The following is a recollection of the history of pool in America by Art Fields...

 

     In the early 1900s pool had reached an all-time high popularity and was the epitomy of vice and crime.  Pool was the topic of clergy sermons

and the target for police pickups and arrests.  The reputation of pool rooms became so tarnished that the popularity of pool itself was nearly wiped out.

The term "Pool Room" came about when gamblers used locations with pool tables as sites to "Pool" and distribute the daily takes from the local bookies.

In some states, notably Texas, the daily crime rate in "Pool" rooms was so high that legislation was passed to ban the use of the name "Pool Room". 

The name was changed to Billiard Parlor.

     The legislation had such negative reaction that pool players were regarded and treated as outlaws and the game suffered further loss of popularity.

Those of us old enough to remember the early reputation of pool agree that pool rooms needed a good house cleaning.  Besides a friendly game of pool

you could get a card game and hard liquor.  Many pool rooms were operated outside the law by an organized crime group called The Purple Gang that

received minimal police interference.  In many cases the pool room was a front for the many illegal activities in the back rooms.

    By 1935 pool rooms had been cleaned up a bit and in some cases enjoyed the status of a legitimate business operation.  Pool rooms in Toledo and

Mt Clements had the appearance of today's casinos.  Admission was free but required proof of $8 cash in hand.  Once inside patrons enjoyed a free lunch

and played pool, poker, blackjack, and craps.  Pool rooms became very popular in their local communities due to the free lunches and their generous

charitable contributions even thought they were still illegal operations.

     In 1962 the movie, "The Hustler" gave pool a positive image and an immense boost in popularity.  Thanks to Jackie Gleason and Paul Newman

pool is now the number 1 indoor sport in America.