Despite the popularity of billiards on television, the US networks have not looked kindly on it. 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, who played a fictional character called Minnesota Fats. The movie was a success. The number of billiards rooms in America doubled after the film was released. The movie had a significant impact on the popularity and acceptance of organized billiards. By the end of the 60s, television had already made billiards a reality.
The first billiards game show on television was Ten-Twenty. The game was developed by billiards evangelist Frank Oliva in 1959. It was an adaptation of the classic 14-1 straight-pool game. The game was timed and each player could score 10 points for every inning. The perfect match score was 100 points. The game lasted eight innings. In the eighth inning, the players could shoot for 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 was among those who participated in the billiards program. Amateur pool sharks such as Jimmy Carass, Cowboy Jimmy Moore, and Dennis Orcollo also appeared on the show.
The show was a major hit, and billiards on television began to become popular. But the popularity of billiards on television waned in the late 1970s, and by the 1980s, the number of billiards game shows had diminished. Ballbreakers launched in 2005 and billiards again had a big impact. Ballbreakers lasted only one year and made many errors. The show's decision to limit the contestants' shots to a few, made it seem more like an amateur comedy show. But the show fell apart and was eventually cancelled.
In the mid-1970s, the billiards game show Pick Pockets also made a big impact. Jimmy O'Connor was the show's jovial host. Although it was dated, the show had charm. Numerous celebrities made appearances on the program, including Sid Caesar, Mickey Rooney, "Little Joey Canton" and Sid Caesar. Willie "Mr. Pocket Billilliards" Mosconi was the show's star. He is considered to be the greatest pool player ever. In 1954, he set a world straight pool record. He also won the World Straight Pool Championship a total of fifteen times.
A number of celebrities were seen playing billiards on television, including Sid Caesar and Bill Cosby. One $1000 charity prize was also available on the show.