Guest Post: Puckett Still Haunting Texas Pool Hall?

Guest Post: Puckett Still Haunting Texas Pool Hall?

by | Oct 10, 2019 | Historic Rooms, Hustler Stories, U.J. Puckett

Poolroom regulars say the old pool hustler, dead now for more than 20 years, still causes mischief. By Jennifer Gardner Utley Puckett, better known to the pool world as hustler U.J. Puckett, was born in 1911 and died 81 years later, in 1992. In life he knew fame and fortune as a professional nine-ball and one-pocket champion alongside fellow sharks Jersey Red and Ronnie Allen. He was famous for...
Memories of the Johnston City Hustler Jamborees

Memories of the Johnston City Hustler Jamborees

by | Aug 2, 2019 | Billiards Video, Historic Players, Historic Rooms, Hustler Stories, Jansco Brothers, Minnesota Fats

Pool history includes plenty of examples of grander tournaments but few were as colorful as those in Johnston City. I have been thinking a lot lately about the famous 1960s Johnston City tournaments, especially given the recent selection of tournament founders George and Paulie Jansco for posthumous induction into the Billiard Congress Hall of Fame.  The colorful tournaments in Southern...
Write for us! Guest Post Guidelines for PoolHistory.Com

Write for us! Guest Post Guidelines for PoolHistory.Com

by | Jul 15, 2019 | Historic Players, Historic Rooms, Historical Notes, Hustler Stories, Industry History

The Pool History Website accepts guest posts. W e accept guest posts. Interested in a historical pool match? A famous player from yesteryear? We pay a standard fee of $50 for accepted submissions upon publication. From left, Georgie Jansco, Eddie Taylor and Paulie Jansco We consider completed posts, as well as original pitches. Send queries to R.A. Dyer at poolhistory@gmail.com. Writers should...
Wimpy’s Norfolk Years: America’s Greatest Pool Town?

Wimpy’s Norfolk Years: America’s Greatest Pool Town?

by | May 23, 2019 | Historic Rooms, Hustler Stories, Minnesota Fats, Rags Fitzpatrick, Wimpy Lassiter

Norfolk during World War II was a mecca for big-time pool. Greatest pool town ever? Johnston City you say. New York during the 1960s? Ladies and gentlemen I present for your consideration Norfolk, Virginia. During World War II the Navy town was a wonderland of gambling, top-notch pool hustling and just general pandemonium. It also was in Norfolk that Wimpy Lassiter, arguably...
Sociologist Recalls Jersey Red and 1960s Hustler Culture

Sociologist Recalls Jersey Red and 1960s Hustler Culture

by | Mar 2, 2019 | Historic Rooms, Historical Notes, Jersey Red

A little more than 20 years ago I interviewed Ned Polsky, the late author of Hustlers, Beats and Others. We spoke about the 7-11 pool hall and Jersey Red and where pool’s been and where it was then going. Polksy himself had met Red at the 7-11 in Manhattan, and the two became fast friends. The 7-11, as you many New Yorkers may recall, was then one of the city’s premier action rooms....