The good olde days

[vagabond]

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.

I did not realize chelsea Billiards and golden cue in queens were old style. wasn`t Chelsea opened in 1985/ 86 by a priest from canada? I do not know when Golden cue opened and even in late 70s it looked fancy.I never knew much about pool halls and I used to hang around irish pubs hitting the balls with drunk pattys.When I visited these pool halls later in my life they all looked very fancy with fancy players.

 

[kennyratt]

Thanks guys, for the memories. I to wish for the heyday style poolhalls. I am too young to remember them personally, but love the stories and THE HUSTLER type places. Regards, Kennyratt

 

[stick8]

old rooms

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.

yep; im in , started playing in room no women-no jukebox-no t,v, , 10 a cue , rotation, and snooker thats all, front table open table, anyone could get in as a young boy if i had 2 bucks i was in the money, well shooting in my room if you wae low man you payed for all, and snooker was 20 a cue. amagine if 5players in and you lose,knocked a hole in your roll. ha but is was fun, our owner would not let you in iuntil after school hours. but i hang with the young ones now as i am [69] yr and own one of those after 5 rooms. i tell all i am happy man--- got rogaine for my hair--- titatiums for golf clubs---and vigra for my sex life, a pocket full of money, and a beautiful wife-- what more could a man want STICK

 

[BillPorter]

The "good olde days" for me were...

At Cotton Bowling Palace in Dallas, TX. Located at Lemon and Inwood. The bowling alley had 60+ lanes, half on each side. There were 10 or 12 table, I don't recall what brand. The place was open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day) and 24/7. Had a restaurant and a barber shop, so you could practically live there. Some slept in their cars in the parking lot and really did live there for a spell. For about a year, my normal routine was to arise about 4 - 5 PM, eat breakfast, and drive over to Cotton Palace, arriving there in the early evening. I'd practice, bullshit with people, maybe snag a $.50 or $1.00 9-ball game (hey, it was 1962). I'd probably have a meal around mid-night and be sharp and ready for the people who would be coming in when the bars closed. There were some pretty interesting people who hung out there at some point during the year I spent there. Jack Ruby, infamous for his shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, was a regular customer, as were some of his strippers (Chris Colt and Toi Rebel are names I recall). Then there was Titanic Thompson (Alvin Clarence Thomas), one of the legendary gamblers of the 20th century. I count myself among the very few people to have beaten him on a proposition bet. Others from Cotton Palace who come to mind are Alfie Taylor (turned road player and eventually became a very successful rug merchant), Billy Stroud (eventually made a few pool cues), George McGann (see this link for an interesting read on George: http://guinnessandpoker.blogspot.com/2007_03_18_archive.html ), and a variety of road players who wandered through from time to time (Detroit Whitely, Kilroy, Bunnie Rogoff, Fats, U.J. Puckett, Freddie Sessions, etc., etc.). Anyway, what more could a 21 year old pool-nut want??? After about a year of 7-nights a week at Cotton Palace, I began to see how things would be for me when I was in my fifties and sixties if I stayed with that lifestyle. So I went back to college, got some degrees, and became a college professor for 30+ years. But even though I'm glad I made the choise I did, I have to tell you that the year at Cotton Palace was one of the most memorable and fondly recalled years of my life.

 

[Snapshot9]

Whenever

I feel nostalgic and want to slow the pace down, I go down to Club Billiards here in Wichita. Old Style place, been here since the 20's. Pool isn't the main thing down there. Golf on a snooker table is, games everyday and on weekend nights. Old style Card tables with ceramic tops line one side when you walk in, the bar on the other side.

Old time type music, good to play to, real good old style cheeseburgers. 10-16 guys in there all the time, playing cards, dominoes, or playing golf during the middle of the day.

Lots of good Pool and Golf talk going on. Some guys you never see play Pool anymore drift in for a Golf game. It is, in a way, an escape from the outside hustle and bustle way of life now back to a time when things were slower and a little easier going, back to when people really talked to each other, and good time ribbing went on for the tenderfoots that wandered in.

 

[Str8PoolPlayer]

Old Rooms ... Long gone ...

I grew up on a 5x10 Brunswick in the 1940-50's, then started playing at Panarama Bowl (in the basement) in Belleville, Illinois (near E.St.Louis) until I went in the Service ... Gus Mueller was owner and house pro ... He took my friend and I under his wing and taught us the "right" way to play Straight Pool and Snooker ... In the 1960's-70's, I divided my time between Circus Billiards, Westside Billiards, and Joe's, all in San Jose, CA. ... My playing partners were San Jose Dick, West-side Kenny, and Blue-Ball (that's all I ever heard anyone call him) ... I plan to make a trip down to San Jose soon to see if any of those joints are still around ... There also was an old-time room in Vallejo that reminded me of "Ames", in the movie ... Of course, Cochran's in the City was always a jumpin' place ... I miss those days and now I just mostly "miss" ...

 

[gulfportdoc]

Lots of good Pool and Golf talk going on. Some guys you never see play Pool anymore drift in for a Golf game. It is, in a way, an escape from the outside hustle and bustle way of life now back to a time when things were slower and a little easier going, back to when people really talked to each other, and good time ribbing went on for the tenderfoots that wandered in.

Sounds like heaven, Scott! Hell, I might even move up there if it weren't for your doggone WINTERS!! I grew up playing in old-style rooms where pool was the focus. No music, no women. The closest we have to that here on the Dixie Coast is Buffalos in Metairie (New Orleans). Great equipment, no music, no pin-ball, just pool!

Doc

 

[Str8PoolPlayer]

I'm comin' down there ...

Sounds like heaven, Scott! Hell, I might even move up there if it weren't for your doggone WINTERS!! I grew up playing in old-style rooms where pool was the focus. No music, no women. The closest we have to that here on the Dixie Coast is Buffalos in Metairie (New Orleans). Great equipment, no music, no pin-ball, just pool!

I have good friends in Biloxi (what's left of it) and may drive down that way this Summer ... Sounds like you have the kind of "Rooms" in Metairie I like to play in ...

 

[gulfportdoc]

I have good friends in Biloxi (what's left of it) and may drive down that way this Summer ... Sounds like you have the kind of "Rooms" in Metairie I like to play in ...

You'll like Buffalos. 13 good Diamonds. There's no room in Biloxi. Gulfport has Skeeter's, which has 12 9-foot tables, and another 8-10 7 and 8-footers. Loud music and some kids. Ocean Springs has a good little room for players. Gulf Coast Billiards. The equipment is marginal though: 3 or 4 9-footers, including one good Diamond in need of cloth.

Doc

 

[thinman]

Some of the pool rooms I went to when I was a pup also had the best hotdogs and hamburgers in town. Couldn't have passed a health inspection to save their life, but still good food.

 

[jay helfert]

I grew up on a 5x10 Brunswick in the 1940-50's, then started playing at Panarama Bowl (in the basement) in Belleville, Illinois (near E.St.Louis) until I went in the Service ... Gus Mueller was owner and house pro ... He took my friend and I under his wing and taught us the "right" way to play Straight Pool and Snooker ... In the 1960's-70's, I divided my time between Circus Billiards, Westside Billiards, and Joe's, all in San Jose, CA. ... My playing partners were San Jose Dick, West-side Kenny, and Blue-Ball (that's all I ever heard anyone call him) ... I plan to make a trip down to San Jose soon to see if any of those joints are still around ... There also was an old-time room in Vallejo that reminded me of "Ames", in the movie ... Of course, Cochran's in the City was always a jumpin' place ... I miss those days and now I just mostly "miss" ...

Haven't heard the Circus mentioned in many moons. The best action joint in San Jose for a long time. I met Dick McMorran in there and we played One Hole for two days, 20 a game. I was playing great. He only beat me for 200.

 

[jay helfert]

At Cotton Bowling Palace in Dallas, TX. Located at Lemon and Inwood. The bowling alley had 60+ lanes, half on each side. There were 10 or 12 table, I don't recall what brand. The place was open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day) and 24/7. Had a restaurant and a barber shop, so you could practically live there. Some slept in their cars in the parking lot and really did live there for a spell. For about a year, my normal routine was to arise about 4 - 5 PM, eat breakfast, and drive over to Cotton Palace, arriving there in the early evening. I'd practice, bullshit with people, maybe snag a $.50 or $1.00 9-ball game (hey, it was 1962). I'd probably have a meal around mid-night and be sharp and ready for the people who would be coming in when the bars closed. There were some pretty interesting people who hung out there at some point during the year I spent there. Jack Ruby, infamous for his shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, was a regular customer, as were some of his strippers (Chris Colt and Toi Rebel are names I recall). Then there was Titanic Thompson (Alvin Clarence Thomas), one of the legendary gamblers of the 20th century. I count myself among the very few people to have beaten him on a proposition bet. Others from Cotton Palace who come to mind are Alfie Taylor (turned road player and eventually became a very successful rug merchant), Billy Stroud (eventually made a few pool cues), George McGann (see this link for an interesting read on George: http://guinnessandpoker.blogspot.com/2007_03_18_archive.html ), and a variety of road players who wandered through from time to time (Detroit Whitely, Kilroy, Bunnie Rogoff, Fats, U.J. Puckett, Freddie Sessions, etc., etc.). Anyway, what more could a 21 year old pool-nut want??? After about a year of 7-nights a week at Cotton Palace, I began to see how things would be for me when I was in my fifties and sixties if I stayed with that lifestyle. So I went back to college, got some degrees, and became a college professor for 30+ years. But even though I'm glad I made the choise I did, I have to tell you that the year at Cotton Palace was one of the most memorable and fondly recalled years of my life.

Another notorious old joint, lots of action, but you had to be careful. Seemed like everyone packed heat in there.

 

[jrhendy]

4th & Main

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.

I used to drive the 10 miles or so from Monterey Park to play at 4th & Main or 5th & Spring (a few blocks away) when I was a young snooker player in the 50's. Lots of guys who could rob me for $2 to $10 a game whenever I pumped up in my home room and wanted to take the trip. I played Don Willis down there in the mid 60's and all the mexican players in the 70's until it got too rough to get to your car. Pepe was running the place the last time I went there to play Veracruz and a cop on the beat stopped me on the way to the car & told me I was nuts wandering around there by myself. Lots of fond memories and of course when I stopped going down there, the mexican players started coming over to the Golden Cue in Rosemead to take my money. Saved me a little gas money too. John Henderson

 

[Str8PoolPlayer]

San Jose Dick held hostage ...

Haven't heard the Circus mentioned in many moons. The best action joint in San Jose for a long time. I met Dick McMorran in there and we played One Hole for two days, 20 a game. I was playing great. He only beat me for 200.

I recall a story going around in the early 70's about Dick and some others driving to Vegas for a big-money game ... The story goes that Dick lost big time and couldn't cough up the cabbage, so they held him for ransom while the other guys went back to San Jose and gathered up enough money to free him ... True or False ... ??

 

[jay helfert]

I used to drive the 10 miles or so from Monterey Park to play at 4th & Main or 5th & Spring (a few blocks away) when I was a young snooker player in the 50's. Lots of guys who could rob me for $2 to $10 a game whenever I pumped up in my home room and wanted to take the trip. I played Don Willis down there in the mid 60's and all the mexican players in the 70's until it got too rough to get to your car. Pepe was running the place the last time I went there to play Veracruz and a cop on the beat stopped me on the way to the car & told me I was nuts wandering around there by myself. Lots of fond memories and of course when I stopped going down there, the mexican players started coming over to the Golden Cue in Rosemead to take my money. Saved me a little gas money too. John Henderson

Pepe's son posts on here and is quite a player himself. Did you know that?
I'll let him reveal himself.

 

[jay helfert]

I recall a story going around in the early 70's about Dick and some others driving to Vegas for a big-money game ... The story goes that Dick lost big time and couldn't cough up the cabbage, so they held him for ransom while the other guys went back to San Jose and gathered up enough money to free him ... True or False ... ??

I rarely heard of anyone beating San Jose Dick for the cash, let alone holding him for ransom.

 

[dabarbr]

I rarely heard of anyone beating San Jose Dick for the cash, let alone holding him for ransom.

Jay, since you remember the Circus. I think it was in San Jose. Do you remember a young guy named Bobby. Liked to gamble a bit. He used to get the 7 from me. In the course of a week he and I played all around the bay area and I beat for about $5000. I think he was into some illegal activities and thats why he was always pumped with cash. After beating him for about a week we wound up at the Circus to play. He wanted to play for $10 a game and I refused to play because I thought he might be low on cash because we had played for most of the week. We normally started at $40 a game. When we didn't play, a fellow named Smiley from San Francisco asked him to play and I stood there and watched him Beat Bobby out of $1500. Goes to show you. Do you remember these guys?

 

[BillPorter]

Yep, there were guns aplenty

Another notorious old joint, lots of action, but you had to be careful. Seemed like everyone packed heat in there.

Jay, it sounds like you might have been there a time or two? As a matter of fact, a gun was the final straw that led me to quit going there. I was sweating a pool game with quite a crowd of other people. There was a young man just to my left who, perhaps as a result of too much alcohol, was making a lot of noise. Just to my right was a fellow named Billy T. Dyer, a tush hog of considerable repute. Billy T. told the young man to be quiet and when the young man said something like, "who you tellin' to be quiet!," Billy T. pulled back his jacket to reveal the handle of a pistol. I'm sitting between them thinking that the young kid surely will shut up, but he doesn't. The kid looks at Billy T. and says, "You ain't the only one with a gun!" And the kid whips out a Saturday night special and points it toward Billy T. In a flash, Billy T. grabs the kid's wrist and thrusts the kid's gun hand away from himself. The problem for me, at that point, is that the gun was now pointed squarely at my face with the kid's trembling finger on the trigger. I don't remember what happened next, but no shots were fired and no one was hurt. Right after that I concluded that Cotton Palace had become too dangerous for me.

 

[jrhendy]

Pepe's son posts on here and is quite a player himself. Did you know that?
I'll let him reveal himself.

Yes I know who Pepe's son is and he has responded to a few of my posts about Bellflower and I have responded to his. Looks like he has blossomed since going to Arizona. Not that he was a bad guy in Bellflower, but his temper hurt his game some as I recall. Pepe was one of the good guys to gamble with, but the last time I fooled with him he beat me for $1,200 playing $200 a game one pocket at the Golden Cue. John Henderson

 

[bell]

La

This really dates me but as a callous youth I went to the Follies (vaudville) at 6th and Main in LA and later got hustled by an "old man" in a truly classic downstairs poolroom at first and main. I thought I was cool coming from the "family billiards" rooms in the suburbs and almost felt sorry for the "old man" who wanted a friendly game. When I left I did not have enough money to get my car out of the parking lot.