Pool Table Magic

About

Pool Table Magic
Poolroom Bar and Restaurant

Story

Mark Kulungian has been one of the largest collectors of cues in the US since the late 70's, He has owned and operated George's Billiard Supply (1978), named after George Balabushka, and Pool Table Magic, currently. Pool, billiards and the home entertainment industry has been Marks only job for over 35 years. He is also a noted table mechanic who assembles and recovers between 100-200 tables a year. As a player he has competed in many tournaments, both amateur and pro. He continues to play competitively in the North East, and gives lessons and performs trick shot exhibitions.

Cues:

Mark started collecting cues early on and still has a few for his personal collection. He has his FIRST National / Gandy cue, he has a cue that Richard Black made for him in the late 70's, he has a very special Balabushka, AND he has one of the rarest examples of a Gus Szamboti; that was made for HIM. He has been published in many articles, and has assisted in the Billiard Encyclopedia and the Blue Book of Pool Cue series. He was a technical assistant to the Pool Cue Book. He is a well recognized authority on vintage cues and pool tables.

As a dealer he has sold a number of cues, he has handled and inspected thousands of cues. Mark was partners in Billiards and Healthware with Joel Hercek, before Joel took over Burton Spains cue business. Mark, Joel and the late John Wright, were the first to pioneer mailings to showcase their cues. These three helped establish cue collecting, before the internet, and before there was a Blue Book. If you wanted pretty cue pictures, you had to get on a mailing list. You could make the argument that these three were responsible for helping to make what the hobby what is has been since the late 80's.

From Mark: I have personally handled over 1000 George Balabushka's / Gus Szamboti's. There are very few people as qualified to give their opinions on these two legendary cuemakers, I have been writing letters of athenticity with most of their cues, for over 25 years.

As his collecting needs have been met, he is focusing on transitioning into a more authorative figure, for the preservation of the classic cue. His passion for this has been ignited by some individuals who have voiced their disdain for older cues because they do not feel comfortable in these cues. They realize that Mark has been measuring, note taking, and keeping all this knowledge for his own collecting purposes. Since he has removed himself from any other gains, with the exception of keeping the hobby pure, this is a win win for everyone. Authenticating, assigning value, insurance proof, this is the new direction and added value that will be offered by Classiccues.