This gruppenbild snapped the mid-70s speaks of an earlier age in Montreal.
Where are they now? That's what we ask of this birthday portrait taken at the Wellington Pool Hall in Point St. Charles on Wellington near Congregation in about 1976.
1-Mike Gonzalez, gambler and hustler, spoke about his role in gambling pastime in several media outlets including Rick Butler's Quebec: The People Speak (1978). Deceased. 2-Ian Stevenson, who went on to work as a bartender at Cheers. 3-A young Jeff Stevenson. 4-Barry Fitzgerald, still alive, according to legend once punched police officer Pablo Palacios in the face at Cheers during a choke-hold moment. 5-Old man Krushelnyski, related somehow to Mike Krushelnyski who went on to play alongside Wayne Gretzky. 6-David Abraham, perhaps known best as the boyfriend of the lovely Debbie Symmers who shot herself in a Point St. Charles Park in 1978. He is dead. 7- Brian McCann 8-Ron "Harper" Hayes, said to be the best pool player of the bunch. Still alive. 9-Andre "Sabu" Jodoin 10-Robidoux 11-Dougie Nimo, looked like a school boy, but was a killer who ran a crew and likely did contract hits for Dunie Ryan. Had some wealth, owned a Rolls Royce but lost his money and health and died of a massive heart attack. 12-Grant Williams, co-owner of pool room, later moved to Ontario. 13-Henry Hislop. His family is said to have won a lottery jackpot which afforded them some legal protection after another family member got into some legal issues. 14-Michel "Bojee" Beaudoin, deceased. 15- Glenn "Biter" Miller, whose supposedly earned his nickname by biting a guy in a fight. 16- Bill Mudston, who was celebrating a birthday, said to be about 90 something in this photo. 17- John Gralewicz, who went on to become a police officer in Toronto. From family of famed Ma, who owned an old-style convenience store. 18-Duncan Stevenson 19-unknown 20-Mike Durken 21-Flipper Leonard (related to Leo "Clawhammer Jack" Leonard, caleche owner of Griffintown fame) 22- Other co-owner of the pool hall, George Klinko, who was Bulgarian, now deceased. 23-Leonard 24-Archie 25-Mike Durken Sr. 26 - Francis "Frank" Baddeley, great singer, ran the local legion and in recent years has been prominent in poppy drives. 27-David Gralewicz (son of Roman "As Crooked As They Want to Be" Gralewiz, union leader at the port 28-Danny Morton, rehabbed following some substance abuse issues, died at age 39 of aspiration phenomenon - basically choking on Dec. 3, 1989. His sister Diane died two years earlier at the age of 38 in a house fire. His son was later shot dead on Ash Ave. when attackers unsuccessfully sought to kill Larry Cooney. 29-George Morton, whose son Shannon Morton had some local notoriety.
The black and white photos far in the background features boxers Ian Clyde, Mike Scopaletti and Eddie Nolan.
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ReplyDeleteTell me about it. It's my fave feature too. I'll try once again to get it back.
ReplyDeleteMy dad was part owner of the bar across the street. Best Fries in town that poolhall.
ReplyDeleteloved the steamed hot dogs there.....and of coarse te snooker tables
ReplyDeleteWho wrote this information on the people in the picture? because there wrong about my brother Danny Morton he did (NOT) die in a house fire (that was my sister Diane Morton) who died in house fire in 1987y she was 38y and Danny died at home from what they call (aspiration phenomena)( in other words he choked to death) he was 39years old and died Dec3 19/89 and yes he did substance abuse but cleaned up at the age of 24y
ReplyDeleteDougie Nimo died of a heart attack? When? I saw him at a bar within the last 2 years with Kevin O
ReplyDeleteIt was Bill Munden,s birthday ? I think this picture was more around 1970. I spent a lot of time ( and $$$) there in the 60,s, Ian was a good friend. George Klinko was a fine man. Thanks for the memories
ReplyDeleteTom sheehan
flipper,,,, nicknames of some of these guys,sound like old film from 30s
ReplyDeleteThis was 76-78 I was going steady with one of these guys. Called him (Doorknob) back in the day. lol
ReplyDeleteAnyone ever tell you about the Craps game that went on in the back of the pool hall. It was a staple for the boys in the Point. It went on for years. Before Grants time. Klinko was a kid at the time. They put down that cheap deck carpet and rolled the dice towards the wall. It wasn't unheard of to have 30 - 40 people plus on the weekends. I was a kid 6-7 years old. I would sneak along the back of the Garage on the corner and climb up on the pool hall she'd roof and watch the goings on. I had lots of relatives on the good and bad ends of the game throughout the years. They used to throw me pennies and nickels to get rid of me. My mother would flip out if she found out I was there mooching money. Lol. That Pool Hall has some serious history. I'm 63 now, so that would have to have been the late 50s into the 60s. I have pretty found personal memories of almost everyone in that picture.I was at work at the CN around the corner otherwise I'm certain I would've been in it. I remember getting a piece of the cake. It was different after big George sold out. He died shortly after. He brought Klinko in. Both decent good people. (Don Neill)
ReplyDeleteWas there a big place upstairs from this pool hall with a stage? A bunch of bands use to rent that place to jam... I think it was there.
ReplyDelete