It was a challenge, overcoming the viewpoint embraced in movies like “The Hustler” and popularized in “The Music Man” by lovable con artist Harold Hill, who proclaimed, “Oh you’ve got trouble! Right here in River City! With a capital “T” and that rhymes with “P” and that stands for pool!” His introduction came early, as a 5-year-old in Wells, Nevada, where his father, Harry Simon, opened one in the basement of a casino. “Those dark, smoke-filled rooms where ladies weren’t allowed to set foot.” “I’ve spent my life overcoming the negative stereotypes associated with pool halls,” Simon said. To his credit, as evidenced by the soaring popularity of pool halls today, they’ve transformed into a fun and relaxing, family-friendly venue. Lee Simon, proprietor of Buffalo Billiards, has spent decades disproving those old beliefs. Not that long ago they carried a sordid reputation as a male-dominated territory where low-lifes and ne’er-do-wells gathered to loiter, smoke, fight, bet and, of course, shoot pool.
The airy, well-lit game room welcomes everyone, regardless of age or skill level, to come in, chalk up a cue stick and play pool.īut life around pool halls hasn’t always been this inviting. If you pass by Buffalo Billiards on an afternoon or evening and you’ll notice the mix of individuals young and old, men and women, novices and experts gathered around the pool tables enjoying one of America’s favorite pastimes.
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