Golden Cue
Encyclopedia
The Golden Cue Billiard Lounge (also known as Golden Cue Billiards and Sports Pub) is the only extant billiard hall in Albany, New York
, the state capital, and one of the oldest poolrooms in the Northeast. Bordering on Colonie in the state's Capital District
, it was opened in 1963, "riding the wave" of the popularity of The Hustler
(1961), and bought in 1973 by Rocco Spinelli, Sr., whose son Rocco, Jr. owns it today. The venue has hosted Joss Tour events for many years.
-free, 26-table venue, described as "retro", "classic" and "unadorned", was intentionally designed to be open and bright, to avoid the stereotypical dingy pool hall atmosphere. It has a beer and wine bar and food service as of 2010. The hall is equipped for pool (pocket billiards) games such as eight-ball, nine-ball and straight pool
, with 19 classic 1960s Brunswick
Gold Crown II tables among others, as well as for carom billiards games such as three-cushion
. The hall hosts American Poolplayers Association
member league play. The business has also long provided table soccer tables.
contender Mike Zuglan (today a pool hall operator himself, owning Pro Billiard Lounge in nearby Schenectady). When he was only 10 years old, Zuglan was said to have held his own in an exhibition match against famed hustler
and showman Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, who played a nine-ball exhibition on Golden Cue's table number 23 (described as "something of a shrine" today).
The hall is the host of the annual pro-am Joss Tourhttp://Joss9BallTour.com Northeast 9-Ball Open, (an event founded by Zuglan and originally hosted at his own hall). April 18–19, 2010, Dennis "the Hatchet Man" Hatch went undefeated against a field of 43 competitors, and was victorious, 9–4, over Matt Tetreault (while Hal Hughes won 3–2 over John Rich in the amateurs-only second-day tournament). The hall has been a location for Joss Tour events for many years, and is a sponsor of the tour (providing, for example, US$
2,000 in added prize money for the 2010 event). Hatch has dominated the Golden Cue competition for several years running. In 2009, he won the event against 46 entrants, taking the final with a narrow 9–8, again versus Tetreault. November 15–16, 2008, the Golden Cue hosted the finals of that year's Joss Tour. Hatch was again the victor, 9–4 vs. Jeremy Sossei in a field of 53. April 19–20 of that year, in a regular Joss Tour stop at Golden Cue, Hatch won yet again, in a field of 49, beating Dan Heidrich in the final after defeating local hero Zuglan. April 14–15, 2007, Zuglan took the prize, with Dan Hewitt as runner-up (Hatch was tied for 7th/8th). The Color of Money supporting actor and real-life top road player Keith McCready
took the Golden Cue Joss title, versus Hewitt in the 9–5 final, on April 16–17, 2005, defending his prior victory in the 2004 edition of the event.
The Golden Cue also hosted tour stop #13 of the Northeast Amateur 10-Ball Tour (sponsored by Dominiak Cues and InsidePool magazine), on March 14, 2010. The event culminated in a victory for Paul Rozonewski over Albany local Tom Acciavatti in the final.
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, the state capital, and one of the oldest poolrooms in the Northeast. Bordering on Colonie in the state's Capital District
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
, it was opened in 1963, "riding the wave" of the popularity of The Hustler
The Hustler (film)
The Hustler is a 1961 American drama film directed by Robert Rossen from the 1959 novel of the same name he and Sidney Carroll adapted for the screen...
(1961), and bought in 1973 by Rocco Spinelli, Sr., whose son Rocco, Jr. owns it today. The venue has hosted Joss Tour events for many years.
Description
The formerly alcoholAlcoholic beverage
An alcoholic beverage is a drink containing ethanol, commonly known as alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes: beers, wines, and spirits. They are legally consumed in most countries, and over 100 countries have laws regulating their production, sale, and consumption...
-free, 26-table venue, described as "retro", "classic" and "unadorned", was intentionally designed to be open and bright, to avoid the stereotypical dingy pool hall atmosphere. It has a beer and wine bar and food service as of 2010. The hall is equipped for pool (pocket billiards) games such as eight-ball, nine-ball and straight pool
Straight Pool
Straight pool, also called 14.1 continuous or simply 14.1, is a pocket billiards game, and was the common sport of championship competition until overtaken by faster-playing games like nine-ball...
, with 19 classic 1960s Brunswick
Brunswick Corporation
The Brunswick Corporation , formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is a United States-based corporation that has been involved in manufacturing a wide variety of products since 1845. Brunswick's global headquarters is in the northern Chicago suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois...
Gold Crown II tables among others, as well as for carom billiards games such as three-cushion
Three-cushion billiards
Three-cushion billiards is a form of carom billiards, and one of the most popular and challenging cue sports in the world.The object of the game is to the off both and contact the at least 3...
. The hall hosts American Poolplayers Association
American Poolplayers Association
The American Association was founded in 1981 by professional pool players Terry Bell and Larry Hubbart, although with roots dating back to the National Pool League , founded in 1979. The APA conducts a system of franchised-based local amateur leagues of pool competition, including both...
member league play. The business has also long provided table soccer tables.
Major events
The billiard lounge was long the "home" hall of pro, road player and WPA World Nine-ball ChampionshipWPA World Nine-ball Championship
The WPA World Nine-ball Championship is an annual, international, professional nine-ball pool tournament, founded in 1990, sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association , and principally sponsored and organised by Matchroom Sport...
contender Mike Zuglan (today a pool hall operator himself, owning Pro Billiard Lounge in nearby Schenectady). When he was only 10 years old, Zuglan was said to have held his own in an exhibition match against famed hustler
Hustling
Hustling is the deceptive act of disguising one's skill in a sport or game with the intent of luring someone of probably lesser skill into gambling with the hustler, as a form of confidence trick...
and showman Rudolf "Minnesota Fats" Wanderone, who played a nine-ball exhibition on Golden Cue's table number 23 (described as "something of a shrine" today).
The hall is the host of the annual pro-am Joss Tourhttp://Joss9BallTour.com Northeast 9-Ball Open, (an event founded by Zuglan and originally hosted at his own hall). April 18–19, 2010, Dennis "the Hatchet Man" Hatch went undefeated against a field of 43 competitors, and was victorious, 9–4, over Matt Tetreault (while Hal Hughes won 3–2 over John Rich in the amateurs-only second-day tournament). The hall has been a location for Joss Tour events for many years, and is a sponsor of the tour (providing, for example, US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2,000 in added prize money for the 2010 event). Hatch has dominated the Golden Cue competition for several years running. In 2009, he won the event against 46 entrants, taking the final with a narrow 9–8, again versus Tetreault. November 15–16, 2008, the Golden Cue hosted the finals of that year's Joss Tour. Hatch was again the victor, 9–4 vs. Jeremy Sossei in a field of 53. April 19–20 of that year, in a regular Joss Tour stop at Golden Cue, Hatch won yet again, in a field of 49, beating Dan Heidrich in the final after defeating local hero Zuglan. April 14–15, 2007, Zuglan took the prize, with Dan Hewitt as runner-up (Hatch was tied for 7th/8th). The Color of Money supporting actor and real-life top road player Keith McCready
Keith McCready
Keith McCready is an American professional pool player, nicknamed Earthquake.At one time considered among the top players in America, McCready has been a traveling tournament competitor and notorious hustler since the 1970s...
took the Golden Cue Joss title, versus Hewitt in the 9–5 final, on April 16–17, 2005, defending his prior victory in the 2004 edition of the event.
The Golden Cue also hosted tour stop #13 of the Northeast Amateur 10-Ball Tour (sponsored by Dominiak Cues and InsidePool magazine), on March 14, 2010. The event culminated in a victory for Paul Rozonewski over Albany local Tom Acciavatti in the final.