Play Meter

UP FRONT
Pool's History
Assures Its Future
We can accurately trace the evolution of video . after serving his sentence, even asked to stay in prison
games to Pong in the early 1970s, track pinball to its to refine the game . He developed a new cue (derived
formative years in the 1930s, and even follow from the French word " queue" meaning " tail") in
jukeboxes from Edison 's invention of the phono- 1790 by rounding the square end with a file . With this
graph in the 1870s. However, pinpointing the origin cue he was able to make shots far superior to any seen
of pool or billiards tends to be speculative.
before. In 1807 he added a leather tip. The cue
As far back as 1607, when in the Shakespeare play became universal.
Antony & Cleopatra the queen of Egypt says to her
In 1825, John Carr became the first billiards
attendant, " Come , let us to billiards ... " has there been champion and became wealthy. His specialty shot was
mention of the sport. History cites similarities in called a side-twist or screw stroke and was what is
Roman, Greek, and French sports. Historians agree today referred to as " English " on the ball. He attri-
that the game evolved from lawn games. When bad buted his skill to " magic powder" which he sold at a
weather led folks indoors, lawn games developed large profit until a customer who ran out of it tried
into the indoor sport of billiards with modifications. ordinary chalk which , of course, worked as well.
In 1827 slate replaced wood (which buckled) and
The green cloth was made, no doubt, to represent the
marble (which sweat) . The edges were soon padded
natural lawns outdoors.
By the 14th and 15th centuries, the English and with felt, and in 1865 vulcanized rubber cushions
French were playing billiards; the name was derived were added . In 1885 a general code was adopted by
from the French word "billiart" meaning " little stick ." the Billiards Association , and the Control Council was
During the reign of Charles IX, the French artist formed to organi ze championships in 1919.
The game of skill enables expert players to make
Henrique DeVigne, who is called the father of
billiards, designed billiard tables and is attribut~d shots that seem miraculous to beginners. Comment-
ing on the skill that can be achieved by practicing long
with creating the earliest code of rules about 1517.
The sport came to America in 1565 through a and hard , English philosopher Herbert Spencer (an
family from Spain who settled in Florida . Engl ish avid player himself) once said , " to play billiards too
migrants then brought the game to Virginia and New well was the mark of an ill spent youth! "
We dedicate this issue to the pool game (and to
York.
Around 1694, Louis XIV, suffering ill health , took other table games and electroni c darts). Its history
up billiards on the advice of his doctor, a billiards should assure its future . Operators need only ponder
enthusiast. The king became an expert player and was the rise and fall of the video to understand the rise of
instrumental in popularizing the sport. It is even said pool. It hasn 't fallen yet!
that the king appointed M . DeChamillart to be a
minister of the crown in recognition of his being the
only man who could beat the king!
Captain Mingaud, one of Napoleon's officers, is
al so credited with advancing the sport. While Valerie Cognevich
imprisoned , he fashioned new improvements and , .Editorial Director
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PlAY METEP.. June 15. 1984