In the final chapter of our seven-part conversation with WPBA Hall of Famer Mary Kenniston, the story comes full circle. Mary reflects on the closing years of her competitive career, the health battle that changed everything, and the determination that carried her back to the table playing better, in some ways, than ever before.

With candor, wit, and hard-earned perspective, Mary shares how she rebuilt her game after serious illness, teaching herself how to swing her arm again, refining her fundamentals, and discovering new ways to aim that she wishes she’d known from the beginning. She looks back on the stamina demands of tournament pool, the painful decision to retire, and the one shot from the 1989 U.S. Open she would take back if given a single career mulligan.

But this episode is about more than competition. It’s about legacy.

Mary tells the remarkable story of how a few forgotten boxes of photographs became an extraordinary accidental archive of pool history. What began as a personal trip down memory lane turned into a passion project that has preserved thousands upon thousands of images of players, tournaments, and moments that might otherwise have been lost. In doing so, Mary has become the game’s unofficial historian, reconnecting generations of fans and players with the sport’s rich past.

She also opens up about life after touring professionally, from dealing poker and caring for family to writing, commentary, and chronicling the people and personalities who built the game she loves.

Asked how she hopes to be remembered, Mary’s answer says it all: as both a survivor and a steward of pool’s history.

This moving and memorable finale is a fitting close to the life story of a woman whose impact on the game extends far beyond the titles she won.

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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 Episode 6 of our seven-part conversation with WPBA Hall of Famer Mary Kenniston, the story moves from championship pool to one of the most beloved rooms in the game’s history—and then to a life-altering challenge that few champions ever face.

Mary reflects on the late 1980s, when she stepped away from the tour at the height of her powers to open Cue-Topia in Las Vegas. What began simply as a place for players to gather soon became something legendary. Inspired by a Philadelphia poolroom whose walls were covered with snapshots of the game’s greats, Mary began building her own Wall of Fame—hundreds of photographs celebrating the personalities and champions who passed through her doors. Soon, players from around the world were making Cue-Topia a must-visit stop, spending hours studying the photos and reliving the stories behind them.

Along the way, Mary shares remarkable memories of the game’s icons—late-night conversations with Willie Mosconi, reflections on Ralph Greenleaf’s brilliance, and encounters with road players and champions who defined an era when reputation—and action—mattered more than publicity.

Even while running the room, Mary proved she still had the champion’s touch, returning to tournament play and capturing major titles including the 1989 Brunswick World Open Nine-Ball Championship.

But this episode also reveals one of the most dramatic chapters of her life. After a medical crisis that led to emergency brain surgery and partial paralysis, Mary faced a devastating prognosis. Doctors warned she might never walk again. What followed was a test of willpower, resilience, and the same competitive fire that made her one of the game’s elite.

From building a gathering place for pool’s legends to battling back from a life-threatening setback, this chapter of Mary Kenniston’s story is unforgettable—raw, inspiring, and deeply human.

It’s another remarkable installment in the life story of one of pool’s most respected champions.

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 5 of the Legends of the Cue conversation with WPBA Hall of Famer Mary Kenniston, the road stories, rivalries, and tournament triumphs keep coming.

Mary takes listeners back to the mid-1980s pool scene in Los Angeles, where action, personalities, and opportunity collided in smoky poolrooms and late-night gambling sessions. From becoming the house pro at a bustling barroom to matching up with future stars like Kelly Simpson (later Kelly Oyama), Mary recounts the hustling culture that helped sharpen her competitive edge.

The conversation moves through legendary rooms like Hollywood Billiards, where Mary found pristine tables, tough weekly tournaments, and a chance to test herself against top male players—sometimes beating them along the way. These were the years when Mary balanced road action with tournament play, building a reputation as one of the most formidable women in the game.

A highlight of the episode is Mary’s unforgettable story from the 1984 McDermott Masters, featuring a dramatic hill-hill match against Lori Shampo that ended with one of the most hilarious and memorable moments ever witnessed in a pool tournament.

Along the way, Mary reflects on the rise of the women’s professional game, the dominance of Jean Balukas, and the competitive environment that pushed everyone to improve. She also shares her perspective on the era when women’s pool was striving for mainstream recognition—and the pivotal players who helped elevate the sport.

By 1987, all of Mary’s experience—action games, road matches, and relentless competition—came together as she captured three WPBA tournament victories in a single season, firmly establishing herself among the elite players of her generation.

It’s another entertaining and revealing chapter in the remarkable life story of one of pool’s true pioneers.

In this episode, Mary Kenniston proves once again that in the golden era of pool, every match came with a story.

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.”