The good olde days

3andstop

3andstop

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Well, I just thought I'd post a thread reminiscing the good olde days in the pool rooms as I remember them. I guess I'm just really missing those times.

I can remember when poolrooms were open at 9am, there was always a rotation game going with players getting in and getting out. There were always a few good straight pool games going on. The rooms could be found in hotels, on second floors, there was even a basement bowling alley with manual reset pins with 2 5 x 10 tables. We would send a runner out for coffee and stay all day and all night.

There was never loud obscene music being played. No kids yelling out the "F" word every 2 seconds. No disrespect.

It was standard practice to pull up stools all around a good straight pool game that was about to start. Plenty of side action also.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Not like today. You wait for rooms to open at 5. Crazy mind shattering music (and I use the term music loosely) starts shortly there after and enjoying the game and immersing into it is no longer an option. A ton of video games in the background being sure you never concentrate even if the banging music stops for a second.

I do miss that olde atmosphere. Its a shame IMO the kids today may never be able to enjoy it as it was. Oh well, thats whats been on my mind about pool rooms. I'll bet there are still a few of these rooms hiding about somewhere ... I'd love to find one near enough to enjoy once again.
 
3andstop said:
Well, I just thought I'd post a thread reminiscing the good olde days in the pool rooms as I remember them. I guess I'm just really missing those times.

I can remember when poolrooms were open at 9am, there was always a rotation game going with players getting in and getting out. There were always a few good straight pool games going on. The rooms could be found in hotels, on second floors, there was even a basement bowling alley with manual reset pins with 2 5 x 10 tables. We would send a runner out for coffee and stay all day and all night.

There was never loud obscene music being played. No kids yelling out the "F" word every 2 seconds. No disrespect.

It was standard practice to pull up stools all around a good straight pool game that was about to start. Plenty of side action also.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Not like today. You wait for rooms to open at 5. Crazy mind shattering music (and I use the term music loosely) starts shortly there after and enjoying the game and immersing into it is no longer an option. A ton of video games in the background being sure you never concentrate even if the banging music stops for a second.

I do miss that olde atmosphere. Its a shame IMO the kids today may never be able to enjoy it as it was. Oh well, thats whats been on my mind about pool rooms. I'll bet there are still a few of these rooms hiding about somewhere ... I'd love to find one near enough to enjoy once again.
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Yes I miss them too, and I owned one too. There was no music, no kids under 18, no women(thats not good), and no video games. Johnnyt
 
3andstop said:
Well, I just thought I'd post a thread reminiscing the good olde days in the pool rooms as I remember them. I guess I'm just really missing those times.

I can remember when poolrooms were open at 9am, there was always a rotation game going with players getting in and getting out. There were always a few good straight pool games going on. The rooms could be found in hotels, on second floors, there was even a basement bowling alley with manual reset pins with 2 5 x 10 tables. We would send a runner out for coffee and stay all day and all night.

There was never loud obscene music being played. No kids yelling out the "F" word every 2 seconds. No disrespect.

It was standard practice to pull up stools all around a good straight pool game that was about to start. Plenty of side action also.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Not like today. You wait for rooms to open at 5. Crazy mind shattering music (and I use the term music loosely) starts shortly there after and enjoying the game and immersing into it is no longer an option. A ton of video games in the background being sure you never concentrate even if the banging music stops for a second.

I do miss that olde atmosphere. Its a shame IMO the kids today may never be able to enjoy it as it was. Oh well, thats whats been on my mind about pool rooms. I'll bet there are still a few of these rooms hiding about somewhere ... I'd love to find one near enough to enjoy once again.
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I played in a lot of those second floor and basement joints in the 60's, but by the 70's they were dying out. Out here, there was an old style room called Joe Josts in Long Beach. It may actually still be around, I'm not sure.

The new style poolrooms started opening after The Hustler came out, and they replaced the old joints you're talking about. If I started to list them all, I would be going all night. The first one I ever saw was the old Red, White and Blue Billiards in downtown Dayton, Ohio in the 50's. It was on Third St. on the second floor.

And another important one for me was The Central Club in downtown Oklahoma City, where Ronnie got turned out. 7/11 was one too as was Cochran's and The Palace in S.F. McGirrs in New York was wonderfully seedy. The 211 Club (Seattle?) was around for who knows how long, forever.

When I opened The Cue Ball in Bakersfield (early 70's), there was still the old Super Cue a few blocks away. And The Eight Ball catered to the Mexican crowd. I used to go in there and play Liability on a 10' snooker table for quarters.

Hey, you know the Sport Palace in New Orleans is supposed to still be around. I'm sure a few have survived. Who can remember some of these old "poolrooms", and which ones are still around.
 
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My dad was a road player in the 1930’s until he got married in 1940. We always had a nice old Brunswick with tight pockets in the basement while I was growing up. I never played anywhere but at home until I was 14 and he started bringing me around to the bars to play. After a few weeks staking me in bars he saw how good I was. One night he sat me down at the kitchen table, poured me a beer and proceeded to tell me how to stay under the radar, not to beat any one guy for more than $50, and how to spot trouble ahead of time. He taught me how to hustle.

I took off at 16 to go on the road. I played about 90% in bars and made a decent living (where the hell did it all go?) while seeing the country. Sure I had a lot of close shaves and living out of a suitcase gets old, but I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Johnnyt
 
jay helfert said:
Who can remember some of these old "poolrooms", and which ones are still around.
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None of the old rooms are around in New York, New Jersey, or Philadelphia. The last old-style rooms in NYC were Chelsea Billiards in Manhattan and The Golden Cue in Queens -- both are now upscale clubs with different owners. In Philly, South Philly Billiards and the Boulevard were old-style rooms. Both are now defunct. In Elizabeth, NJ, West End Billiards had some of the top players in the northeast on a regular basis -- no longer exists.
 
BackPocket9Ball said:
None of the old rooms are around in New York, New Jersey, or Philadelphia. The last old-style rooms in NYC were Chelsea Billiards in Manhattan and The Golden Cue in Queens -- both are now upscale clubs with different owners. In Philly, South Philly Billiards and the Boulevard were old-style rooms. Both are now defunct. In Elizabeth, NJ, West End Billiards had some of the top players in the northeast on a regular basis -- no longer exists.
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What happened to the Hi-Cue in New Jersey? A great action room, if you liked playing Straight Pool with guys that ran 70's and 80's all day. I liked it for ONE day.
 
The older I get, the better I was. My cars then were faster. My girlfriends then were better looking. And.... Yep, I've joined in...the old guy's lament. There is much truth to that lament. Lots of areas in life, I've "been there, done that, and bought the T shirt." But now is now. Let the young guys (and girls) on this board enjoy the now. Me? Think I'll have another finger or two of bourbon and branch....;) Then was then...now is now. Damn.
 
Johnnyt said:
My dad was a road player in the 1930’s until he got married in 1940. We always had a nice old Brunswick with tight pockets in the basement while I was growing up. I never played anywhere but at home until I was 14 and he started bringing me around to the bars to play. After a few weeks staking me in bars he saw how good I was. One night he sat me down at the kitchen table, poured me a beer and proceeded to tell me how to stay under the radar, not to beat any one guy for more than $50, and how to spot trouble ahead of time. He taught me how to hustle.

I took off at 16 to go on the road. I played about 90% in bars and made a decent living (where the hell did it all go?) while seeing the country. Sure I had a lot of close shaves and living out of a suitcase gets old, but I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Johnnyt
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I wish that was possible now a days, I just picked up my new favorite book 'Hustler Days' by R.A Dyer.....god I have just started reading it and I want to be back in those days, makes me wish I was born back then when you really could do that if you had the skill and courage.

Of course I guess you probably could do it these days but it makes me wonder what the comparison of the lifestyle would be between then and now if one was to put it all away and live on the road gambling for a living.... *shrugs*
 
York, Pa.

I Remember Young & Boozers On The Sq. And The Smoke Shop. Late 50's Early 60's. 3 Round Green Lights Above Each Table. Smoke Shop Was In A Basement, About 8 To 10 Tables As I Remember, Of What Is Now The Golden Plough Tavern A Nat. Historic Site. Layefett Proposed A Toast To Geo. Washington. Wonder If They Had Tables In It Then ?
 
lifebyfire21 said:
I wish that was possible now a days, I just picked up my new favorite book 'Hustler Days' by R.A Dyer.....god I have just started reading it and I want to be back in those days, makes me wish I was born back then when you really could do that if you had the skill and courage.

Of course I guess you probably could do it these days but it makes me wonder what the comparison of the lifestyle would be between then and now if one was to put it all away and live on the road gambling for a living.... *shrugs*
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1950 prices= Avg. income $3,216, new house $14,500, New Ford car $1400-$2200, Gas $0.20 a gal., Steak $0.75 a pound, Motel a night $7-$10, roast beef dinner in a diner $0.75- $1.00, a glass of beer in a bar $0.05.

With prices nowadays you have to play for big money to make it. Back then you could make a weeks pay in a day going to three bars playing for $1 and $2 a game. Bartables were ten cents. Johnnyt
 
RunoutalloverU said:
yep joe josts is still around
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Now that may be the oldest poolroom in the Los Angeles area. I failed to mention the old 4th and Main St. poolroom in downtown L.A. It closed sometime in the 70's. I played pool in there before Morro or Ernesto ever came to the States.
 
Johnnyt said:
1950 prices= Avg. income $3,216, new house $14,500, New Ford car $1400-$2200, Gas $0.20 a gal., Steak $0.75 a pound, Motel a night $7-$10, roast beef dinner in a diner $0.75- $1.00, a glass of beer in a bar $0.05.

With prices nowadays you have to play for big money to make it. Back then you could make a weeks pay in a day going to three bars playing for $1 and $2 a game. Bartables were ten cents. Johnnyt
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Yeah I know, nowadays you would need to have a good chunk of money saved up to bankroll yourself on the road if you decided to actually do it, I know I would like nothing but to have a huge chunk of money, a dependable car and my clothes and stuff in the back and go around the country playing pool and gambling but even with the money I make I don't think I could do it.

But seriously to make it out on the road you would probably need to have at least 100-250k now to survive very long and even then you might have a hard time finding anyone to play for the amount of cash you would need to play for a game to stay on the road, although you could probably play in a lot of local tournaments to help supply yourself if you can win and need too but that is a catch-22 because winning them could shy people away from playing you for cash thereby eliminating that angle as well.
 
Johnnyt said:
I took off at 16 to go on the road. I played about 90% in bars and made a decent living (where the hell did it all go?) while seeing the country. Sure I had a lot of close shaves and living out of a suitcase gets old, but I wouldn’t trade those years for anything. Johnnyt
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I remember when walking into ANY bar and putting a quater up you HAD to play for whatever the game was , $1 , $2 , $5 , $10...............now it seems if you go to bars looking for action you will be knee walking drunk before you find a $2 game.

Smith Billiards just outside of Springfield , Ma is still there on the second floor, old style place, been there forever it seems.
 
Chicago, early 60's, on the northside. Howard and Clark, upstairs above the Villa (pizza place). Chris the mailman owned it and Bill Romaine managed it. Pool and caroms. What a place - those were the days.
 
I understand your point and your not alone. Everyone feels this way about something. I miss when my dad used to wrestle with me when I was a kid. People, places, and things change every day. Take some advise from a youngster and next time you walk into a pool room, turn the juke box up, find one of those kids that like to say F this and F that, grab a cue and play with them a while. It’s the same game it has been for years. Music’s different. People are different. The action is different, but it is still the same game you fell in love with back in the day.

The only reason I say this is because you seem a little bitter. No need to be bitter, especially about music or video games or kids that say F@#K. I'm sure if you look hard enough you will find what you have been missing...and maybe even find something you never had.;)
 
lifebyfire21 said:
Yeah I know, nowadays you would need to have a good chunk of money saved up to bankroll yourself on the road if you decided to actually do it, I know I would like nothing but to have a huge chunk of money, a dependable car and my clothes and stuff in the back and go around the country playing pool and gambling but even with the money I make I don't think I could do it.

But seriously to make it out on the road you would probably need to have at least 100-250k now to survive very long and even then you might have a hard time finding anyone to play for the amount of cash you would need to play for a game to stay on the road, although you could probably play in a lot of local tournaments to help supply yourself if you can win and need too but that is a catch-22 because winning them could shy people away from playing you for cash thereby eliminating that angle as well.
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your correct, I have been playing with the numbers and they just dont work anymore, the action just isnt there to support the costs, unless you jump in the car like Kim did last week to play a arranged game, but to just hit a spot and hope you can scratch around and cover expenses is futile. The days of the "Road player" are gone, not to say a champion can still earn a living-but not a shortstop road player.
 
Fatboy said:
your correct, I have been playing with the numbers and they just dont work anymore, the action just isnt there to support the costs, unless you jump in the car like Kim did last week to play a arranged game, but to just hit a spot and hope you can scratch around and cover expenses is futile. The days of the "Road player" are gone, not to say a champion can still earn a living-but not a shortstop road player.
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Yeah no kidding, I am sitting here, 22 and this is something I wish I could do but your right, the money and the action just is to few and far between that it really would make things tight.

Oh and as far as the kids in the pool hall cursing and loud music and everything like that I am right with you all, I do let some cursing slip when I miss a shot due to stupidity or not taking my time but I consider myself a little more courteous than most other young guns coming into pool halls so not all of us are like that :)

Maybe once I hit the lottery I could quit working and play pool for a living....*shrugs* one can wish at least. Time to start hunting down tournaments.
 
hitting the road

Gas is going to take a big bite now but I think that hitting the road might be easier than ever. Many more people are willing to bet small almost anywhere and betting small between the big scores is the bread and butter of the road players I have met.

No need for a fancy car, a clunker is just fine. When it dies get another clunker. Find yourself a large old one, you'll be sleeping in it pretty regularly so select your ride with that in mind. You can still eat on five dollars a day. You won't dine in Delmonico's for that but neither did the old time road players. Efren reportedly lived on rice and nothing but rice his first road trip here in the US.

A road partner is a big help and you have to be willing to hustle, any hustle that will make a dollar unless you are a world beater. Even the best get chewed up by a local on his home field now and then so expect that. Best way to get a few dollars to get rolling again is a hustle, usually a proposition that isn't what it seems to be or one that isn't common that you have practiced for many hours.

The life of the average old time road player still isn't that hard to come by, it just wasn't all that grand. A "b" player or better can hit the road right now and make it happen if they have the know how. Almost any of the old hands on this board could make it happen tomorrow if they wanted to. Thing is after the story telling is done they get to thinking about the realities of trying to go to sleep when you are really hungry, not just missed a meal but a gnawing in the gut hunger, in your car that is out of gas in a parking lot somewhere, and the temperature below freezing. You pile everything in the car on top of you to stay a little warmer. You await the sun coming up as eagerly as any sun worshiper ever did and you understand how the ancients came to worship it.

As recently as the early eighties I lived for over a week on a quarter a day. Five days a week I had access to a vending machine with twenty-five cent chips and free coffee. The weekends weren't nearly as pleasant. I was actually living plush because I had paid my $25 a week room rent in advance so I had a hot bath and a bed every day even if the bed was at least as old as I was and I always woke up in a ball because of the huge sag in the middle of it.

It isn't a question of can such things still be done with the dollar numbers adjusted a bit, but does anyone really want to? I can't say that I regret much that I have done but I don't know that I would do it again even if there were a guaranteed pot of gold at the end of the journey.

Hu
 
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