international bowling industry august 2011
DESCRIPTION
The World's Only Magazine Devoted Exclusively to the Business of Bowling.TRANSCRIPT
4
6ISSUE AT HAND
Recovery CompleteBy Scott Frager
8SHORTS
� White SoxCelebrity Classic
� Ribbon cutting forStars & Strikes #4 inStone Mountain, GA
� Jersey City firehousegives bowling lanes
a new home.� SBI & BCSC host golf
tournaments
14BOWL EXPO
ROUND-UP
17WHAT BOWLING
MEANS TO MECedars of Marin
For this special group,bowling is a key to
socialization.By Robin Breuner
20OFF THE CLOCK
Walt AldredK-9 Police Officer Aldredworks the streets with histrusty shepherd, Gunner.
By Bree Gutierrez
22COVER STORY
Lucky Jack’s Celebrating a half centuryof re-invention and family
succession38
CONTENTS
30PROFILEA Double LifeAfter serving as countycommissioner and centerproprietor, Ann Doyle is at acrossroads.By Bree Gutierrez
33PERSON OF INTERESTThe QuintessentialVolunteerElaine Hagin has servedbowling for six decades.By Mark Miller
38CENTER STAGEUnearthing Lyndhurst’sHistoryThe oldest certified lanes?You can be a part of thediscovery.By Joan B. Taylor
54REMEMBER WHEN1949A smooth approach withBarbasol
44 Datebook
45 Showcase
46 Classifieds
VOL 19.8THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
IBI August 2011
17
20
PUBLISHER & EDITORScott Frager
[email protected]: scottfrager
DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISINGChris Holmes
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTGregory Keer
OFFICE MANAGERPatty Heath
CONTRIBUTORSRobin Breuner
Fred GrohBree Gutierrez
Patty HeathMark Miller
Lydia RypcinskiJoan B. Taylor
SPECIAL PROJECTSJackie Fisher
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTIONDesignworks
www.dzynwrx.com(818) 735-9424
FOUNDERAllen Crown (1933-2002)
13245 Riverside Dr., Suite 501Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
(818) 789-2695(BOWL)Fax (818) 789-2812
www.BowlingIndustry.com
HOTLINE: 888-424-2695SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy ofInternational Bowling Industry is sent free toevery bowling center, independently ownedpro shop and collegiate bowling center inthe U.S., and every military bowling centerand pro shop worldwide. Publisher reservesthe right to provide free subscriptions tothose individuals who meet publicationqualifications. Additional subscriptions maybe purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50per year. Subscriptions for Canada andMexico are $65 per year, all other foreignsubscriptions are $80 per year. All foreignsubscriptions should be paid in U.S. fundsusing International Money Orders.POSTMASTER: Please send new as well asold address to International Bowling Industry,13245 Riverside Drive, Suite 501, ShermanOaks, CA 91423 USA. If possible, pleasefurnish address mailing label.Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2010, B2B Media,Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprintedwithout the publisher’s permission.
MEMBER AND/OR SUPPORTER OF:
6 IBI August 2011
THE ISSUE AT HAND
It’s been over a month since the IBIteam returned from Bowl Expo and it’sbeen a busy time of recovery. Recovery,in this case, both literal and figurative.
IBI had a terrific Expoexperience. From the minutewe landed at DFW onSunday afternoon to themoment we scurried out thetrade show doors onThursday evening, our daysand nights were jam-packed.
The first two-and-a-halfdays Chris Holmes and Iwore our Bowling Centers of SouthernCalifornia hats. We were thrilled tospend quality time with fellowassociation executive directors, staffand volunteers. The collaborativeexperience provided fresh ideas to takehome. And, it made us feel good sharingsome of our own homegrown ideas.
The next two-and-a-half days weproudly wore our International BowlingIndustry hats searching for news andstories for the magazine, shaking handswith our existing clients and sourcing newleads– all while signing up more thanseventy new members to IBI Online.
It was a mad dash as we raced theclock each day. Besides one journey offproperty to taste-test a local famed BBQ
joint (sorry, Texas, your BBQ doesn’t compare to good old-fashioned KansasCity BBQ), we never left the massive, but inviting, Gaylord Texan Hotel.
Then, for me, the next 10 days were spent bed bound, under doctor’sorders, recovering from a case of pneumonia. Now, I’m back to work feeling
100% and focusing on the upcomingfinal quarter of 2011.
A few take-a-ways from Expo that I’dlike to share:
• A longhorn-style “Thank You” tothe staff and volunteers who put onBowl Expo. Your work and efforts reallymade this one of the bowling industry’scrown jewels.
• Bravo to CJ Fox of The LightingStore for another successful International Bowling Karaoke SuperStarcontest. For me, it was a most exciting and enjoyable evening.
• Kudos to the presenters, who toiled, researched and felt comfortablesharing their perspectives to audiences. Being behind the podium is noteasy. I know; I’ve been there.
• Thanks to all of the proprietors and industry members, from aroundthe world, who invested the time and money to participate at this and otherindustry events.
In a business environment like today’s, it’s all tooeasy, if not entirely understandable, to put off orpostpone traveling to events such as this.
But, our industry is all the better for all those whodo step forward and make commitments to participate.
– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHERAND [email protected]
Recovery Complete
If you attended International Bowl Expo at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Centerin Grapevine, Texas in June you were undoubtedly one of the lucky ones to be met by AllisonHolmes, IBI’s hostess extraordinaire. Allison made it a point to “meet and greet” as manypeople as she could and offer to sign them up for IBI’s website community. Even Bowlopolis’nefarious, evil-doer King Pin couldn’t resist her charms nor IBI’s value. However, we might wantto keep a close eye on KP!
Couldn’t attend? Well you missed Allison, but you can certainly go online and sign up to bea member of Bowling Industry Online, the largest, ever-changing bowling community. Visit usat www.bowlingindustry.com and join now!
�THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com
10 IBI August 2011
SHORTS
Our hearts went out to the Japanese peopleafter the devastating earthquake and tsunami inMarch. Little did we know that no sooner werethey digging out, than tornados would beginassaulting states in the U.S. There seems to beno rest for the weary, but the bowling communityknows neither bounds nor boundaries.
Joplin, MO met a huge tornado head on.With such widespread devastation, it is hardto know where to begin. Yet that is whatbowlers began to do…begin.
The O’Fallon, MO police department hosteda bowling tournament at O’Fallon Bowl.Officer James Klingler, as quoted by theO’Fallon Patch, said, “These people literally losteverything. It’s just complete devastation. Theemergency service providers out there are stillserving their community, and they have nothingto go home to either, so we’re trying to helpthem.” Included in the groups bowling wereO’Fallon police officers, Olivette police officers,a group from Scott Air Force Base, St CharlesCounty Sheriffs Department and civilians.
Brunswick Zone XL in Algonquin, IL hosteda fundraiser with proceeds dedicated tosurvivors of Joplin while a portion will go to theRed Cross of Greater Chicago.
Tulsa, OK pro bowlers and amateurs atAndy B’s bowled 17 hours straight for Joplinrelief efforts. KTUL.com quoted Chuck West,event coordinator. “Bowling does a lot forthe community, and we raise so much forcauses and stuff here at Andy B’s.” The citycouncil of Joplin directed Tulsa’s bowlers’proceeds to the Joplin High School bandwhose equipment and uniforms were lost.
Northern Alabama was also hit hard. Therewere 18,000 houses destroyed and 70,000people displaced by tornados. AlabamaRealtors Young Professionals Network (YPN)teamed up with several surrounding countiesand cities to select a young realtor family froma smaller town directly affected. Using GulfBowl in Foley as the venue, YPN opened sixlanes for anyone who wanted to participate.
STRIKING FORTORNADO DAMAGE
The second annual White Sox Celebrity Bowling Classic,presented by Miller Lite, took place June 12 at Lucky StrikeLanes in Chicago. Several White Sox team members were
in attendance to support the fundraiser. Gordon Beckham,Harold Baines, Edwin Jackson. Brent Lillibridge, Will Ohman,Juan Pierre, Sergio Santos, Chris Sale, Mark Teahen amongothers traded in their cleats for bowling shoes and threwstrikes to benefit pediatric cancer research and treatment
programs at Children's Memorial and University of ChicagoComer Children's Hospital. Fans were able to sign up foran “Ace Team” or for a “Reliever Team” and bowl 10frames with a celebrity player.
BOWLING A HOME RUNWITH THE WHITE SOX
White Sox legend Carlton Fisk signs a baseball helmet for an event guest.© 2011 Chicago White Sox/Ron Vesely.
White Sox left fielder Juan Pierre (center in red shirt) mingles with event participants.© 2011 Chicago White Sox/Ron Vesely.
CH
AR
ITY
ON
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AN
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11IBI August 2011
SHORTS
There were 96 golfers representing 35 different bowling centers as well as representativesfrom the Bowling Centers Association of Wisconsin attending Schemm Bowling, Inc.’s SBI CharityGolf Outing in July. The event was held at Kestrel Ridge Golf Course in Columbus, WI.
Tom and Judy Schemm havesponsored this charity event since1994 and have raised over $75,000.Allied Insurance Centers, LLC., ofGreen Bay, WI sponsored a hole inone prize of $5,000. After a day ofgolf, all participants congregated atCardinal Ale House & Bowl inColumbus for dinner, awards andraffles.
The monies raised this year wentto the Bowling Centers Association ofWisconsin Scholarship Fund, the BVL(Bowlers to Veterans Link) andMcCardle Labs for cancer research atUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison.
David Bardon received theLow Gross Champion awardat Kestrel Ridge Golf Course.
John Fetherston won theBill Fetherson MemorialCampionship Award.
SBI’s Charity Golf Outing
When things go wrong or need fixing, people go bowling. They go bowlingto help. There is strong synchronicity between philanthropy and bowlingwhich is evident in the rash of events this month. There is “BOWLING FOR …”just about everything!
Books: Legacy Lanes in Whitehall, PA helped the Whitehall Public Libraryraise funds. Legacy is known for its charitable hosting and that scored big withPaula Kelly, Director at WPL.
Beds: The dress was pajamas, the activity was bowling, and the goal was 50new beds for supporters of A New Leaf shelter and other youth residentialprograms in Mesa, AZ. Mesa Brunswick Lanes made it all happen.
Babies: No, there were no giveaways or swaps, but the March of Dimes andOakwood Lanes of Washington, NJ partnered to raise funds for prevention ofbirth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.
Domestic Violence Center: Brunswick Columbia Lanes in Columbia, MD withthe Domestic Violence Center of Howard County raised $31,000 with “Hope Bowl.”
Balls: A play on words to be sure but a very worthy cause no less. High FivesFor Hope (H54H) is a national organization founded to fund research andeducation surrounding leukemia, colorectal and testicular cancers. Jupiter Lanesin Jupiter, FL hosted the “First Annual Bowling for Balls.” While breast cancerand lung cancer capture attention, testicular cancer has quietly grown with 8,480new cases in 2010.
Playground: East Dedham, MA needs a playground, and to further that goal,Kings hosted the first annual “Bowling Down the Barriers” fundraiser torealize Condon Park, a fully accessible playground.
What has your center been involved with? We would love to hear and passthe word. Email at [email protected].
BOWLING FOR …C
HA
RIT
Y O
N T
HE
LA
NE
S
12 IBI August 2011
SHORTS
Stars & Strikes Family Entertainment Centers, LLC, aprivately-owned, Atlanta-based company, opened itsfourth location in Stone Mountain, GA. In operation fora little over five years and covering the metro-Atlanta area,this makes just a little under one project a year.
The mission for Jack Canouse and Chris Albano, co-founders and Alpharetta neighbors, was to create anaffordable, fun, family-centric atmosphere with greatentertainment and amazing food. The new venueincludes a 50,000 square-foot virtual indoor playgroundwith 24 state-of-the-art Brunswick bowling lanes, a two-story, 4,000 square-foot mega-lazer tag arena, a 7,000square-foot massive gaming arcade with indoor bumpercars, balladium (a foam ball air cannon attraction) and thelatest in arcade games. Another highlight is a 2,500square-foot corporate event room that can accommodatelarge groups and meetings or corporate audiences of250+ people.
Jack Canouse (left) and Chris Albano (right) cut the ceremonial ribbon on theirfourth location, Stone Mountain/Tucker, GA.
The USBC Board of Directors has electedJim Sturm of Charles, WV as president. Takingoffice August 1, Sturm will be the fourthpresident in the history of the organizationfollowing Darlene Baker, the current president.
Working in the bowling industry more than30 years with an extensive history ofleadership at the local, state and nationallevels, Sturm presently owns and operatesDunbar Bowling Center in Dunbar, WV. He
has been a member of the USBC Board since 2008 and is pastpresident of the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America.He is a graduate of the Vincennes University Bowling LanesManagement program and graduated fromWest Virginia State University with a degreein business administration and marketing.
Tom Bluth of Davie, FL was elected as vicepresident. Bluth is executive vice president,chief financial officer and general counsel forEllis Diversified. Bluth earned his bachelor’sdegree in business administration as well asadvance degrees in law from WashingtonUniversity in St. Louis. He is also a certifiedpublic accountant.
The recent passing of Marshall Soslavskywas announced by Bowling Supply Co.Marshall’s involvement in the industry goesback to the 1960s; he was currently in sales forMaster Industries.
“He was a true road warrior, an exemplaryand productive representative of his employers,a valuable asset to his customers, and anunceasing supporter of our sport and industry.”Quoted by Tom Palmer of Bowling SupplyCo. as “one of the good guys.”
Sympathies extend to his wife Ruth, his daughters, grandchildrenand great-grandchildren.
Jim Sturm, newUSBC President
Ruth and MarshallSoslavsky
PEOPLEWATCHING
Tom Bluth,elected vicepresident, USBC
STARS AND STRIKESOPENS NUMBER FOUR
13IBI August 2011
SHORTS
Old Bowling Lanes Never Die
Photo by Kay Kenny
Jersey City Pro Arts artists’ collage covering half of an old bowling lane from Playdrome Roosevelt Lanes
In 2008, Engine 19 Ladder 8 received half a bowling lane from Playdrome Roosevelt Lanesafter it closed. Fire Captain Rob Daly wanted to do something special with the memento.In collaboration with Pro Arts, a non-profit organization of professional artists from JerseyCity and Hoboken, Daly’s idea became a reality in the form of a kitchen table. ArtistsRebecca Feranec, Eileen Ferrara and Jasmine Graf worked with firemen to come up withthe colorful mural featuring the firehouse, fire engine and various symbols of Jersey City history.A host of volunteers helped accomplish the task and fund-raising efforts by local groups raisedthe money to cover the cost of materials.
The table/lane required six firemen to lift it. Recycled fire hydrants, currently being renovatedand resized, will constitute the legs for the table. All in all, it will make for “good eats.”
The Bowling Centers ofSouthern California (BCSC)hosted its 29th annual golf eventon July 13 at Black Gold GolfClub in Yorba Linda, CA. Withover 50 golfers in attendance,the scramble-style tournamentbrought together proprietorsand industry-related companiesfor a fun day on the links.
While there may have beensome questionable use ofmulligans and the famous “footwedge,” good times were hadby all. The day was capped withdinner and a comedic auctionbenefitting the CaliforniaBowling Writers’ fundraiser thatdelivers phone cards to troopsserving abroad.
SO CALPROPRIETORSTAKE TO THEGREENS
Foursome, Don Drooker, Chris Holmes, James Jackson and John Snyder,BPAA president, enjoyed a day on the links.
Buena Lanes in Ventura, CA was represented by (l-r) Chad Lane, Jim Honerand the co-chairs for the event, Dan Mueller and Dina Fink.
Temperance Brennan (Emily Deschanel ) and Max Booth(David Boreanaz) go undercover in a bowling alley to solvea murder. A montage set to the song “The Bowling Song” byRaffi round out the less than cozy ambiance. For some,this was a not-so-flattering picture of bowling as pointed outon IBI's online website. Go to www.bowlingindustry.com,view all Forum discussions and scroll to "Fox Network showBones..." and read and comment.
“BONES” USES BOWLING TO
SPRINGBOARD SEASON 6 FINALE.
For computer game bowlers, the highly anticipated 3DGutterball 2 is now available. Creator Skunk Studios, anindependent developer of pc games located in San Francisco,offers five brand new alleys and 25 new eye-catching ballswith “trick opponents, awesome new modes, and the mostrealistic physics.”
3D GUTTERBALL 2 SEQUEL ARRIVES
THE NEW YELLOW
PAGES KNOWS WHAT
YOU’RE LOOKING
FOR!
Bowling was the vehicle foractress Hilary Duff at the SoBeLife “Try Everything” challengeat Madison Square Park in NewYork City where she waspromoting the company’sflavored water. Hilary is one ofHollywood’s many hot actresseswho have taken part incampaigns for the South Beachbeverage company.
WATCHMedia
8 IBI August 2011
SHORTS
Volunteers from Habitat for Humanity were given theopportunity to recover the lumber used to build the 48-lanebowling center inside the Oncenter in Syracuse, NY for theUSBC Women’s Championship that began this April. Thehardwood lanes willbe dismantled andreused. However, theUSBC allowed thesalvage of the two-by-fours and framingunder the lanes and walls, along with some carpeting.
Organizers say they expect to gather enough materials tobuild four to six homes. Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit,worldwide organization founded in 1976 with the purpose tobuild decent, affordable houses erected by volunteers.
HILARY DUFF BOWLS FRUIT
Lanes today; homes tomorrow
Nothing is too big for Dave Patz’new company, Bowling InnovationsGroup aka BIG, launched thisspring. A sales outreach companyBIG will not only sell equipmentfrom leading companies such asSteltronic, US Bowling, Zot, MurreyInternational and Done-Rite, butPatz will also consult withproprietors on outside sales andmarketing emphasizing newmarket potential. Getting BIG off the ground was no small feat,and he acknowledges the support of Candace D’Amour and Boband Glenn Gable. Patz can be reached at (216) 409-4416 or [email protected].
Dave Patz visits IBI at Bowl Expo in Dallas.
The BIG time is here!
Celucoat Bowling Supplies and GRAN PRIX BowlingSupply announced the consolidation of their distributionoperations. It will not include Celucoat’s ongoing laneresurfacing and installation business nor GRAN PRIX’sconsumer products wholesale distribution business. GRANPRIX will manage the purchasing, warehousing, orderprocessing and shipping of all lane maintenance andequipment parts at its warehouse in suburban St. Louis.
Mark Neumann, Celucoat president, said this will streamlineorder processing and allow Celucoat to concentrate on its laneresurfacing and installation business while David Caldwell,GRAN PRIX president said the new arrangement will improveservice by combining the two inventories. “We will have oneof the broadest inventories in the industry and offer completeone-stop purchasing for all bowling centers,” said Caldwell.
CELUCOAT AND GRAN PRIX JOIN FORCES
To highlight its smartphone,accessible information, the newYellowpages.com advertises its localsearch app, YP.com, with picturesof what people do and want. Guesswhat’s there… bowling!
14 IBI August 2011
BOWL EXPO WRAP UPBOWL EXPO WRAP UP
15IBI August 2011
BOWL EXPO WRAP UP
16 IBI August 2011
BOWL EXPO WRAP UP
17IBI August 2011
WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME
he Cedars of Marin is one of California’s originalprograms for people with developmentaldisabilities. It was founded in 1919 in Ross, an
idyllic, small town in Marin County, as a privatelyowned school for developmentally disabled childrenand was the first residential center in the westernUnited States to serve developmentally disabledindividuals. Today, Cedars serves approximately 100residents or “clients” and another 150 in the dayprogram. Cedars has provided services to over 2,500individuals and their families. Ninety percent of theclients are funded by the state.
Cedars’ philosophy is to treat their clients asindividuals who are deserving of respect, personalchoice, and the chance to develop interests, skillsand independence. Bowling is a way for them to
express themselves by developing coordination skills and by showingrespect, support and friendship for one another. It also gives them achance to interact with the community.
“We see as many as 75-100 different volunteers every year,” saidCrystal Marker, Volunteer and Activities Coordinator for Cedars. “TheCedars of Marin bowling program is really about connecting our clientsto the youth in their community in a setting that is fun and lively andthoroughly enjoyed by both parties.” Marker said that the fact that theprogram is consistent, and has been for decades, makes for a successfulturnout weekly. She said that Cedars clients look forward to Mondaynights, while the volunteers know where and when to find their CedarsT
At Cedars of Marin,bowling is more than a way oflife for its clients and volunteers,it’s a lifeline.
STANDING TALLBy Robin Breuner
18 IBI August 2011
WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME
friends. The volunteers, who are mostly students from localMarin middle and high schools, come for community servicehours. Often they continue to come after they’ve satisfied theircommitments. Marker said that the volunteers quickly learnthat individuals living with disabilities can function in societyand they like to go out and have a great time, just likeeverybody else. Many times, Marker sees the volunteerssurprised by the joy that the clients have within themselves.She’s watched the students become more confident through
their interactions with the clients.One of these students is Robert Kent, a junior from Marin
Catholic High School. Kent started coming to satisfy his 50-hourcommunity service project required by the school. He hasalready earned his hours, but he still keeps coming. “This is aneasy, fun way to do community service. I like sports…. I like thatit’s not a random event. It occurs every Monday, and I like that,”he said. “The hardest part is sometimes someone gets lost.Their turn will come up, and I have to go find them.”
Another volunteer, Esther Aviles, a freshman from RedwoodHigh School, said, “I grew up thinking of the disabled as a sadissue. It was kind of a quiet topic, and I never understood why.When I came to bowl with Cedars, I found the clients were socompassionate, kind and friendly…. I felt like I was a part oftheir family.”
Stacea Culp, Development Director, came to Cedars as avolunteer, fell in love with the program, and decided to stayon permanently. “It’s great to see the transformation of thesekids. They think they’re just going to get some communityservice hours, but it ends up knocking down the barriers thatthey didn’t even know they had. It’s such a great thing tosee,” Culp said.
Doug Ryan, another volunteer, brings his two sons, Christian,14, and Daniel, 5. They come purely for the experience and forthe fun. Sometimes they bring along friends. “This is the onlybowling activity we do. It’s fun for the kids and gives them reallygreat exposure to people they might not normally get toknow. The same people come and bowl with us every week,”Ryan said. “Where else could a 14-year old kid get to helpsomeone in a wheelchair bowl?” The Ryans have been comingalmost every Monday night since January 2010. He said, “I tell
19IBI August 2011
WHAT BOWLING MEANS TO ME
my kids, ‘It’s not about us. All youhave to do is be nice. It’s so easy tomake someone happy with a simplehigh five or a hug.’”
Culp said that the clientsparticularly love being with the kids:it’s empowering for the Cedarsresidents. Clients in the day program bowl twice a week andresidential clients bowl once a week on Monday nights. Someclients bowl two to three times a week. One of the biggestchallenges, Culp said, is being able to include everyone all ofthe time in the bowling activities. Because of the limitednumber of staff and vans for transportation, they have torotate people. “We just don’t have the capacity to have 100clients bowl at once. Everyone wants to bowl,” she said.
Kelly Greenwald, 32, is one of Cedars’ most vibrant residents.During her years living at Cedars she has become a writer, anartist, a jewelry maker, an avid exerciser, and she even has aboyfriend. “I wrote a book about my life called ‘Kelly’s Book– The Art of the Possible,’” she said. “I wanted to teach otherpeople how to write a book coming from me. I want them tolearn experience from me about my life.” Culp said, “When Kellyfirst came to us she said that she wasn’t an artist and couldn’tdo it. It’s remarkable to see the change and the confidence inher now.”
Greenwald along with many others spend time during theirdays creating jewelry, artwork and weaving textiles that are sold
at their own gallery and also through other programs. They areeither paid directly or through commissions for their work. “Ilove living at Cedars. It’s a great place for me to be. It reallyinspires me to have a job,” said Greenwald.
Many residents have lived at Cedars since they were children.Noni, a happy, spirited bowler, has been there for 47 years.Cindy Sinclair has lived at Cedars for 39 years, and JeanieJohnson, who has bowled a score as high as 134, has lived therefor 20 years. Andy, a resident who was abandoned at thecenter as a child, was unable to communicate. Over time, hediscovered that he could communicate through art and hasgrown to be a gifted artist. Humberto, a 65-year old fromTijuana, knew only Spanish when he got to Cedars. Somehow,he found a way to teach himself to speak English. There areothers who are blind but still manage to bowl, weave and knit.“We get so many stares whenever we go out. People don’tknow what to do with us,” said Marker. She said that she iscontinually amazed at how much the clients value goingbowling every Monday. It’s the highlight of their week. “Myfavorite story is that occasionally they will allow us to go up tothe counter and use the PA system to announce the score forsomeone who bowls over 100. I did it one time, and I was allthe way at the end of the center, but I could hear themwhooping and yelling across the entire place. They were soexcited,” Marker said. “They just really live in the moment, andso many of us don’t know how to do that.” ❖
Photos courtesy of Pete Guria
Robin Breuner is a freelance writer and a frequentcontributor to IBI. She lives in Marin County, California.
20 IBI August 2011
OFF THE CLOCK
anager of Strikes Unlimited in Rockland, CA, Walt Aldred, watches the lanesboth in the alley and on the streets. Besides being in the bowling industryfor 15 years, Aldred is also a K-9 Police Officer working the streets with
his trusty seven-year-old German Shepherd partner, Gunner.Aldred has been a K-9 handler for almost 14 years. “I’ve done a lot in my career
as a police officer and this is one of the things I love the most,” Aldred said. “It’s justvery rewarding and very fun for me.” Aldred said he enjoys working with police dogsbecause of their loyalty. “I’ve done this job both with and without a dog and it is amuch different job to do without a dog,” Aldred said. “A lot of people are not afraidof a police officer but they are afraid of dogs. So it makes it a little bit easier to domy job having a dog.”
K-9 police dogs can be trained in several different specialties. “My dog is one of
the few at the agency I work at that isnarcotics trained,” Aldred said. “Hesearches for drugs as well as people.” Somany of the calls Aldred and Gunnerreceive while on duty are to search carsfor drugs or narcotics. “There’s a nationallaw that says if a police dog that’s trainedin the detection of narcotics walksaround the outside of a car, indicates oralerts there may be drugs in the car, thenthat suffices as enough probable cause toget into (and search) the car,” Aldredexplained. “We go to a lot of alarm callswhere buildings have been broken into
M
WALT ANDGUNNERON THE BEAT
By Bree Gutierrez
Manager Walt
Aldred with his
K-9 companionservices his
community on
and off the lanes.
21IBI August 2011
OFF THE CLOCK
and we search those to make sure nobody is waiting inside, or if there is, find them.”Aldred has even taken Gunner on a call to search for a missing child. “You take
an article of the kid’s clothing and let him smell it and take them to the last place thechild was seen and have them search for the missing kid,” Aldred said. And yes, Gunnerdid find the child.
Police dogs live with their K-9 handler. “We’re responsible for them 24 hours a day,7 days a week, 365 days a year,” Aldred said. Gunner is on patrol with Aldred all thetime. “We have cars that are specially designed that have a back just designed forthe dog,” Aldred said. “A unique thing about the way the cars are set up is…we canremotely open the door and let the dog out.”
Training is crucial when it comes to police dogs. The cost of each dog includingthe training is anywhere from ten to $12,000. The dogs come from either Germanyor Czecholslovakia. Once the dogs arrive in the United States, the dogs and handlerscomplete a month long training process. “The month long training is actually to trainthe handler how to speak German or Czechoslovakian,” Aldred said. “When you startout, when they first come from overseas, everything including praise is in Germanor Czechoslovakian.”
Aldred gradually uses English words to praise his dogs but when it comes to thecommands needed for police work, he doesn’t want to teach them English. “Obviouslythe words for bite and search you’re not going to change those,” Aldred said. “Youwant to keep that one a secret from the criminals.”
The dogs that come from Germany are trained in a sport called Schutzhund, whichis a German sport designed to evaluate if a German Shepherd dog exhibits the traitsnecessary for police-type work. “It’s a minor transition to change them from that tobeing a police dog,” Aldred said. “It’s just a minor change in their training. The minorchanges you make are during that month-long school.”
Another major part of that first month of training is to bond with the K-9. “Partof that (training) is a bonding period so that the dog can trust you and you trust them,”Aldred said. “Every dog is different. Some dogs you spend a lot of time playing ballwith or playing with toys with them. Other ones just need to be near you a lot.” Aldrednoted that feeding the dogs helps speed up the bonding process. “When they figureout who feeds them and who takes care of them, the bonding comes a little morerapidly,” Aldred said. “Police dogs are really not that much different than regular dogs.”
In addition to the initial month-long training, Aldred participates in regular weeklyand monthly training with Gunner. “We do training twice a month for three hours eachday and then the other thing we do is narcotics training once a week for five hours,”Aldred said.
Aldred began working with K-9 trainers when he was assigned his first police dog.“I am the only officer in our department’s history to be a court certified expert in (K-9) behavior,” he said.
Aldred and Gunner also participate in a lot of community awareness and publicspeaking surrounding K-9 police dogs to educate people on what police dogs canbe used for and how they are utilized by the police department. “We do a lot ofdemonstrations for kids and tell them what the dog does. I just did a demonstrationfor the Chinese Consulate.” ❖
Bree Gutierrez, holding a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism, is a freelance writerand preschool teacher residing in Southern California with her husband and son.
22 IBI August 2011
COVER STORY
23IBI August 2011
COVER STORY
hat did F. Scott Fitzgerald know, anyway? The Jazz Age novelist isfamed for saying, “There are no second acts in American life.” Trytelling that to the Mohrhardt family of Traverse City, Mich. They will
take you on a 50-year journey now in its third act and still going strong. Theirsis a story of a family business located on Grand Traverse Bay in northernMichigan. The area is a vacationer’s dream: cherry orchards, vineyards, skitrails, lakes and beaches. It’s the kind of place you think of when you see andhear those “Pure Michigan” commercials. It’s also where Jack and EvelynMohrhardt began Act I.
“Dad was in the automotive business in Saginaw, where he served on the localschool board,” said Jack’s 63-year-old son, Mike. “Dad learned that a surveyorwho worked with the school district had done a survey on Traverse City. “Momand Dad had always loved that place. They honeymooned there in 1939. So Dadasked if he could see a copy of it.” The survey suggested that the Traverse Cityarea, which had a population of 30,000 or 40,000 people back then, couldbenefit by having a bowling center. “Now, this was in the late 1950s and early60s, when bowling was an up-and-coming thing,” Mike said. “My dad had onlybeen in a bowling center once in his life up to that time. But he was a businessman,plus he had eight kids to help work the center. So [my parents] moved to TraverseCity and built Timber Lanes.”
The 24-lane center opened in 1961, about one and one-half miles south ofdowntown Traverse City. “This lady wrote us a letter and said, ‘It sounds likeyou’re going to build a new bowling lanes, but you’re so far out of town thatnobody will drive that far to bowl,” Mike recalled. But Jack had good businessinstincts and a flair for marketing that caught the public’s attention. “When heopened the center, he finagled a way to get Miss America 1961 [Nancy AnneFleming] out to hole-in-the-wall Traverse City for the grand opening,” Mike said.“Cars were backed up for 50 miles around, and people were waiting to get in.”“It was probably the nicest bowling center in the state of Michigan,” hecontinued. “Everything Mom and Dad put in, from carpet to equipment, wasfirst class. And we kept the place spotless.”
Mike and his brother, Dave, assumed more responsibilities at the center asthey got older. They helped Jack install eight more lanes and a nightclub in theearly 1970s, and an upscale billiards lounge in 1990. “We were successfulbecause we always tried new things and kept up on new trends in bowling,”Mike said.
Act I closed in 1996. The Meijer chain, looking toexpand in Traverse City,
By Lydia Rypcinski
W
Photos courtesy ofBrunswick Bowling and
Chris Mohrhardt.
From left to right,Brunswick's Gary Smith
congratulates theMohrhardts, Dave, Mike
and Mike's son Chris alongwith Michael Postema,
Brunswick Area SalesManger for Michigan.
From left to right,Brunswick's Gary Smith
congratulates theMohrhardts, Dave, Mike
and Mike's son Chris alongwith Michael Postema,
Brunswick Area SalesManger for Michigan.
offered the Mohrhardts slightly more than $3 million for theproperty, and the family accepted. But that meant they had tofind something else to do. “My father had 50 percent of thestock, and my brother and I each had 25 percent,” Mike said.“Not quite enough to [retire and] put your kids through college.And we were still young and eager.” What they found wasWildwood Bowling Center. The 17-year-old, 40-laner on GarfieldBoulevard, part of the Community Bowling Centers chain,was up for sale.
And so begins Act II. The Meijer deal closed in May of1997. Mike and Dave closed on Wildwood seven months later
and renamed it Timber Lanes. (By then, Jack, 88, had retired.)They began a half-million-dollar renovation “right down tothe bathroom stalls,” as Mike put it, in May 1998. Once thatwas done, they turned their attention to a problem facingproprietors across the country. “We needed to find a way toreplace the loss of income from decreasing league andtournament business,” Mike said. “We also wanted to find away to bump up our summer business,” he continued. “We didOK on rainy days. But when you’re competing with miles of LakeMichigan shoreline and lakes and golf courses – on youraverage summer day, it was slow.”
24 IBI August 2011
Lucky Jack’s before (left) and during (right) renovations.
COVER STORY
26 IBI August 2011
By 2005, the Mohrhardts had decided to convert TimberLanes from a traditional bowling center to a familyentertainment center. “Anyplace we happened to be –Michigan, Georgia, Florida, California, Chicago – we stoppedat the newer centers. We saw what they were doing andtalked to a lot of people who said they did very well [with theconcept],” Mike said. “Our area is more family- and tourism-oriented. We thought it was the right concept at the right time.”
Ironically, during the four years it took the Mohrhardts toprepare for the conversion, an FEC called Wilderness Crossingopened about 10 miles away in Grawn, Mich. WildernessCrossing was an ambitious, 34,000 sq.-ft. undertaking thatopened in March 2008. It offered 16 lanes plus a four-lane VIP“bowling suite,” laser tag, mini-golf, arcade, multi-purposefacilities, a full-service restaurant, a sports bar and more. Itsowner, Kerry Smith, had built FECs and traditional centers forother people, even partnering with them once or twice as a co-
The old concourse area above is magically transformed into aprivate, VIP 8-lane lounge as shown below...
COVER STORY
27IBI August 2011
COVER STORY
Mike Mohrhardt is not only enjoying a second and third act in hisbusiness career, but a second chance at life. Mike slipped and fell inhis bathroom in the early hours of Jan. 7, 2011. He doesn’t rememberhow he fell, just that when he opened his eyes, “I couldn’t move myarms or legs. I thought I had had a stroke.” Mike called out to his wife,Linda, who quickly telephoned sons Chris and Mike for help. Togetherthey loaded Mike into the family car and drove him to the nearesthospital, about 15 minutes away.
The diagnosis: not a stroke, but three crushed vertebrae and acrushed spinal cord. “I must have hit my head on the tub when I wentdown,” Mike said. “Looking back, had we known what it was, weprobably would have called the ambulance,” Chris said. “We wereworking under the premise that it was a stroke, and with a stroke, youwant to get to the hospital as soon as possible.” “If we had hit a speedbump or further damaged the spinal cord, that might have been it,”Mike said. Mike was operated on the following day and stayed in thehospital for more than three weeks, while the family continued to puttogether the pieces for the grand opening set for Jan. 29. “Everyonewanted to make Dad proud, so we kept moving forward, meeting withhim at the hospital and hustling back to the center,” Chris said.
They pulled it off. Mike was even able to be there for the big day.“I was in rehab, and they let me out of the hospital to attend,” Mikesaid. “And then I had to be back that night! I still go to the gym threedays a week and do treadmill stuff at home. I’m coming along. I’m 63and very lucky; I could have been wheelchair-bound or paralyzed. NowI take time to smell the roses.”
A Second Act forMike Mohrhardt
owner. “He called and asked if we wanted to partnerwith him [on Wilderness Crossing],” Mike said. “But wewere never interested. If we had been interested inanother center, I probably would have built it myself.”
In the meantime, Mike’s son Chris came on boardfor what would be a two-year, $2 million transition fromtraditional center to FEC. Chris brought an eclecticbackground with him. After college, he taught Englishfor a year in South Korea. He later worked on the WestCoast for building-industry companies James Hardieand McGraw Hill Construction, serving in marketingand sales leadership positions. But Chris said it wasn’ta very hard decision to move back to Traverse City.“My mind was always kind of back here,” the 32-year-old said. “I started working [at Timber Lanes] ineighth grade over school breaks and on Sundays.”
Remodeling began in the fall of 2009 when, asMike said, “We took out a lane and put up a wall” tocreate The 300 Club, a private eight-lane VIP bowlingarea. Six lanes on the opposite side of the buildingvanished in January 2010. That space became an 80-game arcade that opened in November, right beforeThanksgiving. Wilderness Crossing closed a monthlater, on Dec. 29. “They declared bankruptcy inDecember 2009 but continued to operate through2010, trying to restructure,” Chris said. “Then thebank actually came and put locks on the doors [on the29th].” “He tried to open a new business as theeconomy was going south, and I think he actuallydid some business to start with,” Mike said. “[But] wewere in a better location – a stone’s throw from 4,500hotel and motel rooms - and had years of managementexperience, of knowing what the bowler wants. We[also] had a very loyal league base. “There’s no
question they hurt our open bowling while they were there, becausepeople like to go to new places,” Mike added. “But we survived.”
Timber Lanes’ makeover continued. The basement below the new
The finished product showsoff bright lanes and seating,making for fun times atLucky Jack's.
28 IBI August 2011
COVER STORY
A frequent contributor to IBI, Lydia Rypcinski has been writing for and aboutbowling for more than 30 years. She has won writing and photographyawards in and outside the sport for her coverage, which has taken her to sixcontinents and more than 20 countries. She co-authored Revolutions: TheChanging Game with Chip Zielke in 1998 and Sports Traveler Chicago withAnbritt Stengele in 2009.
game room became a bumper-cars playroomcalled Spin Zone, and a Laser Tag/Laser Mazecomplex. A sports bar with billiards called TheLounge at Lucky Jack’s sprouted, along with twoother bars. A new outdoor façade replaced the oldone. Finally, the center got a new identity. “Wewere Timber Lanes for 50 years,” Chris said. “Andit became clear the ‘Timber Lanes’ name didn’t
Easy access between lanes and the redemption centermaximizes traffic flow.
have the weight we needed. Like it or not, there is a stigma with bowlingcenters, that they are smoking and not family-friendly. “We sat down andwent over it for many hours. Finally I said to Dave, ‘Let’s call it after Dad,’”Mike said. “We thought ‘Lucky Jack’s’ was a catchy name, like ‘LuckyStrike.’” “It’s a tribute to Jack Mohrhardt, but it’s also catchy,” Chris agreed.“Some people may say changing [the name was] radical, but for us it wasa no-brainer. Kids love it.”
Act III began Jan. 29, 2011, with Lucky Jack’s grand opening. Sadly,neither Jack nor Evelyn was around to see the rollout. Jack died in 2002.Evelyn followed in 2006. It appears, though, that their drive to be the bestand brightest has been passed down through the generations. As co-partner and general manager, Chris has much of the day-to-day responsibilityfor the 55,000 sq.-ft. FEC. He’s also gotten Lucky Jack’s brand in front of thepublic by developing promotions with the local NBC TV affiliate, placing adliterature in the brochure racks of local hotels and restaurants, and creatingan engaging Web site and Facebook page for the business. “I have a ‘take-over-the-world’ mindset,” Chris admitted. “My core purpose of coming herewas to really get the game area up and going, get it moving fluidly. Then Igot involved with marketing, and then food and beverage. I like to tell DadI’m his relief pitcher. As time goes on, I’ll let them sail off into the sunset.”
Not that Mike will go quietly. He’s always thinking of new things for LuckyJack’s. “We’ve got 7 acres, and there’s land I could lease,” he said. “We couldadd a building that would house a two-story laser tag and maybe put go-karts downstairs. They could run on an indoor track in inclement weatherand open up onto an outdoor track in the summer.” “We could duplicatewhat we have done here down the road,” Chris added. “We have a reallycool brand for other locations.” No second acts, Mr. Fitzgerald? Sorry, butyou don’t know Jack’s. ❖
Back in the day:1961’s Miss Americahelps opentimber lanes
Jack Mohrhardt, the original proprietor ofTimber Lanes, was a savvy business man, and heknew what would sell. According to his son Mike,Jack hired the newly crowned Miss America 1961Nancy Anne Fleming to sign autographs duringthe opening. Ms. Fleming was featured in publicityphotos surrounded by her bowling ensemble.
An 11 year-old Marsha Gillispie was at thatopening in 1961. Marsha recently sent this picturewith an letter of explanation to the Mohrhardtfamily. In her letter she writes, "This autographwas one I received when my grandma and momdrove my younger sister and I up to T.C. fromManistee to meet this young beauty queen. Itwas I think the opening of the brand new bowlingplace called 'Timberlanes.' The date says 1961- I would have been 11, ripe age for wanting tomeet a Miss America."
Genius.
30 IBI August 2011
PROFILE
aginaw County Commissioner Ann Doyle is in her fourth term servingone of 15 districts within Saginaw County, Michigan. Over two yearsago, she and her husband Steve purchased State Lanes, which wasrecently voted Best of the Best Bowling Center, and Best of the Best
Bar for Saginaw County. Their vision was to do something fun and differentthan their last 20 years as real estate appraisers. We wanted to, “do somethingthat we’re going to enjoy for the rest of our lives,” she said.
As a public servant her whole life, Doyle’s spare time is spent serving hercommunity. “I decided to run for county commissioner because I felt like I had
a lot to offer,” Doyle said. “I ended up winningand have won every time I’ve run since.” AsCounty Commissioner, Doyle helps makeimportant policy decisions for all aspects ofSaginaw County including the Public HealthDepartment, the Sheriff’s Department, theclerks and the treasurer.
Simply stated, “I love it,” Doyle said. “It’swonderful to get out there and meet peopleand to learn about the county.” Doyle explainsthat even when having to make toughdecisions, the people of Saginaw County arewhat really drives her passion. “You have toughdecisions to make with the budgets …but Ithink the people are really the biggest perk ofthe job. You listen to all their concerns, youmaybe take an issue. I’ve worked with statesenators and the sheriff and all that stuff.
S
STATE LANESOR
STATE OFFICE
By Bree Gutierrez
Veteran politico, Ann Doyle, faces toughchoices about her future.
Ann with husband Steve and Boy Scout Mark Gibson of Troop 323, Freeland, MI, during a fundraiser at State Lanes.
32 IBI August 2011
PROFILE
We’ve gotten a bill passed that was beneficial to the county. Just doing thingslike that, that you know are helpful.”
Doyle’s first experience in politics was working part time for a staterepresentative. “When I was working for the state representative, I just fell in lovewith doing things that could benefit others,” Doyle said. “And I’ve always beena volunteer, my whole life.” Doyle admits she still enjoys volunteering for the BoyScouts even though her children are grown up and married. “I still do BoyScouts; I work on a lighthouse; I helped start a non profit for the lighthouse; andI was on the board with Habitat (for humanity).” Doyle said. “Anything that helpsothers, I just love doing.”
With her fourth term coming to a close, Doyle thought she was going to endher political career and focus solely on her small business, State Lanes. But withnew redistricting in Michigan, Doyle has a tough decision to make. Now peoplehave asked her to run for State Representative. “I’m trying to figure out the bestway to go here because this is a very time consuming job and I don’t want to doanything that would hurt State Lanes,” Doyle said.
Doyle sees her future as a State Representative as a way to help improve thebowling industry and small businesses in her state. “I think there would be a lotof perks to the bowling business,” Doyle said. “Not just bowling but smallbusiness in general. But with the bowling industry, you have the restaurant sideof it, you have the bar side, you have the regular small business side of it so there’sso many things out there that I see need changing in Michigan. It would benefitthe bowling industry as well as small businesses.”
Doyle said she sees changes that need to be made that would affect bowlingcenters on a daily basis. She explained a recent issue she helped change in hercounty. “Michigan has this smoking ban now, and people were wearing bowlingshoes outside and then wearing them back inside and falling and getting hurt,”
Bree Gutierrez, holding a Bachelor ofArts Degree in Journalism, is a freelancewriter and preschool teacher residingin Southern California with her husbandand son.
she explained. “I was really vocal about italong with the associations and I heard thesenate just signed the legislation [releasingcenters' liability if a sign is posted and visible]and it’s moved to the house and we’rewaiting for the house to pass it. So things likethat, things that would affect bowling centerson a daily basis.”
Doyle said her struggle right now isdeciding whether her time is better servedas owner of State Lanes, or becoming StateRepresentative. “If I devoted all my timehere (at State Lanes), I could lobby on behalfof bowling centers. Instead of being anelected official, I could be more of a lobbyist,be more of an advocate,” Doyle said. “Sonow as a State Representative, which waywould I have a bigger chance of makingchange? And that’s what I have to determine.Which is the better way of making changethat will be helpful to our industry?” ❖
Ann Doyle with Midland County Health Director testifying in Lansing in front of a Senate sub-committee in regard to legislation thatwould affect health departments in Michigan.
33IBI August 2011
hank goodness for the sport of bowling that Elaine Hagin didn’tcompletely follow in her mother’s footsteps. Like many before andafter her, Hagin joined her parents on the lanes at an early age. But
Amelia Demonte’s daughter didn’t stop there. Because of her curiosity anddesire to learn everything she could about the sport and business, shedeveloped into perhaps bowling’s ultimate volunteer. Now more than sixdecades into serving for nearly every local, state, national and internationalbowling organization, the Castro Valley, CA, great-grandmother of sixcontinues to give her time whenever and wherever she can. “Whenanyone asks me what I do, I answer I’m a professional volunteer for thesport of bowling,” Hagin said. “That’s what I do.”
Hagin’s first brush with bowling came in 1940 at Highhat Recreation inher native Oakland. Just age 10, Hagin and her mother were watching herfather Peter bowl games that included a dismal 88. “My mom said ‘anyonecan bowl better than that’ so she bet my dad that she’d roll at least a 100,”Hagin said. “It took her until 6 in the morning but she finally rolled a 102.After that, all three of us were avid bowlers.” Hagin joined her first league
in 1942 with her mother and other adults becauseorganized youth competition didn’t begin until fouryears later. “There was a lot of controversy withchildren bowling in the league but ultimately they letme bowl,” Hagin said. She averaged 125 that firstyear and by age 12 rolled a 218 game. Not long afterthat, she earned a war bond for a 237 game. Sheeventually achieved a 265 game and 658 series andaveraged as high as 179.
Eventually, Hagin began wanting more out ofbowling so she attended her first Alameda CountyWomen’s Bowling Association meeting at age 17.“My mother loved to bowl tournaments,” Haginsaid. “If there was something bowling going on,she’d be in it. But she would never go to a meeting.“She would complain enough about what she didn’tlike that one time I finally said ‘I don’t want to hearit. I’m going to go where at least my voice could beheard.’ I enjoyed it and started wanting to learnmore. This is while I was still working and bowling.”
After graduating from high school, Hagin metand married her late husband Donald and studiedstenotype for two years to be a court reporter. Butwhile she was ready to do that work at age 20, statelaw wouldn’t allow her to do so for another year. Soshe took some internships and also a job as secretaryto a company executive vice president. “Work wasa dirty word back then,” said Hagin, who also gavebirth to son Michael about this time. “Women weren’tsupposed to work outside the home but I wasworking 40 hours a week.”
T
BOWLING’SULTIMATEVOLUNTEERElaine Hagin’s six decades of effort have benefittedthe sport, the business and veterans.
PERSON OF INTEREST
By Mark Miller
Elaine meets President Bill Clinton during a White House reception.
34 IBI August 2011
PERSON OF INTEREST
Elaine (left) is photographed with tennis legend Billie Jean King and Pat and Lisa Ciniello.
Elaine (right) in a meet and greet with President and Laura Bush
Her volunteer career officially began in 1949 when she wasasked to join the Alameda WBA board of directors. She ascendedthrough the ranks to association president and later joined theCalifornia WBA board. Sometime around 1960, Hagin attended herfirst Women’s International Bowling Congress Annual Meeting asa delegate. Later in the 1960s, Hagin utilized her knowledge to beginwriting for bowling publications throughout California. Thisprompted her to join the National Women Bowling Writers and laterthe Bowling Writers’ Association of America. In 1973, she wasnominated from the floor to become a national WIBC directorand earned the position on the third ballot by one vote. Sheremained on the WIBC board, working her way to first vice president,until 2004 when WIBC disbanded in the merger that created theUnited States Bowling Congress. Back home, she began expandingher horizons beyond women’s bowling as a member of the East BayBowling Council, Alameda Young American Bowling Alliance andbecoming a youth certified coach.
In a true case of asking a busy person to do more, Hagin tookon more national positions. She was the NWBW’s historian from1973-81. She also served on the BWAA Collegiate Committeeand National 600 Club. Before further hitting the national stage, sheenjoyed one last success on the lanes with youngest son Peter. “Oneof the big thrills in my life was in 1981,” she said. “Peter and I bowledin the National Family Tournament. We won the local and state andearned a trip to Washington, D.C., for the national finals. “Peterbowled exceptional. We set three records between us. He had 666for three games and 1,281 for six and we shot a 2,338 team serieswhich was good for a bronze medal.”
From then on there was little time to spend on the lanes becausethere was so much to do off of them. It started in 1988 when she wasasked by the National Bowling Council to chair what started as theBowlers Victory Legion and later changed to BVL Fund. When NBCfolded two years later, she had to help the military veterans’ charitymake it on its own. “I had chaired the California BVL for 12 years soI knew what it was about,” she said. “We did so much right from the
start. Because NBC was primarily marketing, they told me‘Elaine, you run with it.’“ Helping change BVL to stand forBowlers to Veterans Link in 1997, Hagin did more than justrun with it in her 20 years as BVL’s national chair. “One ofthe things we had to do was figure what could we do,” shesaid. “There were a lot of things the government didn’t payfor so that’s where we came in.”
That meant increasing support for recreationalequipment at the 172 Veterans Association hospitals. It alsomeant BVL’s reach would extend to veterans centers,state veterans’ homes and to current soldiers. Now, themore than $1 million annually raised could help expandBVL’s reach to new facilities that included bowling lanes.It also provided reading materials, created and expandedthe website, developed Re-Creation (the singing group thatentertains veterans and current military membersworldwide), and sponsored national veterans’ competitionssuch as the Wheelchair Games and Golden Age Games.The program also was able to bring portable carpet lanekits to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hagin also took part in the annual Veterans’ Day wreathlaying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington,VA. As part of her trip, she had her picture taken with bothPresidents Bush and President Clinton. Her tenure thatended in 2008 also resulted in BVL being designatedamong America’s Best Charities given only to the toptwo percent of organizations. She continues helping BVLas a member emeriti. Chairing BVL was far from Hagin’swidespread volunteer reach. She served 11 years on theYABA Board of Directors including three years as president.She helped the Olympic bowling effort during nine yearson the USA Bowling Board, two years as president. Shehas served on the Women’s Sports Foundation AdvisoryBoard since the 1990s. She has served on the InternationalBowling Museum and Hall of Fame Board of Trusteessince 1994. And she was an original member of the USBC
36 IBI August 2011
everything. The other thing I was involved in that I reallyenjoyed was at the FIQ (Federation Internationale des Quilleurs)level with the Olympic effort.” For her efforts, Hagin has wonabout every local, state and national recognition availableincluding the WIBC (now USBC) Hall of Fame in 2000.
Hagin’s propensity to volunteer has taken her to all 50 statesand 18 countries and given her countless hours of satisfaction.“I wouldn’t have gotten involved if I didn’t enjoy rolling the balland bowling,” she said. “That started everything. As I got involvedadministratively, I saw things that bothered me and that hopefullyI could bring some changes. I wanted to make a difference. Aslong as my health is there and I’m asked, I’ll keep doing it.” Hergoal today is the same as it was in the late 1990s with WIBC. “I’dlike to see every man, woman and child be a USBC member,” shesaid. “It’s got to be factored into the lineage at the bowling centerso everyone automatically would be a member of USBC. Thatwould be revolutionary.”
Just like Elaine Hagin. ❖
Mark Miller is a freelance writer from Flower Mound, Texas. Heis the national and Dallas-Fort Worth bowling writer forExaminer.com and a columnist for the Bowling News Network.
Board of Directors, serving from 2004-07. But even with all thosetitles, the one Hagin is most proud of is as coordinator of theWomen’s World Team Challenge that ran from the mid-1990suntil 2002. At first it was a separate event but later joined themen’s event on what was then called Prime Network.
“I was very pleased with that because we got so much TVcoverage,” Hagin said. “The reason I liked it so much is (Hallof Famer) Pearl (Keller) and I sat down and went through
PERSON OF INTEREST
Elaine has also earned a number of majornon-bowling honors including:
1997-2000Member of USOC (U.S. Olympic Committee) Anti-Doping Committee
1998Street & Smith’s Super 50 Women’s Sports Executives
1998-99Strathmore’s Who’s Who Sports Executive
1999Women’s Sports Foundation President’s Award
38 IBI August 2011
he Guinness Book of World Records has a few listingsfor bowling such as “Longest Marathon Tenpin Bowling(Stephen Shanabrook, Plano, TX 643 games in June of
2010)” and “Highest Scoring Game Bowled Backwards (278games by James Cripps, Larksville, TN in December of 2006).”But there is no mention of the oldest regulation bowling centerin the United States…yet. If Krystyn Hastings-Silver, RestorationProject Manager, has anything to say about it, all that willchange soon. Her pet project is part of an estate in Tarrytown,New York known collectively as Lyndhurst. She has diligentlyresearched through representatives of the United StatesBowling Congress and BPAA as well as local lanesmen andhistorians and says that the freestanding two-lane center hasthe best shot. The only other possible contender would havebeen Georgian Court University in Lakewood, New Jersey,which houses three Brunswick Balke-Collender lanes, installedin 1899. “But I have documentation,” Hastings-Silver said,“that the two lanes at Lyndhurst were completed in 1895, sothat would make it the oldest in the U.S. I stress ‘regulation’
because there are many other lanes that were installed inbasements or elsewhere that were not regulation. For example,a lane was discovered in a barn in Woodstock, CT in RoselandCottage. I made sure our lanes met the earliest of specificationsfor the then-American Bowling Congress.”
At the turn of the 19th century, it was not uncommon forwealthy families to incorporate bowling “alleys” into theirestates, as tenpin bowling was accepted for fitness as well ascompetition. Women were encouraged to participate, albeitin long dresses or skirts. Names like Vanderbilt and Gouldwere on Brunswick’s earliest customer lists.
Hastings-Silver has nearly all of the components of the twolanes, save for the maker’s plate which would verify themanufacturer and would complete the facility. “We have onefull set of antique lignum vitae (‘living wood’) pins and a few sparepins, no pun intended. We also have four to six period balls ofdifferent sizes, and all are drilled with two finger holes only.”
Lyndhurst has 16 structures dating from 1838 to 1911spread over 67 acres above New York City in the “Sleepy
CENTER STAGE
Will lanes once owned by a railroad baron becomethe oldest certified lanes in the U.S.?
By Joan B. Taylor
Photos courtesy ofKrystyn Hastings-Silver
Photos courtesy ofKrystyn Hastings-Silver
Krystyn Hastings-Silver, RestorationProject Manager, Lyndhurst. Ms. Hastings-Silver is sitting in front of the BowlingAlley building, and sits on a reproductionbench on the Riverwalk Walking Trail thatruns through the property.
T
CENTER STAGE
Hollow” town of Tarrytown, NY. The towngoes back to Revolutionary War times. In1880 railroad magnate Jay Gould bought theestate and passed it on to his oldest daughter,Helen, in 1892. It was Helen who contractedto have two lanes housed in a 4300-square-foot freestanding building in 1895. Her olderbrother, George, had three lanes installed inhis estate, Georgian Court, in 1899.
Helen may have been the originator ofthe first bowling “parties” and additionallyallowed the hired staff to enjoy the sport andrecreation as well. In 1938 Helen’s sister, Anna,bought the estate, added electricity to the“bowling center” and opened the building toWorld War II veterans. The lanes were notused again, until the National Trust for HistoricPreservation acquired the estate.
The lanes’ restorationin progress.
42 IBI August 2011
During WWII, Anna Gould, who purchased Lyndhurst in 1938 from her sister Helen,opened the lanes to service personnel.
A sketch capturing bowling at Lyndhurst in the 19th century.
Joan Taylor is a multi-award winning bowling writerbased in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Lane returns: the key to authenticity could be helped by amarker’s plaque used by manufacturers.
Enter Hastings-Silver who adopted the project, researching thefacility extensively and inspecting every square inch of the building andlanes. She even uncovered an area which most likely had an earlyrulebook hanging for participants to read and heed. She is currentlyworking with Kelli Thomerson, curator at the International BowlingHall of Fame and Museum in Arlington, TX, to procure a copy of thatrulebook to keep the restoration as authentic and accurate as possible.
Knowing it would take significant funding to restore the building andthe lanes, Hastings-Silver matched an Environmental Protection $100,000grant with donations totaling another $100,000. “We have restroomsthere now, but the grant doesn’t cover electrical work, so we have toacquire an additional $150,000 and then restore things in a logical orderso that the building is up to code and can receive a Certificate ofOccupancy.” The objective is to open the building to the public andeventually permit people to actually bowl on the lanes, as in days of old.“Right now people can look through the windows, but we also giveprivate tours inside by appointment for bowling history buffs, associationofficers, etc.,” Hastings-Silver said.
But for now the focus is on getting local USBC officials to come outand authenticate the lanes as being regulation width, length andgutters. Once the official paperwork is submitted, Guinness willrecognize Lyndhurst as the oldest indoor bowling center in the country.“Then maybe,” Hastings-Silver says hopefully, “we could leverage thatfor the fundraising needed to complete the restoration. Private tourscan be arranged by calling (914) 631-4481. ❖
CENTER STAGE
44 IBI August 2011
SEPTEMBER16-18Wyoming Bowling CouncilJamboreeHilton Garden Inn, Laramie WYCharlene Abbott [email protected]
19-21NAIR 40th AnniversaryFall MeetingLincolnshire Resort, [email protected]
20WA BPA – Kick-Off MeetingTukwila, WAGreg Olsen [email protected]
22BCA of Ohio Executive BoardMeetingEmbassy Suites, Columbus, OHPat Marazzi, 937-433-8363
OCTOBER2–4
West Coast Bowling CentersConventionSilver Legacy Hotel, Reno, NVSandi Thompson, [email protected]
4-5Kansas State BPA AnnualMeetingPittsburg, KSMary Thurber 913-638-1817
10-12East Coast Bowling CentersConventionTrump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, NJLee Ann Norton, [email protected]
10-14GS Series Pinsetter TrainingBrunswick Training CenterMuskegon, MIEmail: [email protected]
16-18Mid-South Proprietor Trade ShowGold Strike Hotel, Tunica MSDwayne Hippensteel501-860-6376
17-21Vector Scorer MaintenanceTrainingBrunswick Training CenterMuskegon, MIEmail: [email protected]
25-26Southwest Bowling ProprietorsIdea ShareSam’s Town, Shreveport, LAKaren [email protected]
26Bowling Centers of Southern CAAnnual Meeting and Partner FairCal State Fullerton, Fullerton CAScott Frager, [email protected]
NOVEMBER9-10BCA of Ohio Seminars & MeetingEmbassy Suites, Columbus, OHPat Marazzi, 937-433-8363
6-11Bowling University SchoolFor Bowling Center ManagementInternational Bowling CampusArlington TXEmail: [email protected];800-343-1329www.BowlingUniversity.net
14-15Illinois State BPA Fall AnnualMeetingHotel Arista-Citygate CentreNaperville, ILBill [email protected]
30-12/7QubicaAMF Bowling World CupNorthcliff Bowling CentreAnne-Marie [email protected]
JANUARY 201222-26BOWLING SUMMITThe Meritage, Napa valley CAwww.bpaa.com/summit
DATEBOOK
IBI Official magazine of the convention
IBI
IBI
IBI
SHUFFLEBOARD GAMEArachnid introduces two bowling games:Classic Bowling and Split/SecondBowling have been added to the SuperShuffle electronic shuffleboard. SuperShuffle is a modern twist on an industryfavorite but only 5 1/2 feet long. Theelectronic shuffleboard table featuresleague play, tournament play and casual play. The cabinet ispart shuffleboard, part video game. To play you launch a real-life puck across an abbreviated shuffleboard-style play field.Contact 800-435-8319 or visit www.bullshooter.com.
45IBI August 2011
SHOWCASE
CENTER CONVERSIONBecoming a “Bowling EntertainmentCenter” can be like starting a new business.With new or different customers, games andattractions; your staff, marketing, pricingand operations will go through growingpains. Are you prepared to convert? Findout with research and planning if your community will supporta new venue. Peter Starkel of Fun Advisors just completed an18-month redevelopment of Lucky Jack’s. Learn more atwww.funadvisors.com/luckyjacks or call 888-486-0800.
BOWLING ON DVDNow available from S’More Entertainmentis “Celebrity Bowling,” a charming anddelightful series that ran on local LosAngeles television from 1971-1978. Hostedby Jed Allan, each week two-person teamscompeted on regulation size bowling lanesthat were installed in-studio. See stars such as (a very young)William Shatner, Angie Dickinson, Bob Newhart and MichaelDouglas battle it out to win prizes for audience members. TheDVD is available on Amazon.com or for more informationemail [email protected].
POWERFUL BALL TECH-NOLOGYMOTIV introduces the new Raptor P7.This outstanding heavy oil weapon mergesnew Predator™ asymmetric core technol-ogy with the new Formula-7™ Reactivecoverstock. The result is a ball motion no one has seen fromMOTIV before – long and very strong on the backend withincredible continuation through the pins. MOTIV™ brandbowling balls are manufactured in the USA. For more infor-mation please visit www.motivbowling.com.
SYSTEM UPGRADESBrunswick’s Vector Plus 5 upgrade, offerssignificant enhancements to the managementsystem that are perfect for centers that desireto maximize control over their system. Inaddition to new cash controls and manage-ment features, centers now have the optionof requiring servers, bartenders and otherpersonnel to use employee ID cards to access the system,allowing you to better track employee sales and productivity.Visit http://www.brunswickbowling.com/products/vector-plus/or contact your product specialist.
SHOT HELPERShooterball is a captivating mechanismthat elevates the presentation of mixeddrinks, shooters, dessert and beer!Increasing sales while creating conversa-tion make the Shooterball a must have forall entertainment and hospitality venues.A great addition to any party, group eventor celebration, the Shooterball piquescustomer interest and raises camaraderie. No matter whatthe occasion, the Shooterball delivers in style! For more infor-mation, visit www.shooterball.com or call 888-724-8319.
SERIOUS SHOESEtonic Worldwide announces a break-through innovation with the introductionof Power-Flex™ Outsole Technology.Specifically designed to be instantlytuned to provide graduated braking onany approach condition, the outsole features three inter-changeable Tri-Pod™ forefoot pads and a Heel LockPod™.The result is the optimization of a player’s timing, leverageand power. Power-Flex Technology is only available in the newEtonic Tour Master bowling shoe. For information, call 1-866-8-ETONIC (386642) or log onto www.etonic.com.
YOUTH SHOESQubicaAMF is now accepting pre-ordersfor SuperValue Velcro® children/youthrental shoes for delivery and invoicing inOctober. These rental shoes slip on quicklyand get players onto the lanes faster withcomfort, style and convenience. And foryou? Simplicity and durability that add up to an attractive pay-off. Contact a QubicaAMF Sales Representative today or visitwww.qubicaamf.com for more information.
46 IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
BUY SELL
AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENTCOMPLETE PACKAGES
WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY
Danny & Daryl TuckerDanny & Daryl TuckerTucker Bowling Equipment Co. Bowling Parts, Inc.609 N.E. 3rd St. P.O. Box 801Tulia, Texas 79088 Tulia, Texas 79088Call (806) 995-4018 Call (806) 995-3635Fax (806) 995-4767 Email - [email protected]
www.bowlingpartsandequipment.com
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
USED BRUNSWICK PARTS, A2 partsand assemblies. Large Inventory.www.usedpinsetterparts.com.
NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment.Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
Pinsetter Parts New from ALL majormanufacturers. HUGE IN STOCK inventory.USED Brunswick Scoring parts, AS90cameras, processors, lane cables,monitors, and PC boards. Order online @888SBIBOWL.com or (888) 724-2695.The Mechanics Choice!
REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details(248) 375-2751.
For Sale: used pin decks. Buy one, get oneFREE. 27” monitors for AccuScore Plus & XLScoring. Also XL Scoring package. (641)414-1542.
FOR SALE: General Electric & National frontend motors with gear boxes for AMF 82-70pinsetters–$275 ea. Excellent condition!Call Brian (716) 715-3930 or Kevin (716)807-2194.
Bowling center equipment—specializingin small center needs. (712) 253-8730
Automatic Scoring: AMF XL & AMFBOSS with XL Desk & LCD monitors.(712) 253-8730
FRAMEWORX SCORING: Sold by the laneor spare parts. 68 lanes Complete systemincluding 4 registers & back office. ContactBill Rossman @ Parkway Bowl (619) 448-4111 or [email protected].
47IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
CENTERS FOR SALE
UPSTATE NEW YORK: 8-lane center/commercial building built in 1992.Synthetic lanes, new automatic scoring,kitchen and room to expand! Reduced tosell @ $375,000. Call (315) 376-3611.
EQUIPMENT WANTED
LANE MACHINES WANTED. We willpurchase your KEGEL-built machine, anyage or condition. Phone (608) 764-1464.
48 IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
CENTERS FOR SALE
ForFLORIDA CENTERS
CallDAVID DRISCOLL& ASSOCIATES
1-800-444-BOWLP.O. Box 189
Howey-in-the-Hills, FL 34737AN AFFILIATE OF
SANDY HANSELL & ASSOCIATES
Orange County Security Consultants
•Keys & ComboLocks for allTypes ofLockers.
•One weekturnaroundon mostorders.
•New locks -All types
•Used locks1/2 priceof new
All keysdone bycode #.
No keysnecessary.
LOCKERKEYS FAST!
CALL TOLL FREE 1-800-700-4KEYINT’L 530-432-1027
The leading source for real estate loans with low down payments
Ken Paton(503) 645-5630
We could not have gottenWe could not have gottenour loan without him.our loan without him.
Reggie and Nancy FrederickReggie and Nancy FrederickBilly and Allison FrederickBilly and Allison FrederickChalet Bowl, Tacoma, WAChalet Bowl, Tacoma, WA
E-mail: [email protected] YOUR ORDER TO US AT:
530-432-2933
"Bowling Center Construction Specialists"
�New Center Construction �Family Entertainment Centers�Residential Bowling Lanes�Modernization�Mini Bowling Lanes�Automatic Scoring
Toll Free: (866) 961-7633Office: (734) 469-4293
Email: [email protected]
CONTACT BRIAN ESTES
16-lane center in Southern Coloradomountains. Great condition. 18,000s/f building w/ restaurant & lounge.Paved parking 100 + vehicles.Established leagues & tournaments.$950,000 or make offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155.
CENTRAL WISCONSIN: 12 lanes, autoscoring, Anvilane synthetics, 82-70s. Greatfood sales. Yearly tournament. Attached,large 3 bedroom apartment w/ fireplace.$550K. (715) 223-8230.
NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s,Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game &pool rooms. See pics andinfo @ www.visitcolby.com or contactCharles (785) 443-3477.
SOUTHWEST KANSAS: well-maintained8-lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant.Includes business and real estate. Nice,smaller community. Owner retiring.$212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: 16-lane centerREDUCED to $799,000 for quick sale.Synthetics, 82-70s, 19,000 s/f + parking.Newly remodeled bar, large kitchen. Ownerretiring. Will consider selling only equipmentor building. www.siskiyoulanes.com. (530)598-2133.
49IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
CENTERS FOR SALE
SOUTHERN INDIANA (close toIndianapolis): 18-lane Brunswick centerwith lounge, liquor license & movietheater on 4+ acres. Turnkey business.Owner retiring. Great investment! (765) 349-1312.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA: 16-lanecenter w/ synthetic lanes, 82-70s, 19,000s/f building w/ lots of parking. Newlyremodeled bar & large kitchen. Ownerretiring. (530) 598-2133.
NEW YORK STATE: Thousand Islandregion. 8-lane Brunswick center w/ cosmicbowling, auto scoring. Established leagues+ many improvements. $309,000. Call Jill@ Lori Gervera Real Estate (315) 771-9302.
EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-laneBrunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thruliquor store in small college town. Also, 3apartment buildings with 40 units, goodrental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701)430-1490.
CENTERS FOR SALE
WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One ofthe top five places to move! Remodeled32-lane center. Good numbers. $3.1mgets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828)253-0362.
CENTRAL IDAHO: 8-lane center andrestaurant in central Idaho mountains.Small town. Only center within 60-mileradius. Brunswick A-2 machines;Anvilane lane beds; automatic scoring.(208) 879-4448.
SOUTHWESTERN WYOMING: 12 lanes+ café & lounge, 2 acres w/ 5 bedroomhome. Full liquor & fireworks licenses.Outside Salt Lake City area. Dennis @Uinta Realty, Inc. (888) 804-4805 [email protected].
TEXAS, SE of Houston: 40-lane center inmid-sized market. Updated scoring, lanes,seating, masking units in 2007 plusremodeled bar. New roof. Includes RE. Bankowned. Ken Paton (503) 645-5630.
CLASSIFIED AD FORMCLASSIFIED AD FORM
FAX THIS COMPLETED FORM TO (818) 789-2812OR CALL US AT (818) 789-2695
Signature: xmonth year
Deadline for each issue is the 1st of each month, one month priorto issue. (Example: To run in the September Issue, we would needyour ad copy by August 1st)
Write your ad here or fax separatesheet with this form:
Choose Category: ❒ Equip. for sale❒ Equip. wanted ❒ Centers for sale❒ Help wanted ❒ MiscellaneousOther____________________________
Figure Cost:Multiply number of words x $2.20 =Add 10¢ per word for BOLD copy x .10 =
SubtotalMultiply by number months ad will run x total
Name Company
Billing Address
Credit Card #
Exp. Date:
1
2
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4
THE WORLD’S ONTHE WORLD’S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLINGLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLINGTHE WORLD’S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
INTERNATIONAL
(818) 789-2695SELL YOUR CENTER
50 IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
CENTERS FOR SALE
NORTHWEST LOUISIANA: 12-LANEBrunswick center. REDUCED TO SELLNOW! Includes auto scoring, glow bowling,pizza, large dining area & video poker. Goodincome. Long Lease. Great opportunity. CallMike (318) 578-0772.
CENTRAL ALABAMA: Recently remodeled,split house w/24 synthetic lanes (16 & 8) in28,000 s/f building in shopping center;Brunswick A2s & 2000 seating; AccuScorePlus; VIA returns & storage tables; systemsfor Cosmic; established leagues; snack bar,pro shop & game/pool table area. Nearestcompetition 28 miles w/ colleges & Hondafactory within minutes. Need to sell due tohealth. Reasonably priced. (435) 705-0420.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: 16-lane center—Brunswick A-2s & JetBacks, snack bar, proshop & lounge with 1,400 s/f apartmentabove. On 2.84 acres. Includes business &real estate. Good location! (618) 488-7858 or(618) 606-5053.
NORTHERN WISCONSIN: 12-laneBrunswick A-2s, Vector Plus FrameworXscoring, kitchen, & pro shop. PRICED TOSELL. Call Bruce (715) 614-7779.
CENTERS FOR SALE
NE NEVADA: New 2001. 16 lanes, 19,200square feet, 1.68 acres paved, sound &lighting, lounge w/ gaming, arcade, fullservice snack bar & pro shop. Call (775)934-1539.
SOUTHERN NEVADA: Excellentopportunity for qualified person! 8-lanecenter with AMF 82-70s, Twelve Strike scoring.$60,000 for business and equipment only.Long term lease available. Building beingremodeled. Call Steve (702) 293-6072; cell(702) 414-5321; email: [email protected].
51IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940
on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: [email protected]
AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • FrameworxSERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL
NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS
2021 Bridge StreetJessup, PA 18434570-489-8623www.minigolfinc.com
MINIATURE GOLF COURSESIndoor/Outdoor. ImmediateInstallation. $5,900.00 & up.
(818) 789-2695
SELL YOURCENTER
OR EQPT.FAST!
52 IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
MARSHALL ELECTRONICS• Electronic Scoring Repair• AMF Accuscore Plus• Curtain Wall Chassis - $285
• Foul Units• Chassis Boards• Brunswick Scoring
We repair all types of monitor boards.Call for a complete price list.
593 Loxley Drive, Toms River, NJ 08753
732-240-6554 • 800-782-9494www.merepair.webs.com
AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC boardrepair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fastturnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service
5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695)
Ph./Fax: (614) 855-3022 (Jon)E-mail: [email protected]
Visit us on the WEB!http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70S.S. & M.P. MACHINES
Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. BoardExchange & Repair!
A reasonable alternative forChassis and P.C. Board Exchanges
MIKE BARRETTCall for Price List
Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576
FOR LEASE
PRO SHOP: National Lake Shore area ofNW Indiana. Call (219) 921-4999.
SERVICES AVAILABLE
Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring BallRepair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. 800-255-6436 or Jayhawkbowling.com.
See a list that will help centers fill lanes w/1200+ New Bowlers, Birthday Parties &Corporate Outings that generate $15,800 –a 600% ROI from 4 payments starting at$278. Visit mcprs.bmamkt.com or call (888)243-0685.
POSITION WANTED
Small Brunswick bowling center managerwith option to buy. Good credentials and lotsof experience running centers including newleague formation and outside salespromotion. Increase the bottom line! Callnow. (319) 327-1916.
WWW.FACEBOOKBOWLING.COM
CENTERS FOR SALE
NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor & Bowling.Established 8 lanes between Mpls & Duluth w/large bar, dining room, banquet area. Two largeState employment facilities nearby. High sixfigure gross. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089.www.majesticpine.com.
GEORGIA: busy 32-lane center, realestate included. Great location in one offastest growing counties in metro Atlanta.5 years new with all the amenities.Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751.
NW INDIANA (Lake Michigan/National LakeShore area): DRASTICALLY REDUCED—PRICED TO SELL! 32-lane center, familyowned & operated since 1997 on 6.6 acres.Also billiards, arcade, pro shop, full-servicerestaurant, established leagues & MORE!$2,300,000. (219) 921-4999.
CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!!8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full servicerestaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables,karaoke machine & DJ system. Asking$125,000.00 with RE. (217) 351-5152 [email protected].
53IBI August 2011
CLASSIFIEDS
Call(818) 789-2695
Fax(818) 789-2812
E-mailyour ad to:
3EASYWAYS
to place your
Classified Ad in
International
Bowling Industry
Magazine
IBI August 2011
REMEMBER WHEN
or years beginning in the 1920s,Barbasol’s clever rhymes on minibillboards accompanied drivers
along the nation’s roads. Usually they sanga wry song about romantic difficulties causedby facial stubble, which the shaving creamcould promptly remedy. There were alwaysfour signs for the rhyme and one for thepunch line, as in:
“He had the lute“He had the flat“She felt his chin“And that was that –“Barbasol!”The shaving cream maker’s print
ads never became so iconographic,but the message was the same, as inthis ad from 1949. ❖
54
REMEMBER WHEN
F
1949
