 
Zitro
Member
Username: Zitro
Post Number: 1990
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 12:16 pm: |    |
I grew up at Fantasy, but would frequent all of the eastside one's within bike riding distance. There was one on Mack in GPW I think it was next to the Farmer Jack. Denby was probably the second one I frequented the second most.
I would spend a week during the summer at a cousins house in Redford Twp. they lived on Winston just 5 houses from the house on Plymouth-Brentwood Lanes. They (cousins)had a built in swimming pool, I was in heaven wherever I stayed over there.
(Message edited by zitro on September 19, 2008) |
Whithorn11446
Member
Username: Whithorn11446
Post Number: 278
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 12:19 pm: | |
"I too remember Klee's being on McNichols (closer to Hoover than Gratiot,) so I was puzzled your matchbook with the Gratiot address. I had to call for some back up on this...My mother (league bowler at Ramona Lanes) remembers Klee's being a bar on Gratiot, with a few lanes in the basement. (Maybe that is why the matchbook says "bowling in connection.")"
Elimarr,
I mentioned in a previous post that Klee's was originally in the basement of Remer's Drug-Medical Supply Store. Ed Lubanski bought the place and then then had the "New Klee's" built on 6 Mile in the 60's. Actually, the "New Klee's" didn't have the greatest reputation among many because it wasn't kept up as well as it should have been despite Ed Lubanski owning it. Ramona was maintained well and made money while not having a bar for many years. The reason Ramona didn't have a bar for many years is because they had many Protestant church leagues and other groups that selected the place for that purpose.
(Message edited by Whithorn11446 on September 19, 2008)
(Message edited by Whithorn11446 on September 19, 2008) |
Slick
Member
Username: Slick
Post Number: 25
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 12:48 pm: | |
If my memory is correct the Bowling lanes at Sherwood and 8 mile, NE corner was MOTOR LANES.
I am afraid the glory days of bowling like the glory days of Detroit are in the past and may never recover.
Bowling lanes as you all have mentioned were small 16 lanes house, owned by family proprieters.
They would take care of bowlers, buy drinks, keep the places clean etc. When the big corporations moved in they were run by managers who had no real authority. Leagues were forced to bowl long seasons, still do, beer prices sky rocketed. What used to be leagues at 6 and 9 pm. (never started at 9) are down to one league maybe. The yearbook was the size of the phone book, now it is half that size. oh my. |
Elimarr
Member
Username: Elimarr
Post Number: 83
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 1:07 pm: | |
Slick,
Close enough for me...I'm glad a few others recall the existence of Motor Whatever bowling on 8 Mile & Sherwood. I don't even think I bowled there. The thing is, my friend lived on Concord a few houses off of 8 Mile. As teens, we went several times to buy some pizza by the slice there. What I really do remember were the death-defying runs across 8 Mile Road.
Mikefive,
I bet that Central City Lanes was the location I am thinking of (Woodward, near The Blvd.,) but the name doesn't really ring a bell. So I might have been there after a name change or something. The one I recall was pretty HUGE in comparison to many of the neighborhood alleys at the time (1970's.)
(Message edited by elimarr on September 19, 2008)
(Message edited by elimarr on September 19, 2008) |
Ronaldj
Member
Username: Ronaldj
Post Number: 47
Registered: 01-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 3:51 pm: | |
I had the privilege of taking a Cass Tech phys ed course at the Garden Bowl at the Majestic. Second storey lanes.
Another second storey bowling alley was on West Warren near Oakman. There was "Pines" in the name. Maybe somebody could help me out. My piano teacher and I would would go for a beer and a couple of lines (not those) after a lesson.
I was bartending (a short-lived job)at the Thunderbowl when Nixon announced his resignation.
And we should not forget the venerable feather-bowling at the Cadieux Cafe. |
Bowldetroit
Member
Username: Bowldetroit
Post Number: 9
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 4:13 pm: | |
Pinetree maybe? |
Bowldetroit
Member
Username: Bowldetroit
Post Number: 10
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 4:15 pm: | |
I bowled at Redford Recreation, Crown Lanes, Bowlerama, Grandmont, Ambassador, Brightmor recreation, Hawthorne Valley, Brentwood Lanes, Beech Lanes, Bowlcraft (Mike Totsky owned it) |
Zitro
Member
Username: Zitro
Post Number: 1996
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 4:16 pm: | |
Cadieux Cafe:
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Ggores
Member
Username: Ggores
Post Number: 386
Registered: 10-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 4:28 pm: | |
Brentwood Lanes... seems I 'member some bad rap about that place, warped lanes maybe? |
Zitro
Member
Username: Zitro
Post Number: 1999
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 4:38 pm: | |
This was the mid sixties, it was still taken pretty good care of then. My dad was a Detroit Fireman and I was over my cousins when the riots broke out. He was on call for over a week and I was "stuck" there, we were Eastsiders. So, it was pretty easy to remember where I was when that happened. |
Mortalman
Member
Username: Mortalman
Post Number: 272
Registered: 03-2007
| | Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 - 4:58 pm: | |
Forget the question I axed, Bowldetroit! I forgot what I was going to ax you, now, anyway!! |
Bowldetroit
Member
Username: Bowldetroit
Post Number: 11
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 12:42 am: | |
Here are a couple scans that I missed posting.
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Danny
Member
Username: Danny
Post Number: 7763
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 1:24 am: | |
Jcole,
I Don't bowl at Bowlero lanes. Too much mom and pop. Yes Chuck Walby do owned not only Thunderbird Lanes in Troy but also Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park. It's the biggest bowling alley in the Tri-County Area with over 96 lanes. It's also home of the Detroit Bowling Hall of Fame and once 20 lanes Bowling Stadium where Bowling for Dollars was broadcast on Channel 7 in the 1950s. |
Bowldetroit
Member
Username: Bowldetroit
Post Number: 12
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 1:42 am: | |
Thunderbowl was not owned by Walby, It was owned by George Prybala and later by the Strobl's It has 94 lanes. Bowling For Dollars was on Channel 4 and was hosted by Bob Allison from the Thunderbowl Arena which is now some stupid color disco nightclub hangout. Walby owned Thunderbird in Troy and Thunderbird Fiesta in Westland, which was changed to Fiesta and now is owned by Steve Klein and is called Vision Lanes. |
Kova
Member
Username: Kova
Post Number: 160
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 4:49 am: | |
Danny, care for a game at schaefer lanes? |
Elimarr
Member
Username: Elimarr
Post Number: 85
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 11:22 am: | |
Bowldetroit,
If you feel like clipping some more, can you post section J-M? |
Mikefive
Member
Username: Mikefive
Post Number: 40
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 11:36 am: | |
Thunderbowl has 90 lanes now and with a comedy club. |
Grumpyoldlady
Member
Username: Grumpyoldlady
Post Number: 237
Registered: 06-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 7:48 pm: | |
Anyone ever bowl at Yorba Linda out on Woodward in the burbs? Can't remember exactly where. |
Lpg
Member
Username: Lpg
Post Number: 72
Registered: 02-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 - 8:55 pm: | |
Oakwood Bluejackets-Oakwood Blvd.
Springwells Recreation
Penguin Bowling-Vernor Ave |
Reddog289
Member
Username: Reddog289
Post Number: 595
Registered: 08-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 2:12 am: | |
When i think of it Plymouth Rd west of Telegraph had a few alleys. Brentwood, Mayflower, Wonderland, Woodland, Plymouth TWSP, and in there also was Sabatinis? I belive. Funny seeing places you bowled at turn into Post offices, car washes, ice rinks. Ive been to Alberts on the Alley in G.C., NICE PLACE yet i miss the lanes. |
Bowldetroit
Member
Username: Bowldetroit
Post Number: 13
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 2:46 am: | |
Thunderbowl's ad from the net
Thunderbowl has 94 lanes, seven bars and 20 pool tables, making this alley Michigan's largest. The All-Star Arena is a venue built around comedy, and there's nightlife fun inside the Hall of Fame Lounge, a bar that showcases live bands on Thursday nights and dons a magnificent look of leopard print and retro cool. Thunderbowl also offers karaoke and dancing. Domestic bottles are $1.25 from 10 p.m. to midnight daily, and rock-n-bowl and cosmic bowling go off Friday and Saturday nights. |
Bowldetroit
Member
Username: Bowldetroit
Post Number: 14
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 2:48 am: | |
Livonia Lanes was on Plymouth Rd. Burned down and is now an Italian restaurant |
Bowldetroit
Member
Username: Bowldetroit
Post Number: 15
Registered: 09-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 2:52 am: | |
Elimarr, here ya go
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Kova
Member
Username: Kova
Post Number: 161
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 2:54 am: | |
ahh mercury lanes the only bowling alley left in east dearborn! |
Danny
Member
Username: Danny
Post Number: 7764
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 8:57 am: | |
Bowldetroit
Walby and Strobl worked out a connection relationship between their bowling alleys. The bowling signs Thunderbird and Thunderbowl are simular unless they went to a change of ownership years ago. |
Zitro
Member
Username: Zitro
Post Number: 2015
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 1:37 pm: | |
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Zitro
Member
Username: Zitro
Post Number: 2016
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 1:39 pm: | |
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Zitro
Member
Username: Zitro
Post Number: 2017
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 1:41 pm: | |
A lot of non bowlers would but their balls from Eastside:
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Zitro
Member
Username: Zitro
Post Number: 2018
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 1:43 pm: | |
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Elimarr
Member
Username: Elimarr
Post Number: 86
Registered: 09-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 - 1:57 pm: | |
Zitro,
What is the extent of your matchbook collection? Certain time period? Metro Detroit area only? Not meaning to stray from topic, but you seem to have quite a collection--just curious. Thanks for posting them. I remember East Side Sporting Goods well. |