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;

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;

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);

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;

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;

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;

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;

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);

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);

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;

Rainy days did not keep customers away from the Bowlero Lanes, 3852 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W. in Lakewood. This early December, 1968, photograph shows a partially full parking lot outside the bowling alley, and was used in a December 5, 1968, News Tribune ad. The bowling center, located near the Sears suburban store, was announcing the gala opening of a new restaurant and coffee shop. The menu featured a delicious salad bar and Henning's famous 9 oz. broiler steak for only $3.95. Bowling was still very popular in the 1960's with league results reported in the daily newspapers. Bowlero Lanes was open for business 24 hours a day with 32 lanes available. Another feature was the new expanded billiard area. Photograph ordered by Bowlero Lanes. (TNT ad 12-5-68, B-2)

Bowlero Lanes (Lakewood); Bowling alleys--Lakewood--1960-1970; Parking lots--Lakewood;

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

Bowlers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

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;

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;

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;

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;

These five young bowlers happily displayed their trophies in May of 1961. They were the Villa Bowl bantam team that won the Western Division Championship of the 16th National Team Mail-O-Graphic tournament held at the Villa Bowl in Lakewood. The boys went on to earn 124th place at nationals. Left to right are Bradley Clevinger, Evan MacKay, Sam Munro, Jerroll Theuer and Jim MacKay who are standing in front of the Villa Bowl, a 24-lane bowling alley, in Lakewood's Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Photograph ordered by Villa Bowl. (TNT 6-11-61, B-14)

Bowlers--Lakewood; Awards; Clevinger, Bradley; MacKay, Evan; Munro, Sam; Theuer, Jerroll; MacKay, Jim; Villa Bowl (Lakewood);

Moose Lodge bowling team.

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

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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);

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 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.

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;

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;

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);