The US networks have not been kind to billiards despite its popularity on TV. Billiards wasn't a very popular game on television for many years. However, the Hustler movie in 1961 brought it some attention. The film had a significant impact on the popularity and growth of billiards.
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 major influence on the popularity of organized pool and, in the latter half of the 1960s, billiards made its TV debut.
Ten-Twenty was the first television billiards show. Frank Oliva, a billiards evangelist, developed the game. It was an adaptation of the classic 14-1 straight-pool game. The game was timed, and the player could score 10 points per inning. 100 points was the ideal match score. The game lasted eight innings. In the eighth innings, players could score another 20 points.
In the early 1960s, Frank Oliva decided to bring the game of pool out of the basement of pool halls, and started a billiards game show called Ten-Twenty. Pro billiards player and celebrity would take on each other in this competition. The score was based on how the snooker players scored.
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.
It was a huge success and television began to be popular for billiards. However, billiards became less popular in the 1970s and 1980s. By then, there were fewer billiards games on television. Ballbreakers was the only time that billiards had a significant impact on television. Ballbreakers lasted only one year and made many errors. It seemed more like a comedy club, as the show limited contestants' shots to just a few. However, the show ended in failure and was eventually cancelled.
Pick Pockets, a billiards game show, was a hit in the 1970s. Jimmy O'Connor, the host of the show, was a fun and jovial character. Although it was dated, the show had charm. Several celebrities appeared on the show, including "Little" Joey Canton, Sid Caesar, and Mickey Rooney. Willie Mosconi (Mr. Pocket Billions), the greatest pool player, was the star of the show. He also set a straight pool world mark in 1954. He won the World Straight Pool Championship 15 times.
The show also featured a number of celebrities playing billiards on TV, including Sid Caesar, Bill Cosby, and Buddy Hackett. The show also featured a $1000 charity prize.