Old school feel in Sacramento, CA
Men of substance/businessmen. Those characters always frequent poolrooms, lol.
Not quite as old but been around since '68 or '69, w/ lots of old school charm is The Jointed Cue in Sacramento. I didn't start hanging around regularly until the mid to late '90's. I worked there part-time for a few years (mostly to get free table time). I know there is lots of history here I just wasn't old enough to experience most of it.
There is something that looks like a smoke ring near the upper parts of the walls. Littered with hand-painted antique signage on pool etiquette and funny pool pics. The place has a few bench-type church pews near 3, 3-cushion billiard tables. 1 older model, and 2 others recently replaced with the heated variety. And the rest 9-ft Gold Crowns (II's, III's and IV's). Antique movie theater seats, in the tournament room, and score placards from old tournaments from the late 60's & 70's. Pictures on the walls of players that came through back then, Rempe, Sigel, Mataya, Cole Dixon, Hopkins, Buddy Hall, Davenport, and some older names (that escape me) probably on the tail end of their pool careers. And more recently occasional weekly tournament entrants such as Rafael Martinez, Tony Chohan, Amar Kang (although not as much lately). Some of the Filipino greats have rolled through when they were playing the Reno Open/Hard Times Jamboree. There is one 'unknown' monster that doesn't play much at all, who might have been able to hang w/ them, needless to say those guys were left alone. I heard stories in the olden days players here used to bet it up, not so much now.
Guys like to play dominoes now. Learned to play Backgammon here. Pitched quarters. Hold 'Em used to be played after hours, w/ staff and the 'regulars'. Bets on chess and checker games. Guys would bet on foot races around the building (hi-larious stuff). Still have and use beaded wires for action and tournament scoring. A few guys pull double duty at the track as well.
$70 monthly membership (last I checked). Daily cheap action $20 sets, just ask around or speak to staff and someone will accommodate you. (Action on Table 10, scotch doubles or one on one. 9-ball, 1-hole, or straight pool in the back room). Good way to learn a few things and up your game. (Or maybe get gas money, if you're any good.) I 'paid' for my 'education'.
Owned and operated by the same family since inception, Terry passed awhile back, so the biz was passed down to son Dave. There's a cue repair shop you can see thru the front window and as soon as you walk in. Terry used to make cues, Dave also does some bang up repairs. The (43rd was this year) Annual Tournament in memoriam of Terry happens late March every year, is a 2 day tournament, averages near 100 players, $60 entry fee total, and 1st place usually pays about $1K.
At the food counter are padded turnstile stools. The grill has been going I think since very early on, and the food is excellent here. The burgers and fries are great. Not to mention tuna sandwiches grilled or toasted, german sausage sandwiches on a burger bun or a curly hot dog on a hamburger bun as well. Chili is made in the winter to add to any of those orders as well. Oh and breakfast at open (9AM) is better than Denny's or IHOP (is that saying much? well it's good anyway).
Not too many pool halls like this. The old 'tank' fridge conked out and was replaced by a new stainless steel model, the picture tube tv replaced w/ a flat screen and a new jukebox were all replaced in the last 5 years (things break). But the pool hall still has the old days 'feel' that the OP is posting about. Across the city is another more modern pool hall, with bigger action, brighter lights and newer model Gold Crown's but if you're in town and want that old school feel The Jointed Cue is where you'll find it.
good to hear you had a good experience, won't find rooms like that where I am from. There is one close to being kind of like that but it's 45 miles south, just far enough to be a pain in the ass.
