Despite the widespread popularity of billiards, US networks have not been very supportive. Billiards was not popular enough to be shown on television for many decades. But it got a little more attention after the 1961 release of The Hustler. The movie had a major impact on the popularity of billiards, and by the late 1960s, organized billiards began to explode.
The Hustler starred Jackie Gleason and was a smash hit. He played the role of Minnesota Fats in the movie. Billiards halls all over the country doubled their size after the movie was released. The movie had a huge impact on organized billiards' popularity. In fact, by the mid-60s, billiards was on television.
Ten-Twenty was the first television billiards show. Frank Oliva was the original inventor of the game. This game was a variation of the 14-1 straight pool game. The game was played in a timed fashion. Each player could score ten points per inning. 100 points was the ideal match score. The game lasted eight innings. The eighth inning was where the players could try to score 20 more points.
Frank Oliva founded Ten-Twenty, an billiards game program, in the early 1960s. Celebrities and professionals would play against one other on this show. Each player was timed and scored based upon the amount of snooker played.
Cisero Murphy and Joe Diehl were among the billiards players. Joe Procita, Nick Oliva, Mike Eufemia and Mike Eufemia were also featured. Amateur pool sharks such as Jimmy Carass, Cowboy Jimmy Moore, and Dennis Orcollo also appeared on the show.
The show was a hit and billiards began to gain popularity on television. In the late 1970s, television's popularity with billiards declined and there was a decrease in the number of billiards shows. Ballbreakers was the only time that billiards had a significant impact on television. The Ballbreakers only lasted for one year and made many mistakes. The show's decision not to allow contestants to take more than one shot made it look like a sketch comedy show. However, the show ended in failure and was eventually cancelled.
Pick Pockets, an infamous billiards program that was broadcast in the mid-1970s had a significant impact. Jimmy O'Connor, the host of the show, was a fun and jovial character. Although the show was old-fashioned, it had charm. The show featured several celebrities including Sid Caesar, Mickey Rooney, and Little Joey Canton. Willie "Mr. Pocket Billie" Mosconi, the greatest player in pool history, was also a star of the show. In 1954, he set a world straight pool record. He also won the World Straight Pool Championship fifteen times.
It also featured many celebrities playing billiards in TV. The show also featured a $1000 charity prize.