What poolroom did you learn to play at? Who were your mentors?
- Thread starter thebigdog
- Start date
Panarama Billiards (inside Panarama Bowl), Belleville, IL in the 1950's ...
60's - 70's was Circus Billiards (San Jose, CA) ...
Now-a-days it's The Jointed Cue in SacTown ...
Lot's of good Mentors there : Ted Ito, John Avalos, Warren Lew, Eddie Clark, etc. ... and don't forget David Stonier ... he can play-some too ...
Oh, and did I mention it's the Friendliest Pool Hall I have EVER played in ? ...
60's - 70's was Circus Billiards (San Jose, CA) ...
Now-a-days it's The Jointed Cue in SacTown ...
Lot's of good Mentors there : Ted Ito, John Avalos, Warren Lew, Eddie Clark, etc. ... and don't forget David Stonier ... he can play-some too ...
Oh, and did I mention it's the Friendliest Pool Hall I have EVER played in ? ...
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A little place called Fun-A-Rama in Lake Worth Florida with 7' bar boxes got me started and the owner, Ralph Bruno (rest his soul) got me hooked. His brother Eddie and his nephew Russ were top notch players in NY. They took me under their wings and had me flying in no time. After Ralph and Eddie passed on to a better place, I started hanging out at The Cue Room, another pool hall in Lake Worth that had only 9' tables. There, I met Jimmy Reid and Steve Mizerak and these were the best times of my life. Jimmy was the driving force in my love for the game. I would rather play pool than eat.
Started out banging balls at the neighbors and on a Valley in a bar owned by my buddies Mom. Then I dropped alot of quarters at a little local gameroom called the Space Center all Valleys and 10' snooker table. Got to where I could get out here and there, ran out a rack every now and then. Nobody could really play. I had a cheap Viking and thought I could.
So when I turned 16 I went up to Indy to find some action. I ran into some kid my age by the name of George Breedlove. He and his buddy got all my money and my cue at Miss Cue on the south side of Indy that day.
A few years later the hot spot was Bruces on the west side and by now I was running around with George making some money. I learned how to play and also how to get the cash.
After giving a pool a couple of yrs full time I decided I was not going to be a champion so I went back to college. In that time I saw alot of high speed pool and made some folding money. I never did learn how to play like a champion but I did learn how to get the cash.
Now I am back to playing after a 10 yr plus layoff and I am trying to learn the game, not just how to make a game.
So when I turned 16 I went up to Indy to find some action. I ran into some kid my age by the name of George Breedlove. He and his buddy got all my money and my cue at Miss Cue on the south side of Indy that day.
A few years later the hot spot was Bruces on the west side and by now I was running around with George making some money. I learned how to play and also how to get the cash.
After giving a pool a couple of yrs full time I decided I was not going to be a champion so I went back to college. In that time I saw alot of high speed pool and made some folding money. I never did learn how to play like a champion but I did learn how to get the cash.
Now I am back to playing after a 10 yr plus layoff and I am trying to learn the game, not just how to make a game.
Taberski's on Broadway in Schenectady. Jimmy Chiara took it over after Frank died and he would teach anybody who wanted to learn. He was also a world class 3 cushion player. The only gambling allowed was between regulars, road agents weren't allowed. After it burnt down in 1968 I played at the Golden Cue in Albany where Butch Leonard and Joe Canton ran the room.
For the first 4 years I played only one woman ever came into the room and she was on the warpath after her husband. Times have changed.
For the first 4 years I played only one woman ever came into the room and she was on the warpath after her husband. Times have changed.
Harry P. Cues Lynnwood WA. 1/2 hour N. of seattle. '88-'89. Mike Z, Jimmy rogers, Todd m. and later on bill cress taking turns trying to get the $$$ from the room's owner....Harry platis. Saw Ed kelly give up 10-5 and get there with ease. Top notch 1 pocket some nights.