Ronnie Allen Has Passed
- Thread starter JAM
- Start date
i think, 74, but could be wrong.
Mary, what a great photo of Ronnie Allen. Wow! Thanks so much for sharing that as well as your memories. I enjoyed the read.
To contribute to this thread for the purposes of future generations of AzBilliards readers who may never have gotten the opportunity to meet and know Ronnie Allen, I must create a record, 'cause that's what I like to do for pool. Ronnie's Wiki article will be forthcoming.
One of the few video clips of Johnston City features Mosconi Fats speaking, who's another of pool's most colorful characters, but it also features Ronnie Allen when he was on top of the pool world.
The commentator says this about Ronnie: When "Fast Eddie" Ronnie Allen steps into the red-carpeted pit for a game of 9-ball, the Texas carnival owner will give you a $200 bet faster than Fast Eddie can chalk his cue, and the hustler will shoot as long as the action lasts. More money changes hands in the stands in one hour than a cashier at the Bank of Johnston City sees in a week.
Check out a young Ronnie Allen in 1972 at Counter No. 00:01:22: Johnston City Pool Hustling.
John, thank you so much. Keith is in bad shape right now, physically and emotionally. The passing of Ronnie has hit him hard at this time in his life. Grief is the price we pay for love in this life.
Hope all is well with you and yours, John. In the end, family trumps everything, even pool.
Ronnie Allen may have never realized what an impact he has had and will continue to have in this pool world, much like an artist is sometimes not appreciated until long after they pass. I hope Ronnie's family and friends are comforted in the forthcoming days knowing that the legend of Ronnie Allen will be remembered always.
Jen,
Isn't it sad to see it took the passing of RA to bring so many players, railbirds and just plain folks together at AZ. No sharking, posturing or hate on this thread. Only love and respect for a great one lost.
To you and Keith. Only time will heal your wounds. Always hard to lose someone you care about. It was great to hear from both of you. Perhaps somewhere down the trail? Seems we're all heading off into the sunset.
Lyn
Isn't it sad to see it took the passing of RA to bring so many players, railbirds and just plain folks together at AZ. No sharking, posturing or hate on this thread. Only love and respect for a great one lost.
To you and Keith. Only time will heal your wounds. Always hard to lose someone you care about. It was great to hear from both of you. Perhaps somewhere down the trail? Seems we're all heading off into the sunset.
Lyn
WOW, what sad words and I can really feel for Keith now. I felt at least similar when Danny died just weeks back.
Ronnie Allen lived a full life and did it his way. Regrets? Sure we all have those, but I suspect he is regretting some things he did, not what he didn't do.
he called me back about 5-6 years ago on the 23rd of December form California. He wasn't wearing his teeth and he conversation went like this:
"hey, this is Wonnie" he said,
"What's going on and where are you" I said.
"i'm in Weading" he said.
"Where are you " I asked again.
"Dammit, I 'm in Weading Kalipornia"he said.
"You mean reading" I asked.
"Dats what I said" he stated.
"So what's up " I asked anticipating the answer.
"Bud, I can't catch a woll, I caught a cold and was driving along i-5, rolled down the winduh and had to pit and pit my teef out." he said.
"Ronnie, you used this same story on me about 6 months ago" I said.
"oh, oh, well then, merry qistmas" He said as he hung up.
i laughed for about 20 minutes afterwards. he was one of a kind and the most colorful individual i have known.
He was one of Danny's favorites and I suspect he is trapping Danny right now.
God bless them all!
Ironman,
Read it twice just to be sure. Only Ronnie could have pulled that stunt off. Nearly twice!
Ronnie once "borrowed" some dollars from a friend of mine. He was driving a minivan at the time. Left it in my friends driveway while he traveled. Eventually couldn't repay so he gave my friend the title. Of course the transmission was no good. Wouldn't have expected anything less than that from "Fast Eddie".
Regardless of all the stunts Ronnie pulled on friend and foe alike, he really was a one of a kind individual. There may never be another like him.
Got to spend some time with Ronnie driving from Vegas to Reno and back several years ago. Can only wish now I'd had a tape recorder to remember most of those fourteen hours of nearly (one beer, one shot, one glass of ice) non stop stories.
You can't rest yet Ronnie. Fats is waiting for that rematch!
Lyn
Read it twice just to be sure. Only Ronnie could have pulled that stunt off. Nearly twice!
Ronnie once "borrowed" some dollars from a friend of mine. He was driving a minivan at the time. Left it in my friends driveway while he traveled. Eventually couldn't repay so he gave my friend the title. Of course the transmission was no good. Wouldn't have expected anything less than that from "Fast Eddie".
Regardless of all the stunts Ronnie pulled on friend and foe alike, he really was a one of a kind individual. There may never be another like him.
Got to spend some time with Ronnie driving from Vegas to Reno and back several years ago. Can only wish now I'd had a tape recorder to remember most of those fourteen hours of nearly (one beer, one shot, one glass of ice) non stop stories.
You can't rest yet Ronnie. Fats is waiting for that rematch!
Lyn
I had admired Ronnie Allen's game on tape for ten or fifteen years, but had never met him. A year or two ago at the Derby City Classic, I took the opportunity to join him when he was sitting at a table alone. We (meaning "he") talked about many things. I did manage at one point to stop the flood and tell him that I owned at least two hundred Accu-Stats videotapes and DVD's, but that if I could only keep one, it would be the set of him playing Danny DiLiberto the marathon match. Now I'm glad I managed to wedge that in.
Here is a tribute from a non-pool player. I was asked once by a woman I know who has never played pool what the idea of one-pocket was. I said I could show her a tape of it if she wanted to see. I pulled down the Accu-States tape of Ronnie playing JR Gay. For the first six shots or so, both players play nip and tuck safeties. Then JR leaves the edge of a ball. Ronnie fires the ball in and runs eight and out elegantly. My friend said, completely involuntarily, "Oh! Now I get it!"
Here is a tribute from a non-pool player. I was asked once by a woman I know who has never played pool what the idea of one-pocket was. I said I could show her a tape of it if she wanted to see. I pulled down the Accu-States tape of Ronnie playing JR Gay. For the first six shots or so, both players play nip and tuck safeties. Then JR leaves the edge of a ball. Ronnie fires the ball in and runs eight and out elegantly. My friend said, completely involuntarily, "Oh! Now I get it!"
RA Road Stories
Id recommend listening to these stories told by Ronnie for those of us who didn't have a chance to meet him in person. This is such sad news to hear that he's gone.
James
Id recommend listening to these stories told by Ronnie for those of us who didn't have a chance to meet him in person. This is such sad news to hear that he's gone.
James
Very sad news indeed. I first met Ronnie in 1967. Even though I haven't seen him in a number of years, I will never forget him. He was a fabulous one pocket player and in his day unbeatable at one handed one pocket. He always kept things interesting to say the least.
R.I.P Ronnie. You will be missed by many.
R.I.P Ronnie. You will be missed by many.
I am saddened by this news. I work a bar in a sports book and talk with Ronnie 3 times a week. I will miss him and his stories very much. I will miss him driving my cocktail servers nuts. R. I. P. my friend.
R.I.P :crying:
I read this thread a couple more times and listened to some of the audio of RA talking. Yeah i'm going to miss him-more than I thought. And I agree put him in a room with 20 poker players, pool players, pimps and hustlers and RA would be the last one standing with all the $$. He had swagger alright. Only Fat's and Cornbread would have had a chance if there was such a thing,
Miss Him--Hell this Gent was one of the biggest Legands that ever came of the game we love--I remember the story of Ronnie setting off for the East Coast and Weenie Beanie was going to be one of his Biggest scores--Beanie heard of what was a coming at him, and knew RA was going to New Orleans first--and Beanie flew down there to trap him--which he did and then brought RA back to DC and made they both made money---and were freinds for ever after---increadable
Hey Jen...Seems like we're losing the guys one after another...I like what you said about grief being the price we pay for loving these guys. Just got back from Derby & the One Pocket Hall of Fame Dinner. Was great to see everyone but each year a couple more are gone. Give Keith a hug for me & keep one for yourself. I know you're busy but give me a call when you get a chance...miss you guys.
Mare
Mare
My favorite Ronnie Allen story.
A friend who has long since passed related this story to me. Ronnie was at Whitey's place in Tacoma and made a prop bet. One handed spot shot and the cue ball does not touch a rail, one attempt, for all the money anyone wanted to bet.. He said all of the pockets were full of money and Ronnie made the shot.
A friend who has long since passed related this story to me. Ronnie was at Whitey's place in Tacoma and made a prop bet. One handed spot shot and the cue ball does not touch a rail, one attempt, for all the money anyone wanted to bet.. He said all of the pockets were full of money and Ronnie made the shot.
I am asking please to Mike Howerton to get a writeup on the home page of AZ Billiards and also to Steve Booth for the same at www.onepocket.org. This man was the definition of a pool player for his whole life and deserves it.