The Age of Billiards and the Rise of Plastics

This episode explores the decline of billiards as a popular sport and the rise of plastics in the modern world. It highlights the influence of Michael Phalen, known as the father of American billiards, in promoting and standardizing the game. Phalen faced challenges with billiard balls made of ivory, as ivory was expensive and required killing elephants. Eventually, John Wesley Hyatt discovered celluloid, the first plastic, which revolutionized many industries but failed to replace ivory billiard balls. The episode emphasizes how plastics, starting with Hyatt's invention, went on to transform numerous products and industries beyond billiards.