Lean Time.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

Lean Time.

Billiard Stars Have to Travel Far to Make Money.

Some of the brightest stars of tie billiards firmament have disappeared, and it will probably be twelve wonths dr more before we shall again enjoy thA artistry of Walter Lindrum or Clark McConachy, writes a London critic The London season will, therefore h* shorn of some of its glamour, though Jo. Davis, Tom Newman, and Willie "Smith —the latter only temporarily—remain to entertain us; while also on the bill nf tlio new season, which was opened at Thurston's this week by Harry Steven son and Arthur Peall, "will be Stanley Newman (Tom's talented brotherL Claude Falkiner and Sidney Smith, The absence of Lindrum and McCon. achy is not without significance, and is another indication that in recent Years professional billiards as a spectacle is losing its popular attraction. It is not so long since policemen were required to regulate the queues of enthusiasts ' who were willing to pay to see Lindrum. Yet last season the greatest gathering of professional skill in the history of the game played to empty houses. That world's' championship at the Dorland Hall was a tragedy and a gigantic failure financially, when it should have been a gold mine to the performers. The experience nearly broke Lindrum'a heart. I do not exaggerate. Lindrum is a true artist, with the artist's temperamental weaknesses, and his neglect by the public when winning the only championship he has ever won was a crushing blow. I urged my old friend to face tl» blunt fact that professional billiards as it has been served up in the last few years was not wanted, and that the public had had a surfeit of even Lindrum himself. I advised the Australian to *o abroad for a year or more and "ive England a miss in balk. In his case I felt' absence would certainly make the public heart grow fonder.

Well, as I anticipated and hinted Lindriun lias taken my advice and taken MeConacliy too. The London stage will seem a little empty without them, but the temporary parting is all for the best. The slump in professional billiards is to a considerable extent the fault of the players. They could not even agree anion" themselves, and after a time the cxhibftion games between the same opponents became monotonous.

Novelty was lacking-, even if the superb skill remained, and finally the public tired even of four-figure breaks. Even then the players blinded themselves to the position and continued as before, with the inevitable crash.

From being a most lucrative calling, professional billiards as exploited by Lindrum and a few others became a precarious business. So much so that Lindrum-and MeConacliy have abandoned England' for Africa'and the East, and the promised visit of Horace Lindrum has been postponed. I am sorry Horace has decided to stay in Australia awhile, because the entry of a newcomer of real class, such as young Lindrum is reputed to be, would undoubtedly give the game a real fillip in this part of the world. The ."world of professional billiards has never been in greater need of new faces and, more important still, fresh ideas. Meanwhile, the sojourning i;i foreign parts of Lindrum, MeConacliy and Smith, who will tour the East after one game at Thurstons' early in October with Davis, will give the lesser lights, such as Stanley Newman and Sidney Smith, and veterans like Stevenson and Peall, a bigger opportunity.

Willie Smith's appearance at Thurston's will, by the way, be his first since 1923. He virtually began his career at the Leicester Square venue, and there enjoyed his biggest triumph,'financially and otherwise, when he shared nearly £2000 for a fortnight's game with Melbourne Inman and won the English championship for the first tijn.e.

I am glad to see that old scores have been forgotten. In these days professional billiards players cannot afford to quarrel; not that they ever eoujd, except in the Reebe'-Inman tradition for the sweet sake of publicity!