Actually the owner of Satellite now owns Community Bowling Centers which operates 16 centers in the metro Detroit area.
Printable View
Does anyone remember Crown Lanes, Log Cabin, W-Y 7, The old Wonderland Lanes in Redford, Melvindale Bowl, Yorba Linda?
My dentist is next to Wonderland Lanes in Livonia. Never bowled there, just went in there looking for my Uncle at the bar. While driving down Warren Ave Sat nite I looked over saw GI-GI'S thought of the Bowling Alley thread.
I had bowled at Mt Elliott, Falcon, Klees, Fantasy, Ramona, Van Dyke Bowl, State Fair, Pladium to name a few when I was growing up as a kid. Does anybody remember these?
http://www.detroityes.com/mb/attachm...1&d=1248746617
For compairison purposes
superbowler297,Quote:
Mt Elliott, Falcon, Klees, Fantasy, Ramona, Van Dyke Bowl, State Fair, Pladium
does that refer to your high game? 297 how soon before 300?
I bowled Ramona Monday nights till the roof collapsed,
Fanasy Sunday morning late 1960's
Falcon on and off as a sub,
Mt Elliot, Sunday morning early 70's
bowled open bowling all of the others one time or another.
too bad they are long gone.
CLAUDEG, yes there was a bowling alley on 8 mile east of van dyke, another on 8 mile and Sherwood, darn if I can remember their names.
What years did Fantasy and Denby burn? Can't remember.
Not sure about Denby, but I think Fantasy burned around 1990. I remember going by there shortly thereafter and walking on top of the rubble
Anyone ever bowl at Oakwood Blue Jackets, SW Detroit? I bowled there on the youth league back in the 50s. Adult leagues from 1976 till closing in 98. OBJ house of 700s in the 50s-60s.
The Rouge Lounge, 1937 Coolidge Highway, River Rouge, was a bowling alley which became known as Detroit's main showcase for nationally known jazz acts [[1953-58). I've found ads, but not a single exterior photo...
I bowled at Oakwood once back in the early 80,s my Mom took me and a buddy there, remember the ball rolling back above the lanes like the Silver Bar and Bowl in GardenCity.
My Dad bowled at Oakwood for as long as I can remember. I think Allen Park where I grew up had 3 bowling alleys that I can think of, Roosevelt,Thunderbird and another just down the street from the Roosevelt that burned down a few years back. My Dad also bowled at a place in SW Detroit that had an upstairs bowling alley that had manuel pin setters, the downstairs had machines I think, just don't remember the name of the place. What bowling alleys did Dearborrn have?
Dearborn used to have at least 5 bowling alleys in those days, probably more.
1. Schaefer Lanes
2. Mercury Lanes
3. Pine Tree Bowl
4. Holiday Bowl
5. Oxford Lanes
Today Oxford Lanes and Mercury Bowl are the only two left in Dearborn.
BAD NEWS
Clemente's Restaurant, Bar and Bowling Alley is currenty close due to remodeling issues.
GREAT NEWS
Madison Bowl is off of its financial problems and rehabed its bowling alley. It will be opening soon. Imagine Theatres will have a 10 seat movie theatre and 10 lane bowling alley on the corner of 11 Mile Rd and Main Street. Sadly to say that the Main Art Theatre may close and be demolish soon due to new complex.
Any bowling alleys left in Detroit [[City of)? I didn't read all the posts here. I took my wife bowling for her first time last year while we were living in Algonac while caretaking my late parents' property. We bowled at an alley on M-29 in Clay Township near the Harsens Island ferry landing. In St. Clair there is a bowling alley that also has a decent restaurant. I've never been big on bowling, but it's a good excuse to socialize and get some light exercise.
Universal Lanes in 12 Mile and Dequindre is no longer owned by Community Bowling Centers anymore. It's now owned by Mr. Murdock. who owns a series of convenient stores.
I bowled on a team there on Friday nights back in the mid Seventies with George Zanea, "Fast Eddie" Birmingham, Bill Allen, and a guy who I think was a teacher at Cass last name Levin or Levine, his first name may have been Jay
Reggie "The Kid" Dennard was just coming up through the ranks at the time
This thread pains me.....hated to read some of what I did, and there is a bunch of other stuff lost to my memory now....no one is alive anymore to call and ask.
My uncle Russ was determined to become a pro bowler, and bowled like a wild man all over Detroit starting in the late 1920's. He got my dad pretty hooked on bowling by the mid to late 30's, and both bowled with the Mich Con travel teams of the day, amongst others teams. Dad pitched fastpitch softball 4 nights in the summer, and bowled 4 nights in the winter. He had a strong "paddle" arm, much to my dismay and the dismay of my ass. :eek:
WW2 slowed down his bowling...but kept on pitching after he got back from the Pacific.
I'm sitting here trying my best to remember the earliest alleys I was dragged along to which would've been east side, early 1950's. At least one place still had pin boys, and one had a long disk shuffleboard table game, complete with sawdust on the left hand side of the alley as you faced the pins.
Something about Hayes not far from Houston-Whittier is sticking in my head....not far from where Harmony Hall used to be?? Maybe I'm thinking of Ritter?
Between my dad and uncle I don't think there was an eastside house I didn't get taken to at least once.
There was one real little place.....maybe 8 lanes in a basement somewhere east side down Warren past Conners?
Used to skip HS and bowl 4 games for a buck before noon. Royal Lanes I think it was.....off Warren Ave. on a side street, not far from Alter. Manistique? Phillip? My ma used to bowl in a Ladies League there too.
I hooked up with Paul Cito when I was about 19 or 20, he must have been at least 60 then...if not older...the lanes on s. side of Warren Ave. around Outer Dr. Cantankerous old coot he was....but a good guy. He taught me a lot....probably more than anyone.
First alley I bowled on was....ahhh crape. DiMichelles? Harper Ave. & Manchester in Harper Wds. It burnt around 1960, they rebuilt it as a hall, last I knew it was HW Community House.
Bowled a Thurs league at Maple Lanes for many years in the 70's...we had some good times at that place. Mich Con league. Had tournaments once a year at Clover Lanes in Livonia.
In later years I did leagues at Sunnybrook and Gold Crown.
Maple Lanes was the last Detroit house I did a league at. Now its a fooken landscape storage shed??
THANK you someone for mentioning Falcon. I was thinking about the Parliaments, and was trying to remember the name of the bowling alley bar on VD they played at. :D
Anyone have a image of Ritter from the outside. I was there a zillion times....it's been so many years I cannot remember what it looked like :[[
When I was going to Cass Tech in 1963-66, we would sometimes be taken to Pla-Moor Lanes to go blowing instead of going to our normal gym class. It was on Henry, between 2nd and 3rd. I didn't remember the name of the place until I saw it listed on the Detroit Memories bowling alley listings. What ever happened to that place?
Does anyone know where in Detroit this 1961 bowling tournament took place? [[Interior shots only). Check out Miss Detroit 1961; ah loves the gloves! :D
Old Miami has PinBall Machines.
On the corner of SchoolCraft & Evergreen used to be the BowlCraft Lanes.
I'm talking around 1979 -1980.
We used to infiltrate the bar section and bum Rum & Cokes, and play Pinball, and watch the League Bowler's play.
While waiting for an "open lane", we'd play The Horses.
Meanwhile, our bike's would be stolden outside. In The Alley.
Enjoy:
http://www.pinballrebel.com/game/pin...ay_pinball.htm
Hi This is my first post, but not my last
I grew up on the lower east side [[Charlevoix and Chalmers)
and I remember several places we'd bowl.
Royal Lanes [[Alter Rd just north of Warren)
It was gone before I got to bowl there, but it was a skating rink.
East Warren Lanes [[Warren and Cadieux)
20 AMF Lanes, and the funny part was that outside there were signs advertising "Bowl where you see the Magic Triangle" and inside were Brunswick Astroline masks. It still was cheap and fun.
Maple Lanes [[Warren and Farmbrook)
17 AMF lanes, well maintained, and up to date. I'm sorry to see it gone. I went to school not far from Maple Lanes, and I bowled there sometimes after school if I didnt have too much homework.
Ramona Lanes [[6 and Gratiot)
17 Brunswick, I think. The one thing I remember about this joint was the 17th lane. Unloved, uncared for and if you were daring enough you could bowl on it during leagues. Ramona was a pit.
Eastland Lanes [[9 and Kelly)
40 Brunswick divided into 2 sections; blue and red. The blue section was for God only knows who, because I never got to bowl on them, but the red section was for the rest of us.
DeSantis Lanes aka Regal Lanes. [[Mound and 12)
I learned to bowl there because my mother knew the owner personally and she thought I was cute. 34 Brunswick lanes, but they were white with big red crowns on the front. Classy place. I rolled a 300 there in 1982.
Motor City Lanes [[Connor and Mack)
I think they had 20 AMF lanes. We didnt bowl there much.
Ritter Lanes [[Chalmers and Jane)
12 AMF lanes, excellent maintenance. Good rates, and we bowled there most of the time.
Klee's [[6 mile and Connor).
17 lanes. Brunswick. I only bowled there a few times
Fantasy Lanes [[7 mile and Queen)
20 lanes, AMF and they had Sparemaker. That was a series of arrows on the triangle that lit up according to what you left. Pretty cool.
Denby Lanes
17 lanes, I think, and I think they had AMF. Not too sure.
Falcon Lanes
20 lanes, and it was very dated. Brunswick A pinsetters, and they were slow. Falcon is better off dead. What a dump.
Satellite Lanes [[Michigan and Gulley Rd)
One of my old teachers was a manager, and I read back there that they had 128 lanes. Nope. 84 lanes divided into 2. The first 42 were in back, and the last ones were facing Michigan. No one I know ever bowled on 1-42, but everyone usually bowled on 43-84.
The biggest AMF installation in Michigan is Thunderbowl in Allen Park at 94 lanes.
Chandler Lanes [[Harper and Asbury Park)
17 AMF lanes, and they had rubber pads on the approaches. Classy place for where it was and it was beautiful all in red.
State Fair Lanes [[Woodward and State Fair)
70 AMF lanes. Didnt bowl there much.
HERE IS SOME GREAT NEWS.
Starting in the summer of 2011 Star Lanes will be open below the Emagine Theatre Complex. It will be on the corner of 11 Mile Rd and Main St. In Downtown Royal Oak. Next to the Historic Maim Art Theater. The Main Art Theater will be spared from the wrecking ball for the moment.
Star Lanes will feature 16 lanes, with synthetic lanes and new state of the art electronic scoreboard.
There hasn't been a new bowling alley being built in the Metro-Detroit area in over 40 years.
I will have to go through the archives of bowling threads, I'm sure something is mentioned about how that main entrance in the pictures of Clover Lanes, used to front the parking lot, which was raised to build I-96. Today, it appears boarded up, but has actually been insulated, and is now used as a party/birthday room for kids parties.
My wife, who is a professional bowler, visited Cloverlanes once with me, awhile back I think. She generally liked the lane conditions, if memory serves me correctly.
As bad as Cloverlanes looks from the outside they have repainted the interior, and what was once a front entrance is now the new pro shop.I do agree the outside looks like the building is going to fall down any day.
A longtime Detroit bowling legend Eddie Lubanski has passed
Lubanski, Edward A.
2010-11-11
Lubanski Edward A. Age 81, of Warren, formerly of Oak Park, November 8, 2010. Mr. Lubanski was a professional bowler and charter member and past president of the Professional Bowlers Association. His competitive career spanned over four decades, culminating with being named Bowler of the Year in 1959. He continued his career as an instructor until early this year. Ed was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, ABC Hall of Fame, Polish American Sports Hall of Fame and City of Detroit Sports Hall of Fame. He was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church in Oak Park, where he was active in the Men's Club, and he was a member of Alcoholics Anonymous. Beloved husband of Betty. Loving father of Janis, Edward, Paul [[Cathy), Robert [[Maria) and the late Denise Cohen. Also survived by nine grandchildren. Memorial visitation Thursday 1 – 9 p.m., Rosary 7 p.m., at Spaulding & Curtin Funeral Directors, 500 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale [[1 ˝ blks west of Woodward) and Friday 9:30 a.m. until Memorial Mass 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Oak Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady of Fatima Men's Club, 13500 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park 48237
I had recently read an article about a book about Mr Lubanski, Will have to order it. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
Longtime Freep bowling writer Matt Fiorito passes. A rather unique obit.
Fiorito, Matthew Joseph
2010-11-14
http://www.detroitmedia.com/deathnot...3972-1.eps.jpg
Fiorito Matthew Joseph Ente this part of his life journey on Nov. 12, 1936, and to be congruent with his meticulous and precise editing style, he chose to exit on Nov. 12 as well. Always the newspaper man, always the editor. Matthew goes onto the next phase of his travels with the love and support of his beloved wife, Nancy Fiorito; his children, Jason Fiorito [[Cassandra), Dania Fiorito, Ada Khreis [[Hassan); his children by choice, Ryan Lawless [[Lyndsay and son Britton), Tiffany Street and Lauren Ivory; his brother Tony Fiorito [[Pat), sister Mary Kastern [[Bill), sister-in-law Sandra Grosso [[Carl), cousin Joe Fiorito [[Susan); and numerous relatives, friends and adopted family in the bowling and newspaper worlds. Matthew fought what can only be described as an epic and tumultuously miraculous battle with leukemia, and after three weeks in the ICU due to complications, decided he had had enough and was bustin' out of this joint! He will be remembered as Mr. Bowling, the "go-to" guy in the Free Press Sports Department [[and a few more choice adjectives that can't be published), an honest confidant, a humble storyteller, a voracious cookbook collector, a charismatic teacher, a master chef, a selfless friend, an inspirational leader, a remarkable father and an extraordinary husband. Matt didn't want any pomp and circumstance surrounding his death and in accordance with his wishes there will be no funeral home visitation or internment ceremony. He will be cremated and his ashes spread in various regions around the globe. Nancy and Dania are opening up the Fiorito home to receive visitors 3-7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16, and Wednesday, Nov. 17. They would love to receive you with as many hugs and fond memories of Matthew that you have. Their address is 9216 Highland Drive, Grosse Ile, MI 48138. There also will be a special edition of the Bowlers Digest published that will be a memorial to Matthew. If you have a few or more words that you would like to say, stories to share, memories for laughs or praises to give, please email bowlersdigest@yahoo.com with the subject line: Matthew Fiorito. Memorial donations may be sent to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by visiting
Sad news about both guys. I had the pleasure of talking with Matt and he was a class-act. Very talented at his craft. I always think of the film clip where Eddie shot back-to-back 300s in an exhibition match in 1959....using the ol' 2-finger grip.:)
Why did some bowling alleys have an odd number of lanes? I've seen a bunch listed here as having 17 lanes.
zitro,
they could not use the 17th lane as a spare, ABC rules, now USBC, says you must bowl on adjacent lanes. An official match has too be on a pair of lanes.
My theory is on a big night bowling match, you could have a sub bowler warming up.
or if you were bowling your enemy on lane 15-16 you would let your 5 year old bowl on 17 and disrupt the other team's concentration.
This thread inspired me to do a little research and write a blog post. I'd love to hear any comments or feedback.
http://mapdetroit.blogspot.com/2011/...tter-ball.html
Also, the alleys listed in the yellow pages were:
Attachment 8654
Luxury Lanes on 9 Mile Rd. in Ferndale has been there forever
http://www.luxurylanes16.com/Outer
Outer Drive and Van Dyke was the Falcon bowling alley and nightclub, was it not?
Was in Gino's or Gino's Surf ....... something like that
Colonial Lanes was just north of Hall rd./M59 that was taken over by Weingartz.
Shelby Lanes is the place up the road from it on Van Dyke just south of 23 Mile road.
roblinn, I love your blog.As a huge fan of bowling, this post was particularly interesting. It's amazing what you can do with some historical addresses and some GIS software.
yes Falcon lanes, I do believe the official name was Gino' Surf, good place on the weekends. Now a Burger King.Quote:
Outer Drive and Van Dyke was the Falcon bowling alley and nightclub, was it not?Was in Gino's or Gino's Surf
[QUOTE=slick;218055]
yes Falcon lanes, I do believe the official name was Gino' Surf, good place on the weekends. Now a Burger King.The official name was Gino's Falcon Show Bar. Gino's Surf was a restaurant on Jefferson
................
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-..._6722861_n.jpg
Here is Gino's Surf
I knew it was Gino's something , thanks for the graphic ! I was set up on a blind date way back when , the couple that set us up chose there to meet . The band was great ! but the blind date .............. lol
Here is a current view of Ritter Lanes. It was a great place.Attachment 8988
Here is a picture of the former Ritter Lanes.Attachment 8993
Glad to see the saved the building, RITTER REC.
Reminded me of a bank when it was open as a bowling alley.
Back in the 70-80s we had a Friday morning traveling league. Great bowlers most of the folks were either business people or midnight shift folks. Great bowlers all.
We did 10 bowling alleys, lets see if I can remember them or else someone will have to chime in and help.
Chandler,
Ritter,
East Warren,
Timber,
Denby,
Fantasy,
Salt River, furthest one out, nice drive in the spring.
3 more to go, oh no!
I found this old blowing score sheet from Mt. Elliott Recreation Lanes when I was in the Cub Scouts League in the late 1950’s. The date on this one is January 31, 1959. I think it was 35˘ per game for the Scouts. Some games over 100, which isn’t bad for 10 & 11 year old kids. Happy times from the golden age.Attachment 9827
I have a sneaking suspicions that this is the Pine Lanes that used to be located on Pinehurst and Warren Ave; 10540 Warren Road Dearborn.
I bowled at Pine Lanes when I was 12 to 13 years old; I lived on Pinehurst north of Joy Road and my mom would let me go on my own during the summer to bowl there; 20˘ a game during the daytime hours; had the place to myself most times.
I recall the island that was at the end of Pinehurst just before it came to Warren Road. It changed though, by the time I was driving.
It is now either a new or remodel building called Dearborn Outlet.
I recall the glass block windows from when I walked by the side of the building; the entrance was right on that corner of the building.
The house in the back ground, has the same type of roof line as the one there currently.
Wish I lived in the area, I'd go by and take a picture from the exact angle to see for sure.
Argyle on Northlawn south of Plymouth Rd. next to the Bell Telephone Building was the other bowling alley I most frequented.
Gremmels on West Chicago and Manor had one upstairs from it's lounge/restaurant; a manual pin setting lanes; too young to bowl there when it was in operation.
I used to bowl at Pine Tree Lanes on W. Warren Rd and Pinehurst St. back in 1997 just a year before it closed. Dearborn Mercury Lanes on Schaefer Rd is the last neighborhood bowling alley in that city. Still family owned since 1948.
Oxford Lanes was closed in December 31st 2011.
Schaefer Lanes was closed in 1999 now its a Arab-owned strip mall.
Holiday Bowl on Schaefer Rd. was closed in 1997. Now its Islamic Mosque called The Islamic Institute of Knowledge and an Islamic School called Riverside Academy.
Argyle Lanes is lone gone, became a local bank before it closed and now a church.
Wonderland Lanes in Livonia is officially closed since 2009.
I am looking for the address' of two Louis Redstone designed Bowling Alleys-Old Mill Lanes and Blue Sky Lanes. Also the are lanes at the Detroit Athletic Club, Country Club of Detroit, Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and the Detroit Club.
I do not see anything for a Blue Sky or Old Mill in my 1958 Yellow pages.
I DO have a Red Mill Bar and Rec:
7331 Woodward at Grand Blvd
TR 1-5110
DAC has 8 lanes
CCD has 6 lanes as well as GPYC
I was not aware tha Detroit Golf club had bowling.
CCD and GPYC lanes both sit on top of closed indoor swimming pools.
Breaking News!!!
Westland Bowl has got a new owner. The bowling house was closed in 2012 due to financial problems. The new owner will reopen the bowling alley by Sept. 2013.
1960's advertising memorabilia.....
Attachment 18240
Mike Totsky used to be one of the greatest legendary bowler in the Detroit Stroh's league since the late 1950s to 1970s. He later worked as a manager at Taylor Lanes in Taylor, MI. until he passed away.
Does anyone know where this Bowling Alley was located?
From Manta:
MJG Enterprises
Quote:
Olympic Lanes20222 John R Street
Detroit, MI48203-1138
I just read on facebook that Continental Lanes [[Gratiot/13 Mile in Roseville) has recently closed and will become a poker site. Anyone else hear this? Seems to me that bowling is a dying sport.
Bowling died in Hamtramck when the 2-story "Pladium Lanes" bit the dust for a "Rally's".
Continental Lanes will be demolished in February for an LA Fitness.
When I've bowled at Continental lanes in 2009 for the Red Wings League. They have a 1984 Mendez electronic scoreboards. They were old as a dinosaur. People were having problems programming their scores and they break down everytime. Parts were very difficult to replace. Lots of leagues were tired of that house and left recently.
Great Lakes Bowling Center designed by H. E. Beyster Corp. Images from a 1946 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Drawings by Ted Rogvoy for Warren and Crest Bowling Lanes from a 1946 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Another drawing from Ted Rogvoy of Belmar Bowling Lanes.
Well, perhaps you never heard of the Lucky Strike alley at Fountain Walk in Novi [[located within eyesight of another Emagine theater, ironically enough)? And yes, both Star Lanes and the theater did open, in May 2011, a month before that year's summer officially started, in fact, it now even appears on Google Street View ever since it went through a major update nearly a week ago.
Anyways, the same person who posted what I've quoted also mentioned Oxford Lanes later in this thread. Well, it has since been torn down for a new Volkswagen dealership that opened earlier this year [[and it even has a Google "Business View") The aforementioned dealership is part of the LaFontaine dealership empire, which also operates Honda and Toyota dealerships across Telegraph Road.
Anyways, did any of you catch the pilot episode of a new "Bowling for Dollars" reboot on WADL a while ago? It was shot at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park.
I am looking for another address this time Rolawile Lanes.
Belmar Lanes is on Fort St. near Goddard in Lincoln Park, MI. still open and bustling with fall leagues. They don't open much in the summer or have summer leagues. Just recently the owners have put new synthetic lanes ans made fewer modifications in the interior.
Rolawile Lanes - 7040 Puritan
A drawing of Chandler Lanes by Ted Rogvoy, from a 1946 issue of 1946 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Chandler Lanes on 7/7/13.
a drawing of Lessel Lanes by Lawrence B. Jameson from a 1947 issue of Michigan Architect and Engineer.
Does anyone know the address of Palmer Park Recreation?
Palmer Park Recreation 106 W. McNichols ph. TUlsa 3-0390
The former site of Palmer Park Recreation in June 2011.
Attachment 20839
Thx D.S. and mtburb!
Anybody know where Paradise Bowl was? I found a picture in my dad's stuff from a Postal Alliance League there in 1949-50. It would be cool if I could find out more about the league, the bowlers in it, and the house. Thanks!
By the way, if anyone wants current pictures of the site of any old centers, let me know the address and I'll see what I can do.
I found two links:
http://www.metrotimes.com/detroit/a-...nt?oid=2201876
Heavyweight champ Joe Louis loved bowling, and found funding and backers for his 20-lane Paradise Bowl in 1942. Aside from the dazzling live entertainment in Paradise Valley, the Paradise Bowl was black Detroiters’ favorite destination by some accounts.
This link:
https://books.google.com/books?id=AB...etroit&f=false
says it was next door to Club Three Sixes, 666 E. Adams near St. Antoine, now under I-375.
Finally Cloverlanes in Livonia, MI. now has AMF-Qubica synthetic lanes on the east end. Go try them out.
Thanks for those links! Interesting reading...
Have to throw out this story. Years ago, I was lingering on the last of my bottle after close with a few stragglers at the Garden Bowl. A group of them were celebrating the appointing of one them as a policeman. He was wasted. Worse still, he was showing off his new licensed piece, and he was begging the female bartender if he could just squeeze off one round down a lane at a line of pins. He was pleading and throwing hundreds of dollars on the table [["Please G-----, Puh-leeze! just one shot-I promise. I'm a good aim. I just want to take out one pin. I'll give you four hundred. No. no. I'll make it five! Just for one shot. Right down the cr*ppiest lane. Puh-leeze, G-----!"). She was standing there leaning on both arms, purse-mouthed, eyes up to the ceiling tiles, going "Hmmmmmmmmmm-no." Glad she didn't turn it into a Gunbowl.