Of course not.
I was impressed and that's why I provided the link to the story about UJ Puckett. You are riding tall in the saddle.
JoeyA
San Jose Dick McMorran. An interesting man
- Thread starter Alf Taylor
- Start date
Of course not.
I was impressed and that's why I provided the link to the story about UJ Puckett. You are riding tall in the saddle.
JoeyA
always great to read!
Dick was and still is the real deal. Always great to read anything he writes. Seems like he is what Fats always claimed to be, triple smart! He can also talk about the old times with the authenticy of someone that was there, and that talked the talk and walked the walk.
One of the good guys and there are fewer left every time we look around. We need to pump him for all we can get out of him, stories that is!
Hu
Dick was and still is the real deal. Always great to read anything he writes. Seems like he is what Fats always claimed to be, triple smart! He can also talk about the old times with the authenticy of someone that was there, and that talked the talk and walked the walk.
One of the good guys and there are fewer left every time we look around. We need to pump him for all we can get out of him, stories that is!
Hu
Thanks a bunch Hu..I don't believe I was ever 'triple smart', but let me regale you guys with a story from days gone by!
Many years ago, when I was just a dumb kid of 20 or so..I took a road trip from San Jose, to Az and Texas, with a good buddy of mine, Santa Clara John Hoffman!..It was very lucrative at first..I was beating everybody I played, at 9ball and golf..So instead of heading back home, we headed east..Bring on the world!
We picked up some decent money in Dallas and Ft. Worth..The bankroll was piling up!..We then wound up in Shreveport, La. where we busted the whole town!....A couple of big money men, (who were impressed with my play) cut into us and said they had a spot in New Orleans, where we could win some really big money!..They would bankroll it, so naturally we said 'bring it on'!..The spot turned out to be Earl Heisler's pool room in NOLA!
Well, there was no way I could overcome a player of his caliber, (especially at one pocket, which was all he would play) in his own joint, with his control over the AC, humidity, wet tables, etc.!..Long story short, we all got busted!..The two big gorillas that had brought us there, were not really all that pool savvy to begin with..They accused me of dumping their money off, and threatened us with our lives.
We somehow escaped, (with a few bumps and bruises) and limped back home!..It was a lesson well learned!..I never again let anyone stake me, unless I knew them quite well, and they knew me!..Pool is a tough enough racket as it is, without having to overcome both the guy you are playing, and the guys betting on you!
A few years later, I exacted my revenge on Heisler. Got him out of his own room, and beat him pretty good in Baton Rouge!..He remembered the awkward incident of our first meeting, but obviously there was nothing he could have done..He was a real gentleman to gamble with!
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Taki, where was Circus pool room located? It was before my time, so just being curious. California Billiards on Stevens Creek and Lawrence Exp was the room of my youth.
Did find this link when searching, but no address.
http://www.onepocket.org/SanJoseDickMcMorranHOF.htm
Dave, the Circus was right near downtown, at 4th st. and Santa Clara..At the time I had the Circus, the original California Billiards, was a ratty old joint right downtown on south 1st street!..It eventually went under, and I guess the place on Stevens Creek just took over the name!..I have never even been in the new Cal. Billiards, but I have heard its a real nice room!
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Yes Taki, Chuck Bailey and I were real good drinking buddies!..He and I were the home guard in San Jose for many years..We took several road trips together..But quite often we'd get bored and play each other, sometimes pretty high $$$ too, but we always had each others back!..Our wives were also real good friends, and they'd really get pissed when we gambled with each other.
..I sure miss those good old days too. 
PS..Did I know you?..I don't remember that name.."Taki"
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Thanks SJD. The lineage of pool rooms in this area has always been an interest of mine.
The Circus may have stood where the new San Jose City Hall stands today. It's a huge property on the SE corner of Santa Clara an 4th.
Interesting, California Billiards (or at least the name) had another location before the Stevens Creek iteration. There is now a pool hall on South 1st street called South First Street Billiards that caters to more of a nightclub atmosphere, and the equipment is not taken care of. The drunks beat the tables up nightly.
If I can ever get a minute with Chris @ California Billiard Club, I plan on asking him about the early lineage of the name.
If you get the chance, you should take in the West Coast Challenge next summer at California Billiard Club. Hell, Daniel from POV Pool would probably chain you to the chair in the stream booth to hear your tales from the road. It is a fantastic room.
thanks for the story dick
as you know since i went to school in new orleans n the 1970's (your encounters were probably before that i would guess...:grin-square
i love hearing stories about him having watched him play many a road player
great to hear from alfie that you are doing well
Thanks Dave..It has been quite a few yrs. since I was last in downtown SJ..The Circus was actually right next to a filling station on the SE corner of that intersection, so I guess it was replaced by the new CH..The old Calif. Billiards used to be about 3 blks so. of Santa Clara, on the West side of 1st street, directly across from a movie theater!..Isn't that an enclosed (pedestrian only) mall now?
Wish I could make it to the WC Challenge, but my traveling days are long over..My kids tell me the old Fourth Street Bowl is still up and running (maybe under a new name?)..That is where most of the pool action was in my day..It is up near the 101 on 4th st...I wore out a couple cars going back and forth from the Circus!
Late Edit..Dave, I just realized when you said "Chris" (Shwart?) you have been refering to the California Billiard Club he recently reopened in Fremont!..All along I have been referring to 'both' the old, and the new Cal. Billiards in San Jose!..They were both called simply "California Billiards"..Not the "California Billiard Club"...Sorry for the confusion! :sorry:
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thanks for the story dick
as you know since i went to school in new orleans n the 1970's (your encounters were probably before that i would guess...:grin-square
i love hearing stories about him having watched him play many a road player
great to hear from alfie that you are doing well
Larry, I do remember you being a big 'Heisler fan'..Good guy, good player!..Yes, it was very early 60's first time Earl and I played..It was even before I started playing RA, and I couldn't even spell 'one pocket'! ..Our 2nd play, (in Baton Rouge) was about 10-12 yrs. later!..You must have missed that one
..Hope you are doing well too!
Los Gatos Taki
Registered
Hi Dick,
I do not believe we ever officially met. I did quickly meet chuck through a friend Bobby Hawkins. I was not good enough to be noticed. I did play some matches and many long ring games. I was just someone who saw you around the pool table. Some of the players I got to know were, Chuck Wagner, Rags, a good player from Los Gatos, through Redwood City, who played with one eye, and Cole Dickson, when he was a young up coming player. I was never anywhere near a player as these players and yourself. But I did enjoy watching the action. I have taken enough of you time. Thanks for the question.
Taki
I do not believe we ever officially met. I did quickly meet chuck through a friend Bobby Hawkins. I was not good enough to be noticed. I did play some matches and many long ring games. I was just someone who saw you around the pool table. Some of the players I got to know were, Chuck Wagner, Rags, a good player from Los Gatos, through Redwood City, who played with one eye, and Cole Dickson, when he was a young up coming player. I was never anywhere near a player as these players and yourself. But I did enjoy watching the action. I have taken enough of you time. Thanks for the question.
Taki
Thanks pt109! It was a fun time in my life to see those larger than life road players come through the Sport Palace.
JoeyA
Taki, funny you should mention Cole Dickson..He was born and raised in Fremont. (just 20 mi. north of San Jose)..When he was just a kid learning to play, he would load up his backers, and come to challenge me, or Chuck at the Circus..Even as a young kid, he made everything he shot at, but our experience would usually prevail, and we would send him home broke!
Luckily, (for me) I moved to Dallas before he really hit his stride as a top player!..We eventually became good friends, and we took off some decent scores when I steered him around Texas..Coley was a great guy, and a hell of a player for the cash!..He left us way too soon! :frown:
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Thanks Dave..It has been quite a few yrs. since I was last in downtown SJ..The Circus was actually right next to a filling station on the SE corner of that intersection, so I guess it was replaced by the new CH..The old Calif. Billiards used to be about 3 blks so. of Santa Clara, on the West side of 1st street, directly across from a movie theater!..Isn't that an enclosed (pedestrian only) mall now?
Wish I could make it to the WC Challenge, but my traveling days are long over..My kids tell me the old Fourth Street Bowl is still up and running (maybe under a new name?)..That is where most of the pool action was in my day..It is up near the 101 on 4th st...I wore out a couple cars going back and forth from the Circus!
Late Edit..Dave, I just realized when you said "Chris" (Shwart?) you have been refering to the California Billiard Club he recently reopened in Fremont!..All along I have been referring to 'both' the old, and the new Cal. Billiards in San Jose!..They were both called simply "California Billiards"..Not the "California Billiard Club"...Sorry for the confusion! :sorry:
SJD, yes the Fourth Street Bowl is still there under the same name. The patrons are probably a little more seedy than you remember, but it is there with 4 pool tables.
We're on the same page as far as California Billiard Club goes. Chris has the Fremont location, and had the Mt View spot. When Chris and I cross paths, I'll get the info on the Stevens Creek and First Street name affiliations, if there is any. Think you are correct; the Stevens Creek location was just California Billiards now that I think about it. If you had grown roots in San Jose, you would have spent a lot of time there; it was where all the action was for over two decades. Not a dump like South First Street.
You were probably around when Original Joe's opened up on San Carlos and First?
Here's a picture of where Circus Billiards was located. It was taken in 1975.
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Thanks a lot Dave..Brings back lots of good mems!..I assume the other pic is the new city hall?..I am a little confused though, was it taken from the opposite direction?.. Yes, enjoyed many a great meal at Original Joe's..Did you know that location was originally the "Garden City Billiards and Card Room"? ..When the Dallas brothers turned it into O.J.s, they built a nice huge card room up just off Stevens Creek Blvd. (no pool though)
That tall white bldg. in the background of the Circus pic, was the life blood of the Circus..It was full of Dr's., Dentists, and Lawyers, 90% of whom used to bet sports and horses with us!..That, and being only a few blocks from the SJS university campus, kept the place hopping at all hours!..We had 4 pay-off pinball machines, that used to pay most of our overhead every month!..Time does not always change things for the better, does it? :sorry:
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SJD, yes, that is the new (10 years) city hall. The older picture is captioned saying it is Santa Clara St @ 4th looking east.
http://www.bvnasj.org/SanJose19752006.htm
What that picture yells out is all the smog that used to be in this valley before unleaded gas and catalytic converters. There are brown hills that should show up in that picture that are less than 10 miles away, Today, they would be crystal clear on most days. Looking west would show the Santa Cruz mountains.
Did not know that the Original Joe's building was Garden City at one time. The Garden City off Stevens Creek at Saratoga moved 5 years ago to over off Hwy 101 in San Jose. Original Joe's is still there and doing well.
Did you know a guy named Len Rovai? He owned Len's Billiard Supply in this area for many years until he retired about 4 years ago. Something tells me he was part of the pool scene in this area around your time. He was a hustler! Buy a cue from him, and he'd want to play you for it immediately after the sale. He'd even play left-handed if that is was what it took. Never fell into that trap.
Here are a few pictures from San Jose in the 50's.
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Boy you are sure recreating many years gone by for me...No, I do not remember the cue maker (Len Roval) you mentioned, but I may well have known him then..60 yrs. can dull a lot of brain cells!
....Thanks so much for taking the time to post all those pics..I moved my young family from Colo. to San Jose in 1955..We first lived in Cupertino, obviously long before it became known as 'Silicon Valley'..Almost every one of those pics trips a trigger!..I have been sharing them with my four 'kids' (who are all around 60 now
)...Thanks again Dave!Dick
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