And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Tough guy Jackie Gleason. Look at the size of that ring on his pinkie.
Willie Mosconi was an advisor on "The Hustler." I was able to play him once at an exhibition in the basement pool hall in University of Minnesota's student union. He asked for volunteers to play him, so the piss and vinegar youth I was back then stepped up first. We lagged for break, I came within an inch, he was a 1/4. I rack, he breaks, no balls go in. My turn, easy sink one, little harder sink two, one bank sink three, skim with with heavy english side pocket miss four, sat down. He cleaned the table and the next victim and the next victim. Did some trick shots and the hour exhibition was up. I stayed to the end to learn a few things. He did tell me that the fourth shot in our game was the hardest as the choice was to corner pocket it and have no shot for the five ball (we were playing rotation) or try the skim and set up the five. The second thing was that I usually played on a 100" table. That surprised me as we had a commercial slate 100" table in my parents basement. He also told me to stay in school as I was too nice to be a pool hustler.
One of the all time classics. Newman was incredible too.
ReplyDeleteIf you get a chance to watch reruns of 'The Honeymooners' do it. Talk about hilarious.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed when I read that there was only 39 episodes of that show. It only ran from 1955-1956.
DeleteHilarious show.
JTS Brown, no ice, no glass..
ReplyDeleteand Away We Go!
ReplyDelete“Gimme a diablo sandwich and a Dr. Pepper and make it quick, I’m in a GD hurry!”
ReplyDelete"that's an attention getter !"
DeleteThe Great One.
ReplyDeleteA much better actor than he was credited with. Sadly unknown to the younger generation.
He did his own pool shots in the Hustler
ReplyDeleteDennis the librarian shusher
I recently read the Newman was thinking he was getting pretty good at pool and challenged Gleason. Newman broke and didn't get to use his cue again.
ReplyDeleteThe Brooklyn smart*ss that never had an acting lesson. The quintessential Big Personality. Requiem for a Heavyweight was a terrific, gritty film too.
ReplyDelete"How sweet it is!"
ReplyDeleteLarceny, Inc.
ReplyDelete1942 classic comedy with a goldmine cast worth a watch.
bit part as Jackie C. Gleason
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larceny,_Inc.
Jackies grave
Deletehttps://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3bfe5291ad07e2abe6444169a14cc679aaefde306559e0c62a667c656c0e38d9.jpg
the entering Brooklyn signs in NYC have "How Sweet It Is" on them. There is a life-size bronze Jackie-as-Kramden outside the NY Port Authority bldg.
Classy. Carnation in the lapel classy.
ReplyDeleteWillie Mosconi was an advisor on "The Hustler." I was able to play him once at an exhibition in the basement pool hall in University of Minnesota's student union. He asked for volunteers to play him, so the piss and vinegar youth I was back then stepped up first. We lagged for break, I came within an inch, he was a 1/4. I rack, he breaks, no balls go in. My turn, easy sink one, little harder sink two, one bank sink three, skim with with heavy english side pocket miss four, sat down. He cleaned the table and the next victim and the next victim. Did some trick shots and the hour exhibition was up.
ReplyDeleteI stayed to the end to learn a few things. He did tell me that the fourth shot in our game was the hardest as the choice was to corner pocket it and have no shot for the five ball (we were playing rotation) or try the skim and set up the five. The second thing was that I usually played on a 100" table. That surprised me as we had a commercial slate 100" table in my parents basement. He also told me to stay in school as I was too nice to be a pool hustler.
Spin Drift
Great story.
Delete