This is the story from Butch's book about getting back into action in 1976 and the Barry hustle.
I decided to work nights which at least put me back in my environment. I started driving every night at 6 PM after the rush hour, I would stop at about 12 ( short hours ) and go to where it all started, the bar on Ovington Ave. The bowling alley part of the bar no longer existed, the poolroom was expanded, I was there for the card games that went on right at the bar. I would meet my partner Larry who also went to work on wall St and then purchased a cab with me. We both supplemented our nights pay from the card games each night, the other players just weren't in our class. It was like taking candy from babies.
One night we're sitting there having a drink and just shooting the shit, I think we wiped everybody out, Larry was saying we should start getting some exercise, why not go bowling. At first I said no, but then he talked me into it, It was Tuesday about 2 in the morning and we soon found out that none of the local lanes were open 24 hours any more. I actually got a sick feeling in my stomach, I was 30 years old and felt as though my era had slipped by me.
We decided to take a gamble and drive out to long Island to see if Green Acres Bowl was open. On the way out we started to remenense about all the years of action we were involved in and could it be possible that it doesn't exist any more, I felt that was impossible, it was always there. It took about 40 minutes to get there, as we approached the shopping center, I found myself almost praying that it would be open. A great relief came across me when I saw the outside lights on.
As we walked into the alleys my eyes were searching every which way at once, Green acres was a very large bowling establishment. Would there be any action, would there be anyone I new. All of a sudden I spotted something going on way down at the end of the right side of the lanes. I found my heart actually racing as we walked down there, sure as shit! It was a match game. I felt a great feeling of relief go through my body, It was only one game, but that really seemed to mean something to me. I didn't know anyone there, they were descend bowlers, bowling for a few hundred a game, with about 8 people betting on the side. One guy was covering all the action for this one bowler called the Beeper, he was called the Beeper because he didn't talk, he beeped. The person backing him was named Barry , a middle aged Jewish man who owned a successful business in the garment center, and loved to gamble.
After watching a few games, I did what I hadn't done since I was 11 years old. I rented a pair of house shoes and started bowling with a house ball. I bowled a few games with Larry, we both bowled pretty bad, which was nothing new to Larry, he never was much of a bowler. The match game was over and every one was just sitting around shooting the shit.
From where I was sitting with Larry it wasn't hard to over hear them, it gave me a little insight into what was going on in the area. Thursday nights, the action was at Kuskies in Lynbrook Long Island after the Classic league, a rich trucking company owner by the name of Mac, was the big money backer there, Mac was in his mid sixties. Saturday night the action was at Yonkers Raceway Bowl, a 2 floor movie house, converted into a bowling alley. The big names came from all over for the weekend action. Friday night was Whitestone lanes in Queens. The biggest action around was being backed by Bill Daley, A thin guy about 5ft 10, in his mid 20s. Bill was close to a duece shooter himself, but only went head to head with someone when he had a strong advantage. He figured people were willing to take a shot at his long money. His #1 horse was a 16year old by the name of Jeff Kidder, Jeff had ice water running through his veins, and was maybe the best action bowler I ever saw. Where Bill Daleys money came from, nobody seemed to know, supposedly he went into the Army broke, when he came out he started backing Jeff and Cliffie Burgland, he covered all bets, no matter what the amount was, nobody backed him down.
It was fun watching Jeff bowling against some of Macs guys from Kuskies, Mac sponsored quite a few top pro bowlers on the PBA tour. When some of his guys were in town, Jeff would bowl them, usually coming out on top. Instead of going to the bar every night we started to check out these different action houses, stayed quietly in the background, and just observed what was going on. Most of the players were different from the last time I was involved. To some extent the action was even bigger than when I was in it, but there wasn't as much of it, another big change was how careful everyone seemed to be about who they bowled, they all kept looking for an edge.
I was driving with Larry to Green Acres on a Monday night, this time I brought my own bowling ball and shoes, I kept them from years ago. Larry said I should get back in shape and bowl some of these guys. I agreed, but not the way he meant it. I told him my plan was for us to act like big money pigeons, I told him I wanted to bowl the backers, Barry, and then Bill Daley with Mac betting on him. Larry said it'll never happen, some one would know me from the past and kill the deal, besides, where would I get the type of bankroll needed to bowl these guys. I told Larry to leave it up to me, I could con them, and the bankroll would come from Dougie, who was doing very well with a Amcco transmission business that he owned.
It was some years since I saw doug , but I new if I told him I had a pigeon he'd come running. the only trouble was, Bill Daley was no pigeon, but that's where the money was. The first thing we did that night was bundle up all our singles from the cab business with some big bills on the top and bottom. I managed to start up a conversation with Barry, mentioned that I use to be a fairly good bowler years ago but can't seem to recapture it. I figured this way I was covered incase any one told him about me. I also mentioned that I owned a cab company.
I then started bowling against Larry a few alleys away and started flashing the bank roll after each game to pay off Larry for the game I just lost to him. That was the hardest part, being bad enough to actually loose to Larry. This went on a few days a week for the next 2 months, I formed a nice relationship with Barry, a few times he asked to join in with us and make it a 3 way pot game. I declined, I told him I've seen him bowl and I wasn't back in shape yet. Barry was a low 170s bowler, I was already shooting 190s or better in other houses when I practiced for real.
By locking him out I was setting him up for the big kill, then I figured the money I beat him for would be used against Bill Daly, with hopefully Mac betting on Bill, If all went right, I could make a couple of years pay. I already was forming a relationship with the both of them, whom both disliked Barry. I mentioned how Barry was trying to hustle me, and that if I could just get a little better I would bowl him, don't forget, Bill was a much better bowler than Barry. I kept coming off as a has been, with lots of fresh money.
Through out this period they saw Larry beat me for what seemed to be a small fortune, he would kid around with me and ask how much new money my cabs brought in for him that night, he acted very obnoxious. It got to a point where they all wanted a piece of me instead of just Larry getting it all. He actually would wink at them, as though to say, this is my private fish. I called my friend Doug in New Jersey, told him what was happening, and just as I had hoped he said to set it up, money was no problem.
That night at Green Acres I managed to barely beat Larry for the first time and started talking like a big shot to Barry, I said it's finally coming back, that I'm ready for him head to head. I think he thought I was nuts. Larry kept on saying that I shouldn't even consider bowling Barry I got mad at Larry, told him to get f**ked, and in the heat of anger told Barry to name the day. To my surprise, Barry said the only place he would bowl me was at Times Square Lanes in Manhattan, or whatever it was called, 42nd St & B'way. That really through me for a loop, I couldn't figure it. Turns out that's the general area where his business is, and that's actually his home alleys. I was never at these Lanes let alone bowl there, I said no problem. The match was set for that Wednesday night.
I met Doug and his brother in front of a coffee shop near the bowling alley, Larry didn't come because he and Douglas weren't on talking terms, I gave him a piece of the pie anyway. Dougs older brother came with him, had arms like tree trunks and a permit to carry. The bowling alley was right around the corner from the famous Ames pool room, where the hustler with Jackie Gleason was shot. As we entered the bowling alley, we saw quite a few people waiting for us, we were amongst the few white people there, I was beginning to wonder if this was a mistake, maybe Barry knew I was hustling him. He greeted us and asked where Larry was, I said I was still pissed at him. I introduced Doug and his brother, who accidentally on purpose, let his piece be seen.
We started practicing, after about 10 balls each, we were ready to start the match. I asked Barry what he wanted to bowl for, to my astonishment he only put down $200. At this point Douglas stood up, faced the crowd of about 25 people, took out a tremendous wade of money, all $100s, and boldly announced, I'm covering the house, put it up gentlemen.
At that moment I felt sky high, it was a long time since I felt like this last. I went on to beat Barry 7 straight games, after purposely loosing the second game. The hardest part was keeping it close. Barry kept going into the office of the bowling alley and getting more cash, liked he owned the place, maybe he did. We took him and the crowd for $9000 cash, the last game was a $2500 marker.
I was paid the following week at Green Acres, Barry told me he'd never bowl me again. I told him that if I get better I'd like to bowl Bill Daley next, I think he knows what happened, he said to me, let me know when you set up the match, I'd like to bet on you, and then he winked at me. It took another month to set up a match with Bill Daley. Douglas was broke from the trotters, I got in touch with Paul, who made arrangements with his bookie Cubbie to back me. The match was set for Kuskies on a Thursday night at 1:30 am.
Butch and Bill get together at Deer Park Bowl, many years after their match at Kuskie's in 1976
