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World Snooker championship 1927

poker_pete82

poker_pete82

master brummie
Evening all. I was hoping some of you knowledgable folk could help me out. I am a huge snooker fan and my earliest memory is watching snooker sat on my nan and grandads floor when I was about 5 and I think I've watched every World championship since! It has been staged at the crucible in Sheffield since 1977 but I've recently read that the first one in 1927 won by the legendary Joe Davis (and the first to use the trophy that still exists and is played for today) was in Birmingham in a place called Camkin's Hall. I've searched this site for it but can't find anything. Does anyone know where this hall was? Or have any history on it please? Many thanks.
 
Camkin was a billiard table manufacturer with billiard rooms in Corporation Street.
Listed at 128 as part of King's Hall Amusements. On the corner of Lower Priory and Corporation Street
 
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Ah thank you both. I was aware of Kings Hall but didn't know Camkins. A great thread on Kings hall also. I'm blown away the first World snooker championship was on Corporation Street and with the 100th anniversary soon I'm sure this will be mentioned on the BBC coverage in 2027. So sad though that such a grand building (like many many more) has gone.
 
I do recall the snooker was occasionally shown on BBC, broadcast from Gosta Green in the early 60’s. All in black and white with 405 lines broadcast, the quality was not all that good. Just the light around the table and the players from a fixed point. Joe Davis was a regular player too.

It was pot Black that changed things and made it popular on TV. I am sure I read somewhere that it was the main players who would put their own money up for a world championship, Ray Readon, John Spencer and others. I am sure the match was over a 100 frames or so too
 
Interesting about the Camkin rooms on John bright street. I've looked at some threads on it but can't see any mention of a snooker hall. Would anyone happen to have the address this was at?
 
poker_pete82 said:
Interesting about the Camkin rooms on John bright street. I've looked at some threads on it but can't see any mention of a snooker hall. Would anyone happen to have the address this was at?
Click to expand...
Ive just had a look and can't see an address.
The problem is he seemed to call all his venues Camkin's Hall.
Found this reference in Birmingham weekly Mercury in 1926
1745143639449.png
Witton road being listed under Camkin's name in Kelly's.
 
I have just been through 1921 Kelly's John Bright Street and can't see a "snooker rooms" listed.
But there is this entry (note spelling of CamPkin) Not listed under Billiard or Snooker rooms.
1745144473398.png

Geoffrey Buildings seem to be on the corner of Severn Street and John Bright Street
1921 entry for Severn Street
1745144942126.png
 
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A bit more on Camkin’s…

“Camkin established a business bearing his name which was involved with renovating and supplying billiard tables. By the mid-1920's they had outlets in Birmingham, Oldbury and Stoke-on-Trent and at this time Camkin sold a controlling interest in the company to Orme & Sons. In 1929 he resigned as managing Director of Camkin Ltd, which continued to trade under this name, and became involved with a new company called Birmingham Billiards Ltd. It was this company which marketed the "W.A. Camkin" cue which they began to advertise in 1935.’
 
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