In Part 4 of our seven-part conversation with WPBA Hall of Famer Mary Kenniston, the road keeps rolling and the stories keep getting better.

Mary takes us deep into the action-heavy pool world of the early 1980s, from Houston to Fayetteville, Rocky Mount, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area. With her trademark honesty and sharp wit, she recalls the thrill of finding games, protecting her cover, and learning how to survive in a world where toughness, timing, and table smarts meant everything. Whether she was matching up in smoky poolrooms, drawing crowds on bar tables in Southern California, or navigating the nonstop action of Houston’s legendary rooms, Mary was building a reputation the hard way—one set at a time.

This episode is packed with unforgettable road stories: high-stakes lessons from Buddy Hall and New York Blackie, a return trip that turned the tables on a doubter, colorful characters from the gambling scene, and a chilling reminder of the ugliness that still existed in parts of the country during that era. Mary also shares how her hustler’s instincts carried beyond the pool table, as she built a successful jewelry clientele in California before deciding it was time to move on yet again.

What comes through in this chapter of Mary’s life is her resilience, adaptability, and fearless independence. She could win in the poolroom, win in business, and hold her own anywhere she landed.

Part 4 is a vivid portrait of pool’s action years—raw, funny, sometimes harsh, and always compelling—told by one of the game’s true originals.

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Part 3 of our conversation with WPBA Hall of Famer Mary Kenniston, the stories get even richer as she takes us deeper into pool’s road era—when instinct, nerve, and a well-kept spot book could mean the difference between surviving and going broke.

Mary shares her unforgettable friendship with the late Grady Mathews, from first meeting him in New Jersey to their daily phone calls during his final illness. Along the way, she paints a vivid portrait of Grady’s charm, intelligence, and larger-than-life presence, while Allison Fisher adds her own memories of traveling with “The Professor” on a whirlwind exhibition tour.

From there, Mary takes us on the road to Alabama, where backroom action, firehouse games, and a fired-up competitive streak produced some of her most memorable gambling stories. She recalls beating seasoned players, handling herself in a man’s world, and using anger as fuel to bring out her best game. She also reflects on a pivotal turning point in her life—how a failed job opportunity sent her back toward Norfolk, the U.S. Open, and ultimately a life built around pool.

This episode also opens a fascinating window into the hidden mechanics of road play: the handful of women out there matching up, the coded knowledge players carried from town to town, and the legendary “little black books” that tracked rooms, players, stakes, and weaknesses across the country. Mary even shares how that knowledge later helped top pros find action of their own.

And just when you think the episode couldn’t deliver one more great tale, Mary introduces us to Bucktooth—a millionaire jeweler, poolroom owner, and action-maker who could create a gambling scene out of thin air.

It’s a funny, revealing, and deeply authentic chapter in the life of one of pool’s great storytellers and archivists.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Part 2 of our conversation with WPBA Hall of Famer Mary Kenniston, the road opens up and the stories get even better.

Mary takes us back to the years just after college, when shorthand, typing, bookkeeping, and supermarket checkout speed hardly seemed like preparation for life in pool — yet all of it formed the determined, sharp-witted competitor she would become. From the earliest days of the women’s game in the Northeast, she recalls a time before a true professional tour existed, when players piled into cars, shared rooms, and relied on the generosity of room owners to create opportunities to compete.

She reflects on the emerging women’s scene, the dominance of Jean Balukas, the rise of LoreeJon, and the close-knit, scrappy environment that helped shape the WPBA in its earliest form. Mary also shares her own role in that history as one of the organization’s first secretary-treasurers.

Then the story shifts from tournaments to the road — and into the action. Mary paints a vivid picture of running through New Jersey, New York, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas, chasing games, making scores, and learning the realities of pool life in an era when action was everywhere and women players were still a novelty.

At the heart of this episode is a priceless encounter with Buddy Hall. What begins with Mary sharply putting him in his place turns into one of the most important moments of her development as a player, as Buddy helps reshape her fundamentals and elevate her game almost overnight.

This is a wonderful chapter in Mary Kenniston’s story — full of grit, humor, history, and the unforgettable characters who made pool’s golden road years so legendary.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

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Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this first installment of our conversation with WPBA Hall of Famer Mary Kenniston, we begin at the beginning—Long Island roots, a fiercely competitive childhood, and the natural athletic gifts that made her a standout long before she ever picked up a cue.

Mary takes us back to growing up in Suffolk County, where sports came as naturally as breathing. A tall, fearless tomboy with a sharp mind and a gift for competition, she excelled in nearly everything she tried—basketball, softball, field hockey, track, and more. She earned a basketball scholarship at a time when opportunities for women were rare, only to see that dream derailed by devastating knee injuries. But as Mary tells it, one closed door has a funny way of opening another.

That next door turned out to be a barroom pool table in Nebraska.

What began as boredom while tagging along with her boyfriend quickly became revelation. Within a remarkably short time, Mary was beating everyone in sight, winning bar tournaments, and realizing that pool offered something no other sport had: a challenge deep enough to keep humbling her. From there, the story only gets better. After moving back East, she discovered the legendary Guys and Dolls billiard room in New Jersey, where a chance meeting with an older mentor named Bob changed everything. He introduced her not only to the finer points of the game, but to the wider world of serious pool.

Along the way, Mary shares stories that are funny, candid, and unmistakably her own—from beating the boys in high school basketball to discovering, unexpectedly, that her own father had once been a player himself.

It’s the origin story of one of pool’s most distinctive voices—frank, fearless, gifted, and impossible to forget.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In the final installment of this four-part conversation on Legends of the Cue, Austrian Hall of Famer Gerda Hofstatter-Gregerson reflects on the closing chapters of her competitive career and the deeply personal choices that shaped the life that followed. Joined by Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson, and Mike Gonzalez, Gerda looks back on more European and Austrian titles, her 2009 straight pool success, and her final professional victory at the 2010 San Diego Classic.

This episode goes far beyond the scoreline. Gerda opens up about the mental side of championship pool, from learning to quiet the mind through meditation to understanding just how much confidence, discipline, and emotional control influence performance at the highest level. She also shares one of the most meaningful transitions of her life: stepping away from full-time competition to embrace motherhood and family life. In candid and heartfelt moments, Gerda explains why leaving the tour was not a sudden decision, but a natural evolution as her priorities changed and her world expanded beyond the pool room.

Listeners will also hear Gerda’s thoughts on today’s extraordinary level of women’s professional pool, her brief comeback after Hall of Fame recognition, and the immense pride she feels in being inducted into both the WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame. Along the way, there is laughter, warmth, and touching appreciation for the people who helped shape her journey—from family and mentors to close friends and fellow champions.

As this remarkable life story draws to a close, Gerda answers the show’s final questions with the same grace, humility, and perspective that defined her career. It is a fitting finish to the story of a world-class player, devoted mother, and beloved ambassador for the sport.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Part 3 of our four-part conversation with Austrian Pool Hall of Famer Gerda Hofstatter-Gregerson, the stories are as rich as the accomplishments. Gerda joins Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson, and Mike Gonzalez for a candid and often hilarious look back at one of the most memorable stretches of her career—when world-class pool, relentless practice, international travel, and lifelong friendships all came together.

Gerda reflects on the challenge of balancing instinct with technique, and how exposure to Allison Fisher’s exacting approach to cueing and mechanics changed the way players across the sport thought about the game. What began as admiration for “The Duchess of Doom” also became a deeper lesson in confidence, freedom, and the psychology of performance.

The conversation also revisits Gerda’s standout years on tour, including major victories in the late 1990s and her unforgettable 2000 BCA Open triumph after battling all the way back through the one-loss side. Along the way, she shares how access to the right practice environment—from Charlotte to San Francisco—helped elevate her game and sharpen her competitive edge.

And then there are the road stories. From wild nights in New Orleans and missed travel plans to unforgettable trips to Japan, pool schools in Hawaii and Vancouver, and the colorful characters who populated the game’s golden era, this episode captures the spirit of women’s professional pool at its most vibrant and personal.

The episode also explores Gerda’s decision to move to New York, attend NYU, and build a life beyond competition—without ever losing the drive that made her one of the game’s most respected champions. Insightful, funny, and deeply human, this chapter of Gerda’s story is a wonderful reminder that greatness in pool is built not only on titles, but on friendship, curiosity, resilience, and joy.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Part 2 of our four-part conversation with Austrian Pool Hall of Famer Gerda Hofstatter-Gregerson, Gerda’s story takes a bold turn—across an ocean, into the spotlight, and straight onto the American tour.

Gerda recounts how a perfectly-timed connection through Jan and the legendary Ewa Mataya Laurance opened the door to her first U.S. events in early 1993. The original plan was simple: come over, play three tournaments, stay with Ewa in between, then go home. But pool had other plans. With “zero pressure” and a completely carefree mindset, Gerda shocks everyone by winning right away—proof that sometimes the most dangerous competitor is the one with nothing to lose.

From there, the episode becomes a lively time capsule of the women’s game in the early-to-mid ’90s: the long travel, the stacked fields, and the mix of welcoming professionalism… plus a few behind-the-scenes laughs (including Ewa’s “makeover mission” to help Gerda look a little more American). Gerda also shares how living in Sweden sharpened her game—and even her language skills—thanks to late-night TV and a relentless competitive scene.

We dig into the practice habits that separated Gerda from the pack: drill work, score tracking, and her beloved “L-shape” pattern for precision cue-ball control. Allison adds unforgettable color, describing Gerda’s jaw-dropping specialty: razor-thin cuts with outrageous outside spin—a shot Gerda learned from Mike Massey and then made her own.

The journey crescendos in 1995: Gerda moves to the U.S. full-time, navigates tour life, and captures the 9-ball World Championship in Taipei—with Allison offering a calm-the-nerves masterclass (and yes, a pre-final beer). It’s a chapter packed with breakthrough moments, honest reflection, and the real cost of greatness when expectations finally catch up.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Part 1 of our four-part conversation, we welcome the unstoppable “G-Force”—Austrian legend Gerda Hofstätter-Gregerson—for a deep dive into the roots of a world-class competitor. Before she became a trailblazer in women’s professional pool and a WPBA & BCA Hall of Famer, Gerda was a fierce, fast-rising athlete from a small Austrian town, growing up in a bustling household with three sisters, two grandmothers, and a father who was dramatically outnumbered—but quietly influential.

Gerda takes us back to an outdoorsy childhood shaped by sport, work, and family. From helping in her parents’ butcher shop to chasing soccer balls with her best friends (three boys), she built the athletic foundation that would later define her game—strong hands, sharp coordination, and an unshakable competitive edge. Then comes fencing: the lunges, the precision, the travel across Europe, and the championship mindset. Gerda explains the discipline of foil fencing, what it takes to win at the highest levels, and how close she came to an Olympic path—until pool entered the picture and changed everything.

Her introduction to billiards is pure movie material: a smoky bar setting, respectful silence, finger-snapping applause, and a teenage Gerda sneaking away to practice because her father didn’t want her in a bar. That secret year turns into a rapid rise through leagues and championships, fueled by instinct, fearless confidence, and a growing support system—including the Ouschan family’s circle in Klagenfurt.

Along the way, Gerda shares the early milestones: European championships, national titles (yes—17 Austrian championships), and the moment she realized: I’ll win next year. This is the origin story—where talent meets purpose, and a champion begins to take shape.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In this moving final chapter of our six-part Legends of the Cue conversation, Mitch Laurance brings his remarkable journey full circle—through gratitude, reflection, and the relationships that have shaped a life squeezed for every ounce of meaning.

Before we leave the world of pool, Mitch turns his attention to the people beside him—Allison Fisher and Mark Wilson—offering heartfelt thanks for what they’ve given the game and the players who love it. What follows is an unforgettable exchange of memories and admiration, including Allison’s vivid recollection of her early U.S. breakthrough and those “welcome to ESPN” moments that only champions can laugh about years later.

Mitch also shares two of the most emotional highlights of his broadcasting career: calling championship matches featuring his wife, the legendary Ewa Mataya Laurance—an experience almost unheard of in sports commentary, and one that tested every ounce of his composure. From Boston in 1998 to a stunning Masters run years later, Mitch opens up about what it meant to sit behind the mic while the person he loved most battled for a title.

Then, in true Mitch fashion, the conversation pivots—this time to golf. He takes us from frustration and burnout to discovering the joy of hickory clubs, launching Hooked on Hickories, and eventually producing hundreds of episodes across multiple golf shows. It’s a masterclass in reinvention—and finding the fun again.

We wrap with our signature three questions, where Mitch’s answers are as thoughtful as they are revealing: what he’d change, what he wouldn’t, and how he hopes to be remembered. The bow on this story is simple—and powerful: kindness, love, and a life fully lived.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

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Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”

In Episode 5 of our six-part life-story series with Mitch Laurance, we pick up where his improbable second act really takes flight—behind the microphone, on the biggest stage pool had at the time: ESPN. Mitch takes us back to that first broadcast, when pool commentary was still being figured out in real time… and he was, too. With the opening and closing done live and much of the commentary recorded in post, Mitch describes the surreal learning curve of watching a match like a fan—only to hear a director in his headset reminding him, “Mitch, you have to talk!”

From those early WPBA broadcasts (including a memorable Robin Dodson vs. “Ewa” final) to years of working alongside top voices like Mark Wilson and Vicki Paski, Mitch shares what it’s like to grow into a role you never expected to have. The conversation opens up into the craft of commentary—how little formal guidance there was, how confidence is built on the fly, and why the best production teams are the ones you never notice.

Then, in classic Legends of the Cue fashion, we detour into a wild and wonderful story: Mitch at Woodstock. He paints the scene from a 1969 Rolling Stone ad to waking up on a blanket and realizing tens of thousands had arrived while he slept—before the weekend became the muddy, mythic event we all know today.

We close by looking forward: what happens to sports broadcasting when commentary moves off-site? Mitch, Allison Fisher, and Mark Wilson weigh the cost-saving trend against what you lose—atmosphere, insight, adrenaline… and authenticity. If you care about the soul of pool on television, this episode hits home.

Give Allison, Mark & Mike some feedback via Text.

Support the show

Follow our show and/or leave a review/rating on:

Our website: https://www.legendsofthecue.com

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/legends-of-the-cue/id1820520463

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Za0IMh2SeNaWEGUHaVcy1

Music by Lyrium.

About

"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher,  Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”