigarette. While smoking he slowly walked around the table then set his cigarette down and ran out.

While I was watching I heard a voice say, "Why aren't you in the game?". Another voice said, "I just told them I want it". To prevent an incoming player from choosing who he will follow, the new player has to tell the table he wants to play in the next game. This prevents the new player choosing to follow a player that keeps missing.

While the older gentleman was waiting for the balls to be racked he used his old cigarette to light a new cigarette. After making a ball on the break the older gentleman walked around the table looking at all the possible shots and ran out again.

While the balls were being racked I heard a voice say, "I thought you were going to get into the game". The other voice answered, "I did and my backer isV
brunswick1901 said:
For several years Fredy Whalen promoted a World Championship 14.1 Straight pool Tournament at the Elk's Lodge on Parkview Avenue just West of Downtown Los Angeles. I seem to remember they charged about $4 to watch the tournament and $1 to watch the players in the practice room. The practice room was the clear choice because I was going to school and making $1.80 an hour at a part time job.

The practice room was packed but I was able to slowly moved forward until I had a clear view of a 10-Ball Ring Game. I saw a real old looking guy set his cigarette down, broke the balls then picked up his cigarette. While smoking he slowly walked around the table then set his cigarette down and ran out.

While I was watching I heard a voice say, "Why aren't you in the game?". Another voice said, "I just told them I want it". To prevent an incoming player from choosing who he will follow, the new player has to tell the table he wants to play in the next game. This prevents the new player choosing to follow a player that keeps missing.

While the older gentleman was waiting for the balls to be racked he used his old cigarette to light a new cigarette. After making a ball on the break the older gentleman walked around the table looking at all the possible shots and ran out again.

While the balls were being racked I heard a voice say, "I thought you were going to get into the game". The other voice answered, "I did and my backer is not happy about paying off without me getting a shot".

The older gentleman ran out the fourth rack and did not make a ball on his fifth break.

I would later learn that the gentleman who ran all the racks was Don Willis and the player who never shot was Lou Butera.

One of the other players in the game was Ed Kelly who won the straight pool tournament.
Click to expand...
Fantastic story. Googled Don Willis and found a treasure trove of pool history. 40 minute video interview of Bill Stroud is amazing. Never knew he was a hustler. Thanks for your post. Love this kind of stuff.
not happy about paying off without me getting a shot".

The older gentleman ran out the fourth rack and did not make a ball on his fifth break.

I would later learn that the gentleman who ran all the racks was Don Willis and the player who never shot was Lou Butera.

One of the other players in the game was Ed Kelly who won the straight pool tournament.
Click to expand...
 
In the late 60s I was banging some of my first balls at a pool room (forget the name) on Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood, completely oblivious to the great pool going on around me.

pj
chgo
 
it was probably ye old billiard den. pat. tons of action and gambling of all sorts there and from there. it was like congress in miami where all road and top players stopped and stayed around there when in the area.
 
Sad there are very very few, if at all, a place to play in Los Angeles. For as big of an area it is you can't find a place to play.
 
shooter_Hans said:
Sad there are very very few, if at all, a place to play in Los Angeles. For as big of an area it is you can't find a place to play.
Click to expand...
What do you expect with the rent costs and all the associated bullshit you gotta fade to run one out there. I'm surprised any are open to be honest.
 
or most any business.

but for me the only possible reason to live in california is the weather. but i forgo that to live in a free state with very little aggravating rules.
 
maha said:
or most any business.

but for me the only possible reason to live in california is the weather. but i forgo that to live in a free state with very little aggravating rules.
Click to expand...
Life long Californian here and it is not bad.

If I cashed out my homes I would be a millionaire and coming to a state near you! LOL

Probably buy more homes and rent them out wherever I end up. Probably still have some to spare.
 
yea and when you sell you pay all kinds of extra taxes where elsewhere you may not.
and cant defend yourself with being assured that you wont get convicted.
and any retirement income will still be taxed in california even if living elsewhere. it goes on and on.
but the weather is great.
 
brunswick1901 said:
For several years Fredy Whalen promoted a World Championship 14.1 Straight pool Tournament at the Elk's Lodge on Parkview Avenue just West of Downtown Los Angeles. I seem to remember they charged about $4 to watch the tournament and $1 to watch the players in the practice room. The practice room was the clear choice because I was going to school and making $1.80 an hour at a part time job.

The practice room was packed but I was able to slowly moved forward until I had a clear view of a 10-Ball Ring Game. I saw a real old looking guy smoking while waiting for the being racked. He set his cigarette down, broke the balls then picked up his cigarette. While smoking he slowly walked around the table then set his cigarette down and ran out.

While I was watching I heard a voice say, "Why aren't you in the game?". Another voice said, "I just told them I want it". To prevent an incoming player from choosing who he will follow, the new player has to tell the table he wants to play in the next game. This prevents the new player choosing to follow a player that keeps missing.

While the older gentleman was waiting for the balls to be racked he used his old cigarette to light a new cigarette. After making a ball on the break the older gentleman walked around the table looking at all the possible shots and ran out again.

While the balls were being racked I heard a voice say, "I thought you were going to get into the game". The other voice answered, "I did and my backer is not happy about paying off without me getting a shot".

The older gentleman ran out the fourth rack and did not make a ball on his fifth break.

I would later learn that the gentleman who ran all the racks was Don Willis and the player who never shot was Lou Butera.

I never learned the names of the other players except for Ed Kelly. I recognized Ed because his picture was at the entrance of the tournament room and Ed won the straight pool tournament.
Click to expand...
I ref’d in many of those tourneys for $5 a match. Fred Whalen was a mentor of mine. He was a many time California Straight Pool champ. His son Jack was one tough hombre who clashed with the local gangsters. They executed him in a phone booth! Don’t believe me, look it up.
 
maha said:
it was probably ye old billiard den. pat. tons of action and gambling of all sorts there and from there. it was like congress in miami where all road and top players stopped and stayed around there when in the area.
Click to expand...
Spent my Florida “vacation” at the Congress!
 
garczar said:
What do you expect with the rent costs and all the associated bullshit you gotta fade to run one out there. I'm surprised any are open to be honest.
Click to expand...
I had a couple of rooms there but never again. The local government agencies have made it too difficult to do business in L.A.
 
Last edited:
shooter_Hans said:
Life long Californian here and it is not bad.

If I cashed out my homes I would be a millionaire and coming to a state near you! LOL

Probably buy more homes and rent them out wherever I end up. Probably still have some to spare.
Click to expand...
Been there, done that. Only two homes left and selling one later this year. Average home in middle class neighborhood - 1,000,000 plus change. I’m in for 400k, bought it in 2004. Been renting it for 3,500/mo. The lease expires in April and my tenants are moving out.
 
jay helfert said:
Been there, done that. Only two homes left and selling one later this year. Average home in middle class neighborhood - 1,000,000 plus change. I’m in for 400k, bought it in 2004. Been renting it for 3,500/mo. The lease expires in April and my tenants are moving out.
Click to expand...
Well done Jay.

I tell people Cali is not all that bad. Life long Californians are good. If you're coming here then good luck.
 
went to congress billiards also. didnt play there hardly as most action was in the bars. and i got to see all the top players that could beat me that i didnt know there. and avoided them in the bars. just like where they came from, most stayed broke anyway as nighttime they hit the hi li or the dog tracks.
brooklyn jimmy was the best ever smaller stakes bar hustler ever. i learned a lot from him.
 
maha said:
went to congress billiards also. didnt play there hardly as most action was in the bars. and i got to see all the top players that could beat me that i didnt know there. and avoided them in the bars. just like where they came from, most stayed broke anyway as nighttime they hit the hi li or the dog tracks.
brooklyn jimmy was the best ever smaller stakes bar hustler ever. i learned a lot from him.
Click to expand...
Are you referring to Congress in Miami? A guy that used to live here in Tulsa named Jim Whitman ran the roads with Squirrel back in the day. He used to talk about the snowbird poolplayers that went there. I guess it was a young Mike Carella that had a paddle for all their asses when he was in stroke.
 
yes mike carella wiped out lots of top players.
squirrel carpenter did come there i believe but i never personally saw him there.
congress bowl was the place most all the northern eastern players came down to in the winter.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top