Untold Stories: In Search of the Real Rudolf Wanderone

Minnesota Fats was one of the planet's great fibbers. It takes some serious show leather to dissect the truth from his fictions.

By R.A. Dyer

Shortly before his death, Fats traded the flatlands of Southern Illinois of greener pastures

This, we know for certain: Minnesota Fats was hands-down the biggest liar ever to walk the earth. Before his death in 1996, Fats famously claimed to have played Atlantic City before there was a beach; to have parachuted into Germany for a round of 8-ball with the Fuhrer; to have traveled every place in the world, twice.

Like the principal character from the recent film "Big Fish," Fats was above all a teller of tall tales, a bigger-than-life liar, a man more defined by fiction than reality. The challenge I presented to myself for this month's column was to learn something new and true about Fats - especially about his early years, before the release of "The Hustler." And so, playing detective, I went to Fats' old neighborhood in the Washington Heights section of New York City, spent days at the main branch of the New York Public Library at 42nd Street and 5th Avenue in Manhattan, and spoke to pool historian Charles Ursitti.

Some puzzles I solved; other new ones emerged. It also became clear to me as I pored over old newspapers and genealogy records that there are plenty more leads for the curious researcher. But here's the report so far …

Fats' real name was Rudolf Walter Wanderone Jr. He was the son of Swiss immigrants, and his life roughly divides into two main parts - that which came before 1961, and that which came afterwards. It was in that year that 20th Century Fox released "The Hustler," a film based on the Walter Tevis novel. Wanderone loudly claimed to have been the real-life inspiration for the Jackie Gleason character, and it was that claim that vaulted him to nationwide fame.

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Since 1978, Billiards Digest magazine has been the pool world’s best source for news, tournament coverage, player profiles, bold editorials, and advice on how to play pool. Our instructors include superstars Nick Varner and Jeanette Lee. Every issue features the pool accessories and equipment you love — pool cues, pool tables, instruction aids and more. Columnists Mike Shamos and R.A. Dyer examine legends like Willie Mosconi and Minnesota Fats, and dig deep into the histories of pool games like 8-ball, 9-ball and straight pool.

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