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I remember walking into a bowling
center and being greeted by the same guy who worked the control
desk for a number of years. He knew my name and was always happy
to see me come in. He was the one guy who always had time for any
question and he always had the best instruction and advice for the
game that I was learning.
I remember the days when the bowling center owner and the general
manager knew something about bowling and wanted to talk about it.
I remember the days when I entered the bowling center and would
see people on the lanes really trying to get better.
I remember a time you worked hard at your game so you could get
out of the handicap leagues and be asked to join the scratch league.
I remember the days when the oil machine was a mythical item ran
at the loneliest times of the early morning, never seen in use and
never needed because the lanes would be good all day and night.
I remember a time during league bowling when the higher average
bowlers walked in with more bowling balls then the lower average
bowler.
I remember the smells from the lane finish, lane oil, pinsetter
cleaner; smells that when mixed together were not thought as harmful…..
but unique to the center.
I remember the times near the year-end holidays when the proprietors
would come by and shake the league member's hands and thank them
for their business.
I remember during holiday times that being high on the team won
you a bottle of booze, a turkey or a ham, given away by the bowling
center.
I remember seeing the Honor Roll Boards full of scores and up-to-date.
I remember being interrupted on the approach to the sound of "Telephone
call for Joe Bowler".
I remember a high score was rewarded with cash, green stamps or
savings bonds.
I remember leagues having high game, high series, clean frames,
doubles, and mystery score jackpots.
I remember when leagues were a competition between businesses or
a small click of guys who liked bowling together who wanted to beat
the other guys.
I remember bowling "pot-games" (after league) with those same guys,
and others.
I remember when it wasn't a bother to ask the front desk person
to announce that someone shot a game over 200.
I remember when the front desk person knew of a problem with your
lane before you called it in.
I remember when teams had enough members that pre-bowling was frowned
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