pool room in boston?
- Thread starter jamie_76
- Start date
Sacco's, Boston Shorty's old room, has closed after 70 years
The pool room inside Sacco's Bowl Haven has closed. According to the roadhustler.com site, the room opened in 1939. All the tables are gone, and the room is expected to be the future site of a restaurant.
The bowling lanes are still open and busy.
http://www.saccosbowlhaven.com/
Larry "Boston Shorty" Johnson considered Sacco's his home room, and there were a number of photos and news clippings about him on the wall.
Karen Corr lived in Boston for a period of time, and she practiced at Sacco's around the time she started on the pro tour in the late 90's.
About Sacco's:
http://www.roadhustler.com/sacco-s-bowl-haven-1
About Shorty:
http://www.onepocket.org/ShortyHOFpage.htm
About Karen Corr:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Corr
There are still a number of pool halls open in the area, though, so I think I'll go visit one and make a contribution to the local economy.
The pool room inside Sacco's Bowl Haven has closed. According to the roadhustler.com site, the room opened in 1939. All the tables are gone, and the room is expected to be the future site of a restaurant.
The bowling lanes are still open and busy.
http://www.saccosbowlhaven.com/
Larry "Boston Shorty" Johnson considered Sacco's his home room, and there were a number of photos and news clippings about him on the wall.
Karen Corr lived in Boston for a period of time, and she practiced at Sacco's around the time she started on the pro tour in the late 90's.
About Sacco's:
http://www.roadhustler.com/sacco-s-bowl-haven-1
About Shorty:
http://www.onepocket.org/ShortyHOFpage.htm
About Karen Corr:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Corr
There are still a number of pool halls open in the area, though, so I think I'll go visit one and make a contribution to the local economy.
I used this website when I was driving OTR. Best one I found. http://www.poolroom.com/: :smile:
World Class
World Class in Peabody, is a nice room, well taken care of tables, including a few carom.
World Class in Peabody, is a nice room, well taken care of tables, including a few carom.
If your looking to play some, send me a private message.
Hey I wanted to thank rethunk for linking to my site I need all the help I can get and will update Roadhustler asap with your tragic news. Last time I was in Boston those plans were still up in the air so I didn't post it. So here it is Bostonians Please Go to Columbia Road Billiards 558 Columbia rd. Dorchester, MA. 617 265 1828 the were opened in 1931 seriously we owe it to them for surviving. Other places to go in Boston... 4 x 4 Billiards if its still open its a good quality Korean hall across the street from WBCN in the fens. Now Jillian's hasn't been a real pool hall sense before I was a manager there. so only go if you live in the neighborhood. Other wise Big City (I was a manager their too) so I know its really only o.k. but the food and beer rock. Oh and the Roxbury mens club I think thats what its called a little off Melnea Cass they know the game. What I'm sayin is explore their are many lost jewels in Boston like all big city's like the warren tavern on Shawmut oh wait its was gone 5 years ago. Support the old rooms please learn our history. Oh does Caprice still have that table upstairs (9 foot gold crown)? but Don't forget Columbia road billiards.
Columbia Road Billiards
Is there anyone to play at Columbia Road Billiards in Dorchester? I haven't heard great things about the equipment, which usually also means that the quality of players and the action there will be lacking. I'd love to be wrong though, as Boston seems to just be one piece of bad news after another for pool. If anyone has been there recently and can report on the action, players and equipment, let's hear it.
Is there anyone to play at Columbia Road Billiards in Dorchester? I haven't heard great things about the equipment, which usually also means that the quality of players and the action there will be lacking. I'd love to be wrong though, as Boston seems to just be one piece of bad news after another for pool. If anyone has been there recently and can report on the action, players and equipment, let's hear it.
Columbia Road Billiards
Well, I'm happy to report that I was wrong. I finally made it over to Columbia Road Billiards in Dorchester, and while the equipment is nothing to write home about it (neither is Jillian's or anywhere in Boston for that matter) and the pockets are huge, the atmosphere was that of a real pool hall. What I mean is that there was no jukebox, no big screen TVs, basically nothing superfluous in the joint. There were several action games going on when I walked in and people came up to me within the first 15 minutes or so asking to gamble. There was woofing and trash talking, which you don't see enough of in the halls catering to college kids and non-pool players, which dominate what's left of the pool hall scene in the Boston area. There were 9-ball and 8-ball games going on, as well as some billiards action.
On top of all this, you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the pool hall, which brings back memories of Chris's in Chicago and scenes in the The Hustler and The Color of Money. Anytime I have to walk up (or down for that matter) some stairs to get to a pool hall, I consider it a good thing. Columbia Road Billiards has been open since 1931 and you can imagine it back in the days when pool halls were everywhere and catered to a diverse clientele, and the halls didn't all try to act like the same sports bar on steroids that they do nowadays. So, in summary, you won't be impressed by the decor or the state of the tables, but the atmosphere and the players make this hall one to check out if you haven't already and to return to if you already have.
Well, I'm happy to report that I was wrong. I finally made it over to Columbia Road Billiards in Dorchester, and while the equipment is nothing to write home about it (neither is Jillian's or anywhere in Boston for that matter) and the pockets are huge, the atmosphere was that of a real pool hall. What I mean is that there was no jukebox, no big screen TVs, basically nothing superfluous in the joint. There were several action games going on when I walked in and people came up to me within the first 15 minutes or so asking to gamble. There was woofing and trash talking, which you don't see enough of in the halls catering to college kids and non-pool players, which dominate what's left of the pool hall scene in the Boston area. There were 9-ball and 8-ball games going on, as well as some billiards action.
On top of all this, you have to walk up a flight of stairs to get to the pool hall, which brings back memories of Chris's in Chicago and scenes in the The Hustler and The Color of Money. Anytime I have to walk up (or down for that matter) some stairs to get to a pool hall, I consider it a good thing. Columbia Road Billiards has been open since 1931 and you can imagine it back in the days when pool halls were everywhere and catered to a diverse clientele, and the halls didn't all try to act like the same sports bar on steroids that they do nowadays. So, in summary, you won't be impressed by the decor or the state of the tables, but the atmosphere and the players make this hall one to check out if you haven't already and to return to if you already have.
jems
Registered
New Bedford
Wow that brought back memories of a small pool hall in New Bedford area I played in once-over twenty years ago! I remember going upstairs to only 10-15 tables tops. Nothing but an old guy that reliogously brushed down every table after someone left. I dont dare go back and try to find it- I fear it is long gone and replaced with a Mcdonalds. I played at Mr.Billiards in Framingham-long gone. A place in Plainville-gone. Why dont pool halls last? high rent? computer generation? I really miss the classic pool hall!
Wow that brought back memories of a small pool hall in New Bedford area I played in once-over twenty years ago! I remember going upstairs to only 10-15 tables tops. Nothing but an old guy that reliogously brushed down every table after someone left. I dont dare go back and try to find it- I fear it is long gone and replaced with a Mcdonalds. I played at Mr.Billiards in Framingham-long gone. A place in Plainville-gone. Why dont pool halls last? high rent? computer generation? I really miss the classic pool hall!
Thanks for visiting Columbia road 1pktfool seriously its what Walter Tevis wrote about in the Hustler (a low key Benningtons). I'm off to FLA this AM If I see any place good I'll let ya know. Keep Boston alive...