Interior of bowling alley, Brunswick Company, Seattle. A view of the interior of the West Seattle Bowl facilities featuring the lanes, ball returns, scoring tables and over-head scoring screens. The curved ceiling is brightly lit by fixtures seated between each of the beams.

West Seattle Bowl (Seattle); Bowling alleys--Seattle--1940-1950; Lighting--Seattle--1940-1950; Bowling balls;

Interior of new bowling alley, West Seattle Bowl. A view of a lunch counter and stools that curve around the preparation area. An older couple and a younger man and woman stand behind the counter. At least eight bouquets are displayed, sent by people wishing the new enterprise success. Blenders are seen on the left, back counter ready to prepare whipped drinks. Windows line the wall above the back counter. The lunch counter is open to the rest of the interior of the building.

West Seattle Bowl (Seattle); Bowling alleys--Seattle--1940-1950; Snack bars--Seattle; Counters--Seattle; Stools; Cooks;

Many companies sponsored bowling teams in the 1950's as a way to promote unity and goodwill among employees. There were numerous leagues in the Tacoma area, both for men and women. This large group, photographed on April 16, 1957, consisted of employees of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. These women look ready to bowl, even in long skirts. Photograph ordered by Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. (Tacoma)--Employees--1950-1960;

This was the all-star women's bowling team sponsored by Tschunko's Florist in 1925. They posed with two wooden pins and a bowling ball. The ladies would be competing in the Pacific International Bowling Congress at Aberdeen on April 11th. Back row (L-R): Alice Lindmark, Ann Carlsen, Mrs. H. Young. Front row (L-R): Mrs. B. McCormick, Mrs. C. Bingston. Tschunko's was located at 5001 Pacific Avenue across the street from what is now Stewart Middle School. By 1938, ownership had changed hands and Gibson's Florists & Greenhouses operated at the same location until 1999. G53.1-101 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-5-25, C-3)

Bowling--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bowlers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bowling balls; Lindmark, Alice; Carlsen, Ann; Young, H.--Family; McCormick, B.--Family; Bingston, C.--Family; Tschunko's House of Flowers (Tacoma);

Dining area of the Sky Lane Bowl in Seattle.

Bowling lanes and seating area of the Sky Lane Bowl in Seattle.

The women's bowling team from Green's Optometrists and possibly Charles A. Green, Jr., owner of Green's Optometrists. The women wear matching bowling shirts backwards to show their team name and they each hold a bowling ball. They each wear eyeglasses as well as the man holding three bowling pins. They are playing at Broadway Bowling Center.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Green's Optometrists (Tacoma)--1940-1950; Broadway Bowling Center (Tacoma); Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Eagles bowlers at North End Alleys. A large group of men pose for the camera.

Bowlers; North End Alleys (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraternal Order of Eagles (Tacoma);

Picture of North End Alleys. The Tacoma Times was sponsoring the Bowling Classic finals at North End lanes. The tournament will use the "Petersen Point" system, it will be the first time the point system is used on the West Coast (T.Times, 2/21/45, p. 9).

Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Pinsetting--Tacoma; North End Alleys (Tacoma);

Dave Penn. Bowlers are ready for action at the Midway Amusement Center. These gentlemen form one of the police bowling leagues. The gentleman with his back to the camera is shaking hands with Leon Sides, operator of the amusement center.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Midway Amusement Center (Tacoma); Sides, Leon; Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950;

The Tacoma All-stars bowling team took on a Seattle team in April and May of 1945 in the fourth annual inter-city championship tournament. Bowling for Tacoma were: seated (l to r) Ted Tadich and Bill Eggleston, wearing matching bowling shirts, and standing (l to r) are Pvt. Joe Wilman, Johny Radonich and Frank Barker. Pvt. Wilman was a nationally known bowler from Chicago who bowled for Ft. Lewis. Johny Radonich and Frank Barker bowled for Teamsters Local 313. (T. Times, 4/10/45, p. 9).

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Men--Clothing & dress--Tacoma; North End Alleys (Tacoma);

Interior of bowling alley, Brunswick Company, Seattle. A view of the interior of the West Seattle Bowl facilities featuring the players seating areas with tables for keeping score and overhead projectors for the score totals. Two rows of spectator seating are provided. The curved laminated beams that support the arched roof are shown with the supporting braces where the beams join the floor.

West Seattle Bowl (Seattle); Bowling alleys--Seattle--1940-1950;

Cans of Columbia Ale are arranged in a semi-circle on the familiar Heidelberg logo placemat as the brewery's men's bowling team pose behind the display. The men, dressed in bowling shirts with their names embroidered on them, clutch their bowling balls in this April 30, 1954, photograph. Bowling was a popular pastime in the Fifties; there were probably many leagues established in Tacoma. TPL-6496

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Heidelberg Brewing Co. (Tacoma)--People; Beer;

The O'Donnell Market women's bowling team from Bend, Oregon. Five women dressed in matching outfits representing O'Donnell's Market. Three women in back row have names embroidered on shirts, left to right: Reba, Olga, Evelyn. The team was competing in the annual Western Women's Bowling Congress at the Play Mor alleys April 24- May 5th, 1940.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; O'Donnell's Market--Bend, Oregon--People;

Sherman Tackle Co. women's bowling team, Tacoma City Girls Class B bowling champs. Five women dressed in skirts and blouses gathered around scoring table in bowling alley. They are, left to right, Delores Coleman, Winnifred Rowe, Nell Bowman, Sigrid Anderson and Cecelia Rowe. (T. Times 4/25/1940, pg. 17)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Sherman Tackle Co. (Tacoma)--People; Coleman, Delores; Rowe, Winnifred; Bowman, Nell; Anderson, Sigrid; Rowe, Cecelia;

Dressed in matching dark dresses are the 1943 champion womens' team of the Ruston Bowling League, which played on its own community lanes. Pictured left to right are Grace Murphy, Lena Larsen, Lois Oberg and Margaret Velacich. (Times 4/20/1943, pg. 15)

Bowlers--Ruston--1940-1950;

New bowling alley at White Center, Jack Vasso. A view of the interior of the newly completed White Center Bowl showing ten lanes, the scoring stations, player and visitor seating, and ball returns. The barrel ceiling is lit along the beams for a stripped effect.

White Center Bowl (Seattle); Bowling alleys--Seattle--1940-1950; Barrel ceilings--Seattle; Lighting--Seattle; Bowling balls;

Interior- bowling alley. The Villa Bowl, located in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center, welcomed area bowlers to their modern new facility in September, 1957. Semi-circular bench seating was provided for bowlers on the checkered flooring and comfortable chairs with arm rests awaited onlookers. Villa Bowl had 24 lanes and automatic Brunswick pin setters. There would be a league room for lessons by both a male and female instructor and a leathercraft shop where bowlers could learn to make custom made covers. A snack bar and banquet room would also be available. Owners Russell and Jo Trauger would also provide a nursery with trained supervisors to watch the children of bowlers. The bowling alley would be open 24 hours a day. For exterior of building, see A108778-5. Photograph ordered by Villa Bowl. (TNT 8-7-57, B-20, TNT 9-19-57, p. 14, 15))

Bowling alleys--Lakewood; Villa Bowl (Lakewood);

The Villa Bowl was one of the newest bowling alleys to open in Pierce County in 1957; it was located in the new Villa Plaza Shopping Center. The building's exterior is typically concrete-block construction with some brick facing. Large letters near the roofline advertise the business' name; there is also a cutout of two bowlers on a separate panel nearby. The bowling alley was scheduled to open about September 1. It would have 24 lanes and automatic Brunswick pin setters. Bowling lessons would be provided by both a male and female instructor. Photograph ordered by Villa Bowl. (TNT 8-7-57, B-20)

Bowling alleys--Lakewood; Villa Bowl (Lakewood); Signs (Notices);

Dixie, "Thelma" and fellow bowlers look prepared to take lessons on the art of bowling in a January, 1958, photograph. They all have their bowling balls at waist high, fingers inserted, as they gaze upon the smiling male instructor. He is probably Ted Tadich, who is carrying two balls in the palms of his hands. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Bowlers; Bowling alleys; Bowling balls;

Bright fluorescent lights reflect off the shining wooden alleys of the Sky Lane Bowling center on October 22, 1955. The new bowling alley had recently opened for business in Seattle. Bowling was a very popular sport in the 1950's with many alleys in Seattle and Tacoma to cater to the multiple bowling leagues and also the occasional bowler. Photograph ordered by Skylane Bowl.

Bowling alleys--Seattle; Sky Lane Bowling (Seattle);

Exterior bowling alley. The new Sky Lane Bowling center in Seattle was newly opened for business in October, 1955. Owners provided a long covered walkway leading to the entrance of the bowling alley so that customers could be protected from the region's elements. The familiar semi-curved roofline probably signified to passersby that a bowling alley was contained within. The bowling center was owned by Western Bowling Managers Inc. It had ample parking for customers and also a fine restaurant, owned by Mrs. Kena Jensen and Mrs. Eva Harris. Photograph ordered by Sky Lane Bowl.

Bowling alleys--Seattle; Sky Lane Bowl (Seattle);

Bowling has long been popular in Tacoma, producing such greats as Earl Anthony. The Tryfon Hatters bowled for John Tryfon whose hat store was located at 944 1/2 Commerce Street beginning in 1921. Greek-born Tryfon, affectionately known as "the Madhatter of Commerce Street", retired in 1973.

Lee Croft offered a little friendly advice on pins to his womens' bowling team and apparently it paid off. In January of 1943, his team was the first half title winning womens' team in the Eagle League and was on its way to a second half crown. Pictured, left to right, are Mr. Croft, Ellen McGowan, Zona Wild, Helen Dailey, Gladys Murdock and Norma Matineau. (T. Times 1/27/1943, pg. 12)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coliseum Bowling Alley (Tacoma); Croft, Lee;

Members of the Sport Center team, all season champions of the Broadway Ladies Bowling League, pose with their bowling balls. The ladies scored 2347 in the playoff. Pictured, left to right, are Laurene Putbres, Evalyn Stein, Margaret Neary, Vera Kindervich and Jerry Bergman. (TNT 5/3/1942, PG. A-13)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Broadway Bowling Center (Tacoma); Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Putbres, Laurene; Stein, Evalyn; Neary, Margaret; Kindervich, Vera; Bergman, Jerry;

Griffin Fuel Company bowling team. Ed Griffin is seen standing in the middle. The team members wear matching shirts. A patch with a star in the middle and the word "Police" centered over the star is on the upper left front of each shirt. TPL-2521.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Griffin Fuel Co. (Tacoma); Griffin, Edwin L., 1908-1955;

Nalley's Bowling team is gathered together at North End Alleys. Most Tacoma businesses had bowling leagues. They would compete against other leagues and eventually participate in a tournament, the winner would get a trophy.

Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls;

Champion mens' team, 1943, of the Ruston Bowling League. The Ruston league played on its own community lanes. Pictured left to right, some in personalized shirts, are Jeff Tallman, Art Erickson, Jacob Vandenberg, Captain, Glenn Voss and Owen Gallagher. (Times 4/20/1943, pg. 15)

Bowlers--Ruston--1940-1950;

Jerry Worden. Milan Zlokovich, star California bowler, came to Tacoma to finish his 80-game series with Pvt. Joe Wilman June 1-3, 1945, at the North End Lanes. 40 games were rolled in San Francisco and 40 will be rolled here. (T.Times, 5/31/1945, p.15)

Bowlers; Zlokovich, Milan;

Ray Kanzler and one of the bowling teams posed for this studio portrait during the 1951 leagues.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowling balls;