Pools Golden Years

Island Drive

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May 1, 2011
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florence, colorado
Those days, great road players roamed as did their legends and accomplishments. I remember a guy named Frank Tullos who seemed to get allot of respect from his peers. Certain players back then dressed and played as good as they dressed. I remember Frank, either had Steve Cooks Balabuska or the other way around. Think Frank got into a bad car accident during that time so he sold it ta Steve.
 

keoneyo

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Mar 31, 2014
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Nice article on Hyd Jack, Steve. I'd forgotten that it was 11 years ago, and that yours truly had a little quote in there. Jack was in his late 30's when I knew him-- still in his prime. He was a fascinating guy, and fun to be around.

BTW, who is Don Henderson?:)

~Doc

Don is a regular here in Los Angeles. He's also a forum member. A good friend and gentleman.
 

baby huey

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I was around the Hollywood area during those years. We had so many pool rooms in such a small radius that sometimes as players/hustlers we'd pass each other driving on the street making the rounds and match up right there. The Billiard Den on Melrose and Sweetzer was the most unique place with the Hollywood set with money and fame sitting next to us pool hustlers. Phil Specter was a regular there and remember he was producing the Beatles at that time. It was such fun watching Marvin Henderson, Ed Kelley and Ronnie Allen all trying to match up and then looking for stakehorses. We'd all roll out to Bellflower for the late nite action and that's where I first saw Dr. Bill and what a nine ball player he was. We then had the Straight Pool Championships at the Elks Lodge in West LA and produced by Freddie Whelan. What a great event with all the top players in the country there. Then on to the Stardust Open, kind of a pre-curser to what is now called the West Coast Swing. Through it all Pool was great back then and some of us old timers love to hear the old stories. Henderson and the Barber were a big part of the pool scene back then playing any and all comers. I still think the Barber could have given a good account of himself playing with the big boys in those straight pool tournaments. OK back to one pocket wwyd's...........
 

keoneyo

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I was around the Hollywood area during those years. We had so many pool rooms in such a small radius that sometimes as players/hustlers we'd pass each other driving on the street making the rounds and match up right there. The Billiard Den on Melrose and Sweetzer was the most unique place with the Hollywood set with money and fame sitting next to us pool hustlers. Phil Specter was a regular there and remember he was producing the Beatles at that time. It was such fun watching Marvin Henderson, Ed Kelley and Ronnie Allen all trying to match up and then looking for stakehorses. We'd all roll out to Bellflower for the late nite action and that's where I first saw Dr. Bill and what a nine ball player he was. We then had the Straight Pool Championships at the Elks Lodge in West LA and produced by Freddie Whelan. What a great event with all the top players in the country there. Then on to the Stardust Open, kind of a pre-curser to what is now called the West Coast Swing. Through it all Pool was great back then and some of us old timers love to hear the old stories. Henderson and the Barber were a big part of the pool scene back then playing any and all comers. I still think the Barber could have given a good account of himself playing with the big boys in those straight pool tournaments. OK back to one pocket wwyd's...........

Actually Ye Billiard Den was on Santa Monica Blvd and Sweetzer. Right now its a gay joint called Hamburger Mary's. Across the street was the Raincheck Room where all the players hung out and made deals. I worked the graveyard up the street called the Book Circus. A 24 hour joint that was the first porn joint. The stars would come in late at night undercover to stock up on porn. I even made home delivery's in Beverly Hills for the secretive.
Mama Cass came in before she died choking on a sandwich and so did Johnny Mathis just to look around. It was a wild scene then.
No one would mess with the joint cause a tough guy Danny Apple owned the place.
 

gulfportdoc

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Jun 25, 2004
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12,654
From
Gulfport, Mississippi
I was around the Hollywood area during those years. We had so many pool rooms in such a small radius that sometimes as players/hustlers we'd pass each other driving on the street making the rounds and match up right there. ...
Jerry I'm sure I saw you around in those days. We probably wouldn't recognize each other after 50 years! Do you remember a joint out in N. Hyd on Topanga Cyn Blvd. called Big Momma's? This was in '69-'70. A guy named "Coke" owned it, and for awhile Ronnie had a piece of it. Coke had large nostrils, which was perfect for his nickname....;) I heard a year or two ago that Coke is still alive, and doing well in real estate!

Anyway all the top players would gather there starting in January leading up to the World Invitationals at the Elks in February. Coke use to black out the windows and allow the regulars to swing all night, with the booze and drugs humming. I saw some of the greatest one-pocket of my life in that joint: Ronnie giving 4 no-count to some very good players; action with Eddie Kelly, Florence, etc. Wild times.

~Doc
 

petie

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Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
3,314
From
Citrus Springs, FL
"Dummy up, sucker."

"George."

"Tom."

jar

lemon

arm

air

horse

pony

whale

go-off

whitey

rock

boodle

flash

right mix

thru ticket

rail

rail bird

scuff

shortstop

stall

dump

dog

cshekkkk (clearing throat)

hand to the heart

weight

shrimp

=================

Gimme some more!

Tush Hog

Carbuncle

Overcoat

Hairy Leg

Sleeve Puller

Hungarian Lock

Jam Up

Dead Stroke

Dialed In

Up in the Air
 

LSJohn

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Joined
Aug 15, 2013
Messages
8,530
From
monett missouri
Tush Hog

Carbuncle

Overcoat

Hairy Leg

Sleeve Puller

Hungarian Lock

Jam Up

Dead Stroke

Dialed In

Up in the Air

Good ones.

I don't know "Carbuncle" or "Hairy leg."

I remember another few:

dabbin'

throw off

okey-doke shot

shape

Cornbread Red shot

milk dud

knocker

nit/knit

business/ business man

qui-ee-tus

clockin'
 

Cowboy Dennis

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Joined
Dec 16, 2008
Messages
11,123
From
Detroit,Michigan
Good ones.

I don't know "Carbuncle" or "Hairy leg."

I remember another few:

dabbin'

throw off

okey-doke shot

shape

Cornbread Red shot

milk dud

knocker

nit/knit

business/ business man

qui-ee-tus

clockin'


Carbuncle is your bankroll.

Hairy-Leg is a stakehorse.


I think Fats used these terms extensively in The Bank Shot And Other Great Robberies.

Howz about "phony ole T.V. shot"?

Dennis
 

baby huey

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Oct 29, 2008
Messages
1,950
Jerry I'm sure I saw you around in those days. We probably wouldn't recognize each other after 50 years! Do you remember a joint out in N. Hyd on Topanga Cyn Blvd. called Big Momma's? This was in '69-'70. A guy named "Coke" owned it, and for awhile Ronnie had a piece of it. Coke had large nostrils, which was perfect for his nickname.... I heard a year or two ago that Coke is still alive, and doing well in real estate!

Anyway all the top players would gather there starting in January leading up to the World Invitationals at the Elks in February. Coke use to black out the windows and allow the regulars to swing all night, with the booze and drugs humming. I saw some of the greatest one-pocket of my life in that joint: Ronnie giving 4 no-count to some very good players; action with Eddie Kelly, Florence, etc. Wild times.

~Doc

Doc, I hung out at 6th and Western, Mr. Pockets. And we probably did run into each other from time to time. Coke is still alive and you have to zipper up your pockets even to this day. I played him quite a bit back then as he was mainly a snooker player. I don't know if you remember Celebrity Billiards upstairs in Hollywood where there was also quite a lot of action. A young player named Mike Massey came into town with hair down to the crack in his you know what and BBQued everyone he played. But back then he did drugs so much that he couldn't keep any money in his pocket. I remember one night when I ventured out to Orange County to an all night bar called Daisy Mae's where I ran into a young player named Jeff Sparks. Back then it was 5 ahead for $50 and we flipped a coin and he ran the set out on me. Boy could that guy play. I wonder what happened to him......Oh yeah I ran into him in Houston for the One Pocket event last month and he still plays good enough to run the set out again. Now he's hitting home runs on our wwyd's.
Keep in touch....
 

LSJohn

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Joined
Aug 15, 2013
Messages
8,530
From
monett missouri
I ran into a young player named Jeff Sparks. Back then it was 5 ahead for $50 and we flipped a coin and he ran the set out on me. Boy could that guy play. I wonder what happened to him......

:lol :lol :lol

I hear he went to feed the hogs and...................... :eek: :D
 

petie

Verified Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
3,314
From
Citrus Springs, FL
"Dummy up, sucker."

"George."

"Tom."

jar

lemon

arm

air

horse

pony

whale

go-off

whitey

rock

boodle

flash

right mix

thru ticket

rail

rail bird

scuff

shortstop

stall

dump

dog

cshekkkk (clearing throat)

hand to the heart

weight

shrimp

=================

Gimme some more!

OK, "hand to the heart." What is this? Is it where the guy puts his other hand up like he's swearing in as a witness and says, "honest to God, this is the truth?"
 

LSJohn

Verified Member
Joined
Aug 15, 2013
Messages
8,530
From
monett missouri
OK, "hand to the heart." What is this? Is it where the guy puts his other hand up like he's swearing in as a witness and says, "honest to God, this is the truth?"


No, just a hand on your upper chest with an open palm, either hand. Intended not to be noticed by the opponent of the guy whose action you want a piece of. If acknowledged by the player, the other guy might put both hands upin a "+" shape, indicating 1/2 , "50/50?"
 

gulfportdoc

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Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
12,654
From
Gulfport, Mississippi
Doc, I hung out at 6th and Western, Mr. Pockets. And we probably did run into each other from time to time. Coke is still alive and you have to zipper up your pockets even to this day. I played him quite a bit back then as he was mainly a snooker player. I don't know if you remember Celebrity Billiards upstairs in Hollywood where there was also quite a lot of action. A young player named Mike Massey came into town with hair down to the crack in his you know what and BBQued everyone he played. But back then he did drugs so much that he couldn't keep any money in his pocket. I remember one night when I ventured out to Orange County to an all night bar called Daisy Mae's where I ran into a young player named Jeff Sparks. Back then it was 5 ahead for $50 and we flipped a coin and he ran the set out on me. Boy could that guy play. I wonder what happened to him......Oh yeah I ran into him in Houston for the One Pocket event last month and he still plays good enough to run the set out again. Now he's hitting home runs on our wwyd's.
Keep in touch....
Yeah, this may have come up before when I was inquiring the name of the house man at Mr. Pockets. Lou, was it? Anyway for a couple of years I hung around Mr. Pockets nightly when I was in town (music biz). And for sure I remember Celebrity Billiards upstairs. You could drive right under the room and park in back. If I'm not mistaken Cecil used to go there occasionally. Remember that one-armed black guy who used to use a chunk of wood grooved and felted for his bridge? Guy played well, too!

The Hyd Musicians' Union was right down Vine at melrose. I hung around there a lot too, since they had a continuous golf game going on downstairs in the rec room on a 5x10, and there were only 2 or 3 of us who could play well! I'd take the money I won, then go to Celebrity or out to Chopsticks or Tiff Payne's in the Valley. Wonderful days, but I was scrapin' then.

~Doc
 

keoneyo

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Joined
Mar 31, 2014
Messages
2,883
Yeah, this may have come up before when I was inquiring the name of the house man at Mr. Pockets. Lou, was it? Anyway for a couple of years I hung around Mr. Pockets nightly when I was in town (music biz). And for sure I remember Celebrity Billiards upstairs. You could drive right under the room and park in back. If I'm not mistaken Cecil used to go there occasionally. Remember that one-armed black guy who used to use a chunk of wood grooved and felted for his bridge? Guy played well, too!

The Hyd Musicians' Union was right down Vine at melrose. I hung around there a lot too, since they had a continuous golf game going on downstairs in the rec room on a 5x10, and there were only 2 or 3 of us who could play well! I'd take the money I won, then go to Celebrity or out to Chopsticks or Tiff Payne's in the Valley. Wonderful days, but I was scrapin' then.

~Doc

That was one armed joe. He was a sign painter. I played him a lot of $4 one pocket in the late 60's. I was scrapin too
 

baby huey

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Oct 29, 2008
Messages
1,950
Los Angeles had so many pool halls back in the 60's that you could not drive 5 minutes without finding one in any direction. Today there isn't one room in central LA or Hollywood until you get to Santa Monica or the Valley. That West LA area including Hollywood had a ton of action, plenty of stakehorses and lots of players.Hollywood Jack was on everyones "to do" list in that you had to go to his room and play him some snooker or one pocket. If he made a score at the track (which he frequently did) you had a shot at making a score because he would gamble. I can't imagine how many times Henderson must have played him snooker starting in the late 50's up until maybe the early 80's.
 

petie

Verified Member
Joined
Oct 2, 2005
Messages
3,314
From
Citrus Springs, FL
Good ones.

I don't know "Carbuncle" or "Hairy leg."

I remember another few:

dabbin'

throw off

okey-doke shot

shape

Cornbread Red shot

milk dud

knocker

nit/knit

business/ business man

qui-ee-tus

clockin'

Stone idiot

Stone killer

Jesse (a very old term)

Jelly roll

In flew a dove
 
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