The good old days, Part 3

[Bob Callahan]

I see in the papers that pool is now played by college boys and suburban families in wholesome, well-lighted establishments where you couldn't get a bet down if you were shooting with broken fingers. Which makes me sad. Pool halls were perfectly sleazy in my day. The guys were often downright unpleasant, and a lot of them were such creeps you wouldn't introduce them to G. Gordon Liddy, let alone Mom.

From: Once Men Were Men, Pool Halls Were Pool Halls And Sleazy Was Sleazy (SI, 1982)

P.S.: I had talked with G. Gordon once...a very interesting guy.

 

[Bob Jewett]

From: Once Men Were Men, Pool Halls Were Pool Halls And Sleazy Was Sleazy (SI, 1982)

P.S.: I had talked with G. Gordon once...a very interesting guy.

The last pool hall I saw that was like the one described was Cochran's in San Francisco. No table newer than about 1940. Three green-shaded lights over each table and you couldn't really see the people seated in the chairs around the sides of the room. Ivory balls for the billiard table.

 

[SpiderWebComm]

I clicked through to this story from your story:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1129513/index.htm

Good article on Mosconi/pool.

 

[BarneyCalip]

Cochran's Three Cushion Nirvana

Bob, don't forget the smell of urine as you walked up the steps.