Jean Balukas - I've Got a Secret

[@dokukarmagad12578]

Jean Balukas is one of the greatest billiards players of all time. She is a legend and a champion.

[@thomaspiccirillo2238]

She's the greatest and lived on my block. She treated me like a kid brother. Godspeed Jean!

[@niltomega2978]

How cool!

[@dianabarnes9471]

They need to bring shows like this back!

[@thetaekwondoe3887]

I'm really glad they let us see her talent. I love this old timey stuff.

[@brianthomason5022]

She became a famous pool player

[@suewoo5]

Brooklyn we out here! Jean is a true legend her pool room closed today and shes gotta be one of the coolest ppl I ever met in a pool hall. Shes the real deal. Jean balukas!

[@reflecteddetcelfer]

Please send my regards... it has been a pleasure posting the video. Much enjoyed!

[@gailclark3133]

Unbelievable I wonder what she's doing today that is so excellent

[@annadavis4205]

Amazing

[@rosered103]

What a gal!

[@siamesenanwill2158]

Q it

[@PoolStarzLive]

Awesome Piece of History

[@PoolStarzLive]

@john loughlin what a life

[@VioletJoy]

That Jean wasn't messing around, and with that accent and attitude, she was equally funny and adorable. Little Laura was so darn cute. I just love this show. I wish they could have gone around twice before revealing who the contestant was.

[@giancarlo426]

Man, this was adorable.

[@silverwiskers7371]

I remember that show as a very young Child about the same age as those Girls, back then we only had 3 channels and an old Black and White Console TV, truly good old times and a much simpler life

[@tashathayer6427]

I like it to & still catch it on TV late night w an antenna & it's good tv imo. ✌

[@Ok-xw4el]

Lucky🍀

[@margeryfranko1850]

Wonderful to watch these stunning girls. Thanks for sharing this with us 💜😁

[@poetcomic1]

Jean became one of the greatest pool players of the 20th century. One of the top fifty pool players of all time. It helps to start young. I love that "Paper Moon" haircut on her! She reminds me of Addie Pray!

[@bonniemoerdyk9809]

Thanks for the update! When Jean walked on, I thought, by the haircut, she was the little girl on "To Kill a Mockingbird" and I assumed the secret was that she had just finished making the movie. Yes, it does also look like 'Paper Moon'! It also looks just like photos of my great-aunt who lived to be 101.She was a very modern girl of her time and was a bit of a 'Flapper', but then after she died in 2010, I found photos of her in about 1915-20 time frame...and she could be an identical twin to the little girl Jean above!

[@thatgirlthatsme]

Isn't her haircut called a pixie? My siblings and I had that cut in the 60's. I hated it! Lol.

[@donnagray3779]

Lots of girls had that haircut back then

[@poetcomic1]

@@donnagray3779 It was called 'the page boy' in the fifties.

[@dmnemaine]

There was also one of the "Our Gang" little girls who had a haircut like that.

[@patriciamartinez5836]

Fantastic career as she got older. Enjoyed watching

[@SueBeaWho]

That was adorable and so cool!!!

[@ImSPOTon]

They were both just great . The coordination and control they had over that stick is amazing . Starting young is the trick at becoming such a pro. Her little sister was phenomenal too!!!!

[@kittymervine6115]

this is wonderful... I truly enjoyed this one.

[@gabe-po9yi]

So much confidence!

[@greenwolfegreen6028]

I am 70 years old and I learned about her when I was a teenager. She is the greatest I ever saw.

[@EdithandTom]

Jeans maternal grandmother and my mother were sisters.

[@ronindebeatrice]

EdithandTom She's your first cousin, once removed.

[@thatgirlthatsme]

That's so interesting. Nice to have this video to look back on.

[@thatgirlthatsme]

Did her younger sister go on to play pool?

[@joyceprice4811]

Was Jean Lithuanian?

[@bethewalt7385]

Her grandmother was your Aunt...easy, and most cool

[@dorothycoker8830]

That half year makes a big difference when you are six 🥰🥰

[@marcellinechoisne5627]

eh! sure!

[@1gruntusmc]

At this timeframe, young kids wanted to be viewed as respected & responsible, older. Youth was expected to submit to authorities, elders & if you didn't have a skill you had no credible value. She was being correct to correct the record & embrace that acknowledgment. Bravo to those good ole times!

[@matrox]

Yeh ..aging is cool until you get to be about 21. Then aging becomes a non stop snowball into the firery pits of hell.

[@marcellinechoisne5627]

@@matrox a true shipwreck...;(

[@cathyleegrantham-schreifel7269]

6 1/2! Thank you very much!

[@douglasbrannon6525]

Was always a great show, and still is.

[@michaelridenour2113]

Thanks for posting! My older sister was in the same class at PS 104 in Brooklyn as Jean and they were good friends.

[@dockaos924]

That was fun 7 minutes to watch👍

[@Bojangles5-2]

Jean played quite well back in what was considered, wrongly so, a man's sport. A genuine professional in all aspects. I got to meet her at one of the Glass City Opens in the 80's when the local TV station taped a highlight of her in action. I still have that segment and might get it posted at some point.

[@rosered103]

Please do. I and I'm sure a lot of people would enjoy it.

[@michellemurphybrown9751]

There used to be a pool hall right here in Toledo (glass city) my dad always talked about. We always had pool tables. Still live right here on Galena st. So these stories have been with me my whole life both my parents were very good pool players.(I guess my dad was on a league back then even)

[@Bojangles5-2]

Hi-Q Billiards? Played there many times. Lary Kahan was a great guy!

[@Bojangles5-2]

@@rosered103 I've since lost my transfer tools. I am still hoping to get that up. It was just a short segment with WTOL TV's Orris Tabner asking her a few questions. I was in the hallway watching the segment being taped. Orris told me me they hoped to have it ready for that evening's news, which they did.

[@debbieflaherty1975]

She is so cute. I love her personality…. If you wanna shoot pool, I’m in. If you just wanna talk…. I simply cannot be bothered.

[@violet9853]

what a little sweetheart!!! Big hugs!!!

[@talmage_ur]

When I was 8 (1967), my father bought a snooker table and made it a point that I learn the game of billiards, positioning in anticipation for the next shot. Oh, by the way I'm a girl. I have to confess that I don't appreciate this old timer video because of the remarks about "having a beer" "being 47"

[@trombone113]

Whatever. If you get bent out of shape about that, how do you leave the house in the morning. Unbelievable. 🙄

[@talmage_ur]

@@trombone113 you read wrong - too funny. Be well.

[@Sigmund_Fraud]

Goddamn I love me some 1960's Americana. What a time, & place, to be alive. It brings tears to my eyes when I think how smart we've become & what we've lost.

[@vocalartistsmgmt]

She's great!

[@tomitstube]

that was awesome thanks for sharing.

[@Edgerunner10]

this is crazy, I met her in person

[@HAZIDEAD]

Ha ha those girls were adorable

[@donnawoodford6641]

They're in a world of their own.

[@artisttargeted6146]

That Was Awesome.- 💞🌟

[@krizzy__]

All the days down the local pub with dad,, bless her

[@elbmcook]

It's 2021, where are they now?

[@bookwoman53]

I like the panel shows. They are still popular in the U.K.

[@andrew_owens7680]

OMG, I've met her!

[@erdishzane472]

Awesome

[@Pro9CoUk]

Such a good video... And clear to see the talent already. Classic New York accent too!

[@uselessjoe]

the best for the next 30 years...

[@melaniesmith1313]

Fantastic!

[@richtuny9731]

And one of the first things to learn is etticate and knowing where the chalk is and use it every shot. This young lady and her pupil have talent .

[@dianesaldivar824]

Example that you can do anything you like and become successful. Great accomplishment.

[@cf8959]

I love to sing but, you wouldn’t want to hear me! 60 years and I still sound awful. Not everyone who does what they like are good at it.

[@doncariker1718]

@@cf8959 me neither, but I still sing.

[@TubularBelles]

I absolutely love this Show. Never saw it when it aired on television. Does anyone know why Gary Moore left?

[@SueProv]

I read that his variety show was canceled in 1964 and he decided to leave Ive Got a Secret

[@OnTheRailTV]

Wow what a talent she was,nice smooth stroke,I wish she would come back and play some tournaments,she would kill alot of the ladies on the pro tour I believe and be in the top 5 for sure.

[@krystalrussell2308]

Billboards is a great activity to play.

[@david6532]

amazing video

[@vivalarica]

Wow!! That is some skillz!

[@ginny709]

Okay, the hair curt says it all..... very sweet.....

[@tamarafields5703]

Awesome!!!

[@judithscobee8102]

Loved Steve Allen!

[@moonglow1311]

I do believe the pool stick was taller than Laura ❗🙃

[@rgarlinyc]

When I was a teenager. "Pocket Billiards" had a whole other meaning! 🤣👍🏻

[@Phred7447]

Yesssss sir. (Good times. Gooood times)

[@krystalrussell2308]

I was bowling at that age. I don't remember billboards until I was a little older.

[@rgarlinyc]

@@krystalrussell2308 Did you mean 'billiards'...?

[@marcellinechoisne5627]

aww .. i was 3 years old!!

[@opalprestonshirley1700]

I remember watching this young lady on this show, I was so jealous I couldn't do that well on my best day.

[@tanagra2]

Brilliant, thanks for posting this. Didn't the panel take the hint? I mean their was a pool table just sitting there in the studio.

[@robertawalsh2995]

or four guys moved it in off camera while he was doing the reveal.

[@Adele-zq5zd]

It was probably behind a curtain

[@tanagra2]

@@Adele-zq5zd Just call me stupid please.

[@tanagra2]

@@robertawalsh2995 Yep I am stupid. its my age.

[@Adele-zq5zd]

@@tanagra2 never..😘

[@donnawells2442]

When I was young , Corn Hole had a whole different meaning also, but it is a very popular game these days. I can’t ever make myself play it. Funny how things change.

[@Adele-zq5zd]

If you're talking about the little girl that is Billiards not cornhole two completely different games

[@stephaniesallie8968]

Congratulations Jean. Blessings.

[@sandrasoares9262]

Good work Thankyou for your time ⏲️😎 I love kids having fun. To the little girl I wish you all the luck in the world 🌎 Your fan sandra.s🌹

[@bicmyflic25]

haha the whole time she was just thinking about getting up and running out that table. very gifted woman!

[@thatgirlthatsme]

Yep, she stared that pool table down the entire time. Lol

[@A6Legit]

Savage

[@efesgirl999]

From a Bronx girl: These kids are great! I also play pool, but not as good as they do. *embarrassed grin* I wonder where they are today.

[@lynnereyes5125]

How adorable with talent too boot

[@ajinpnw6221]

Wow!

[@teresamarkwith6881]

Bill Cullen was SOOOO young!

[@heathbarker3004]

Jean is now 62 1/2 years old..

[@colourufo]

Great video Thank you!

[@MilltowneMike]

best woman player there ever was, she would have stomped allison fischer when she was 12

[@nineballaddict]

I wish she would come back to the pro tour.

[@antbee520]

YEAH AUNTIE STELLA WAY TO GO WITH THAT NEW JOB BANQUET SERVING

[@axiomist4488]

OMG !!! When that tiny copy of "the teacher" came out, I lost it !

[@EmilyTienne]

Funny, in the 50s and 60s billiards was considered really unsavory.

[@echoecho3108]

Funny you should say that. 🙄 We had a pool table in our basement. Grandma gave it to us, a real pool hall pool table. We were thrilled to have it. Daddy taught me how to shoot. I got pretty good, of course, nowhere near as good as those little girls, at that age. 😊 It was not considered 'really unsavory.' A billiard table was used by Disney in 'Donald in Mathmagic Land' to illustrate how math can be used in everyday life. This film was shown in my schools. It was also shown on the 'Disneyland' tv show. Pool/billiard challenges and trick shots were shown on 'Wide World of Sports' and various talk and variety shows, throughout the 50s and 60s, and beyond. I was there, then, so I can tell you there was nothing wrong with playing pool in the 50s and 60s.

[@EmilyTienne]

@@echoecho3108 I don’t think there’s anything wrong with pool. It’s just a game. But the perception among SOME blue noses was that it was an activity found in smoke-filled blue collar taverns, and that perception was largely correct.

[@sandip.7968]

Both sisters are so good at billiards! But what about their older brother who came on stage at the beginning?

[@eurofritz4617]

those were two non related kids who were going to be the next two segments

[@fullhousefrek]

She probably became a professional pool player. She's better than most adults lol

[@eurofritz4617]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Balukas

[@maryannhanlon9731]

She was and is still very famous,

[@factsoverfiction7826]

@@eurofritz4617 Thank you!

[@retrobilly1986]

She did. Look it up. World class

[@buffalosowljah]

yeah jean ended up being the GOAT of the women's pool that good she bet some of the top men of the game

[@danielpincus221]

A game for all ages. The shooting begins at 4:09.

[@fflubadubb]

Kid was amazing !

[@neilhoganwa]

Pocket billiard in Australia means quite a different thing to what she was putting out. She would be s little bit too young to be playing Pocket Billiards in our country.

[@yakkityyak9336]

prolly doesn't have the right equipment neither

[@LiveInSydney]

Interesting reading Wikipedia on Jean

[@bmmaaate]

From my usual recommendations I was expecting her secret to be about demonic possession, alien abduction or MK Ultra! Billiards I would never have guessed.

[@amywalker7515]

I wonder what the other two kids did over the summer.

[@brendawatkins6337]

Great Pool Shooting, Wonderful Little GIRL, I've been to A Pool Room After I Was Married, Joe's Pool Room,And Never Learned a Thing, Just Watched My Husband.❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@anthonywilson7304]

Absolute gold. Kids just get on with.

[@karengray8618]

PLENTY OF VIDEO'S ON 'YOU TUBE' OF HER CHAMPION GAMES.

[@micavanderbasch1280]

I never would have guessed ... oh the pool table !. 🧠

[@youejtube7692]

Were the next two child contestants the kids from the Gregory Peck film, To Kill A Mockingbird?

[@nicksilverstein1193]

I wonder if "Figure it Out" came from this show. It was a show I grew up with in the 90s

[@anitashaw9090]

Wow my little heros

[@maryfinch9331]

How could they not have guessed with the pool table setting right there? Maybe they have it behind the screen?

[@dilenaking4746]

Don't want to go back in time!!

[@philipcallicoat3147]

Watching this, I feel old... Wait a minute!!! I AM old 🤔...

[@pash9956]

The attitude...I love her!

[@pash9956]

@john loughlin Unbelievable!

[@jaysilverheals4445]

has anyone seen her in real life? has she ever smiled or showed emotion?

[@jaysilverheals4445]

pool shooters are naturally sedated

[@michaelridenour2113]

Believe it or not I went to school with her. My sister was in her class.

[@wordivore]

Who were the two boys that were there at the same time on the other side of Steve Allen?

[@stevenalen7004]

I'm the boy.My name is Nick and the other boy was Trevor

[@nowvoyagerNE]

@@stevenalen7004 why were you there?

[@thatgirlthatsme]

@@stevenalen7004 That's awesome Nick that you were there! What were yours and Trevor's secret?

[@williamschlenger1518]

She looks like one of the Our gang.

[@youknowbetter1509]

Darleen!

[@Nosferata138]

Ok, that was pretty cool.

[@modenam9046]

❤️❤️❤️

[@dan71559]

those are the cutest pool players ive ever seen

[@antbee520]

THIS LITTLE LADY HOW RESENTFUL

[@mslondoner185]

I was confused, pocket billiards means something totally different in the UK.

[@andysott]

she looks like Maddie from Paper Moon!

[@rosaenriquez7155]

She also looks like Mary from the old ' Little Rascals "

[@pattyoneill6724]

Addie Pray from Paper Moon. Tatum O'Neal played her !

[@mrbillhicks]

1:03 Pocket billiards conjures up a whole different image in the neck of the woods I come from

[@44032]

I read the Wikipedia article. Too bad it had no picture form her championship days. Did Laura have a career in billiards, too?

[@karengray8618]

Steven Chappell plenty champion videos of her games on 'you tube!'

[@factsoverfiction7826]

Her Wikipedia page is really interesting ... She was rated #15 on the list "50 Greatest Players of the 20th Century."