Yesteryear Pool Hall's - Still around.

E

ernestp

New member
If anyone really wants to check out a pool hall that is the same now as when the old time greats played, it's Jack and Jill Q Lounge in Brester NY.

I lived about 45 mins away in Easton Ct and drove over. The town was very cute but had a much different demographic than back in the day. It must still have a lot going for it as Marth Stewart (famous pool player) lives there... However, the pool room is exactly as it was when Irving Crane, Miosconi and all the greats played back in the day, the same pool tables, the same actual chairs, the walls have black and white pics of the old greats and later greats like Allen Hopkins, playing and sitting right there. It was the coolest thing practicing there, the tables are the same as in the pictures.

Being 58, these were my pool idols.

It's only cash and I think whoever owns it is keeping it on life support because he loves the place and pool. There were a few old timers playing, who have been going there 40 years. You can look it up - they serve food which can be handy. Cash only.

I took pictures of pictures... I have video, but wouldn't upload so I took screenshots of the videos....
 

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Back in the late 80's early 90's we played at a place, I believe was called The Metropolitan?, it was in Morgantown, WV. We'd stay up there a few weeks, we were in our early 20's. Great time at that age being in a College town. It was definitely a cool throwback room. Brian.
 
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ernestp said:
If anyone really wants to check out a pool hall that is the same now as when the old time greats played, it's Jack and Jill Q Lounge in Brester NY.

I lived about 45 mins away in Easton Ct and drove over. The town was very cute but had a much different demographic than back in the day. It must still have a lot going for it as Marth Stewart (famous pool player) lives there... However, the pool room is exactly as it was when Irving Crane, Miosconi and all the greats played back in the day, the same pool tables, the same actual chairs, the walls have black and white pics of the old greats and later greats like Allen Hopkins, playing and sitting right there. It was the coolest thing practicing there, the tables are the same as in the pictures.

Being 58, these were my pool idols.

It's only cash and I think whoever owns it is keeping it on life support because he loves the place and pool. There were a few old timers playing, who have been going there 40 years. You can look it up - they serve food which can be handy. Cash only.

I took pictures of pictures... I have video, but wouldn't upload so I took screenshots of the videos....
Click to expand...
I’m guessing they don’t care, but accepting cash only in this day and age makes no sense from a business perspective.
 
Lowell said:
It works fine for a dive bar but, but for a pool hall it makes less sense unless their table rates are really cheap
Click to expand...
I’ve owned / operated a pool room and grill for 30+ years and I can confirm that most younger people carry very litttle cash anymore, if any, unless they happen to work in a service job with cash tips. Their payroll checks go directly in to their bank accounts to cover their credit and debit card purchases.
 
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ChrisinNC said:
I’ve owned / operated a pool room and grill for 30+ years and I can confirm that most younger people carry very litttle cash anymore, if any, unless they happen to work in a service job with cash tips. Their payroll checks go directly in to their bank accounts to cover their credit and debit card purchases.
Click to expand...

I'm aware, but I've been to plenty of cash only bars that were packed. There are still ATMs everywhere.
 
ernestp said:
If anyone really wants to check out a pool hall that is the same now as when the old time greats played, it's Jack and Jill Q Lounge in Brester NY.

I lived about 45 mins away in Easton Ct and drove over. The town was very cute but had a much different demographic than back in the day. It must still have a lot going for it as Marth Stewart (famous pool player) lives there... However, the pool room is exactly as it was when Irving Crane, Miosconi and all the greats played back in the day, the same pool tables, the same actual chairs, the walls have black and white pics of the old greats and later greats like Allen Hopkins, playing and sitting right there. It was the coolest thing practicing there, the tables are the same as in the pictures.

Being 58, these were my pool idols.

It's only cash and I think whoever owns it is keeping it on life support because he loves the place and pool. There were a few old timers playing, who have been going there 40 years. You can look it up - they serve food which can be handy. Cash only.

I took pictures of pictures... I have video, but wouldn't upload so I took screenshots of the videos....
Click to expand...
Kind of reminds me of Cue & Cushion in St Louis.
Old school hall been there since 1963!!
All 9 footers, Gold Crowns and Diamonds, snooker and heated 3 C tables and one lonely valley bar box.😁
Place literally has a thousand photos and memorabilia on the walls of the players who came thru back when St. Louis was a mecca for road players and pros alike!!
Still only 4 bucks an hour!!
Idk how they manage to keep the lights on, but God bless them for doing so.
The Huddleston's still own it and are pool people. Some of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure to call my friends!!
Gotta Love that place!!😍
 
Mensabum said:
Kind of reminds me of Cue & Cushion in St Louis.
Old school hall been there since 1963!!
All 9 footers, Gold Crowns and Diamonds, snooker and heated 3 C tables and one lonely valley bar box.😁
Place literally has a thousand photos and memorabilia on the walls of the players who came thru back when St. Louis was a mecca for road players and pros alike!!
Still only 4 bucks an hour!!
Idk how they manage to keep the lights on, but God bless them for doing so.
The Huddleston's still own it and are pool people. Some of the nicest folks I've ever had the pleasure to call my friends!!
Gotta Love that place!!😍
Click to expand...
Hey Matt24, you got any pics??
 
ernestp said:
If anyone really wants to check out a pool hall that is the same now as when the old time greats played, it's Jack and Jill Q Lounge in Brester NY.
...
Click to expand...
That was my regular pool hall for about three months in 1981 when I was a spring intern down the road.

At the time, an ancient Italian guy owned it -- I think his name was "Turk". A local good player later bought it from him, last name Priest, I think.

No eight ball or nine ball on the front tables. They had a carom table and I think they also had pocket blocks to turn pool tables into carom.

The first run over 150 I ever saw was there by Pete Margo in an exhibition. 198 and a scratch on the break shot following through balls to the side pocket.

Google, google, google....

It was Turk, and the new owner was Steve Priest. Here is a thread in the Brewster facebook page:

www.facebook.com

Brewster NY/Southeast | Facebook

www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

And here is Turk, close to how I remember him:

1794442957034.png

As one of the Brewster residents commented, a lot more Spanish is spoken there now. I had lunch and played there a few years ago on a trip to the Kingston area.
 
Old School, or Old Time Pool Rooms from my neck of woods are gone, and will not return. Today most of what people call Pool Room are Bar with Pool Tables, or Enrtertainment Venues with Pool Tables.

Many things are not like 1941, in 2026.

In 1941 these was no Child Menu's, McDonalds, Internet, TV, Cell Phones, Facebook, Twitter, or Gay Pride Parades.

1941 was IN G.O.D. ='s Good Old Days.
 
old school,?? you young whipper snappers have no idea of old school. i dont see any anniversary or centennial tables. or the very old drop pocket tables.

getting to one by owner jim lebold in salem oregon who started and still has it since the early 1960's.

all anniversary and centennials.

that is a pool room.

 
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maha said:
old school,?? you young whipper snappers have no idea of old school. i dont see any anniversary or centennial tables. or the very old drop pocket tables.

getting to one by owner jim lebold in salem oregon who started and still has it since the early 1960's.

all anniversary and centennials.

that is a pool room.

Click to expand...

I've been there a couple of times, it's the first thing I thought of.
 
maha said:
old school,?? you young whipper snappers have no idea of old school. i dont see any anniversary or centennial tables. or the very old drop pocket tables.
...
Click to expand...
Anniversaries and Centennials are modern tables. Here is Palace Billiards in SF in 1987 (stolen from onepocket.org) No Formica on any table.

I believe the guy in the red sweater was called "Salt". Pinball machines in the back on the right that paid money, cue lockers on the right, theater seats, small restaurant area with stools by the cashier on the right, one of the five or so carom tables in the foreground, 6x12 snooker table by the counter for a continuous ring game (pink ball, not snooker), ...

This was Bob Byrne's home room when he worked in SF. Joe Procita was the house man for a while.
1794449920129.png


Here's another view. The player drinking Coke from a can is Filipino Gene, who once won five straight games in a handicapped nine ball tournament by three-fouling his opponent. In the back, there is the same large picture of a nearly naked lady in bed. Note that someone is actually cleaning a table.

1794450784592.png
 
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a1712 said:
Back in the late 80's early 90's we played at a place, I believe was called The Metropolitan?, it was in Morgantown, WV. We'd stay up there a few weeks, we were in our early 20's. Great time at that age being in a College town. It was definitely was a cool throwback room. Brian.
Click to expand...
Yes!! The Met still operates to this day. Original tables. All are ancient. It’s in the basement of the Metropolitan Theater on High Street in Morgantown.
 
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