Wondering if the are any real Pool Rooms left in the U.S.

[Stones]

In most old school poolrooms, if they had a bar, it came second to the pool action. No music and if they had a TV, it was only one with no sound behind the bar. The only sound you heard when you walked in was balls clicking together.

These days, most "poolrooms" are sports bars with blaring music and huge screen TV's that happen to have pool tables. Most "poolroom" owners that I have encountered have a hard time seeing past the bar to the tables simply because of the money the bar generates.

I understand it's a simple case of doing what has to be done to keep the doors open but I can't remember the last time I was in a poolroom at 10:00 p.m. at night, put my bridge hand down on the table and didn[t feel the slate vibrating from the music. Forget about having a conversation with someone from more than 2 feet away.

Sorry for the rant, I guess "ol' fart" syndrome has set in.

Stones

 

[cueball1950]

In most old school poolrooms, if they had a bar, it came second to the pool action. No music and if they had a TV, it was only one with no sound behind the bar. The only sound you heard when you walked in was balls clicking together.

These days, most "poolrooms" are sports bars with blaring music and huge screen TV's that happen to have pool tables. Most "poolroom" owners that I have encountered have a hard time seeing past the bar to the tables simply because of the money the bar generates.

I understand it's a simple case of doing what has to be done to keep the doors open but I can't remember the last time I was in a poolroom at 10:00 p.m. at night, put my bridge hand down on the table and didn[t feel the slate vibrating from the music. Forget about having a conversation with someone from more than 2 feet away.

Sorry for the rant, I guess "ol' fart" syndrome has set in.

Stones

Then you should come to the Golden Cue here in Albany NY. The place opened in 1963 and has remained that way up until a couple of months ago. They are in the middle of doing some 1st time since it has opened, remodeling, in order to put a bar in and to serve alcohol in order to help keep it open. But from 1963 until now the only thing ever done was the change to the carpet. Anybody who has been there will tell you it is an old style pool room. Which back then it would be called upscale today. And Rocco the owner does take care of his equipment. After you come up and pay for the table time he gets right down there and brushes the table and wipes the rails down with a damp cloth. to bad other pool rooms don't also do that. Oh...by the way...no loud music. there will be music playing but not loud....look at my avatar. that is the Golden Cue..................mike

 

[pdcue]

First let me say that I would prefer to play on the table in your avatar ... the "competition" looks interesting.

Now a question, is there a strong relationshsip between pool halls and barber shops in the USA ? Around here many a barber shop was turned into a pool hall over the course of a decade or two. The premier billiards supply outfit in Saskatoon, Goulds Home Recreation, started life as barber supply dealer. They too shifted their business focus as their clientel changed their businesses.

Pacific Avenue Billiards would qualify, except it is not in the U.S. , sorry.

Dave

Pool and Barber shops.
At one time there was a strong relationship.

Back when we still had small town life, and even true neighborhoods
in cities, the Barber shop was a defacto workingman's social club.

Many of them put in pool tables for the guys that hung out there.

An oft quoted stat about the 'Golden Age of Pool' is that
early in the 20th Century<forget the year> there were 4000
liscensed pool rooms in New York City alone. Suposedly, most
of them were barbershops with a single table.

Those were the days, eh?

Dale

 

[OneArmed]

In most old school poolrooms, if they had a bar, it came second to the pool action. No music and if they had a TV, it was only one with no sound behind the bar. The only sound you heard when you walked in was balls clicking together.

These days, most "poolrooms" are sports bars with blaring music and huge screen TV's that happen to have pool tables. Most "poolroom" owners that I have encountered have a hard time seeing past the bar to the tables simply because of the money the bar generates.

I understand it's a simple case of doing what has to be done to keep the doors open but I can't remember the last time I was in a poolroom at 10:00 p.m. at night, put my bridge hand down on the table and didn[t feel the slate vibrating from the music. Forget about having a conversation with someone from more than 2 feet away.

Sorry for the rant, I guess "ol' fart" syndrome has set in.

Stones

I'm not even that old, but I feel exactly the same way.

 

[DaveK]

Pool and Barber shops.
At one time there was a strong relationship.

Back when we still had small town life, and even true neighborhoods
in cities, the Barber shop was a defacto workingman's social club.

Many of them put in pool tables for the guys that hung out there.

An oft quoted stat about the 'Golden Age of Pool' is that
early in the 20th Century<forget the year> there were 4000
liscensed pool rooms in New York City alone. Suposedly, most
of them were barbershops with a single table.

Those were the days, eh?

Dale

Thanks Dale, that's also the way many small town pool halls evolved around here. Sadly many of our small town halls are gone now, closed in the '60s and '70s for the most part.

Dave

 

[alstl]

Bakers in Tampa.

Estalished in 1942, Bakers is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, continuously operated pool halls in the United States. Believe it or not, Mr. Angus Baker originally opened this business as a Barber Shop. It was quite successful but the one problem he had was keeping the good barbers. Not really knowing what to do, he decided to put in a pool table. Ironically enough, the barbers stayed around longer as they really liked playing pool. Even more interesting were the men that would come by and play, whether they were there to get a haircut or to just pass the time. Well, that meant that the little corner Barber Shop with the fellow named Shine that would shine your shoes just had to expand just a bit....and it did. Mr. Baker decided that maybe he should also provide all of these folks with some food and drinks, and sure enough that was a hit too.

As a matter of a fact, this Fine Establishment was such a success that tournaments began taking place at Bakers. Next thing you know, Mr. Baker had tournaments going that attracted players such as Steve Mizerak, Willie Mosconi, Steve Cook, Buddy Hall, New York Blackie, Mike Sigel, Earl Strickland, Keith McKready, and too many others to count.

Nice looking pool room, but Booches in Columbia MO would take issue with Bakers being the oldest continuous operating pool room. I don't know all the facts, but I think Booches has been around since 1883, the old place burned down in the 1920's and they have been in their current location since.

 

[9 on the snap]

I also give haircuts if anyone is interested. A quick trim is $50, the complete cut is $200 and a full scalp treatment is $1,000. We work by appointment only.

With my stroke I would get the full scalp, and end up looking like Telly Savalas.

 

[9 on the snap]

I cant see anthing but the brazillian buns in the hands of a volleyballer.

Leonard

Tight butts drive me nuts

Me too. I have some team USA too, but I am still enjoying the brazillians for now.

 

[pwd72s]

In most old school poolrooms, if they had a bar, it came second to the pool action. No music and if they had a TV, it was only one with no sound behind the bar. The only sound you heard when you walked in was balls clicking together.

These days, most "poolrooms" are sports bars with blaring music and huge screen TV's that happen to have pool tables. Most "poolroom" owners that I have encountered have a hard time seeing past the bar to the tables simply because of the money the bar generates.

I understand it's a simple case of doing what has to be done to keep the doors open but I can't remember the last time I was in a poolroom at 10:00 p.m. at night, put my bridge hand down on the table and didn[t feel the slate vibrating from the music. Forget about having a conversation with someone from more than 2 feet away.

Sorry for the rant, I guess "ol' fart" syndrome has set in.

Stones

You didn't list your location, but if you lived in the area, I'm thinking your second home would be:

http://www.thecueball.com/

No bar...TV is muted, music is low volume, controled by the house. Usually playing oldies rock or light jazz. Damn, I wish it wasn't a 60 mile round trip for Cindy & I..we'd be there more.

Action can be arranged if you want it, people never hassle you if you don't.

 

[RBLilly]

In most old school poolrooms, if they had a bar, it came second to the pool action. No music and if they had a TV, it was only one with no sound behind the bar. The only sound you heard when you walked in was balls clicking together.

These days, most "poolrooms" are sports bars with blaring music and huge screen TV's that happen to have pool tables. Most "poolroom" owners that I have encountered have a hard time seeing past the bar to the tables simply because of the money the bar generates.

I understand it's a simple case of doing what has to be done to keep the doors open but I can't remember the last time I was in a poolroom at 10:00 p.m. at night, put my bridge hand down on the table and didn[t feel the slate vibrating from the music. Forget about having a conversation with someone from more than 2 feet away.

Sorry for the rant, I guess "ol' fart" syndrome has set in.

Stones

I know what you are saying stones! I haven't ever been to a pool hall that was just a pool hall only! I get tired of the screaming music! I remember when my folks said the stuff I listened to was screaming, but it is very mild compared to the music of today.

A question for you though, or for anyone else in here. Isn't Diamonds up in Dallas supposed to be about 80% pool, and then the other 20% is TV's? LOL

I am just curious, but Diamonds is the closest thing I know to just a pool hall, at least here in Texas. I would love to know of any others though.

 

[Firecracker]

Dallas Rooms

Diamonds in Dallas is a pool room. They play the radio low, just for some background music. They have a couple tvs, but most of the times I have been there, they are showing a better view of the match being played on the premier tables. No alcohol, but you can byob. They have 8-9ft Diamond tables and 1-7ft. They have a sitting area in the room where you can view most of the tables easily from. It is an awesome setup.

Rusty's in Arlington & Fort Worth, I like as well. They have darts, jukebox, and some video games, but they primarily have pool tables. At both locations, the tables are brushed & wiped down after each use. They have some of the better tables in the area, especially the 9 ft gold crowns in Fort Worth.

The rest of Dallas is pretty much sport bars with tables. Clicks Billiards used to be a decent choice for players as well, but they have geared more towards non-pool players in the last 5 years. As they have, their equipment has gone downhill.