It was a mad dash to get this issue to the printer early. It’s trade show time, you see, and I wouldn’t think of missing it.

And as I packed up my notebook and recorder, as I have for the past 42 years, it dawned on me that I may be one of the few remaining people in the billiard industry who has been to every Billiard Congress of America Expo since its inception in 1984. I’m sure there are a few others — legendary instructor Jerry Briesath and longtime industry sales rep Roger Gross come to mind.

My memory went back to the BCA’s scary foray out on its own — in previous years, the billiard industry had ridden the coattails of the massive annual National Sporting Goods Association show, which for many years was held in Chicago in January. During that time, the BCA was also under the management of the NSGA. But after the BCA Board of Directors decided to pull out of its deal with the NSGA and opened its own office in Iowa City, Iowa, the association began investigating the feasibility of running a dedicated billiard trade show. The board accepted a proposal from Californian Frank Zdy, whose brother-in-law, Dave Maidment, BCA board president at the time and owner of California table manufacturer World of Leisure.

And, so, in May 1984, the BCA held its very first independent industry trade show. It was staged at the Tarrant County Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, and it was one of the most anticipated and exciting events ever in the industry. Could the small, mom-and-pop billiard business community stage a successful — and profitable — business-to-business trade show? It was a huge step for the industry at the time, with the BCA banking on a revenue-generating show to fund ambitious projects that the board hoped to launch in future years.

At that time, the industry’s dominant business branch was room operators, who made up the lion’s share of attendees in the early years. Brick and mortar retail outlets (remember, this was long before “online sales” had found its way into business) were also a significant player, but America in those days was still booming with traditional poolrooms.

The first BCA Trade Show drew just 79 exhibiting companies occupying 184 booths. The show attracted a total of 740 buyers. But it was exciting. And part of that raw excitement was just the thrill of seeing the entire industry under the same roof at the same time for the very first time. This was long before spa companies and outdoor furniture companies began expanding the expo’s footprint. This was aisle after aisle of billiards… dozens of domestic table manufacturers, rows of cue manufacturers, cue case makers, accessories companies, slate suppliers, parts companies. It was all billiards. And it was glorious.

The floor also teemed with current players and legends, all of whom had connections to various companies in the industry. I was still a wide-eyed youngster then, gawking as players like Willie Mosconi, Jean Balukas, Mike Sigel, Nick Varner, Lou Butera, Dallas West, Loree Jon Ogonowski and that year’s Hall of Fame honoree Rudolph Wanderone milled about.

Ironically, after getting fat and happy through the late ’90s and early 2000s, when the freestanding BCA Expo drew upwards of 300 companies with a footprint of more than 1,200 booth spaces, and welcomed 2,700 attendees, the expo has come full circle. This year’s show will be similar to the very first, with 65 or so companies setting up shop in 200-plus booth spaces and around 800 buyers kicking tires and placing orders. And this year’s show is, as it was at the start, predominantly billiard manufacturers.

Like it or not, that is where the industry stands these days. But if the billiard business has proved anything over its long history, it’s that this industry is extremely resilient and will find a way to hang in, march forward and push toward another growth period — although the gravy days of the early 2000s are not likely to re-emerge.

But as long as there is a BCA Expo, and as long as I am upright and lucid (no jokes, please), I will roam the aisles, renew acquaintances, check out new products, discuss the “state of the industry” and hold onto the belief that we’ll all be back stronger the next year.

And maybe I’ll start an annual post-expo toast with my fellow lifers, like Jerry and Roger.