One night last week the small ballroom of Manhattan’s Hotel Pennsylvania oozed cigar smoke at every crack. Cigar makers, wholesalers and dealers were gathered to ponder the plight of the U. S. cigar.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- There won't be any more NBA championship cigars in the locker room for New York Knick players, and traditionally smoky stage performances such as "Twelve Angry Men" might become ...