The Legacy of Joss

[JAM]

JAM, a lot of these photo's came from Bill Porter. I bought the DVD from him last November. If you read the below link you will see that he mentions giving the pic's to Danny and in return Danny made him a cue. Check out the thread if you are interested. Perhaps Bill will start making the DVD's for sale prior to the DCC.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=79836

Wedge

Thanks. Bill Porter sent me a DVD not so long ago with some pictures, which I cherish and have it in my pool library.

Someday my pictures, which I have THOUSANDS, will become vintage, and the young'ns will be looking at them, like I am Bill Porter's, saying, "Man, I want one of those hats" or "Check out the clothes those players are wearing" or "Look at that hair." :grin:

For many years, I very much enjoyed the Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour. I used to enjoy many of those tournaments up in New England and Upstate New York area. It is the longest running tour in the United States, and Mike Zuglan does a superb job. No favoritism and you get paid in CASH! :wink:

Scruggs Cues used to have a tour more closer to my home base. He would donate cues to each event, and the points winner at the end of the season would get a custom-made Scruggs to their liking. At the end of one season, the points winner sold his PROspective custom-made cue before it was even made to another. Scruggs was never thanked for his sponsorship and other kind gestures for this wonderful tour that he made happen, and thus, that ended the Scruggs tour.

So, in case anybody hasn't said it and if Dan James does read this forum on occasion, thank you, Joss Cues, for being there all these years and having one of the best regional tours I have ever had the privilege to enjoy!

JAM

 

[BillPorter]

JAM, a lot of these photo's came from Bill Porter. I bought the DVD from him last November. If you read the below link you will see that he mentions giving the pic's to Danny and in return Danny made him a cue. Check out the thread if you are interested. Perhaps Bill will start making the DVD's for sale prior to the DCC.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=79836

Wedge

Actually, I don't think any of the photos that Dan has on his site are from me. He is certainly welcome to use any of the ones I sent him, but I didn't recognize any of the ones accessed by that link as shot by me or Mike Haines. Just wanted to put in this correction.

 

[Steve Ellis]

Great article, I like how they kept saying "his partner" and not using a certain person's name.

Yeah I thought that was kind of strange, as if "his partner" was a nobody who contributed nothing and then was gone. I guess we can refer to him here as Bill Stroud.

 

[Dan Joss]

Jam,
This was a nice way to start my day. I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
I?m sure that everybody has noticed that the pictures on my web site are mostly of the great players of an earlier era. These were the players I grew up with and made cues for. The pictures came from a woman photographer of that time that was really into pool. She is a Philippine lady and her is Lee Boyer.
If you see any of the old posters in poolrooms most of them were copies of her work. These are from maybe 40+ years ago. She did only high contrast black and white work and did it great. I have some others but just haven?t had the time to put them up ?. But I will someday.
Bill Porters photo?s are great but from a later time. Both bring back memories of a different way of (pool) life.
An interesting side note is the person standing behind Buddy is Conrad Burkman from the Billiard News. The tournament was being held at Forest Park billiards in Dayton OH. Joe Burns was the owner and promoter. Great times had by all with a bit of serious action mixed in. The photo of Bugs was also taken at Forest Park billiards.
Billy Stroud and I were just coming to the end of our partnership at this time so it must have been around 1972 plus or minus. Billy was my partner starting in 1968 and we did well together and decided that we would do better as our own person rather than as a twosome. I leave Billy?s name out of my bio because I think he wants it this way no other reason. He is a great cue maker and anybody should be proud to have their cue maker name linked to him ? I am.
My favorite photo on the Joss site is of Eddie Taylor taken in Johnson City
http://www.josscues.com/html/photos/taylor3.html
This shows a great player in all his glory. For sure one of the best players of all time and my friend.
Thank you guys for the nice things you have said.

Dan
Joss Cues Ltd.

 

[Fuji-whopper]

Thank you for posting Mr. Janes, I imagine that Mr. Stroud is the one behind "the partner" jazz and not you. We have only had minimal contact when I worked with Predator over the years but I know that you are a great person to deal with and very genuine.

 

[Gunn_Slinger]

Bill Stroud Bio
http://www.indyq.com/custom/joss_west/Bio JossWest2.html

 

[billyjack]

The website is very interesting and full of cool pool stuff!

Check out this famous player from Pittsburgh, I think. Man, talk about killer instinct!

JAM

JAM
Jimmy and his room, South Hills Golden Cue are still around. Played there for a few hours last night, getting the feel of (coincidentally) my new-to-me Joss. Once in a while my pool group will schedule a night at his "Tournament table" with the 80 or so theater seats. Jimmy will occasionally talk about the 80's when he would have Miz, Hopkins and Sigel join him there for a weekend of exhibition tournaments. In an era when rooms are dropping regularly, it's good to see the place packed on a weeknight. Courteous employees, well-maintained equipment,a decent mix of male and female players, serious players as well as bangers just out for fun.. I hope he and his room are around for a long time, as it's just a few miles from my house and a nice place to call my "home room".

Bill

 

[JAM]

Jam,
This was a nice way to start my day. I appreciate your thoughts and comments.
I?m sure that everybody has noticed that the pictures on my web site are mostly of the great players of an earlier era. These were the players I grew up with and made cues for. The pictures came from a woman photographer of that time that was really into pool. She is a Philippine lady and her is Lee Boyer.
If you see any of the old posters in poolrooms most of them were copies of her work. These are from maybe 40+ years ago. She did only high contrast black and white work and did it great. I have some others but just haven?t had the time to put them up ?. But I will someday.
Bill Porters photo?s are great but from a later time. Both bring back memories of a different way of (pool) life.
An interesting side note is the person standing behind Buddy is Conrad Burkman from the Billiard News. The tournament was being held at Forest Park billiards in Dayton OH. Joe Burns was the owner and promoter. Great times had by all with a bit of serious action mixed in. The photo of Bugs was also taken at Forest Park billiards.
Billy Stroud and I were just coming to the end of our partnership at this time so it must have been around 1972 plus or minus. Billy was my partner starting in 1968 and we did well together and decided that we would do better as our own person rather than as a twosome. I leave Billy?s name out of my bio because I think he wants it this way no other reason. He is a great cue maker and anybody should be proud to have their cue maker name linked to him ? I am.
My favorite photo on the Joss site is of Eddie Taylor taken in Johnson City
http://www.josscues.com/html/photos/taylor3.html
This shows a great player in all his glory. For sure one of the best players of all time and my friend.
Thank you guys for the nice things you have said.

Dan
Joss Cues Ltd.

Welcome to the BEST pool forum on the Internet, Dan! It is a pleasure to read your words, and thank you so much for your great contributions to the sport. The Joss name is well known around the world, and so this truly is an honor to have you visit this forum. Don't be a stranger, and come on back once in a while. :smile:

I would like to learn more about Lee Boyer, the Filipina lady photographer. This is the first time I have heard her name mentioned, but I would bet she has some wonderful photos and stories to go with them.

AzBilliards Discussion Forum has a variety of pool folk, players, bangers, pros, railbirds, pool industry members, pool magazine journalists, but most importantly, there are cue stick enthusiasts, those who collect them and really enjoy the cue stick dialogue. You might enjoy reading some of their words, when time allows.

Jimmy Reid is a GREAT friend of my boyfriend, and I saw this picture on your website. I don't know if you knew this, but Jimmy had been suffering for several years with Stage 4 cancer in his neck and head. Latest reports are that he is doing better and starting to eat on his own, but he still needs to depend on the medical equipment to get by. He did come to the Derby City Classic in Louisville this year (lives about 2.5 hours away from Louisville), and he still has that Jimmy Reid cackle when he laughs. He may not feel well, but he's still got that sense of humor. I love Jimmy Reid.

Here's two handsome men: Jimmy Reid and Dan James. It looks like it must have been taken when Jimmy Reid won the U.S. Open!

JAM

 

[SCCues]

this is amazing.............buddy.

I couldn't believe that was Buddy Hall either. I'm not sure I would have guessed that was Buddy if his name wasn't under the picture......

James

 

[cyrex]

Jam is the man! So to speak...

Thanks Jam. Gotta spread around the love before I can give you some more rep points. You kick major butt.

One of my heros...

Queen Jean Balukas. The greatest that ever was.

 

[Thunderball]

Hola bejebus!! One post and almost repped to the hilt!!

(I shoulda picked his user name)

really though...wow...lots of folks come through and deserve it imo.I've just never seen it.

[left the good rep too],
TBall

 

[JAM]

Hola bejebus!! One post and almost repped to the hilt!!

(I shoulda picked his user name)

really though...wow...lots of folks come through and deserve it imo.I've just never seen it.

[left the good rep too],
TBall

I can explain the rep system.

What some people don't realize is that when the rep system first started, a few years ago, if somebody gave you GREEN rep, you might get 10 points. Everybody started out at Ground Zero.

Those who hung out in the NPR section during the early days of the rep system, to include Rude Dog, Hal, Eydie Romano, Rackmsukr, Purdman, and a few others whose names escape me, were on a rep frenzy, repping each other left and right. Soon they were all the leaders of rep.

I never knew how to look up rep points until last year, when Terry Ardeno or Joey A. -- (can't remember) wrote a post about it, asking for information on the rep system.

When those who have been a member a long time now and have a lot of rep points give out GOOD rep, instead of the recipient getting 10 points -- the way it used to be when the rep system was initiated -- they could receive as many as 400 to 500 points. I am third in rep rankings today. When I give out GOOD rep, it's about 400 points. I have about 38,000-plus rep points. If a newbie gives out GOOD rep, they might only give out 10 points.

Hope that explains the rep system. Personally, I think it's overblown in importance, but if it brings pleasure to the forum members, then it's a good thing.

I happen to like the new smile cartoons we have on the forum.
:happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance: :happydance:

Oh, yeah. I very much enjoyed Dan Janes' post. When I gave him GOOD rep for posting in this thread, he went up from two green blocks to six green blocks! :smile:

JAM

ETA: Edited for name spelling correction!

 

[Gerry]

I was looking on Google for a picture of a pool player yesterday, and when I searched the Images feature, I came across the Joss Cues website.

Joss Cues was born in 1968 in a two-car garage in Baltimore, the brainchild of Dan Janes and his partner. Working with one ancient manual lathe, a butcher-shop band saw, one drill press, and a single work bench, the two former road players took some of contemporary cue making's first steps away from the traditional four-prong design, innovating the "floating points" concept and many others. Their unique ideas coupled with Dan's personal relationships with the best players of the times including: Eddie Taylor, Ed Kelly, Larry Lisciotti, Luther Lassiter, Jimmy Fusco, Richie Florence and Joe Balsis, just to name a few, helped make Joss virtually an instant success. Joss has remained at the forefront of cue making in the more than three decades that have passed.

Dan bought his partners interest in Joss Cues in 1972 and continued to make cues in Baltimore. He eventually moved to a larger location and his son Stephen joined him in cue making. Dan and Stephen still work side by side in the shop while Debbie and Amanda Janes oversee the office and sales. Joss Cues is a real family effort which results in a company that cares about its product and clients.

I did meet the man behind Joss Cues only one time that I can remember at a -- you guessed it -- Joss tournament.

In my area alone, we have quite a few cuemakers that are top shelf, Joss, Scruggs, Black Boar, Capone, and I'm sure there's a few more that I am forgetting. There ain't nothing better than an American-made cue. They can't produce them fast enough for the overseas market.

Check out the Joss Cue website: http://www.josscues.com

Most importantly, check out this INCREDIBLE vintage picture page of the American legends of our sport: COOL PICTURES OF AMERICAN POOL PLAYER LEGENDS

All in all, a very cool website, one I had never perused before, and so I thought I'd share it with y'all for a little reading pleasure! :smile:

I would have NEVER recognized this Hall of Famer on the Joss Cues website if his name had not been underneath the picture. Do you know who this is?

One thing for sure, Joss gives back to the pool community and sponsors not only players, but the longest regional pool tour in the States: Joss Northeast 9-Ball Tour.

Thanks, Joss! :clapping: :clapping: :clapping: :clapping:

JAM

Hey jam, is the first picture Allen?.....If so I gotta get a copy and get it signed!

 

[JAM]

Hey jam, is the first picture Allen?.....If so I gotta get a copy and get it signed!

That is Allen Hopkins. He sure does look handsome, even with all that hair on his face. He's still a good-looking man today.

JAM

 

[srober40]

I've actually been there, MANY MOONS AGO, when I used to go on the road. When we were there, Marino was out of town or unavailable.

I remember there was a player named "The Jeweler" who we were tracking down to play some in that part of Pennsylvania. He was known to enjoy games of high stake, exactly who we wanted to play. :grin:

I will never forget this diner we stopped at en route to Marino's pool room. On the diner menu, there was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for 25 cents. :wink:

Marino's pool room had theater seats in it, if memory serves me right, that folded out. They were unique and quite comfortable. :smile:

JAM

Before Jimmy Marino remodeled a few years back the seating in the rest of his room (not including the arena seating in the back) were old airplane seats. They had ashtrays in the armrests. Reclined a little.

 

[Purdman]

I can explain the rep system.

What some people don't realize is that when the rep system first started, a few years ago, if somebody gave you GREEN rep, you might get 10 points. Everybody started out at Ground Zero.

Those who hung out in the NPR section during the early days of the rep system, to include Rude Dog, Hal, Eydie Romano, Rackmsukr, Purdman, and a few others whose names escape me, were on a rep frenzy, repping each other left and right. Soon they were all the leaders of rep.

I never knew how to look up rep points until last year, when Terry Ardeno or Joey A. -- (can't remember) wrote a post about it, asking for information on the rep system.

When those who have been a member a long time now and have a lot of rep points give out GOOD rep, instead of the recipient getting 10 points -- the way it used to be when the rep system was initiated -- they could receive as many as 400 to 500 points. I am third in rep rankings today. When I give out GOOD rep, it's about 400 points. I have about 38,000-plus rep points. If a newbie gives out GOOD rep, they might only give out 10 points.

Hope that explains the rep system. Personally, I think it's overblown in importance, but if it brings pleasure to the forum members, then it's a good thing.


Oh, yeah. I very much enjoyed Dan James' post. When I gave him GOOD rep for posting in this thread, he went up from two green blocks to six green blocks! :smile:

JAM

JAM, I am not nor ever have been involved in a rep frenzy. I would bet you that I haven't sent out more than 40 reps the entire time I have been around. I usually use the PM if I wish to show my appriciation for something someone has said or done. I didn't say never, just never any frenzy. I believe I have posted before that REP should be done away with.
Anyway, have a wonderful weekend.
Peace, Purdman :smile: