The Palace Billiards

The Palace Billiards 864.234.0428

Fun Stuff

Billiards evolved from a lawn game similar to croquet played sometime during the 15th century in Northern Europe (probably in France).
The term “poolroom” now means a place where billiards is played, but in the 19th century a poolroom was a betting parlor for horse racing. Billiard tables were installed so patrons could pass the time between races. The game of billiards and the poolroom became connected in the public’s mind. Today, the two terms are used interchangeably.
Pool is one of the safest sports in the world.
Pro player and trick shot specialist Paul Gerni is nicknamed the “Ambassador” and speaks six languages.
The dome on Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home, conceals a billiard room. In Jefferson's day, billiards was illegal in Virginia.
According to research conducted a few years back, billiard champions have the highest average age of any sport, 35.6 years.
Tom Cruise did his own trick billiard shots for the 1986 film, The Color of Money, except for one in which he had to jump two balls to sink another. Director Martin Scorsese said he wanted to let Cruise learn the shot, but it would have taken two extra days of practice, which would have held up production and cost thousands of dollars. The shot was instead performed by professional billiards player Mike Sigel.
Billiards was the first sport to have a world championship (1873).
In 1586, the castle of Mary, Queen of Scots, was invaded and captured. The Invaders made a note of forbidding her the use of her billiard table. They then killed her, and used the covering of the table to cover her body.
In 1765 A.D., the first billiard room was built in England. Played there was One-Pocket, which was a table with one pocket and four balls.
The first coin-operated billiard table was patented in 1903. The cost of a game on the first pay-for-play table: one penny.
Captain Mingaud, the inventor of the leather cue tip, was imprisoned for political reasons during the French Revolution. With the help of a fellow prisoner, he was able to have a billiard table installed in his cell. It was during his incarceration that be became obsessed with the game, that he devised and perfected his invention. His obsession became so intense, that at the end of his prison term, he actually asked for a longer sentence so that he could complete his study of the game.
There were few, if any, women’s tournaments in the early 1890s. Whatever titles there were, were local, and usually self-proclaimed. Until, of course, Frances Anderson came along. The Indiana native merely proclaimed herself Champion of the World, and offered $5,000 to any woman who could beat her at pocket billiards. Anderson toured the country, playing both men and women. Legend has it, she went undefeated for 25 years against her female competitors. She was paid handsomely for her appearances throughout the 1920’s, taking on challengers and giving exhibitions, in both America and Europe. She followed this up with a well-publicized announcement that shocked the pool-playing world. Her real name was Orie (from Kansas), not Frances – and she was actually a he.
At times, including during the Civil War, billiard results received wider coverage than war news. Players were so renowned that cigarette cards were issued featuring them.

Source: BCA

To schedule an event, please contact Mike at 864.234.0428.

The 3rd Annual Play Pool Fight Cancer tournament will be held on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Proceeds go to the CancerCenters of the Carolinas Research Unit.

APA
	8 Ball Tuesdays, 9 Ball Thursdays
	Contact Tim Morton (864.814.7665) to sign up.
BCA
	8 Ball Wednesday and Thursday
	Contact Keith Rampey (864.905.4530) to sign up.

	56 Airview Drive, Greenville, SC 29607
	Take I-85 to I-385 N toward downtown Greenville (2.6 mi)
	Turn left onto Haywood Road (exit 39) (.8 mi)
	Turn right onto Airport Road (.1 mi)
	Turn right onto Airview Drive (.1 mi)
	Map