Permanente was is full operation in Tacoma within the first month of operations, this helped make the company one of the payroll builders in the city. Permanente and Kaiser were well respected businesses throughout American industry. View of Permanente Metals Corporation's bowling team at Play-Mor Bowling Alley, a Permanente employee can be seen in action, the other league members cheer him on.

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling--Tacoma; Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Bowling Balls; Play-Mor Bowling Alleys (Tacoma); Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;

A new bowler places her ball, fingers inserted, into the Brunswick Brunsmeter with help from the bowling alley employee. Shelves besides the two are filled with boxes of Hyde bowling shoes and assorted bowling covers. Bowling remained popular throughout the 1950's with many companies sponsoring teams of both men and women. Results of tournaments were steadily reported in local papers. For another view of the bowler and employee, see D112200-145. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW television.

Bowlers; Bowling balls;

Exterior bowling alley. Bowling alleys were often located in nondescript buildings. A large neon sign directs customers to this bowling alley's entrance. Metered parking was available for those choosing to park on the street. This has been identified as University Bowl at 1104 E. 45th, Seattle. Bowling continued to be very popular in the 1950's; leagues flourished, often sponsored by employers, and results of tournaments continued to be reported in local newspapers. Photograph ordered by Western Bowling, Inc. (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Bowling alleys--Seattle; University Bowl (Seattle); Electric signs--Seattle--1950-1960;

Janie models her Heidelberg Breweries bowling shirt as her team members stand by their bowling balls in a photograph taken on April 30, 1954. Heidelberg sponsored both ladies and men's teams in bowling. Bowling was quite a popular sport in the 1950's with at least ten bowling alleys listed in the 1954 City Directory. TPL-6495

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

Interior bowling alley. The new Sky Lane Bowl in Seattle is quiet and waiting for customers on October 22, 1955. The wooden alleys are polished and shining and the pins at the end of the lanes are already set up. This appears to be a very large bowling center with at least twelve operating lanes. Long rows of seats seem to extend the length of the center for onlookers or those waiting their turn to bowl. Photograph ordered by Sky Lane Bowl.

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

The large neon Sky Lane bowling pin sign also bears a resemblance to a flying rocket as it is positioned next to the bowling alley's ample parking lot on October 22, 1955. Sky Lane had recently opened for business in the Seattle area. The familiar semi-curved roof is visible from the street. Photograph ordered by Sky Lane Bowl.

Bowling alleys--Seattle; Skylane Bowl (Seattle); Electric signs--Seattle--1950-1960;

This five-man bowling team posed with their bowling balls and three pins outside an unidentified bowling center entrance on April 1, 1928. Each of the men wore a long sleeved dark shirt with an emblem on the left side. They are possibly the five-man team representing Duncan's Garage who would do well in the Northwest Bowling Congress meet later in April. G53.1-100

Bowlers; Bowling balls;

The 8-man Northwestern Woodenware Co. bowling team posed for a group portrait on October 22, 1923. They participated in the Commercial League. Two bowling balls and a pair of wooden pins are being held by three members seated in front. Standing in the second row on the left is Leif Jensen, accountant for the firm. G53.1-105

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Jensen, Leif; Northwestern Woodenware Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

M & M Hats bowling team. Team members were photographed at the Imperial Lanes, 9th & Commerce, on April 9, 1925. First row, L-R, team captain Bill Slater, team manager Arthur McGinley, John Radonich. Back row, L-R, George Tripp, Cal Hier, V.E. McClure. Five of the men are wearing bow ties, white shirts, and a "M & M-Hats" pennant. Manager McGinley has his hat on the floor and holds a bowling ball. The team finished fourth in the 1925 City League Bowling standings and also participated in the Bowling Congress at Aberdeen. G53.1-104 (TNT 4-10-25, p. 21)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1920-1930; Bowling balls; M & M Hats (Tacoma);

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;

Interior of bowling alley, Brunswick Company, Seattle. A view of the interior of the new West Seattle Bowl facilities featuring the reception area with a cash register, counter, and seating. Many large bouquets are shown representing the congratulations on their opening and wishes for success received by the new bowling alley. The counter is surfaced with wood that is highly grained. The seating area on the right curves around the corner and is covered with leather-like material.

West Seattle Bowl (Seattle); Bowling alleys--Seattle--1940-1950; Cash registers; Bouquets; Interiors--Seattle--1940-1950; Lounges--Seattle--1940-1950; Benches--Seattle--1940-1950;

Interior of bowling alley, Brunswick Company, Seattle. A view of the interior of the West Seattle Bowl facilities showing the players' areas and the spectators' seating. The scoreboards hang over the play area.

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

Interior of new bowling alley, West Seattle Bowl. The curved roof with lighting running with the curve of the building, hanging score boards and overhead projectors give this interior a look of the future. The bowling alley advertised 14 lanes, an instructor, service and a lunch counter. Balls are lined up at the return machines.

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

Bowling team in studio, Tug Boat Annie bowling team, Bill Herdman. The Tug Boat Annie bowling team, sponsored by Henry Foss of the Foss Tug and Boat Company, were champions of the Tacoma Major league two successive years. They were such strong competitors, somewhat feared throughout the Northwest bowling circles, that they went on to take first place in the Northwest Pin Classic - the NIBC (Northwestern International Bowling Congress). The champion bowlers were: L-R, seated, Red Wakefield, Frank McGee and Len Thomas; standing, Kelcy Allen and Ted Wakefield. (T.Times, 5/6/1948, p.16; 5/12/1948, p.11)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tug Boat Annie Bowling Team (Tacoma); Wakefield, Red; McGee, Frank; Thomas, Len; Allen, Kelcy; Wakefield, Ted; Foss Launch & Tug Co. (Tacoma);

Permanente Metals had now been operating in Tacoma for a little over six months. The company produced Kaiser Aluminum products and was a growing industry throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Tacoma subsidiary was an aluminum reduction plant, which helped increase the amount of aluminum produced throughout the nation. View of Permanente Metals Corporation's bowling team at Play-Mor Bowling Alley, the league appears happy with their bowling scores.

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling--Tacoma; Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Bowling Balls; Play-Mor Bowling Alleys (Tacoma); Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees;

View of Permanente Corporation's bowling team receiving their prizes, from Charles P. Love (left), General Superintendent of the company. Permanente's bowlers are being congratulated for a job well done. Permanente is a subsidiary of Kaiser Aluminum, they are an aluminum reduction plant that recently opened in Tacoma and have many other branches throughout the United States.

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling--Tacoma; Shaking hands--Tacoma; Awards; Aluminum industry--Tacoma--1940-1950; Permanente Metals Corp. (Tacoma)--Employees; Love, Charles P.;

Brunswick, Balker, Collender Company. The interior of a ten-lane bowling alley. The Broadway Alleys will reopen August 28, 1946, after being closed all summer for a huge modernization program. Heading the improvements is the installation of ten of the latest Brunswick alleys for league play. (T.Times, 8/27/1946, p.11)

Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Broadway Bowling Center (Tacoma);

Wearing the latest in stylish glasses, these women bowled for Green's Optometrists, 254 So. 11th, in November of 1946 at the Broadway Bowling Center. The women are wearing matching bowling shirts with their names above the left pocket: Marlys, Jean, Helen, Jona and Peggy. Several women's leagues competed at the Broadway Alleys, 739 1/2 Broadway, including the Broadway Ladies and the Eagles Auxiliary.

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

New bowling alley at White Center, Jack Vasso. A view of the players and visitors seating area behind the playing lanes. Racks of bowling balls are seen in the far rear. The bowling ball returns are loaded with balls and the scoring stations are at the ready. The supporting beams for the barrel ceiling attach to heavy posts near the bowling ball racks in the back.

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

On Saturday evening January 21, 1950, Amos Sturgis, a 148-average bowler from Puyallup, went to the Sixth Avenue Lanes, 2052 6th Ave. for a little practice. On his second game he started with a strike. After rolling 12 strikes in a row, he was the first bowler in the history of the lanes to throw a perfect 300. For his perfect game, Sturgis received the standing house cash prize, and a special award from Ed Chilla, owner of the alleys. Ordered by Ed Chilla. (TNT 11/23/1950 p.17) TPL-9807

Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1950-1960; Sturgis, Amos; Sixth Avenue Lanes (Tacoma); Bowling balls; Awards;

B & B Glass and Paint Company were glass and paint dealers and manufacturers, their business office was located at 748 Market Street in downtown Tacoma. The company was owned by Benjamin E. Bassett and LeRoy O. Bertheau. View of B & B employees and possibly the owners; this company's bowling league appears to have won a local bowling tournament.

Tournaments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Awards--1940-1950; Bowling--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowling balls; B & B Glass & Paint Co. (Tacoma)--Employees;

Heidelberg Breweries sponsored teams for various recreational leagues. Ten members of the brewery's bowling team pose for a photograph on April 30, 1954. Five men are crouching with their right hands upright; the five women behind them each grasps ahold of one man's arm. The men all have their names embroidered above the pockets on their bowling shirts.

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

People took bowling very seriously in the 1950's. It was a very popular sport, with many companies sponsoring teams in various leagues. Results were often reported in the local newspapers. These five ladies were probably on the women's team sponsored by the Bailey Co., a real estate firm. Madge, Esther, Marge, Nona and Lois all had their names stitched onto their bowling shirts and engraved on their Brunswick balls as well. Photograph ordered by the Bailey Co.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling balls; Bailey Co. (Tacoma);

Bowling teams in the 1950's dressed a bit more formally than today's bowlers. This five-man team sponsored by the Bailey Co. all wore identical long-sleeve shirts and nice slacks to bowl. Since bowling was so popular in the 1940's and 50's, many companies sponsored teams who competed in leagues. Winning teams were frequently mentioned in the sports section of the local newspaper. Sepia photograph ordered by the Bailey Co.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowling balls; Bailey Co. (Tacoma);