Despite the widespread popularity of billiards, US networks have not been very supportive. While billiards had been an unpopular game for years, it became more popular with The Hustler, which was released in 1961. The movie had a profound impact on the popularity of pool and organized billiards was booming by the end of the 1960s.
The Hustler featured Jackie Gleason playing a fictional character named Minnesota Fats. It was a big success. Billiards halls in the United States doubled in size following the release of the movie. 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. Frank Oliva was the original inventor of the game. It was a variation to the classic 14-1 straight game of pool. The game was played in a timed fashion. Each player could score ten points per inning. 100 points was the ideal match score. The game consisted of eight innings of play. In the eighth innings, players could score another 20 points.
Frank Oliva started Ten-Twenty, a billiards program that brought pool out of basements. The show featured professional billiards players as well as celebrities competing against one another. 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. The show also featured amateur "pool sharks" like "Cowboy" Jimmy Moore, Jimmy Caras, and Dennis Orcollo.
It was a huge success and television began to be popular for billiards. Billiards began to lose popularity in the late 1970s. The number of television shows that featured billiards had decreased by the 1980s. It was only until the 2005 launch of Ballbreakers that billiards on television once again made a major impact. The Ballbreakers only lasted for one year and made many mistakes. The show's decision to limit the contestants' shots to a few, made it seem more like an amateur comedy show. However, the show was ultimately cancelled.
Pick Pockets, an infamous billiards program that was broadcast in the mid-1970s had a significant impact. Jimmy O'Connor, the host of the show, was a fun and jovial character. It was a dated show, but had charm. Numerous celebrities made appearances on the program, including Sid Caesar, Mickey Rooney, "Little Joey Canton" and Sid Caesar. The show was also notable for its starring role by Willie "Mr. Pocket Billiards" Mosconi, the greatest pool player of all time. He set the straight pool world record for 1954. He also won the World Straight Pool Championship fifteen times.
There were also several celebrities who played billiards, including Sid Caesar, Bill Cosby and Buddy Hackett. One $1000 charity prize was also available on the show.