Sharon081
1 post
Jan 02, 2013
10:51 AM
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Hey Doug68,
it was wonderful to hear that you knew Nick Manos. He was a close family friend when I was a little girl and he would bring us kids to Belmont on the weekends and give us the run of the place. I wonder if you knew either one of my parents who were extensive, and even well-known area bowlers in the 60's and 70's.
They bowled for the World Team when they lived in Germany in the late 50's/early 60's. My dad, I believed worked for AMF part of that time as well. They moved to Dayton after living in Europe, in 1963, when my dad accepted a job at NCR. My parents were divorced in 69, but they each continued bowling in their respective leagues. My dad's name was Bob Ryan.
My mom's name was Pat Ryan..although she married a few times in the 70's, so she had several names. She's the one who knew my Uncle Nick the best. He helped out my mom a great deal.
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KB1967
12 posts
Jan 15, 2013
9:59 PM
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Does anyone rememer the name of the Bowling Alley next to DESC on Wilmington? I think it was Polking Lanes???? Never bowled there but use to get lunch on Fridays from the restaurant when I worked at DESC. It was the best fish sandwich I have ever tasted.
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carlatm75
107 posts
Jan 16, 2013
6:55 AM
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KB1967, The bowling alley is still there and it's called Poelking Lanes. When did you work at DESC? I worked there in the computer room from 1989 until 1996 and was part of the close-out team after everyone moved to Columbus.
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wrgood
9 posts
Jan 16, 2013
1:15 PM
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Here's an interesting site with a lot of the names mentioned in this thread.
http://www.daytonbowler.com/gdba-history/dayton-city-records/
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Mark1984
64 posts
Jan 17, 2013
7:18 PM
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Went through all of the posts to be sure I'm not repeating someone. Trotwood Lanes was on E. Main St. Across from the shopping center that (then) had Elder-Beerman. It closed down some time ago and was later demolished. Had a lounge that I can't recall the name. Once it was gone, the next closest bowling alley I believe is Thunder Bowl in Englewood. Don't quote me on that. Haven't been out that way in quite some time.
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KennyE11
99 posts
Jan 17, 2013
9:03 PM
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Mark - I believe it is closed now, but Timber Lanes was probably closer to Trotwood Lanes than Thunder Bowl. Timber Lanes was on SR-49 at Pleasant Plain Rd,, across from the Melody 49 Drive-In.
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jfox68
64 posts
Jan 18, 2013
4:23 AM
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KennyE11, Timber Lanes is still open. I have been subbing there on Tuesday nights a lot this year. The lanes are not very good and they still don't sell beer but you can bring your own if you want.
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lester30
2 posts
Jan 19, 2013
12:14 PM
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I bowled in several differnt bowling houses,use to set pins at the Varisty,in the early 50`s,worked at McCalls,they had leauges all over town one of the big ones was on Thur.nites at Ca-Pri,covered the whole house double shifts,McCooks,National on Stewart st and brown bowled on both sides the old pla/mor on Salem,forget name of the one on w 3rd st.at some point time would have worked ist 2nd 3rd shift,McCalls had leauges in all shifts,even bowled in a Moose leauge at the Belmont lanes one yr.and the lanes on N Dixie the lanes were up stairs well as i can remember,moved to Ia.in 71 with Misco,went to bowling alley therewith your snow mobile,didn`t bowl as muchasin Dayton,i`m dis able now parlized from waist down,sure miss bowlig dream about my bowling days in Dayton and employment time at McCalls,all way down here in Atl. Ga.
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Doug68
158 posts
Dec 07, 2013
3:31 PM
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Hey Sharon081.....again this might be a little late, but I have the old desk that Nick (Manos) used in his office at the Belmont. It weighs about 9,000 pounds - but it was worth moving.
Re your dad, I remember both your mom and dad (and I think her former husband)from many years ago. Your dad's bowling style always reminded me of an old professional bowler I used to watch on TV as a kid in the 60s named Harry "Tiger" Smith.
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Doug68
159 posts
Dec 07, 2013
3:43 PM
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I think that jfox68 and KennyE11 already know this, but Timber Lanes finally closed last summer.
Also, someone mentioned Congress Lanes on Troy Street in Dayton......it still has 12 lanes with above ground ball returns and manual scoring, but are used rather sparingly. Once you walk in the front door, the bar greets you and if the lane lights (to the left) are turned off, it's difficult to tell that there is even a bowling "alley" there. It is like walking back in time; the place should be on Dayton's historical register! Seriously. It opened in in around 1941. We dropped by there a few years ago just to check the place out and the bartender/manager(?)treated us great!
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jfox68
88 posts
Dec 09, 2013
4:37 AM
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Doug, I subbed a lot at Timber the last couple years. The guys I sub for moved their team to Thunderbowl this year. I drive by Congress almost every day. Haven't been in there in many years.
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Doug68
161 posts
Dec 09, 2013
2:25 PM
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Jim, Dave and I stopped by Timber just before it closed. I don't know how it stayed open for so long. I think that part of it was the loyalty of the patrons to long time manager Bruce Mansfield.
We were just talking today about stopping by Congress soon. From what I heard, the bartender there on Tuesday and Wednesday days was a well-known local AA baseball pitcher(I believe he is the Dayton Amateur Baseball Commission Hall of Fame). We should get together and stop by. For anyone who loves the background and history of "tenpins," it is well worth it!
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historybuff
40 posts
Dec 09, 2013
11:16 PM
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Just happened by this thread and brought back many memories. Never was a great bowler but bowled in a few work-related leagues over the years. Toughest job I ever had was as a pin-boy for the old manual pin setters. Lost a lot of fingers doing that. Worked up to where I could handle three lanes at a time, sharing half of the third lane with another setter. Anyone have that experience? I worked as a pin-boy at the old Xenia Lanes on rte 35 out of Xenia. Arthur Curlett was the manager who later on became the Xenia City Auditor. Later on I bowled in the Harris Lanes in Yellow Springs for a number of years and then the Aerospace League at Beaver-Vu for a number of years. That was a WPAFB-related league. I think there were 24 teams in that League and would be interested from anyone who remember that league or bowled in it. Its been defunct now for a number of years.
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Doug68
167 posts
Dec 15, 2013
5:44 PM
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I can't imagine work much harder than being a pin boy - especially on three lanes simultaneously! I have a friend whose father owned the old Academy at the corner of Xenia and Steele Sts. and have a grainy photo of him setting pins there. Believe it or not, the Academy was still open in the early 70s - pin boys and all!
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Billd1952
144 posts
Dec 15, 2013
6:16 PM
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My brother was a pin setter at the Academy, in the early 60s. At times he would come home with bruises on his arms and knots on his head. Another bowling alley in Dayton, was the Capital Lanes, in the 1700 block of East Third Street. It burned in the late 60s early 70s.
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Doug68
169 posts
Dec 30, 2013
3:56 PM
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Today I live just a few miles from the old Capital. I was in there a couple of times in the early 1960s to watch my aunt bowl. I think it had 8 lanes and to my knowledge it was one of the smallest bowling alleys ever in Dayton.
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JJCofMAINE
56 posts
Dec 31, 2013
10:22 AM
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I used to work 4PM-1AM at E.F.MacDonalds back in the early '60's. When I got off work, with really nothing to do, I would stop by the Capri lanes on S. Dixie, and bowl to my "heart's DIS-content" (the longer I bowled, the worse I got; the worse I got, the more I bowled - go figure). At that time of night, it cost 25 cents per game.
Now in Maine/New Hampshire locale, it is hard to find a "Big Ball" bowling alley. Virtually every alley is "candle pin", with the skinny pins and small balls. I have never quite got used to those little things; about the size of a softball. Scoring is a bit different, as you get 3 balls-per-frame, unless you strike on the first ball, or spare on the second.
BTW: I still have the ball that I used to frustrate myself with on those early-morning visits after work at EFM.
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Patman1961
20 posts
Jan 14, 2014
7:55 AM
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BubbaLuv - I graduated in '79 from CJ. My Dad's name was Bernie and I had a Uncle "Punk" (Carl)who used to frequent McCooks as well
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terry graham
1 post
Jun 29, 2014
1:19 AM
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First bowled in the Journal Herald newspaper boys league at National lanes in the early 50's. Although my Dad was one of the best left handed bowlers in Dayton at the time, I didn't want him to show me how so consequently my first official game was a 19! My friend Jack Fitzwater and I would ride the bus Sat. morning from Riverdale and transfer downtown. We had to get to the lanes early so as to get the same ball to use each week!
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luv my dayton
641 posts
Jun 29, 2014
5:21 AM
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Woodman Lanes was close to me and did league bowling as a sub. Never missed a Tuesday as kids were back to school when bowling started for the season. Subs never had to pay a thing. Woodman lanes still open and does a great business.
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jfox68
100 posts
Aug 15, 2014
6:53 AM
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I attended the Dayton Bowling Awards Banquet last Saturday. They inducted a few of my friends into the hall of fame. I was invited because I bowled a 300 game this past season. I was a little disappointed at how few of the previous hall of fame inductees attended the event.
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Doug68
213 posts
Aug 15, 2014
7:02 AM
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jfox68, congratulations on your perfect game! My brother (Dave) was invited because he just tossed a 300 at the Ohio State tourney in Columbus. However,he didn't get off work in time to attend the banquet.
There's been some talk about getting together the 'old gang' from the Belmont (reunion), but I haven't heard anything new of late.
Last Edited by Doug68 on Aug 16, 2014 6:59 AM
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jfox68
102 posts
Aug 15, 2014
11:17 AM
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Doug68, let me know if you do hear anything. It would be great to see everyone again.
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pin setter
1 post
Jan 29, 2015
3:06 PM
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Doug68 - I use to set pins at the Academy. I think it was summer in 69/70. Can you send me a copy of the photo please.
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newsnot
511 posts
Jan 29, 2015
4:17 PM
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pinsetter,
Welcome to Dayton History
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historybuff
282 posts
Jan 30, 2015
4:10 AM
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I bowled at the BeaverVu Lanes in the late 90’s for a number of years in the AeroSpace League. Had to quit because of all the smoke and I got throat cancer. How great is it that the “No Smoking” sign is on in all the bowling alleys now. Anyone here that bowled in that league?……..
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tiffany1975
1 post
Mar 23, 2015
9:25 AM
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I grew up at the driftwood supper club, my entire family worked there my grandmother is joan Bryant who was the boss lady for 40 years I miss those times so very much
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newsnot
558 posts
Mar 23, 2015
5:31 PM
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tiffany1975,
Welcome to Dayton History
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Dragons74
1 post
Mar 23, 2015
8:01 PM
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My Mom used to bowl at Belmont lanes back in the 60's. She said Nick Manos was a great guy! He sold her her 1st and only ball and shoes that she still has today. Nick let her pay 50 cents each week to pay it off. Mom is 90 now and remembers how much fun she had at Belmont lanes. Thanks Nick!
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joey m
346 posts
Mar 25, 2015
8:31 AM
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tiffany 1975 My dad bowled there and we cwere regulars at the Driftwood. I just remember that on Fridays they would put lobster claws out on ice. I yhink they were only like $.50 a piece. The bowling alley was called The Bar-Jan which was named after the daughters of the owner (Barb& Jan) I cant remember their last name right now but her first name was Ruth. She was good friends of ours.
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newsnot
559 posts
Mar 25, 2015
9:48 AM
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Dragons 74
Welcome to Dayton History
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