Check out this interesting blog found at Delta-13 titled A Look Inside: The Oldest & Newest Pool Halls in America.

We went in search to find the oldest pool halls in America that are still in business today! Don’t be fooled, as some of the pool halls just recently had updates done, so not all of them look as old as they really are! We also decided to incorporate some of the new pool halls that just opened in the last couple years, showing you that pool is still alive and going strong.

To start, read a little pool hall history and learn about when certain pool equipment was invented. Check out our history blog HERE!

Let’s start with the oldest and work our way to pool halls that are opening today!

Orton’s Pool Room

*Oldest Pool Hall in America

Established in the early 1900’s (1888), Orton Pool Room home in Wilmington, North Carolina holds a lot of history. Originally built as the Orton Hotel in the 1800’s, years later in 1949, the building burned and only the basement with the laundry, pool hall and barber shop survived!

Who Famous Played Here? Willie Mosconi stopped in 1953, while on tour.

Mosconi, known as “Mr. Pocket Billiards”, won the World Straight Pool Championship a record 15 times from 1941-1957. He was also among the first group to be inducted into the Billiard Congress of America Hall of Fame.

Ortons Pool Room

Smith’s Billiards

*Second Oldest Pool Hall in America

Originally established as a billiard academy, this pool hall is located in the historic town of Springfield, Massachusetts. Fred Smith began the academy in 1902. Said to be 114 years old.

Who Famous Played Here? Lots! One was Leo Durocher, Major League Baseball American professional baseball player, manager and coach.

Smiths Billiards

People’s Billiards Club aka People’s On Beale

Founded in 1904 in Memphis, Tennessee. This pool hall is a home of the “hundred-year-old Brunswicks”. They have 8 pool tables, a jukebox, and a stage.

Want to Know a Fun Fact about People’s on Beale? Beale Street is the #1 Tourist Attraction in the state of Tennessee!

BealeStreet Merchants

Booches Billiard Hall

Located in Columbia, Missouri (founded in 1884, but burned down and rebuilt in 1920’s), Booches has three full-sized pool tables, two snooker tables, and one billiard table for three cushion billiards play.

Want to know something yummy about Booches? Booches cheeseburgers (served on wax paper) were named one of the Top Ten burgers in America by USA Today in 2000.

Booches Billiard Hall

Blue Post Billiards

Blue Post Billiards located in Wilmington, North Carolina. This building used to be a brothel where sailors and pirates would go after long voyages. Although there is no date on its opening, we believe it to be at least a 100 years old and is why we have added it to our list! Fun Fact: A scene in the movie, “Tammy” was filmed in this local bar.

Don’t be too scared if you decide to visit this pool hall… Blue Post is said to be haunted!

The Blue Post

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We’ve made some changes and we want you to be the first to know! Our Pinterest has had a make over. We’ve added and are working on adding more great new boards with tons of pictures in order to help you visualize, design, spice-up and or create your game rooms and family hang-out areas.

There is so much to see! be sure to follow us and like the boards you like so we can better serve you.

Find us at pinterest.com/goldenwestbilliards

The WPA announced that World 8-Ball Championship is coming this September. Both the men and women’s championships will be played simultaneously in Jinan, China at the beautiful Olympic Center. The exact dates are yet to be announced but it’s all very exciting news!

For more news check out WPA

There are 3 main things to focus on before starting a billiard game. First is your mindset. Remember failure is not the opposite of success. It’s part of success because we learn from failure. So, win or lose know that you’re making progress. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have clear intentions on the outcome but simply getting out there and develop your skills.

Making sure you are using the suitable equipment when you go to play is key. From your billiard table to your cue and chalk. If your table isn’t up to playing standards then it’s pointless to play. You will have a horrible a time trying to play on an uneven surface or with a wrapped cue that shoots the opposite way you want the ball to go.

Just remember Golden West Billiards offers restoration services along with repairs and the sale of American Made custom products.

Finally, don’t forget about the billiard fundamentals, planning shots, stance, hand position, aim, cue grip, and follow through stroke.

What is the difference? If you think billiards and pool are the same things then you are mistaken.There are 3 major subdivisions of the game, Carom Billiards which is played on a table that has no pockets. Additional games you can play on a Carom table are balkline and straight rail, cushion caroms, three-cushion billiards, artistic billiards, and four-ball.

Depending on where one is located geographically speaking, the word “Pool” can be a little confusing. If you are from The U.S, Canada or parts of Southeast Asia such as the Philippines then a game of “Pool” means a game played with one cue ball and 15 object balls. Games include 8 Ball, 9 Ball, straight pool or one pocket with.

Finally, Snooker and English Billiards is a game played a large specially designed 12 x6 ft snooker table.

Luckily Golden West can produce your desired table. Give us a call today!

Today we are going to count down the best top 5 billiard tattoos. Scoring is based on creativity, design, and execution.

1) Check out the first tattoo on our list by Logan Aguilar is an award winning tattoo artist based out of Last Rites Tattoo in New York City. The detail in this tattoo is spectacular the use of light and shadows really makes it pop.

2) This tattoo can be interpreted in different ways. It looks like the design provides a look into the dark side of billiards. For example, when you have a good shot or you’re setting the game up in your favor this little monster appears.

3) The third tattoo on our list was cleverly designed to depicts two interests in this mans life. See if you can guess what they are.

4) A flying 8 ball which is supposed to symbolizes a love of freedom, independence, and billiards according to the source.

5) The fifth spot on the list was given to what we call the explosive 8 ball. Why? because one is ready for the win.

Which is your favorite?

Being able to accomplish your own projects is always more rewarding than buying store bought products. It not only helps you appreciate the objects being created it also provides you with a feeling of accomplishment and rewards you with the knowledge to produce something again and again.

Golden West Billiards has a large inventory of billiard products stocked in their showroom including the replacement parts you need for your cue projects. Keep in mind that GWB also provides all sorts of replacement part services if that’s what you want to do instead. Give us a call and learn more!

Tip Replacement Video

Snooker Plastic Pool Cue Tip Clamp for Tip / Glue on Fastener / Repair Tool

Do you enjoy playing on game tables? Do you admire a fine piece of furniture when you see it? Have you ever owned a pool table, billiard table, poker table or shuffleboard

If you answered YES to any of these questions then you will be happy to hear that Golden West Billiards is a locally owned pool table manufacturer. Who enjoy’s building tables for the enjoyment of the community and abroad.

To learn more about GWB please follow us, check out our previous posts, or even give us a call to set up a guided tour of our facility.

The history of shuffleboards as far as when it was first played and the date of its conception are still a mystery. However, we have ideas on its development and origins. As you can imagine this brings up much debate within the shuffleboard community.

The game was noted to be played by King Henry the VIII of England who prohibited commoners from playing. King Henry and his opponent would wager and apparently the royal records of 1532 show payouts to Lord William who won games against the King.

Historically the ancient shovelboard gave inspiration for the development of both table shuffleboard we see today and shove ha’penny a pub game predominantly played in the United Kingdom.

Nowadays a floor version of shuffleboard is popular on cruises and retirement homes due to its low physical requirements. In the table from it’s become an appealing game for the younger crowd who enjoy a game at their local bars or pubs.

Today, when you think of pool you think shuffleboard or vice-versa and so, Golden West Billiards has made it easy for you to own a matching set of tables. At your request, GWB will match your shuffleboard and pool table. If, you which mix things up GW provides lots of table designs to choose from.

Please give us a call or click on the customer service representative window located at the right-hand corner of your screen.

Over the years Golden West Billiards has explored many furniture designs in order to achieve quality products leaving us with many unique designs such as this:

The Rustic Urban
w/ Steel leg’s and a Pine Finish

This finely crafted table will fit into any modern or urban setting. It is a brand new design that we look forward to seeing in a wide range of home styles.

Please give us a call with questions regarding customization options. Our customer service representatives are here Mon-Fri 8AM – 4:30PM and 10AM – 4PM on Sat. Sunday is by appointment only.