Junior; The action days of, "The Rack," were from about 1975 thru the late 80's.
My first trip to the rack was about, 1976, The schedule for the action on a daily basis was from about, 2 pm till when? But, normally, in the morning hrs. the only person's there were, Gil Elias, the owner and the cleanup man.
Now, Gil played a little billiards, and would gamble playing from time to time. I had already planned on going in on Gil's shift to stir his interest. The first day, I walk in, (in the mornings, with NO action, you didn't have to be buzzed in! I was there with another half-ass player from the, "D," I noticed someone playing on the front snooker table by the counter, tall skinny kid, a lefty with a mustache, he and Gil seemed pretty friendly.
I said to the guy with me, "Hey that have 3 cushion table," "lets try it out!" No longer were we knocking them around when, the tall skinny lefty cracked, "You guys gamble at that silly game?" My partner replied, "I don't, but he might try you some." Naturally, he asked me to play, I obliged.
We started out, 25 points for a $100.00, He had a nice fluid stroke, but ALL he good make were off the outside of the ball shots. I could tell his speed in about 10 minutes, I stalled around, (3 Cushion is probably the BEST game ever to stall!) I let him get to 21, and closed the door. He looked over to Gil and asked him, "Play him another," Gil nodded yes, and handed him the C-note. They went for one more barrel, and that was it!
The young, skinny lefty was none other than, Mike "Captain Hook" Sigel, He asked me my name, I told him, "Bill Smith," he didn't believe me.
That was my first and cheapest of MANY scores I made over the years at, "The Rack."
Bill Smith "Mr3Cushion"
P.S. BTW, The guy I went to trap, the owner Gil, went for 2 barrels the next morning when NO one was there, $500 a pop! After I beat him he said, "We'll make some serious money here!"
