Mosconi Records in National Archives: What’s in his case?

Mosconi Records in National Archives: What’s in his case?

Consider exhibit A, above. It’s a handwritten note in which someone has enumerated 13 pool shots, each of which has been described with just a few words. The unnamed author uses cursive letters that slant off to the right. It also looks like he took his time writing it because the script is deliberate. Almost tidy. And judging from the crease marks, one can assume the note was at one time...
Upstairs at the Low-Down Julian Billiards: A NYC Landmark

Upstairs at the Low-Down Julian Billiards: A NYC Landmark

All the greatest pool halls require players to either go up or go down a flight of stairs to get to them. Julian’s, at 138 East 14th Street in New York City, was no exception. The famous second-floor room opened in 1933 and remained at that location for decades. It eventually gained a reputation for seediness. One old timer recalls: “I loved shooting pool at Julians. The big tables...

A New Limb on the Fats Family Tree: An Unknown Daughter

Rudolf Wanderone — the many better known as Minnesota Fats — was the most famous pool hustler in American history. But how much do we really know about him?  Here’s a quick quiz.   But be advised:  some of these are trick questions.   Which statements are true? The Minnesota Fats character in The Hustler, the novel by Walter Tevis, was based on...

News and More

Hustler & the Champ on Kindle

R.A. Dyer's critically acclaimed biography of Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats available in hardback or Kindle.

Expanded edition of Hustler Days

Biography of Lassiter, Fats and Jersey Red, released originally in 2003, now updated with expanded content.

Pool History in Billiards Digest

R.A. Dyer writes about a startling new Minnesota Fats discovery in the November edition of Billiards Digest.

Dyer featured in documentary

R.A. Dyer appears in Swimming with Sharks documentary, included in the 50th anniversary edition of The Hustler.

Janscos Inducted into Hall of Fame

Pool promoters George and Paulie Jansco receive posthumous induction. Read R.A. Dyer's story.