Old School Bowling Alleys

[Aslan]

Am I the only one that loves the old school bowling alleys?

I hear a lot of people complaining about their bowling establishments not being updated, etc... I actually "like" that. For me, there are two great environments...heaven on Earth.

1) Ice Rinks: Theres something about the "smell" of ice in an ice rink. That mixed with the smell of sweaty equipment...it's just a really cool smell/ambiance that is irreplaceable.

2) Bowling Alleys: I like to just walk around or sit around in a bowling alley...with the sounds of the pins getting hit on the lanes. There's nothing like it. And for me, the real great ones are the old school ones. The ones with the old ball returns...the 70s era seating...hell, even the truly old school ones where you have to mark your score manually!!

Nowadays alleys are just used for birthday parties and corporate parties. Half the time I get to the alley late and the lights are off and everything is glow in the dark. The other half the time, I can't even get on a lane because half the lanes have leagues on them and the other half of the facility is being used for parties.

And yes...there are some "ammenities" that I guess I have to admit I like. Automatic scoring, automated speed/mph readouts, screens that instruct you where to hit the pins to pick up a spare, automated bumpers that go up and down automatically for each bowler that needs them, comfortable couches. I mean, sure, I guess I like those things...but give me an old school bowling alley with plastic chairs on a swivel with wood lanes...I don't know...I just like that old school feeling. For me, there's nothing worse than bowling my last practice game and all the sudden the rock music starts blaring and the lights go off.

I'm torn...because we need to find a way to bring in young people...to keep the sport going. But I'm also someone that appreciates the GAME...rather than changing the game into some glow in the dark abortion. How can we teach young players to play...to aim at arrows...when it's too damn dark to even see the arrows!? Half the crowd on a Saturday are young teenage punks whipping 6lb balls at bumpers...thats not bowling!

[e-tank]

I actually like cosmic bowling except for the part where the lanes are always burnt to a crisp. I think its a good thing to be comfortable bowling without seeing the arrows or your break point because once you can master that, its easier to bowl with the lights on. I wasnt around in the 70's and 80's to see what bowling was like but right now it seems alot like golf, its not really action packed and its more technical than anything. Which is the oppose of what young people are into now days. Even things like movies favor action over a good storyline and the same goes with video games. From bowling in vegas a few times i actually prefer the newer alley over my house which is pretty run down.

[Aslan]

Kids....get off my lawn!!

[Aslan]

We're actually fairly close in distance to each other. We're gonna have to meet half way in Temecula and do an Aslan/e-tank Challenge!!

We just need a prize...other than honor and pride. Some kind of like "Annual Aslan-E-Tank Challenge Memorial Trophy" or bowlingboards awards the winner a ball or something. It's gonna have to be handicap though...I want between 20-63 pins per game.

[MICHAEL]

I agree, Asian,, (I mean Lion)! Cosmic bowling with 6 lb balls, no lights, just throw the ball 3/4 of the way down the lane in the air, is for this younger generation with ADD!!
You hit the nail on the button about movies ect.... I am not sure what's bring this disturbing trend to light, but its very sad indeed! Like the trophies,,, and glory of doing something well, just for the sake of doing it WELL!
Yes Aslan, we are a dying breed.... Maybe Iceman should just throw in the towel, and go Coma Comic, Cosmic!!!! Maybe if I do it enough I will become numb to the fact that I am not actually bowling, but going ADD!!

VERY GOOD ,,, I LIKE your thoughts, and agree 100 percent~~

[Aslan]

Although Mr. Iceman...usually during cosmic bowling there are young girls in skimpy outfits that if you were them back in the day...they wouldn't let you in the bowling alley bar wearing, much less the lanes. So...obviously the gals don't dig bowling skills as much as they dig v-shaped torsos, rock hard abs, and tight billabong fitted shirts.

[Hampe]

Eh....I only started bowling after I moved to Switzerland, and there aren't too many old-school lanes in Europe . I'm a city boy anyway....I like modern things, and bowling centers aren't any different.

But I do prefer "real" competitive bowling compared to the cosmic bowling (or what I like to call "disco" bowling).

[J Anderson]

Here on the "Gold Coast" we're lucky to have any lanes left. The old school alleys have all been razed to put up shopping centers and "big box" stores. The only thing I really miss about them is the manual scoring. Its not that I miss doing all that arithmetic. I miss the creative doodles that some of the guys would include while writing down the scores and the chances to draw a wall after a couple of bad frames to get back on track.

[MICHAEL]

Although Mr. Iceman...usually during cosmic bowling there are young girls in skimpy outfits that if you were them back in the day...they wouldn't let you in the bowling alley bar wearing, much less the lanes. So...obviously the gals don't dig bowling skills as much as they dig v-shaped torsos, rock hard abs, and tight billabong fitted shirts.

yes, things have changed, for the better?? I just hope that as things evolve, we still have some old school, bowling lanes that know how to lay down a house/sports pattern!

What the heck do YOUNG GAL's know, and who cares what they dig! If what you say is true, then we as a country are in deep billbong trouble!!
Its time to save the game of BOWLING as a SPORT!! We got troubles, right here in River City,,,,,its time for all the old timer's to fight for Old school bowling!!


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[MICHAEL]

Vote for one or the other, "IT'S not 2 LATE!

1. I like bowling the cosmic style, with dark lanes, flashing lights, and music so loud it almost busts your ear drums, but not quite! I like looking at chicks wearing outfits that most lanes, 20 years ago would consider unacceptable! I Like throwing 6lb balls hard, fast, and in any directions, since you can't see anyway, in the dark and who wants to look at 10 white pins, when you got chicks to look at! Cosmic Bowling Rules

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