What poolroom did you learn to play at? Who were your mentors?

Panarama Bowl in Belleville, Illinois ... 1950's ...

Actually, I started at home, around 8 yrs. old, on a Brunswick Arcadian (6-legs) in 5' x 10' ... I believe the Balls were Ivory ? ... In my early Teens, my best pal and I would ride our bikes to Panarama Bowl ... Downstairs, a retired Pro Player (Gus Mueller) and his lovely wife maintained a dozen or so Beautiful Brunswicks in 4.5 x 9, 5 x 10, Carom, and 6 x 12 Snooker ... Gus took us under his wing and taught us the "right" way to play (all games) and, more importantly, instilled Proper Pool Etiquette in us ... I carried those skills, and decorum, with me into the Service in the 1960's (8 yrs.) where I was able to play most everyday while stationed in the U.S. and more often than not while deployed on foreign soil ... I am thankful every time I pick up a cue that Gus was there and willing to teach a couple of young "sprouts" right off the Farm ...
 
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Learned when i was 18 years old in the ft worth tx area. Learned from Junior Harris, Coy Lee, Erman Bullard, and many others that could all shoot well.
 
I started at The Cue Ball in Alhambra, Ca. Also spent a great deal of time at Hard Times Billiards (worked there), Hollywood Billiards (worked there) and Golden Cue Billiards.

I was never taken under anyones wing nor did I get lessons, so no mentor to speak of. However, I watched and learned from and looked up to; Efren Reyes, Keith McCready, Frank da Barber, Ernesto Dominguez, Morro Paez, Nick Varner, Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, Rudolfo Luat, Joe Salazar, Ron Rosas, Mark Tadd, Dickie Renk, Toby Flaherty, Johnny Archer, Mike Sigel, Kim Davenport, Jay Swanson and Dave Piona (to name a few).

I was lucky enough that great players either lived in the area or rolled through constantly. That was a great time for pool in So. Cal (greatly missed).
 
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CrownCityCorey said:
I started at The Cue Ball in Alhambra, Ca. Also spent a great deal of time at Hard Times Billiards (worked there), Hollywood Billiards (worked there) and Golden Cue Billiards.

I was never taken under anyones wing nor did I get lessons, so no mentor to speak of. However, I watched and learned from and looked up to; Efren Reyes, Keith McCready, Frank da Barber, Ernesto Dominguez, Morro Paez, Nick Varner, Buddy Hall, Steve Mizerak, Rudolfo Luat, Joe Salazar, Ron Rosas, Mark Tadd, Dickie Renk, Toby Flaherty, Johnny Archer, Mike Sigel, Kim Davenport, Jay Swanson and Dave Piona (to name a few).

I was lucky enough that great players either lived in the area or rolled through constantly. That was a great time for pool in So. Cal (greatly missed).
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Corey, I remember The Cue Ball. Frank The Barber and Tim Padgett (Cuemaker) used to play in there. I can't remember where I was hanging out then, either the San Gabriel Lanes pool room, Georges (Later Leo's) in Alhambra or the Golden Cue in Rosemead. I believe the owner there made a shaft for me for an old Brunswick cue I had. I grew up in Monterey Park and went to high school in Alhambra, but I'm sure that was long before your time. Funny we never crossed paths back then. John Henderson
 
First Pool Room

I started playing at Tucker's Pool Room (owned by Eldridge Tucker) in Charleston, SC and I had no clue what I was doing as far as position. I just pocketed balls and hoped I had a shot after each ball went in. The good players didn't want to show you anything when I started playing because they were interested in gambling and making money so the less everyone knew the better for them. There were no video tapes or good books to learn from like there are today so it took me quite a while to develop my pool skills using the trial and error method and just figuring things out. Today the young players starting out have a wealth of material to help them learn how to play the correct way and they can improve very quickly. I wasted a lot of time banging balls because I didn't know what the correct way to play was and until you learn that you won't improve.
 
jrhendy said:
Corey, I remember The Cue Ball. Frank The Barber and Tim Padgett (Cuemaker) used to play in there. I can't remember where I was hanging out then, either the San Gabriel Lanes pool room, Georges (Later Leo's) in Alhambra or the Golden Cue in Rosemead. I believe the owner there made a shaft for me for an old Brunswick cue I had. I grew up in Monterey Park and went to high school in Alhambra, but I'm sure that was long before your time. Funny we never crossed paths back then. John Henderson
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John, I sure do know of you, but you were a little before my time. I know Frank, Timmy, Joe Lane, Bobby Yamasaki, Ken Hoshide, Big Dwayne, Jerry "Baby Huey" Matchin and I was also a patron at Andy's in Monterey Park. Golden Cue is in South El Monte and is owned by Ken Hoshide. He speaks very highly of you.
 
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Learned whereever I could find a table and my mentor was nobody except Willie Mosconi's book. Then when I was about 55 and had time to get serious, my mentor was every book and video I could get my hands on.
Even in the heydey of pool, some of us didn't have a pool room anywhere near us.
 
I grew up sneaking into pool halls, but that never worked out well because they would always throw me out when they found me. I began playing mostly at the Boy's Club and the Y. I got pretty good at maiking a ball or two, and when I was 12, I eventually got myself banned from the tables at the Y. I went back to sneaking into pool halls to play the better players. I've been getting thrown out of places ever since! lol

My mentors are Cisero Murphy, Steve Mizerak, and of course - I intensely studied the master, Mr. Buddy Hall.
 
the original Family Billiards in Glenwood Ill. and Chicago Heights Billiards right down the street. my mentors were Dick Weaver and Louie Colquitt.
 
I started playing in a bar in San Juan Capistrano, CA called the Whistle Stop. I later found out it was owned by Harold Taberski, son of former World Champion Frank Taberski.

An old road player named Ray "the Rabbit" Burchard hung out there once in a while. He showed me a few things and I got hooked on the game.

After the place closed up I started playing big tables at the only place in my area, the Ball and Cue in San Clemente. Boy, that pool room was a dive! Realize, San Clemente was not known as a pool players haven by any stretch. There were nothing but surfers, retired folks and Marines in that town.
 
Where did I learn to play? Who were my mentors? I'll let you know when I've finished learning!!

cubc said:
Learned when i was 18 years old in the ft worth tx area. Learned from Junior Harris, Coy Lee, Erman Bullard, and many others that could all shoot well.
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How long ago was that? I know Erman still plays a great game, even after his health scares this year.
 
Taking a trip down memory lane.

My first pool room was actually at a bowling alley - Golden Pin Lanes in Tucson. It had about 6 tables and 2 billiard tables in a separate room in the back of the bowling alley. It was run by a guy named R.C., and for the life of me, I can't remember his last name. But I do remember this is where I caught the bug.

I never really had a mentor or a teacher, and I never took lessons. But R.C. was the first guy to ever show me how to make a 3 cushion carom on a billiards table, when I could barely hold a cue properly. That was back around '90 or '91. He shut down shortly after that time period.
 
I started out at a movie theater with bar boxes.. but really learned to play at a pool hall in Hollywood FL (Hollywood Billiards). I learned from some of the best around here.... An old hustler (the best hustler down here), Danny D', John DiToro, and a bunch of other players who I'm sure would rather remain nameless.... Can't do much better than getting taught by the best around.... even though I still suck :(
 
I can honestly say that I might have had the best experience, atleast in my opinion, of learning how to play pool. When I was 18 my buddy finally took me into Cornfed Red's in Columbus, OH since I was finally old enough to get in. I was hooked immediately. Within a few months I was working there and was lucky I didnt flunk out of college because of it. I was there non stop. Everynight was non stop action, for any level of player. Corey Deuel, Dee Adkins and Chris Bartrum were in there about every night. Along with them, Shawn Putnam, Gary Abood, Leil Gay, Tony Mougey and other amazing players were always in there for action or tournaments. I learned something from all of them (sad to say considering the way i play, lol), but it was an incredible experience and some of the best times of my life.
 
The first pool halls I play in were West End Billards in Elizabeth NJ and Miseraks room Four Seasons in Metuchen.
 
Mr Pockets (6th And Western)

I Started At Andys Billiards In Monterey Park In The Late 60's And Then Started Playing At Mr Pockets Of Of 6th And Western In Los Angeles (plenty Of Gypsy Action Too). Hawaiian Brian, Jerry Matchin And Freddy Guarino Were Mentors Of Mine. We Would Alway Make The Jaunt Over To Marina Billiards Where Jimmy Marino, Richie Florence, Ronnie Allen And A Bunch Of Others Would Play. Also They Had A Payball Game Upstairs At The Billiard Palace Where Brian Would Take A Shot. Tough Games There, Like Cole Dickson, Keith, Lil Al, Richie, Ronnie Allen, Billy Johnson (wade Crane). Also 5 Points In El Monte Held Some Good Players Like The Barber, Alibi Al And Popcorn. Those Really Were The Days. Everybody Would Be Gambling. Now I Just Go To Hardtimes Bellflower To Nit Around. I Have A Job And A Family, But The Game Still Is A Bunch Of Fun And A Great Way To Blow Of Some Steam.
 
I first started to play at the site of the old Akron open Starcher's Billiards in Akron Ohio.There were so many that helped me learn the game.The one's that stand out the most were Mike Vero,Kenny K,Mark M,BB,and one pocket Harry.I want to thank all those guys.The person that helps me now is Chris Szutor Of Fiddle stix in Canton Ohio.
 
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JimS said:
I started at Brads Pool Hall here in Galesburg Il. The place was run by the two Bradshaw brothers, Shirley and Perry. They were in their 60's and had very little patience with smart ass 14 yr old brats... i.e. me. They kicked me out time after time as the rule was you had to be 16 to get in. I kept on slipping in the back door and they finally just threw their hands up and gave in to my good looks, charming manner and quick wit.

I had no mentor. NOBODY would show me anything. That's the way it was. I watched and learned and then experimented on the table in the back corner. If they weren't busy they would let me play for 1/2 price on that table as it had torn cloth. Full price was a penney a minute or a dime a game. The year was 1956/57. Pepsi was a dime, $.15 for a big hot dog at the Coney Island across the street, chips for a nickle, candy bars for a nickle, cigs were a quarter a pack, gas about $0.20 a gallon. $2 an hour was good pay.

There was no TV (except durig the World Series or boxing matches), no music, cussing was kept at a minimum. I loved that place. Home was no place to be. To much unhappiness and BAD vibes all the time so I was always looking for some place to hang. Brads was my home and the guys were my family. It was torn down in the 60's.
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these were great places - I miss almost everything about them.
 
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