What is the best pool hall you ever played in? And where is it?

Jack-n-Jill in Brewster NY - have fond memories of this place, Pop used to take me there as a kid, he would play 3 cushion on the heated table, while I would take off next door and eat monster slices of Pizza from Ginos.!

Mothers Billiards - Charlotte, NC - the mothers of old....tight diamonds and loads of action...no longer exists.

I love the layout of the new Rack 'Em in Matthews - loads of room, good food, good beer selection. wish the equipment was a bit better though.

Brass Tap in Raleigh, NC - earl, johnny and coltrain woofing it up.

Smokin' Cue in Charlotte, NC best lil pool room in charlotte - great equipment!
64 players every weds night for 9-ball tourney!

There are many more, but age, alcohol and life have taken it's toll on my memory.


Steve H.
 
Antfarm said:
Huxlers in Norman, Oklahoma was pretty bad a*s as well. For all the same reasons.

Lastly, Sport City Billiards in Punta Gorda, Florida was pretty awesome. Good food, nice tables, great TVs and a great atmosphere. A home away from home of sorts.

R,

Greg
Click to expand...

Hey Antfarm,
How are you doing over the big water? Good to hear from you! Keep in touch!
JoeyA stole my Lock off of my name so now I am ? N Load. That was not nice of him!!! Now his name is eoy, no J and no a. Thanks for your input!
Many Regards,
? N Load.
 
DASHZNT said:
The Illinis Billiard Club in Willow Springs, IL
Hands down te best billiard facility in the world!!!
Click to expand...

Hey DashNT,
Good to hear from you. How is everything up there with you? Thanks for your input. I played in Chicago some time ago, E 63 st. Also on Cottage Grove.
Many Regards,
? N Load.
 
California billiards in mountain view california

Iv'e been playing pool about 40 years, i think i've been to most pool rooms in california. Without a doubt CALIFORNIA BILLIARDS is the premier room on the west coast,and i'll tell you why.

1. more then enough room between tables. (in the pit area)(10 gold crowns)
2. 2-snooker tables (alot of golf action)
3. beautiful billiard tables (might be heated)
4. 10 bar tables
5. full bar
6. full ktchen (the best in california) BAR NONE
7 .Gold crown 3-4's
8. ton of parking
9. large patio area
10. raised seating area (able to view the whole room)
11. MAJOR Tournaments held there throughout the year.
12. THE OWNERS SUPPORT THE SPORT....

In april '2012 -$10,000.00 added 10-ball,$4,000.00 added 1-pocket.

Play The Game clothing co.
DESIGNED BY A PLAYER, WORN BY PLAYERS
www.playthegameclothing.com
 
Country Club USA in Chelmsford for me. At one time it had like 5 different sections of playing areas. Main front room had 2 sides with 16-20 tables on each side, the back tournament room with 8 tables was perrrfect for the end of tournaments with some soft bleachers and plenty of room that just created a gr8 atmoshpere for finals of events. Then they had 4 tables also in the back room at the bar seperated by those bleacher and at one time they had the downstairs room going also, can't remember how many tables down there though, 8-12 maybe. For that many tables the maintenance of them was very good, all Gold Crown III's.

Ahhh to see a waiting list in a place like that, those were the days, lol.
 
bob c said:
Diamond Billiards in Cape Coral, Florida. The two owners are serious pool fanatics and love action. Pool is free everyday of the week from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. All Diamond tables and lights, 12 9-footers and 10 7-footers. This place is heaven!

bob c
Click to expand...

i've only had the pleasure to visit 1x. my oh my ws the help in there perky. ;)
even with that aside this place rates high
 
Lock N Load said:
Hey Antfarm,
How are you doing over the big water? Good to hear from you! Keep in touch!
JoeyA stole my Lock off of my name so now I am ? N Load. That was not nice of him!!! Now his name is eoy, no J and no a. Thanks for your input!
Many Regards,
? N Load.
Click to expand...

Life's good Load... life's good. We're looking to get back to the 'states' pretty soon so I can try out some of these amazing pool rooms people keep talking about. I've had enough of Asia for the time being!

Hope all is well with you.

r,

Greg
 
Antfarm said:
Life's good Load... life's good. We're looking to get back to the 'states' pretty soon so I can try out some of these amazing pool rooms people keep talking about. I've had enough of Asia for the time being!

Hope all is well with you.

r,

Greg
Click to expand...

Hello Antfarm,
I am OK thank you. You need to talk to oey about me getting my Lock name back!!! I am glad you are doing OK! Do I have you on my friend ship list? I'll be glad when you come back to the good ol USA! Take care over the big water!
Many Regards,
? N Load.
 
Boy Club a few years before my time, but this was taken at a Boys Club of America.
05415u.preview.jpg
 
Last edited:
The Cue Ball

pwd72s said:
Salem, Oregon. No bar, no TV, and by state law, no smoking. Pool, snooker, 3 cushion. Good tables...not a bar box in the place.
Click to expand...

I love this place... Place is stuffed with old Brunswick Centennials.
 
I think Buffalo's Billiards in Metairie, Louisiana is the Worlds pool Hall! Now Mr. Cues II in Atlanta, Georgia is a nice place as well.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Cornerman said:
Ditto. I had friends and visitors from across the country and more come into New England and just be completely blown away by the Boston Billiards pool halls saying that there were upscale pool rooms in their area, but nothing like Boston Billiards.

Of them all, the one in Nashua when it first opened was really a pleasure to play a tournament in.

That all being, said, for grinding pool players pool halls, I'd have to put Chris' Billiards in Chicago and Hard Times in Bellflower up there. Just pool with pool pool players.

Decades ago, I walked into a place in NYC before they all shut down. Very nostalgic, side street, up the second floor, through a narrow hallway and through a tiny door that couldn't possibly have pool tables behind it. Open it up and after the smoke cleared and your eyes adjusted, you'd see what looked like a hundred tables with half of them with dried up spills on them. The wires holding the scoring beads hung overheard each table and were tired and sagging to the lights. Many of the pool tables had ashtrays built in. That didn't stop players from putting their cigarettes on the rails.

Guys were sitting down along the walls doing nothing but smoking.

There were billiard tables as well with actual billiard players. Some played with four balls; most played with 3.

The guy with a leather teller's hat behind the cage gave you the balls. Every house cue was entirely too thick to hold and too butt heavy to stroke. Most had a touch of warp. Some had decent tips. But every time you hit a ball, every time the ball hit the back of the cup, there was that unmistakable sound and echo through the majestic warehouse hall that just made me feel like I was... home.

I don't know how many hundred pool halls were in the City prior to the big shutdown before the revival, but I am fortunate to have lived through some of that period.

Freddie <~~~ waxing
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was in love with the place from the first time I walked in. It has it all really. They run a great business there for sure. You won't get out of there cheap but I never had the first complaint about the place. Every experience I had was a good one and I always looked forward to the next! I've not been to any other pool hall quite that nice. I haven't been to the one in VA Beach but I heard it was awesome. We'll visit when we go to Chesapeake for the Regional tourney in October.
 
Hard Times in Los Angeles was the greatest players room I ever saw! To this day the best pool room tournaments of all time with world class fields. It was ripping and roaring every day back in the late 80's to early 90's. It's still a good room but its hey day is over.

My all time favorite room though was Ye Billiard Den in Hollywood back in the 60's and 70's. A cozy place with maybe 16-18 Gold Crowns, a nice bar and good seating area to watch games, plus non stop action all day long! Best yet it was a mingling place for celebs and players to hang out. Most of the celebs who frequented the place liked to do some gambling as well. Can you spell SOFT ACTION?

Marvin, Kelly, Jersey Red, Ervolino, Pancho, New York Blackie, Richie From The Bronx, Hippy Jimmy, Frisco Jack and Black Bart were only a few of the players who became regulars there for a period of time. It was a virtual Lions Den for the unsuspecting. I never saw a player who came in there and took it off. Although Jimmy Marino and Larry Lisciotti got out winners. They were champions too.

Best of all we had a lot of fun in there every day. How I wish I could go back and do it all again. :thumbup:
 
Last edited:
jay helfert said:
Hard Times in Los Angeles was the greatest players room I ever saw! To this day the best pool room tournaments of all time with world class fields. It was ripping and roaring every day back in the late 80's to early 90's. It's still a good room but its hey day is over.

My all time favorite room though was Ye Billiard Den in Hollywood back in the 60's and 70's. A cozy place with maybe 16-18 Gold Crowns, a nice bar and good seating area to watch games, plus non stop action all day long! Best yet it was a mingling place for celebs and players to hang out. Most of the celebs who frequented the place liked to do some gambling as well. Can you spell SOFT ACTION?

Marvin, Kelly, Jersey Red, Ervolino, Pancho, New York Blackie, Richie From The Bronx, Hippy Jimmy, Frisco Jack and Black Bart were only a few of the players who became regulars there for a period of time. It was a virtual Lions Den for the unsuspecting. I never saw a player who came in there and took it off. Although Jimmy Marino and Larry Lisciotti got out winners. They were champions too.

Best of all we had a lot of fun in there every day. How I wish I could go back and do it all again. :thumbup:
Click to expand...
Glad you mentioned Ye Olde Billiard Den.
They used to say California was two years ahead of anywhere else on
trend-setting. The Den was 10 years ahead of the billiard world.
 
pt109 said:
Glad you mentioned Ye Olde Billiard Den.
They used to say California was two years ahead of anywhere else on
trend-setting. The Den was 10 years ahead of the billiard world.
Click to expand...

Hey PT10?,
How are you doing? Thanks for your help! Jay is the man. I could listen to his stories all night long!!!
Many Regards,
Lock N load.
 
jay helfert said:
Hard Times in Los Angeles was the greatest players room I ever saw! To this day the best pool room tournaments of all time with world class fields. It was ripping and roaring every day back in the late 80's to early 90's. It's still a good room but its hey day is over.

My all time favorite room though was Ye Billiard Den in Hollywood back in the 60's and 70's. A cozy place with maybe 16-18 Gold Crowns, a nice bar and good seating area to watch games, plus non stop action all day long! Best yet it was a mingling place for celebs and players to hang out. Most of the celebs who frequented the place liked to do some gambling as well. Can you spell SOFT ACTION?

Marvin, Kelly, Jersey Red, Ervolino, Pancho, New York Blackie, Richie From The Bronx, Hippy Jimmy, Frisco Jack and Black Bart were only a few of the players who became regulars there for a period of time. It was a virtual Lions Den for the unsuspecting. I never saw a player who came in there and took it off. Although Jimmy Marino and Larry Lisciotti got out winners. They were champions too.

Best of all we had a lot of fun in there every day. How I wish I could go back and do it all again. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Hello Jay,
I am your number one fan. I love your stories and the way you tell them!
I talked to Buddy Hall last night he is headed to Florida today. I told him you said get well soon when he was sick. Thanks for all the good stories Jay!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
 
Lock N Load said:
Best meaning nice place, Very nice people working there, Clean including rest rooms, Great tables, Lots of big screen TV's, Great parking area, and lots of great pool players hang out there! Thanks.
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Click to expand...


That sounds like alot of places that have closed...

used to be a place called Nick's in west lafayette that I played at, that was like that. Not there anymore as far as I know...

I like seedy, dark, kinda places that degenerate gamblers hang out in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top