How Billiard Balls Revolutionized the World of Plastic
Eddie Nolan, the protagonist of the 1935 film Bad Boy, is the typical image of a pool shark. In a billiards hall, there is always a bigger fish — if you beat someone and take their wad (bankroll; their side of the bet), someone better will swoop in, beat you, and take your wad. And Eddie was that shark at the top of the food chain.
Although few know of Eddie Nolan in the Bad Boy, many are familiar with the concept of a pool shark — someone adept with a cue stick that can dominate their opponents and make money by sinking balls into pockets.
The year of Bad Boy’s release was near the end of the Age of Billiards, an era spanning from the late-19th century to the mid-20th century. During this time, pool halls dominated the social scene and the urban landscape. For example, 100 years ago, there were 830 pool halls in Chicago. Today, there are only 10.
Michael Phelan: the Founding Father of Billiards
Back then, these smoky halls were filled with hustlers like Eddie Nolan, putting money on the line to make a quick buck. This pool shark archetype was based around real hustlers in the Age of Billiards. One of these real-life hustlers, Michael Phelan, was thought to be unconquerable. In addition to his dominance on the pool table, Phelan contributed a…
