Family Business: Pool Hall and Taxi Service
My grandmother's husband, Tom J. Johnston, and his brother, Hal W. Johnston, went into business together in Walnut Creek, California. Their pool hall was located right on Main Street. Pictured is my grandfather behind the bar.
The earliest news article I found about the business was an announcement in the Contra Costa Gazette announcing that Grimes & Nottingham Billiard Parlor will now be known as the Johnston's Billiard Parlor, effective November 1, 1944.[1]
The previous business had been on Main Street since 1915. Tom and Hal planned to make several changes, including repainting.[2] Here is a shot of the outside of the new billiard parlor.
They advertised the establishment as a recreation headquarter where beer, soft drinks, cigars, cigarettes, and candy were sold besides a place to play billiards and pool.[3]
In March 1945, teenagers protested being barred from the poolroom, and new rules were established that those under 16 were still not allowed, but those between 16 and 18 could come after 3 p.m. with a note from their parents and had to gone by 10 p.m. to be home before the curfew of 10:30.[4]
Besides running the pool hall, Tom and Hal were at times members of merchant associations.
In October 1945, they added a new business: Johnston Brothers Taxi Service. Immediately, the competing taxi service, Walnut Creek Taxi Service, owned by Ed Coombs, urged the city council to limit the number of companies in town and give him the sole right. However, it was deemed illegal to do that.[5]
Like good businesses, they participated in community service. One such article described the Johnston Bros. Billiards as donating funds for the new bleachers behind the backstop at the Walnut Creek City Park.[6]
I don't know how long Hal and Tom had the business together. Sometime in the late 1950s, Tom was hired as a carpenter at the new junior college in Pleasant Hill. Hal continued running a pool hall and later relocated off Main Street, renaming it Hal's Billiards.
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1. "Announcement," Contra Costa Gazette (Martinez, Calif.), 2 Nov 1944, p. 6, col. 3.
2. "Grimes & Nottingham Billiard Parlor is Sold," Walnut Creek Courier-Journal, 2 Nov 1944, p. 1, col. 2.
3. "Recreation Headquarters," Walnut Creek Courier-Journal, 7 Dec 1944, p. 3, col. 1.
4. "Walnut Creek Youths on 'Strike' to Play Pool," Contra Costa Gazette, 30 Mar 1945, p. 2, col. 4.
5. "Taxi Row Brews at Walnut Creek," Contra Costa Gazette, p. 3, col. 7.
6. Letter to the editor from City Clerk Victor J. Vecki, Walnut Creek Courier-Journal, 13 Oct 1949, p. 10, col. 3.
I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family or My Trails into the Past. I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.
interesting read, loved the photo of your Grandad behind the bar 🙂 quite funny that the teenagers protested not being allowed in!
ReplyDeleteTerrific photos & clippings about the business! fun
ReplyDeleteInteresting combo of small businesses--pool hall and taxi service! Selling tobacco etc must have given the business a higher profit margin and more traffic. The ads really add a lot to the story.
ReplyDelete