What kind of person woulden't tell?

dan bennicas

dan bennicas

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Back in the eighties i had the opportunity to visit St. Louis, Mo. for several years in a row and re-established my love of three cushion billiards. Ever since i was a young child i played pool with my great uncle, my tutor, he had an antique brunswick pool table in his basement and had friends over often to play straight pool, this was back in the 50's. I eventuly became a very good player. later when i became a teenager he took me to "Allengers Pool Room" in Philidelphia and i saw a carom table for the first time. I watched, and first thought this game was silly, but i kept watching until a gentleman asked if i would like to play a game with me for the time, and after that i was hooked. I thought at first this would be an easy game to master, man was i wrong, fourty years later i have become a good player but have never come close to mastering the game. My hometown, Allentown Pa. had no billiard tables to play on so as time went on i lost interest but not my passion for 3-cushion. Anyway getting back to my story while in St Louis playing 3-c billiards at the "Cue and Cushion" every day for about a week straight I ran out of players so someone sugested I go to "Airport Billiards" and play the proprietor, Harry, well Harry beat me just about every game during that week and while visiting once a week for the next four years. What was great about Harry, he took the time to teach, and teach well!. I will never forget him for his kindness and patience. That chubby guy who couldn't be beat never told me he was twice national champion [1980/1983], of the "Billiard Federation USA". One day I was to play," Harry Sims"' and he had to cancel because of bussiness . There was no one else around to play so I went to "Cue and Cushion" and someone there told about Harry's championships. Recently I found out Harry has passed on a few years ago and if anyone has a photo of him I would appriaciate it. WHAT KIND OF PERSON WOULDEN'T TELL?
Shoot straight with angles, Dan Bennicas
 
I played in the 1980 nationals w/Harry and have some pictures from that event. I'll try to find them and take pictures of the ones w/Harry for you. Please PM me your email so I can send them if successful.

Dave
 
Ok, I found the pics from the 1980 3-cushion US Nationals. Here are the pics I have of Harry and the program w/Harry's page:

Harry shooting:
HarrySims1980Nationals.jpg

Harry & George Ashby:
HarryGeorgeAshby1980Nationals.jpg

The cover of the program:
1980NationalsProgramCover.jpg

Harry's insert:
1980NationalsProgram.jpg


If you want the larger sizes, PM your email and I will be happy to send them. Again, these are pictures of pictures so not the best.

Dave
 
Photos/ hollywood fats

DAVE, THANK YOU KINDLY FOR THE HARRY PHOTOS--IT MEANS A LOT TO ME!

i did not know about harry's nickname, "Hollywood Fats", if only I knew back in the day i probably would have said--Fat man, "you shoot a good game of 3-c". simalar line in the "Hustler"
my e-mail; dlb1@hargray.com phone 843 681 4193
shoot straight with angles. dan
 
Dan,

I'll shoot your the bigger files tonight when I get home, glad I was able to find them.
 
Dan,

I just emailed you the 4 pictures (2 each). Enjoy!

Mr. Balled,

Harry had a really powerful stroke. Not known for his finess, but he can come with some incredible shots when needed...he was powerful and could score in bunches.

I 1st met Harry in MI playing in my 1st real tournament because I won a 'B' tournament and entry fee was part of the prize. I just finished a really well played game against Bob Ameen where I lost by 4 but played well & it could have gone either way. I think my next match was against Harry. Not knowing him or hearing about him (he lived in the Midwest at that time) and being a kid that just had a really good showing against one of the favorites, I thought I had the nuts. Well that's not what happened, Harry handed me my nuts. He played great: powerful and aggressive and scored a lot of billiards, too :). I learned a lot about myself and the game playing Harry. (he just didn't look like he could play that well - but he did!)

I moved to Southern CA in late 76 and about the time I met my wife in 83, Harry had moved to Hollywood working for Arnie Satin, a major character in the CA billiard scene owning a room @ Hollywood & Western (not a pretty neighborhood). So Harry & I became friends, actually, Harry must have moved earlier since he played in the Western regionals in 1980, but we're all getting old :(. He moved to San Jose working at California Billiards, then I did in 86 and we became closer. He could really play. Then he moved to St. Louis but not sure when, sometime in the mid 90s I would guess.

That's my story about Hollywood Fats (not always from Hollywood). Sorry for my ramblings but you stirred up some memories.

Dave
 
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This tournament may have been the 1981 nationals even though it was played in Dec 1980...I'm soooo confused. I looked at my filled in chart and George Ashby won this one w/Harry coming in 2nd. The exact opposite of the year before. I always had it in my mind that is was the 1980 nationals - but then again, what mind? :embarrassed2:

Dave
 
Stories

That's what I love about this forum. There is always someone who has 'been there' and has a great story to share, to the best of their recollection;). Thanks for sharing Dave.
 
Dave I hope we meet up some day to trade some Sims stories.

What I heard happened at the World when Harry was runner up in the US, he was announced as the US Champion. Probably burned Ashby. I believe they simply had a different criteria and I think it was his average that put him over in Euro.

Was that Cairo? I think it was. They all got pulled over for some bogus traffic violation. George, Harry and a couple other National Champions. After all the crap to scare the &#$* out of them the cop asks for ID and why they're in country. After the cop learns who they are he lets them go but first asks for their autographs.

Maybe it was Argentina that happened. Anyway a funny story. Harry and George raised in corn country handing out an autograph to a cop.
 
3kushn said:
Dave I hope we meet up some day to trade some Sims stories.

What I heard happened at the World when Harry was runner up in the US, he was announced as the US Champion. Probably burned Ashby. I believe they simply had a different criteria and I think it was his average that put him over in Euro.

Was that Cairo? I think it was. They all got pulled over for some bogus traffic violation. George, Harry and a couple other National Champions. After all the crap to scare the &#$* out of them the cop asks for ID and why they're in country. After the cop learns who they are he lets them go but first asks for their autographs.

Maybe it was Argentina that happened. Anyway a funny story. Harry and George raised in corn country handing out an autograph to a cop.
Click to expand...

I would like to meet, also. But I stopped playing for about 9 years after that tournament to concentrate on work and my marriage so I wasn't plugged in. But I think I heard some of what you wrote about. I started up again in about 89-90 while living in Northern CA because my wife was going to Law school and I didn't want to stay home watching TV while she was studying. I didn't want to be a distraction so I found some weekly pool & 3C tourneys to get out of her hair. Not serious playing, but getting my feet wet again.

Thanks for the info. I will say one thing about Harry, he was a big man that looked a little scary if you didn't know him, but he had the best laugh I ever saw. His whole body seemed move when he laughed. We went to a couple of comedy shows and it was as much fun watching harry enjoy himself as it was to watch the comedians.

dave
 
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