Some Older Pool Pics

watchez

watchez

What time is it?
Silver Member
As some of you may have read, The Sportscenter - a pool room here in St Louis - closed it's doors this week after 24 years. It is truly like one of my close friends died. The owners were kind enough to allow me to obtain some of the pictures that were hung up in the room. I took a quick pic of many of them with my cell phone. You can see my dumb a$$ as a shadow in the glass on some of them - eventually I will scan them in or take better pics. Anyways, most of these are now in my possession and I thought I would share.

Allen Hopkins
2241951160102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Buddy Hall
2228118790102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Earl Strickland
2436131120102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Jimmy Caras
2774922040102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Johnny Archer
2242547800102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Kim Davenport
2109869950102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Mike Sigel
2819745990102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Nick Varner
2186029040102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


2562630560102984961S500x500Q85.jpg


Willie Mosconi
2952439520102984961S500x500Q85.jpg
 
thanks for the pics... I know the pain of having a place with so many memories and a part of your life, close.

I have never seen a picture or video, from the Earl Strickland million dollar rack run. Is the only one you've seen? So that was snapped while he was down on that million dollar combo? It is so close to the table and in front of him, and this was back in the days of no digital cameras.

I wonder if they restaged the shot for posterity?

Any thoughts on this? Well, since it's your room, you probably know the whole story of that photo.. care to share?
 
It wasn't my room. It was a friend's pool room. That is why I said 'the owners'.

I am sure Earl could answer about the pic, if it was staged or not.
 
That would be a great-exceptional pic if it were in real time and original.And if it's a copy,it's still nice to have.
 
watchez said:
It wasn't my room. It was a friend's pool room. That is why I said 'the owners'.

I am sure Earl could answer about the pic, if it was staged or not.
Click to expand...

I was using "your room" in the context of it being a pool room that you were a frequent patron of.
 
"CaliRed". said:
thanks for the pics... I know the pain of having a place with so many memories and a part of your life, close.

I have never seen a picture or video, from the Earl Strickland million dollar rack run. Is the only one you've seen? So that was snapped while he was down on that million dollar combo? It is so close to the table and in front of him, and this was back in the days of no digital cameras.

I wonder if they restaged the shot for posterity?

Any thoughts on this? Well, since it's your room, you probably know the whole story of that photo.. care to share?
Click to expand...

IIRC, that picture of Earl shooting that combination was taken a few minutes after the match against Nick Mannino was over. He had set the shot up up again, and he missed. That is why Roger Griffis is smiling in the background.
 
Also - that same picture of Earl recreating the Million Dollar shot appeared in Billiards Digest - I forget which issue - I just remember Earl was smoking a stogy on the cover.
 
Very cool pool pictures. What a great catch, Watchez. :)

That Louie Roberts sure did have some long legs. Wow! :cool:
 
Blackjack said:
IIRC, that picture of Earl shooting that combination was taken a few minutes after the match against Nick Mannino was over. He had set the shot up up again, and he missed. That is why Roger Griffis is smiling in the background.
Click to expand...

Thanks... I was thinking there was no way someone stood close to the table, right in full view of him shooting, on a million dollar shot:D

But taken minutes or hours later, or the same day, is good enough for me.

I have read it was recorded a certain no. of racks into it. If I remember right, no one knew why it has never surfaced. I think some guesses were made, but no one was quite sure.

Very cool pics though... I love old pics of when pool was pool. Back when it was played in smoke infested, dark, dirty pool rooms and people gambled and hustled.:D
 
Watchez,
WOW!!! It puts my collection to shame. You are very lucky.

What are my chances of purchasing, or getting a good copy of the '93 WPBA poster (has a pic of a good friend of mine who doesn't have this pic)????

The same for the "landscape" black and white Louie Roberts photo (I don't have a photo of him for Betmore's Basement, most are black and white).
 
"CaliRed". said:
Thanks... I was thinking there was no way someone stood close to the table, right in full view of him shooting, on a million dollar shot:D

But taken minutes or hours later, or the same day, is good enough for me.

I have read it was recorded a certain no. of racks into it. If I remember right, no one knew why it has never surfaced. I think some guesses were made, but no one was quite sure.

Very cool pics though... I love old pics of when pool was pool. Back when it was played in smoke infested, dark, dirty pool rooms and people gambled and hustled.:D
Click to expand...

CJ Wiley has the video of the actual Million Dollar Shot - hopefully it will be available on DVD in the near future.
 
I'm sorry to hear of the closing of another classic room, very sorry. Those are some great photos that will bring back some great memories. It looks like '93 was a good year for the WPBA.
:p
 
Williebetmore said:
Watchez,
WOW!!! It puts my collection to shame. You are very lucky.

What are my chances of purchasing, or getting a good copy of the '93 WPBA poster (has a pic of a good friend of mine who doesn't have this pic)????

The same for the "landscape" black and white Louie Roberts photo (I don't have a photo of him for Betmore's Basement, most are black and white).
Click to expand...

The Louie Robert pictures were 'off limits' to me. My friend also has his US Open trophy along with some of Louie's cues, etc. - a wood plaque of the United States. I am going to see about getting the pics reproduced for myself. Most of them are quite large so I am not sure how to go about doing that.

JAM - Louie wasn't that tall. I am sure Keith could tell you that. I think it was the clothing style at the time that gave people that appearance. Nowadays, the style is for 'pants on the ground' makiing everyone look like they have no legs. :) Oh and JAM, I should have taken a pic but he had a jockey's shirt (I am sure there is an official name for it that I can't think of) that was orange with a big 8 Ball on it. My friend, the pool room owner, has owned horses and he had this one jockey wear it from time to time.

WillieBetmore - I actually thought of you when I pulled that poster off the wall. It is not in the greatest of shapes as it was hung in the back of the room where most of the water damage was going on and the moisture didn't do it well. You can see the slight wrinkles in the pic I took. Anyways, you can have the poster as again I thought of you. I'll take a hug from 'your good friend' and one also from you for it. :)

I was also able to sequester this out of the room - Now time to start the 'Watchez Basement'

2520346580102984961S600x600Q85.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top