Trouble, ya got trouble right here in River City Santa Rosa with a capital ‘T’ and that rhymes with ‘P’ and that stands for ‘pool.’
I say, your young men’ll be fritterin’ Fritterin’ away their noontime, suppertime, choretime, too Hit the ball in the pocket Never mind gettin’ dandelions pulled or the screen door patched or the beefsteak pounded Never mind pumpin’ any water ’til your parents are caught with a cistern empty on a Saturday night and that’s trouble Oh, ya got lots and lots o’ trouble I’m thinkin’ of the kids in the knickerbockers shirttails, young ones peekin’ in the pool hall window after school Now I know all you folks are the right kind of parents – The Music Man, Meredith Wilson © Frank Music Corp. and Meredith Wilson Music |
And just like in the famous lyrics from The Music Man, billiards were blamed for young people cussin’ and thievin’. Never mind that boys were welcomed at the gambling tables in Fourth St. saloon back rooms during horse racing season, or that kids were sometimes caught in opium joints on Second street. No, the pool hall is the problem, for sure. Won’t someone (partially) save the children?
WANTS MINORS RESTRICTED
Chief of Police Rushmore Suggests Ordinance Barring Lads From Entering Pool RoomChief of Police Fred Rushmore attributes a number of cases of petty thieving in which boys have figured in this city recently to the fact that they are allowed to lounge around billiard and pool rooms.
He suggested at last night’s Council meeting that an ordinance should be passed forbidding boys under eighteen years of age entrance into pool rooms. Boys twelve and thirteen years of age are frequently found, he said, about such places, particularly, a room on Fourth street, near the corner of Fourth and Davis streets, and at times their language is objectionable.
Mayor Overton and other members of the Council suggested that the matter receive the attention asked and an ordinance will undoubtedly be drafted. Chief Rushmore, when seen after the meeting, said there was no doubt but that the young boys hanging around the places mentioned could not learn anything that would benefit them.
– Press Democrat, January 23, 1907