NO POOL?

Over the past couple of days something has started to bug me.  Americans are well versed with pool halls, pool balls, pool cues and the like.  The question is has anyone ever played "pool" .... the answer is no.  There is not, nor has there ever been a game called "pool."  There is Billiards, Carom Billiards, Pocket Billiards, 8-ball; "Straight Pool" is the closest and the only game I have found with the word pool even in it.

So where did pool come from?  In the early 1900's "Pool Halls" were places for men to gamble, play poker and drink. The name "pool hall" comes from all the "pools" of money.  Before too long billiard tables were introduced and became very popular.  The environment however gave the game a negative connotation that is still being fought today.  As gambling became more and more illegal though and the poker and bookies went underground, Billiard Tables stayed in the pool halls minus the gambling part of course.  Slowly this is how the term pool started for billiard games.

The truth is that today a casino is the closest thing we have to an actual "Pool Hall" and no one has ever shot a game of "pool"


Until next time, shoot the lights out....

Jason
http://www.billiardsupplyhouse.com