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;

Moose Lodge bowling team.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Loyal Order of Moose (Tacoma);

Women Bowlers at the Eagles. The unidentified women are neatly attired in matching slacks and short sleeved shirts.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Three women bowlers show their Midway Amusement Center bowling vests to Leon Sides, operator of the amusement center.

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

Caswell Girls Bowling Team. Caswell Optometrists bowling team have won the Class A Women's Bowling League championship on the Broadway alleys. The team is shown wearing their team uniform, a skirt and blouse. L-R, Mary Leifester, Kitty Barber, Peggy Ruehle, Jean Colbo and Neva Hurlbut. (T.Times, 4/28/1945, p.5)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950; Caswell Optometrists;

Bill Herdman, Shrine bowling team. The five team members, L-R, John Pasnick, Bill Farrar, Henry Wiley, Ben Overdahl and Tony Vetter, listen while Bill Herdman, kneeling, provides encouragement. The back of the team's shirts are embroidered with "Afifi, Tacoma" and their insignia. The team members wear their fez. (T.Times, 12/12/1946, p.18)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Men--Clubs--Tacoma; Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (Tacoma); Herdman, Bill; Pasnick, John; Farrar, Bill; Wiley, Henry; Overdahl, Ben; Vetter, Tony;

In November of 1947, Stationers women's bowling team lined up for a group photo at the Broadway Alleys (739 1/2 Broadway), modeling their matching bowling uniforms- plaid skirts and white blouses with their names on the left side. Left to right were Tiny, Doris, Pat, Nettie and May. The shirts were set off by a plaid tie at the neck. Stationers Inc. sold office and school supplies, business equipment, office furniture, typewriters and mimeographs. C. H. Armstrong was President and J. F. Wilhelmi was Vice President and Treasurer. The company had both women's and men's bowling teams.

Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling--Tacoma; Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Women--Sports--Tacoma; Broadway Bowling Center (Tacoma);

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;

The City of Tacoma's ten bowling leagues competed against each other for the title of City Bowling Champions. The Department of Public Utilities Light Division beat the garbage, police and engineer's teams and were awarded the city trophy. Front row, left to right: Howard Armstrong and James Wilhelmi; team members in back row, left to right: Bill McClelland, Jack Byers, Frank Francis, Art Angove, Lave Bresolin, Dave Ferguson and Carl Phlugmacher (T.N.T., 5/1/49, p. B-13).

Bowling--Tacoma; Bowling alleys--Tacoma; Bowlers--Tacoma; Bowling balls; Awards; Men--Social life--1940-1950; Tournaments--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Dept. of Public Utilities, Light Division (Tacoma)--People;

Studio portrait of Joe Bowles, 325 Supply Squadron, AI 15432518, McChord Field. The young airman stopped by the Richards Studio on December 23, 1950 to have his photograph taken while in dress uniform.

Bowles, Joe; Military personnel--1950-1960; Military uniforms;

Bill Hay, on the extreme right, gives pointers to local lawn bowlers during his trip to Tacoma on September 7, 1950. Hay is the president of the American Lawn Bowling Association. From left to right are Jim Dickson, Cy Mentzer, Louis Muscek, Roy Cleveland, Bill Dunckley, Lew Thomas and Hay. The lawn bowling green in Wright Park was built by the W.P.A., and play began there on May2, 1936. (TNT 9-10-50, p. C-14)

Bowling--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bowlers--Tacoma--1950-1960; Balls (Sporting goods);

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);

Lawn bowlers compete in Northwest tournament at Wright Park. The ancient Scottish game attracted 85 bowlers, signifying growing popularity in the Northwest. Spectators watch bowler as he stands on lawn pad and rolls the ball. (T.Times, 6/1/38, p. 5).

Bowling--Tacoma; Bowlers--Tacoma; Tournaments--Tacoma; Wright Park (Tacoma); Parks--Tacoma--1940-1950;

On April 20, 1942, the members of the Venetians bowling team posed at the Coliseum Bowling Alley, 407 So. 13th St. Pictured standing, left to right, were Eva Gipple, Gladys Putbres, Hattie Wilkowski and Ann Berry. Seated was Jennie Small. The women, all first year bowlers, were the champions of the Coliseum's Women's Class B League. They defeated their nearest opponents by two points. (TNT 4/26/1942, pg. A-12)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Coliseum Bowling Alley (Tacoma); Gipple, Eva; Putbres, Gladys; Wilkowski, Hattie; Berry, Ann; Small, Jennie;

Mechanical interior behind bowling lanes of the Sky Lane Bowl in Seattle.

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph bowling team. Three bowling balls are shown in the foreground, a trophy sits in front of the men. War posters, a calendar and advertisements are hung on the wall above the players.

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; War posters;

In April of 1943 Dave Davies (far left) was the only member of this North End Industrial League bowling team not named Murphy. His teammates were (l to r) Earl, John, Howard (Pat) and Roy Murphy. Before WWII broke out there were two more Murphys on the team: Roy Murphy, Jr. and Bill Murphy, Howard's son. When the two younger Murphys joined the Navy, Dave Davies took their place. (T. Times 4/22/1943, pg. 14)

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Brunswick-Balke. This ten-lane bowling alley is empty now. The pins are all lined up and the benches, ball returns and scoring tables stand ready for players to arrive. Ash bins are ready next to the projectors for scores.

Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Brunswick-Balke Co.;

These five women, dressed in matching polka dot dresses, bowled in the Women's A League for the 1306 Tavern in 1946. Owned by Inigo Lucchesi, the tavern was at 1306 Pacific Avenue. Inigo's wife Ann (second from right) was a very good bowler. On November 21, 1946 she had the top three game score for women bowling that night in Tacoma with a combined score of 540.The women on the team have been identified, from the names on their dresses as: (l to r) Dorothy Pollen, Mildred Fleming, Evelyn Stein, Ann Lucchesi, and Josephine Halko. TPL-9491

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bowling alleys--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Interior of bowling alley, Brunswick Company, Seattle. A September, 1948, view of the interior of the West Seattle Bowl facilities facing the playing area with fourteen lanes featuring the players' seating, backs of the score screens and the ball returns. The new bowling alley was operated by Jack E. Fasso.

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

Interior of bowling alley, Brunswick Company, Seattle. A view of the interior of the West Seattle Bowl facilities showing the back of the players' areas and the racks of bowling balls stored behind the spectators' seating. The footings for the laminated beams are also clearly shown.

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

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;

New bowling alley at White Center, Jack Vasso. A view straight down the ten bowling lanes to the pins, set for the games to begin. The players seating and scoring stations are in the foreground.

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