Special Message From CHICAGO BILLIARD MUSEUM

Mr. Bond

Mr. Bond

Orbis Non Sufficit
Gold Member
Silver Member
Ladies and Gentlemen it is time. It is time to put your past in front of you.

Your past in front of you? What does that mean?

You've probably heard the old expression many times; " Quit living in the past.." or perhaps " Put your past behind you ...", which can really be sage advice in certain circumstances.

However, when you think about it, EXPERIENCE is your greatest and most valuable tool in this life. Everything you have ever learned, studied, practiced or rehearsed is what makes you who you are. So instead of shunning your past as something to never be reflected upon again, go take a good look in the mirror at someone who is an encyclopedia of life, and an expert at being you. Your past is not dead and gone, your past is THE FOUNDATION of your future.

"Foundation" is another word for history, and as a pool or billiards player, you know that your history of practice and drills are the only reliable path to success. And the same applies to the pool and billiard industry at-large. It must have a sound foundation, treat that foundation with respect, and call upon it's knowledge and experience for the sake of it's own future.

Right now, this is not happening. From at least the public's perspective, pool and billiards in the U.S. is a somewhat hollow shell. Despite it's long and abundant history in this country, it has propped itself up with popsicle sticks and duct tape and has no soul. Don't look inside because there is nothing to see. Our culture is rarely embraced, by the public or our own people, because it is largely misunderstood or misrepresented, and our history and experience is not called upon to correct it.

Lessons learned are forgotten, past champions and industry leaders are swept under the rug or ignored. Why have we forsaken the immense foundation and tradition of billiards and pool that has permeated every corner of this country from day one?

Cue up the patriot music -

It is time to put our past in front of us. We deserve to be here. Pool and billiards isn't some sort of ancient criminal enterprise, it is the ultimate exercise of body and mind, and we've known this for hundreds of years. The rest of the world needs to understand this too.

Before touchdowns and star-quarterbacks, we packed venues with thousands of hungry billiard fans. Before home-runs and no-hitters, we were playing championship matches for 10k until 3 in the morning. Before the NBA, NFL, NHL, MLB or even electric lights, billiard stars were headline news across the country, for decades. The rest of the world needs to understand this too.

Look back, and look down, beneath your feet. The foundation is there. History has already been made, and we made it. Let us bring that past out of the closet and use it, and present it to the world, as the long-standing pursuit of excellence that it truly is. This isn't the story of ancient peoples long ago in galaxy far far away, this is the story of us, and what we do, as Americans, who have played cue sports in this country from the day of its birth.


Can I get an AMEN !


*Chicago Billiard Museum To Build A New World-Class Website And Database*

SEE THE OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/ZSHTsQpAVGY
 
Going to buy some of those sweet pictures soon! I always need an excuse to feel good about buying pool-related items, now I know I'll be helping out with your awesome site...

Can't wait to see the new and improved Museum!
 
Amen for all the hard work and research you do, and your great contributions to this forum. Amen again and thanks!
 
Mr Bond,

Thanks for the post and the work you do for the game of pocket billiards.

Got to tell you, trying to save the past is becoming more and more difficult. The small project Chris Braiman and myself have undertaken to identify some "pro" players in a group of photos taken by his Dad is more difficult than we thought. There are nearly 70 photos now hung at East Ridge Billiards in Rochester with too many unknowns. Would have thought the vast store of knowledge here at AZ would have solved a few more. Seems the past is disappearing faster than we thought.

To make matters worse, most of the players who used to frequent the room left no photographic history. That is other than Mr. Crane, Mike Sigel and Larry Hubbart. Players like Charlie DiRizio, Gil Finale, Harvey Davis, Ernie Pavone and other players of their era pretty much disappeared without a photgraphic trace. Jerome Keogh, inventor of 14.1 as we know it, is barely remembered in the city he lived and played in.

Perhaps one saving grace is the proliferation of cell phone cameras. They photos used to "out" the road players may record some of the history of the game for future players. One can only hope.

Lyn
 
cardiac kid said:
Mr Bond,

Thanks for the post and the work you do for the game of pocket billiards.

Got to tell you, trying to save the past is becoming more and more difficult. The small project Chris Braiman and myself have undertaken to identify some "pro" players in a group of photos taken by his Dad is more difficult than we thought. There are nearly 70 photos now hung at East Ridge Billiards in Rochester with too many unknowns. Would have thought the vast store of knowledge here at AZ would have solved a few more. Seems the past is disappearing faster than we thought.

To make matters worse, most of the players who used to frequent the room left no photographic history. That is other than Mr. Crane, Mike Sigel and Larry Hubbart. Players like Charlie DiRizio, Gil Finale, Harvey Davis, Ernie Pavone and other players of their era pretty much disappeared without a photgraphic trace. Jerome Keogh, inventor of 14.1 as we know it, is barely remembered in the city he lived and played in.

Perhaps one saving grace is the proliferation of cell phone cameras. They photos used to "out" the road players may record some of the history of the game for future players. One can only hope.

Lyn
Click to expand...

You are correct fine sir, some of the history has already been lost, and some is being lost. Something has to be done, and we know of no other entity working as actively on this as we are. Which is a shame when you think about it.

Billiards - the oldest professionally organized sport on this continent and we don't have a proper hall of records or museum? Its baffling. And it must be changed.

From the White House to the jail-house, pool and billiards has permeated American culture from top to bottom and it's time to claim our spot in the history books.
 
Amen Mr. Bond.

I appreciate your museum work and your AZ contributions.

John
 
You are welcome to use our ICA Hall of Fame info if you want a cuemakers legends section for your museum. You might find pictures of them or their cues to go along with the names and info we have. If you do we will link your site from our Hall of Fame page. Just an idea.
 
cueman said:
You are welcome to use our ICA Hall of Fame info if you want a cuemakers legends section for your museum. You might find pictures of them or their cues to go along with the names and info we have. If you do we will link your site from our Hall of Fame page. Just an idea.
Click to expand...

Chris we definitely have plans for a special section devoted to cues and cue makers, so we'll be getting with you guys and a few other great sources to bring it all together.

Don't mean to put cues on the back burner, it's just a giant project and we haven't gotten to your number on the list yet :) But it's coming up, be ready. I will be pestering you more than you want me to
 
MLIS programs

An idea for you is to find out the colleges local to you that have MLIS programs. That would be Masters in Library Science. Perhaps you can get some help doing some of the grunt work from them. You would get the help and it would part of an assignment from their professors.
 
Amen!

A big "Amen" and thanks to you. I rarely leave Alaska and I am not comfortable in big crowds and big cities. I did make a big 20 state driving trip with my wife last fall and I became aware of the Chicago Billiard Museum when I visited a friend in Michigan and told myself if I ever go there again I will visit the museum in Chicago.

I grew up in pool halls in Iowa in the 50's and 60's. I played 8 Ball, 14.1, Snooker, 3 Cushion, Golf and Pea Pool. These were clean rooms and patrons were respectful to each other and the game. They did not tolerate poor behavior, poor sportsmanship and foul language. Sadly, they are all gone now.

I was surprised to find a bunch of good 9' tables and a big Snooker table on the 3rd floor at the University of Michigan. My pool shooting buddy has a friend who teaches pool and gives lessons there. I was happy to see and hear that.

I wish you much success and thanks again for the good work you are doing.
 
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