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The origin of billiards will probably never be exactly pinpointed. While it may have sprung from earlier games played with balls on a table in China, Italy, or Spain, the best guess is that it originated in France as an indoor version of a lawn game similar to croquet. (On the other hand, some historians have suggested that croquet originated as an outdoor version of billiards.). The name almost certainly comes from the French billart, the stick that was used, and that word probably comes from bille, meaning ball. When first recorded, in the 15th century, the object of the game was to push a ball through a croquet-like wicket to hit a peg, similar to the stake in croquet. Players used a club-like stick, which became known as the mace in England. When the ball was up against a rail, however, the head of the mace was too unwieldy and the other, narrower end of the stick was used. This was called the queue, meaning tail--hence the modern word, cue. Shakespeare refers to billiards in Antony and Cleopatra--which led one early sports historian to conclude that it was an old Egyptian sport--and by 1675 it was very popular in England. The first known rule book was published that year, and its writer claimed that there were few Towns of note therein which hath not a publick Billiard-Table. The first steps toward making billiards a scientific sport were taken by a Frenchman, known only as Captain Mingaud, who was a political prisoner in Paris during the French Revolution. While in prison, he enjoyed playing billiards so much that he refused to be released when his time was up. Mingaud discovered that, if he rounded the cue tip with a file, he could aim more accurately. He also added a leather tip to further improve control of the ball. After finally leaving prison, Mingaud traveled around France giving exhibitions and stirring a great deal of interest in the sport. The leather tip lost its effectiveness when it became shiny with use and had to be replaced frequently. An English billiards teacher, Jack Carr, learned that putting chalk on the tip prevented miscues. He was also evidently the first player to hit the ball off-center to apply spin. Carr was a genuine hustler. He traveled around Europe during the 1820s, giving his demonstrations and selling his magical twisting chalk at an exorbitant price, throwing in a free lesson on how to make it work. As a result, the term English entered the lexicon of billiards--although, ironically, its called side in England. By that time, there were several different versions of billiards. In France, the most popular game was carom billiards, played with three balls (occasionally four balls) on a pocketless table. As in modern billiards, the object was to hit both of the object balls with the cue ball--called a carom or a billiard. The most common game in England was also played with three balls, but on a table with six pockets. There were two ways of scoring: By pocketing a ball (other than the cue ball) or by hitting both of the other balls with the cue ball. This game is the ancestor of modern pocket billiards and English snooker. Because tables were difficult to make and expensive to import, billiards was strictly a rich mans sport in the American colonies, particularly in Virginia and New York. Carom billiards was evidently introduced during the Revolution by French officers--the Marquis de Lafayette is known to have been an enthusiastic player. During the early 19th century, American craftsmen began to make tables. Although the average man certainly couldnt afford one, he could play on a public table, at least in New York City, where there were eight tables in coffeehouses and hotels by 1808 and about two dozen in 1824. During the 1840s, billiards became associated with pool parlors in large cities. The word pool at the time meant gambling (as in todays office pool for the Super Bowl), but it was soon attached to the American form of pocket billiards--still commonly known as pool. While gentlemen played billiards in their homes or in their exclusive clubs, the popular version of the sport developed a questionable reputation. But Michael Phelan, the owner of a New York billiard parlor, launched a one-man public relations campaign that helped to make billiards both popular and at least semi-respectable. Phelan began in 1850 by issuing a challenge to the English champion. It went unanswered, but it got publicity. He also published a book, Billiards Without Masters, that went through ten editions between 1850 and 1875. As a manufacturer, Phelan added the diamond markers to tables to assist in aiming, particularly on bank shots. Phelan won $1,000 and the unofficial American championship by beating Ralph Benjamin of Philadelphia in 1858. The first championship tournament was also held that year, with eight competitors each putting up a $250 entry fee. Dudley Kavanagh won the tournament and its $2,000, winner-take-all prize. Kavanagh defended his championship against Michael Foley on April 10, 1859, when spectators were charged admission for the first time. That was greatly overshadowed, however, by the match two days later between Phelan and John Seereiter. It was held at a Detroit billiard academy that offered a $5,000 prize. Each of the competitors put up $5,000 as a side bet. The match drew extensive press coverage and attracted 500 paying spectators; many others were turned away for lack of space. Phelan won the match and the billiard championship of the United States, according to promoters. Phelan and Kavanagh were on a collision course, although they never met in a match. Each man used his championship to promote his own billiard equipment. After Phelan retired from competition in 1863, Kavanagh won another major tournament and was generally regarded as the champion. However, Phelan brought a large segment of the sport under his control by organizing the American Billiard Players Association in 1865. Kavanagh by forming the National American Billiards Association the following year. The feud between the two men and their organizations ended only with Phelans death in 1871.

 

Address: On The Wire, Inc. 371 E. Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060
Telephone: (503) 674-8300
Fax: (503) 674-8330
Website: http://www.onthewirebilliards.com/