John D. Rockefeller founds the Standard Oil Company; Thomas Edison turns on the first functioning light bulb, and writers such as Mark Twain, Louisa May Alcott and Henry James publish some of their finest works. During this same time, 1870 to 1880, Brunswick Billiards was impressing connoisseurs across the country with its Exposition Novelty table, which is now being resurrected in honor of Brunswick Billiard's 165-year anniversary celebration taking place in 2010...

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The 26th Annual Billiard Congress of America (BCA) International Billiard & Home Recreation Expo came to a successful conclusionat the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas. Buyer attendance for the three-day event was 1,120. The number of companies exhibiting at the event was 116, while the total number of booths was 412. A smaller show to be sure, but exhibitors were pleased with the results.

"I was excited to see how well the show turned out and I am very pleased with all of the positive comments that I have received from both exhibitors and buyers," said Ivan Lee, co-chair of the Expo and 2008-2009 chairman of the BCA Board of Directors. "Informally, the show was a roll-call for the billiard industry and the exhibitors that attended saw a strong show of support from the retail base. Many buyers commented that Las Vegas is the right place for the BCA Expo and they were happy to be back in Vegas. I was also impressed with the Business of Billiards Seminar Series. We had very good attendance at the seminars this year and the information presented was timely and very useful. If you are involved in the billiard industry and didn't participate in the BCA Expo you missed out," said Lee.

Kicking off the Expo was the BCA's annual general membership meeting, where results of the 2009-2010 Board of Directors elections were announced:

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The 26th annual Billiard Congress of America Billiard & Home Recreation Expo kicked off in Vegas with a brisk first day's business.

The 150 exhibitors saw quite a few buyers on the show floor opening day, and exhibitors report that the nation's billiard retailers and billiard clubs are there to shop!

When not shopping for new cues, pool tables, poker tables and gameroom accessories, buyers are attending one of several BCA seminars, from improving online customer appeal to marketing in challenging economic times.

On the docket for today's activities: A seminar on "Generation Youth" - and a new benefit for exhibitors as BCA will begin signing up exhibitor space for next year's event, again to be staged in Las Vegas.

Stay tuned for more details and photos from the show...

The historic Riordan Mansion in Flagstaff, Arizona was built in 1904 as two connected houses for two families. According to a report today at Examiner.com, the billiard room may just be haunted!

"The couples raised their families in their private quarters, but the focus of activity each evening would be in the large billiard room in the center of the living complex. The two families would join together in song, prayer, games and other forms of entertainment. At the end of the day the families would retire to their separate living area...

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Superstar and international pool champ Jeanette Lee has joined the cast of the feature film "9-Ball." Lee has claimed more that 30 national and international titles as well as be chosen to represent various major companies and organizations.

Jeanette Lee will star in the movie "9-ball" as herself, along with being a friend and mentor to Gail, played by Jennifer Barretta. Lee will help advise Gail/Barretta the amateur player who is aspiring to become a professional and a championship.

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"Teen Kids News" to Air FOX Segment on World's Greatest Young Players!

The Billiard Education Foundation (BEF) announced that a segment on junior billiards, including highlights from the WPA World Junior 9-Ball Championships, will air on TEEN KIDS NEWS Saturday at 9:30 a.m. EST.

Junior pool players from across the globe gathered in Reno, Nevada for the 2008 World 9-Ball Championships. "Teen Kids News" will feature footage from the event and discuss the BEF's Pool in Schools program reaching into schools across the country! North American teen pool phenoms filmed included Brittany Bryant, Austin Murphy, Braden Murphy, Briana Miller and Joshua Newman, as well as the BEF's Dawn Hopkins.

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Entries open TODAY! One lucky women's pool and billiard fan will win a Brunswick gameroom package valued at $10,000, announces the WPBA. Their "Play for Fun" Sweepstakes lets fans enter at WPBA events or on www.wpba.com for a chance to win a $10,000 Game Room Package supplied by the WPBA's official table Sponsor, Brunswick Billiards.

Brunswick will offer the winner, amongst many items, a Brunswick "Traditional Style" Camden pool table, one Madison Bar, one Players Chair, two leather Heritage Barstools, one two-piece short cue, one two-piece bridge stick, and even a Brunswick Billiards' exclusive "Getting Started" instructional DVD featuring Billiards Hall of Fame member, Ewa Mataya Laurance and much, much more! Approximate Retail Value of prize package is $10,193.

The Sweepstakes will run through December 31st, 2009 with the winner being drawn on or about January 4th, 2010. Check www.wpba.com starting May 13th, 2009 for full details. No purchase necessary.

The American Poolplayers Association (APA), the world's largest pool league is proud to announce they have signed a sponsorship agreement with The Black Widow, Jeanette Lee.   The APA made the announcement yesterday at their annual League Operator Convention in Las Vegas.

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Here's what's new in Pool Town today!

BCA Seeks Board Nominations
This is your chance to make a difference in the future of our sport. The BCA is trying to open its slate of candidates for this year's voting. Toss your name in the hat. Nomination forms are due April 15. Candidates slated will be notified by May 4.

For complete info, including available slots, nomination process and eligibility, visit: www.bca-pool.com

Women's World 10-Ball Championship to Air Live on ABS-CBN
Dragon Promotions and Filipino broadcast television giant ABS-CBN have entered into an agreement to air the Women's World 10-Ball Championship June 2-6, 2009. ABS-CBN will be airing the Women's World 10-Ball Championship live over the five days of the event with a guaranteed 25 hours live coverage as well as delayed taping of other feature matches. With this kind of media and $20,000 at stake for the champion, as well as an additional $50,000 for the top finishers, this will be the biggest women's sporting event in the Philippines this year.

The historic event will be aired nationally throughout the Philippines as well as internationally on ABS-CBN and The Filipino Channel which covers the USA in New York, Illinois, California, Florida, New Jersey, and 30 other states, with additonal coverage in Canada, Puerto Rico, and Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and many more. Fifteen countries on three continents will air the matches.

"ABS-CBN is very pleased and excited to give national and international coverage to this event. The Women's World 10-Ball Championship is a historic event and will be the biggest women's sporting event of the year in the Philippines. We are looking forward to a long and prosperous relationship with Dragon Promotions and billiards," said Peter Musgni, Vice President for ABS-CBN Sports.

For more info, visit www.dragonpromotions.com

Iwan Simonis and the United States Billiard Association (USBA) are pleased to announce a multi-year sponsorship arrangement. USBA events will all be played on renowned Simonis 300 Rapide carom cloth. "Given our longstanding relationship with the USBA, it just makes sense to have this kind of arrangement," stated Ivan Lee, President of Iwan Simonis, Inc. "In these uncertain times, the USBA needs to focus on growing their tour and not worrying about sponsors."

The multi-year deal makes Simonis the exclusive cloth sponsor to the USBA, including both the USBA tour and the USBA National Championships. Bob Jewett, President of the USBA, said, "Simonis has been the main sponsor for the USBA National Championships for many years and has helped out with the National Qualifiers for at least a decade. Their generous increase in support came at an important time for the organization as we try to increase membership during a difficult economic situation. We hope to make the relationship as beneficial to Simonis as it is to the USBA."

About Iwan Simonis Founded in 1680 in Verviers, Belgium, Simonis cloth is distributed globally through a network of carefully selected dealers that are committed to uphold the company's longstanding commitment to quality. Simonis cloth... Authentic. Accurate. Always. For more information, visit www.simoniscloth.com

About United States Billiard Association The USBA is the governing body for all Carom Billiard games in the USA, in particular, 3-Cushion Billiards. For more information visit www.usba.net