Great stories, Gary. Ames was at 160 W. 44th, just west of 7th Ave., which was right near it's intersection with Broadway. Yeah, I remember that Camel sign. Great Americana.
I was only there a couple of times. I first went up there in the summer of '62 because of
The Hustler having been shot there. It was exactly like it was in the movie. I fancied myself a hustler, but I got into a $1 rotation game with the off duty cook, and he busted me...
Do you remember the exact location of 711? I think it was on 46th St., but I was never in there. I played at a room that was on the 2nd or 3rd floor, I believe right on Broadway in that area, which had several bowling lanes in it, but I could never remember the name of it. I'm pretty sure Annigoni mentioned it in
Playing off the Rail.
I also played at the original Amsterdam Billiards up near 78th St. I believe.
Several years later I played 3C at McGirr's when I was on the road with a band. I don't know if I ever saw Guys and Dolls poolroom.