CONTENTS
VOL 22.7
6 ISSUE AT HAND
22 COVER STORY
Preserving Our Palaces
Back to the Future
By Scott Frager
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8 SHORTS
Curator and preservationist Chris Nichols brings recognition to architect Gordon Powers’ bowling palaces of the 1950s in the exhibit “Bowlarama: California Bowling Architecture 1954-1964.” By Robert Sax
• A pricey antique. • Keith Oliver selected Educator of the Year. • Chris Hardwick’s new bowling TV series. • Crestor uses bowling to spread its word.
THE WORLD'S ONLY MAGAZINE DEVOTED EXCLUSIVELY TO THE BUSINESS OF BOWLING
PUBLISHER & EDITOR Scott Frager frager@bowlingindustry.com Skype: scottfrager
OFFICE MANAGER Patty Heath heath@bowlingindustry.com
CONTRIBUTORS Fred Groh Patty Heath Mark Miller Robert Sax Anastasia Swearingen
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jackie Fisher fisher@bowlingindustry.com
ART DIRECTION & PRODUCTION Designworks www.dzynwrx.com (818) 735-9424
30 SPECIAL REPORT Too Loud to Ignore
Compiled by Patty Heath
Clamor for raising the minimum wage is reaching an ear-splitting level.
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By Anastasia Swearingen
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46 REMEMBER WHEN
New technology will cut payment card fraud. But you will need to upgrade soon.
Kentucky Tavern, 1944 By Patty Heath
By Fred Groh
34 Showcase
18 MY FRAME
38 Datebook
Has Money Spoiled the Fun?
39 Classifieds
Maybe prize winnings have become too important to league bowlers. By Mark Miller
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Cover photo by Star Foreman
SUBSCRIPTION RATES: One copy of International Bowling Industry is sent free to every bowling center, independently owned pro shop and collegiate bowling center in the U.S., and every military bowling center and pro shop worldwide. Publisher reserves the right to provide free subscriptions to those individuals who meet publication qualifications. Additional subscriptions may be purchased for delivery in the U.S. for $50 per year. Subscriptions for Canada and Mexico are $65 per year, all other foreign subscriptions are $80 per year. All foreign subscriptions should be paid in U.S. funds using International Money Orders. POSTMASTER: Please send new as well as old address to International Bowling Industry, 12655 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604 USA. If possible, please furnish address mailing label. Printed in U.S.A. Copyright 2014, B2B Media, Inc. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the publisher’s permission.
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THE ISSUE AT HAND
Preserving Our Palaces I’d like to share a little-known secret about myself. It’s a secret my wife and kids know all too well. I absolutely love museums! I make a bee line for any local museum when I’m traveling. My heart beats faster as I wait to enter the Getty art museum here in Los Angeles. And when I go to a natural history museum and I’m lucky enough to find Egyptian mummies on display, I imagine stories about the ancient departed. Could this pharaoh have been one of the bowlers of thousands of years ago depicted at the Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame? Needless to say, the Frager family collects museum memberships as if they are going out of style. Yet I never had the pleasure of actually sponsoring an exhibit—until a few months ago. I was delighted to be called one day by Chris Nichols, an editor at Los Angeles magazine and a preservationist dedicated to Southern California culture. Chris wanted to curate an exhibit at the Architecture + Design Museum, Los Angeles. It was to be titled “Bowlarama: California Bowling Architecture 1954-1964”— very impressive—and he needed some outside support to help fund it. I approached the Bowling Centers of Southern California (where I am executive director) and the owners of Pinz bowling center (the center I operate), and joining Bowlmor AMF and IBI,
we co-sponsored the exhibit. On opening night, I met up with Chris, who introduced me to a gentleman named Gordon Powers. Gordon, it turned out, was one of the founding fathers of the “Googie”-styled centers the exhibit was celebrating. It also turned out that as I’ve worked my way around Southern California for the BCSC for the past eight years, I’ve been calling on centers designed or inspired by Gordon’s firm without knowing it! In his nineties, he was as amazing to talk to as his buildings are still remarkable to see, more than a half-century after they went up. I decided we had to do a story on Googie and Gordon. Chris, too, is a man with a larger-than-life personality. His curiosity about all things L.A., his passion for the past, the encyclopedia in his head about Southern Cal culture—all made it practically inevitable that he would someday curate an exhibit on the most spectacular bowling centers ever built in our region. You don’t need to be a museum-goer or a preservationist to enjoy our cover story this month on Bowlarama. All you need is a love of bowling and a belief that the buildings covering our lanes are much more than boxes. And that’s a sentiment, it’s safe to say, that will never be out of style in our industry.
– SCOTT FRAGER, PUBLISHER AND EDITOR frager@bowlingindustry.com
4THIS MONTH AT www.BowlingIndustry.com This year’s Bowl Expo took us to sunny Florida, the home of Walt Disney World, and a far cry from the ring-a-ding-ding of Vegas casinos. It welcomed President George W. Bush as the keynote speaker. Social networking and the focus on hospitality through the “Business Behind the Magic” tour at Disney World and the seminars managed by the University of Central Florida’s hospitality management department served up a wide variety of food for thought. What do you think? Did you attend? If not, why? If yes, were the offerings applicable to your business? The Forum on IBI Online is one of the best places to share and communicate with fellow bowling business people. We give you the platform. You give us your thoughts. Don’t wait. Do it today. All reviews are good reviews! For those of you who are not yet members, go online now and join IBI Online at www.bowlingindustry.com. You’ll be glad you did. 6
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SHORTS
EXPANSIONS, OPENINGS & NEW BEGINNINGS Battlefield Lanes to become an Andy B’s Besides a cooler, more sophisticated look, Battlefield Lanes in Springfield, MO, will also get a new name, Andy B’s. This will be the third Andy B’s for Bartholomy Bowling Centers, a corporation which includes the Andy B’s brand and 7 Bartholomy Bowling centers. According to JR Huyck, general manager, work began the end of May with completion set for November. Operating since 1971, the revised venue will offer 21 lanes of traditional bowling with food and beverage service on every lane; 10 lanes of private bowling with big-screen videos, music, flat-screen TVs
and new scoring; a state-ofthe art underground 2,700A rendering of what will be (left) set against square-foot laser tag arena for up to 20 multiple players; Battlefield Lanes’ old entrance (right) a large redemption game room and prize center; a full-scale restaurant and bar with a catering menu; and, corporate and private meeting and party rooms equipped with 60-inch flat-screens, laptops and wi-fi, karaoke consoles, and surround-sound music and videos. These new upgrades are expected to add dozens of jobs to the area as well.
Round One Corp is on the move. Round One Corp., based in Sakai, Japan, and founded in 1980, is a publicly-traded company that has grown to more than 110 locations in Japan and presently three in California. Shane Kaji, senior vice president of business development for the U.S. subsidiary, shared that Round1 Bowling & Amusement has leased approximately 70,000 square feet of space at The Parks in Arlington, TX. “We want to expand in general,” Kaji said. “Texas has a lot of opportunities.” The Parks location, scheduled to be completed in October, will be its largest center so far, Kaji said. The plan is for at least 24 lanes, an arcade floor with more than 300 games, ping-pong tables and billiards, darts, karaoke, and a food court and bar. The location will employ 50 to 60 full- and part-time employees. The company also plans to open another location this year at the Stratford Square Mall in Bloomingdale, IL. 8
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PEOPLEWATCHING Keith Oliver, an elementary school physical education teacher at Shalimar Elementary School in Shalimar, FL, has received The Bowling Foundation’s Bowling Educator of the Year Award. This award is presented to the educator who has made an outstanding contribution by exposing youth to the sport of bowling through the In-School Bowling Keith Oliver Program which is administered through The Bowling Foundation. Oliver has taught lifetime sports for the past 20 years in the Okaloosa School District, educating his students on a variety of ways to stay fit and healthy. He also operates several webpages for students to learn more facts about bowling and has even published a book on bowling to include a science, technology, engineering and math component to his classroom instruction.
CELEBRITY BOWLING THE SERIES Chris Hardwick is a busy man. He hosts two TV shows, Talking Dead and Comedy Central’s @Midnight, and now AMC is taking his web series, All-Star Celebrity Bowling, and making it a TV series which is expected to air in 2015. Previously produced for the Nerdist’s YouTube channel, the show will feature Hardwick and Team Nerdist, comprising comics/Nerdist podcasters and their employees, competing against celebrities, nerd icons and comedians in an old-fashioned bowl-arama. Past participants of the bowling challenge have been the cast and crew of Doctor Who and Breaking Bad, as well as comedians Nick Thune, Jimmy Fallon and Conan O’Brien. The forthcoming pilot will feature Team Nerdist up against Jon Hamm and Team Mad Men. The winner will receive a $1,000 prize to be donated to the winning team’s charity of choice. The top-scoring team at the end of the season will have an additional $10,000 for its cause.
SHORTS
SHORT SHORTS Bowling Is Alive and Well in Kansas As published in the Wichita Business Journal in May, the Hutchinson City Council agreed to issue $6.5 million in industrial revenue bonds for a bowling and entertainment center. Developers include Wichita bowling proprietors Frank and Cathy DeSocio who developed The Alley in Wichita along with several other bowling projects. The plan for The Alley of Hutchinson includes 20 traditional bowling lanes, eight boutique bowling lanes for private parties, an electronic game room, laser tag, bumper cars and a restaurant. Other investors for the Hutchinson project include attorney Brad Dillon and developer Jim Strawn, both of Hutchinson.
Japanese Bowling on an Uptick In Japan, bowling games played increased from 4.3 million to 5.8 million in the six months from October 2013 to March 2014. The numbers were reported by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in Bloomberg Businessweek.
Phenomenal Bowlers Automaton This clever bowling scene was made and patented in America in 1907 by Otto Eichenberger of Switzerland with the assistance of Leon Brock of New York. It was being previewed for auction by James D. Julia Inc. auction house with a starting bid of $6,500 and a high estimate of $15,000. The conclusion of the bidding and final result are not known. However,
Bay Pines VA Medical Center Gets Bragging Rights C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center in Bay Pines, FL, was the dominant leader in the seniors’ division of the 68th Annual Bowl for Veterans (BVL) Bowling Tournament. Three Bay Pines teams competed and each posted scores that bested the rest of the competition. The tournament attracted teams from Rhode Island to Washington State.
Rock and Bowl – Literally How can you enhance center revenues during summer downtimes? Have a rock concert! Casper, WY, lacks a dedicated concert venue so promoter Pauline Kuxhausen approached Eagle Bowl’s owner Bill Dudgeon. Dudgeon figured it would be a win/win. The bands get a place to play, and the shows attract a crowd who might not otherwise want to spend a Saturday night bowling. After the success of the first concert this past February, it seemed like a no-brainer. How many places have you heard of where you can go bowling while you’re jamming to a live band, pointed out Dudgeon. Kuxhausen added, “It’s a little bit of everything.”
Bowling for Peanut Butter The goal for the Market Street Noon Kiwanis Club is 5,000 pounds of peanut butter to benefit the Montgomery County Food Bank in Conroe, TX. This is one of the most popular food groups requested by needy families. To aid in achieving this, Bowlero, the newly renovated and reopened center in The Woodlands, is offering a coupon for a free game of bowling to visitors who donate a jar of peanut butter.
Folds of Honor Foundation The bowling tournament sponsored by the Folds of Honor Foundation has been set for Friday, Aug. 29. It will be held at Little River Lanes in Little River, SC. Folds of Honor supports and fundraises for the country’s veterans struggling with post-traumtic stress syndrome, traumatic brain injuries and/or amputation. The bowling world has always been a stronghold of support which offers an activity that both veterans and their families can enjoy together. For more information on this event, contact Laurie Romano at 804-301-6054 or email Laurie@nextlevelbowling.com.
From the James D. Julia Inc. catalog, Toy, Doll & Advertising Division
the more important thing is the beauty and whimsy which captures a popular pastime of the early 20th century. This 43x22x14.5-inch automaton consists of two bisque-headed gentlemen, one poised to roll one of the several steel balls down the alley to an array of nickelplated skittle pins at the other end while the other gent, enjoying his pipe, looks on. A third bisque-headed figure appears to reset the pins while returning the balls to the bowler. If money were no object …
SELL YOUR CENTER OR EQUIPMENT
FAST (818) 789-2695 IBI
July 2014
9
SHORTS
Media
WATCH
STRIKE DOWN CHOLESTEROL Commercials can go a long way in educating the public. The bowling team “The Goal Setters” take an active part in their favorite pastime, bowling, and in managing their cholesterol. Lowering cholesterol is a big deal and Astra Zeneca, makers of Crestor, knew that bowling was a good way to point out how it can be achieved. Crestor and bowling make a good team.
James Land, bowling proprietor of Falls Bowl in Wichita Falls, TX, passed away on May 25. He was 73 years old. He is survived by his wife Jean, their four children, Allyson Land, Paula Cookson, Jimmy Land, and Jennifer Land plus seven grandchildren. Land served as vice president of the Texas Bowling Centers Association (TBCA) 1982-83 and president 1984-85. He served on many association committees including the Grand Prix Scholarship Program of which he was one of the founders. Land also served as the Southwest Regional Vice President of the BPAA serving four state associations. Donations may be made to the Foundation of TBCA Grand Prix in his name and sent to 5700 Grover Avenue, Austin, TX 78756.
IBI June issue noted that Parkway Lanes in Trenton completed renovations and is now New 10 Pins of Trenton. Please note that the center is located in Michigan. We apologize for the error. 12
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GOODWILL CENTRAL
IN REMEMBRANCE
With holidays and vacations taking the top spot for many Americans, centers open their doors to airconditioned fun and fundraisers of all sorts. This spring, Saratoga Strike Zone in Saratoga Springs, NY, held two successful fundraisers. In April, Jake’s Help from Heaven, a local non-profit foundation dedicated to supporting individuals with multiple medical challenges and disabilities, raised $71,865. In May, Saratoga Sponsora-Scholar, whose mission is to assist economically disadvantaged young men and women to complete high school and graduate from college, raised $111,600. The York Police Department in York, PA, is again sponsoring a summer bowling program which runs June 9 through Aug. 14. Children, ages 5 to 17, can go bowling with police officers for free. The program is open to all families, churches and youth agencies. It was all rockin’ fun at Palm Springs Lanes in California as “Bowling for Seniors,” sponsored by Senior Advocates of the Desert, was held to support local low-income seniors. Sold-out in advance, balloons, banners, gift bags and a huge table of raffle prizes greeted attendees. Much better than a rubber chicken banquet! Clover Lanes in Rochester, NY, was home to the Brain Injury Association’s annual “Bowling for Brain Injury.” The association raises awareness and donations to advance brain injury prevention, research, treatment and education. On a more personal level, Taylor Lanes in Taylor, MI, hosted a fundraiser for resident Laura Kennedy. In February of this year she was diagnosed with lung and liver cancers which have since spread to her brain and bones. Friends and family have stepped up to try to help. “YES Bowl” is a fundraiser for Youth Emergency Services in Gillette, WY. It was held at Camelanes Bowling Center. The Los Angeles Zoo’s chapter of the American Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) held its annual “Bowling for Rhinos” fundraiser at Jewel City Bowl in Glendale, CA. The money raised each year helps support efforts to protect black and white rhinos in Kenya’s Lewa Wildlife Conservancy and Javan and Sumatran rhinos in three Indonesian national parks. Another summer program, “Say No to Drugs, Say Yes to Bowling,” is winding up at Bowl-A-Roll Lanes Family Fun Center in Rochester, NY. This is the tenth year of the program which gives students of all ages a free activity from May through August. Last year over 50,000 students bowled over 100,000 free games! What is your center doing? Email Patty Heath at heath@bowlingindustry.com.
OPERATIONS
If that’s a credit or debit card purchase at your center, customers will soon be paying for it in a more secure way. But it could mean added financial liability for you, if you don’t act soon. By Fred Groh
B
eginning Oct. 1 next year—a date subject to change but not likely to—banks and other issuers of Visa credit cards will reduce the liability they shoulder for fraudulent transactions using the cards at POS (point of sale) terminals. The liability they drop will fall on merchants. Issuers of MasterCard and American Express will follow suit sometime during the month. The same liability shift to merchants in ATM transactions with the three card brands will occur in November 2016. Actual fraud losses to individual merchants from payment cards have historically been “fairly small,” states David Tente, U.S. executive director of the ATM Industry Association (ATMIA), an international trade group. But potential liability for ATM owners following the liability shifts—although the probability is not high—could wreck any bowling business. “If their system is hacked, they are liable for the loss, and the loss could be staggering,” says Tom Busi, president and CEO of Firstcard ATM (Ione, CA), a supplier of the machines. If the bowling center does 200 ATM transactions a month, and the linked accounts average $2,000, the potential liability for the proprietor after the shifts is $4.8 million averaged over 12 months, as Busi calculates—unless.
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Issuers of the three card brands will continue to bear liability provided that the POS or ATM terminal used in the fraudulent transaction was compliant with payment card technology that is now migrating to the U.S. The merchant will be liable if the terminal was non-compliant. As if to balance the books, the migrating technology promises vastly greater security for payment card transactions. Called EMV, it is a global standard for authenticating credit and debit card transactions that uses a microprocessor (chip) embedded in the card. EMV will “essentially eliminate the problem we have today of counterfeit cards,” ATMIA’s Tente notes, and “it takes a big step with some of the major types of fraud.” Skimming, for example, where information read off the card is used to create a duplicate card, becomes “almost impossible” as it is now done with the familiar magnetic stripe (magstripe) cards; EMV cards don’t provide enough information. In magstripe authentication, the card is read for the account number and the validity date. EMV cards, by contrast, contain several dozen pieces of information that are exchanged between the card, the terminal and the card processing network in complex processing that can include cryptographic procedures. Cardholders are verified by the familiar PIN and signature methods, depending on the card issuer. Introduced in Europe in the mid-1990s, EMV was named for its three co-developers, Europay (now part of MasterCard), MasterCard and Visa. The venture was joined by JCB (Japan Credit Bureau) in 2004, American Express in 2009, and Discover and UnionPay (China) in 2013. The six partners equally share the venture entity, EMVCo LLC, which defines and manages the standard.
OPERATIONS
EMV IN U.S. EMV-compliant POS systems for the American market have been rolling out from manufacturers for about three years; ATMs, for the past year. The first banks to convert their terminals, large institutions such as Chase and Bank of America, have changed-out 8-10% to date; at this writing, transactions at these terminals are still processed with magstripe technology. All told, the transition of the U.S. economy to EMV now underway will comprise four steps or phases: u Banks and other institutions issue EMV cards (also called chip cards). u Manufacturers of POS systems and ATMs write software required for EMV-capability on their machines. u Software is tested and approved on the machines and at the processing networks. u Networks certify hardware and software for models in the manufacturer’s product line. Magstripe cards will disappear, but industry observers expect they will continue in use for at least two years, according to Sargon Givargis, president of Credit Card Industry, Inc. (Woodland Hills, CA), a POS and ATM vendor. Meanwhile, ATMs currently shipping are EMV-compliant but will run magstripe transactions until EMV is required, at which point the EMV capability will be turned on, adds Tom Pierce, chief marketing officer for Cardtronics (Houston, TX), operator of ATMs in four countries. U.S. introduction of EMV technology has lagged most of the rest of the world, due mainly to issuers and merchants balking at the cost of replacing cards and updating terminals, and because processing networks here are more diverse. But conversion will be thorough. “Anything that accepts a payment card” will probably be involved, says ATMIA’s Tente, including pay-at-the-pump gasoline purchases (where the liability shift will occur in 2017). Even vending machines are likely to be lassoed, although no liability shift has been outlined for them because of the low dollar value typical of vending transactions. Eighty countries are at some stage of EMV migration, among them Canada and countries in the Middle East, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, according to EMVCo. In December 2013, 2.4 billion EMV cards were in use around the world. American Express, MasterCard and Visa cards in this country will add 1.1 billion to that worldwide total at 2013 usage rates for the cards here, reports creditcards.com. When EMV processing begins, customers at the terminal will not notice the longer processing time. The technology will add less than a second. But they won’t fail to notice that an EMV card reader swallows the card and holds it until the transaction is completed. That’s already panicked some users of the first
EMV-complaint ATMs in the U.S., putting a high priority on consumer education about the new technology by card issuers. “There’s more than one broken card reader out there,” Tente remarks. Bowling proprietors can expect processing fees to remain unchanged with EMV cards.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO Many POS systems are plug-and-play and feature small terminals that can be replaced for $300-500, Tente says. “If it’s part of a larger POS system, then you get into a lot greater expense for updating the entire system; but obviously the cost per terminal gets lower because you’re spreading out the hardware that connects it to the system.” Proprietors who have a revenue-sharing arrangement with an ATM provider will not be making the decisions about converting them to EMV. Those who own their machines “need to talk to their hardware providers, and if they’re dealing directly with any of the networks, they need to talk directly to the networks about when [their brand and model of machine] could be certified and tested,” Tente adds. “They need to find out what the timeline of their providers is, and do whatever they are going to do today, today.” For some ATMs, EMV upgrade kits are already on the market, around $250-295 for a newer machine. Kits include the card reader and may include a motherboard, pin-pad, cables or connectors, depending on the ATM make and model. Tente estimates that one-third to one-half of older ATMs will need to be replaced. As Firstcard’s Busi observes, “If you have a six-year-old ATM sputtering now and then, and it costs $800 to upgrade this thing to EMV, then you’ve got an upgraded machine that’s still sputtering.” Newer ATMs operate on open architecture (currently Windows CE), more flexible than the embedded software of older machines, and have much more memory. The two advances are expected to make upgrading easier as payment technology continues to advance. The current generation of ATMs also dials-in to processing networks through the Internet. This eliminates a telephone line, boosts the speed of transactions compared to dial-up connections, and circumvents problems to which a phone line can be subject.
David Tente
Sargon Givargis IBI
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OPERATIONS Givargis of Credit Card Industry points to two compliance issues. New regulations effective in 2012 pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act forced the reconfiguration of ATM machines as to screen distance from the floor, distance of the keypad from the user, and earphone capability for blind users. “All new ATM machines are ADA-compliant. Now, you’re going to have the new component, the EMV reader to read these chip cards,” Givargis says. He suggests that proprietors who own ATMs that are not compliant with the 2012 regulations could find it cost-effective to buy new ATMs, securing both ADA- and EMVcompliance in one move. Busi cautions that the cost of EMV conversion may be on the way up. Prices to ATM vendors increased June 1. He adds, “Based on our experience like the ADA compliance upgrades in 2012, when [upgrade kits] were available early on, the costs seemed high, but as time went on and the deadlines drew nearer, the price went up or they became unavailable. We ended up having a lot of orders for upgrade kits and no upgrade kits in the United States, anywhere.” Tente also forecasts a crunch. “The first liability shift takes place in October of 2016 for ATM operators and chances are we won’t be nearly finished by that point converting all those ATMs.” Bowling proprietors are well advised to take a stance toward EMV that is appropriate for a world in which technology flatly refuses to stop changing: constant readiness for change, Busi offers. Already installed here and there—an in-house network at Starbuck’s, for instance—is near-field communication (NFC), which enables transactions without any card. “I press a few buttons on my phone, open my electronic wallet, put it up to an NFC reader on the ATM or on a credit card acceptance terminal, and that money is transferred
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from my account, through my cell phone, to the ATM, and then cash comes out of the ATM,” says an enthusiastic Busi, who has an e-wallet on his phone. “In a few years, we’ll just throw away the cards and update to a new reader. “Pretty soon, we’ll just think, ‘I wish I had cash’ and money will come out of the machines,” he laughs. ❖
More on EMV technology is available at EMVCo.com, search ‘FAQ.’ For updated news related to conversion, click the ‘Recent Updates’ tab at the top of the home page. We thank Eric Keating, president of ATM One (Palm Springs, CA), for background for this story.
Fred Groh is a regular contributor to IBI and former managing editor of the magazine.
MY FRAME
Has Money Spoiled the Fun?
By Mark Miller
Maybe prize winnings have become too important to league bowlers. ook up the word ‘amateur’ in the Oxford Dictionary and you'll find a definition that basically describes people who engage in some pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid basis. The adjective version simply states “non-professional.” With wording that clear, why does there continue to be such a fog over who is a professional bowler and who is not? Why are PBA members the only ones who can make money bowling? And why has money in general become such an important part of the bowling landscape? “It's that way because it's always been that way,” said former USBC field representative George Martin of Sioux Falls, SD. Indeed, bowling's gambling roots date as far back as the year 1325, according to historians. The sport didn't come to America until much later, yet mirrored what was happening in this country when it did arrive. Immigrants who came to the United States brought bowling with them. Since the new people liked to gamble, it naturally happened when they took to the lanes. With movies like The Color of Money or Jerry McGuire with its “Show me the money” catchphrase so popular in recent decades, maybe nobody should be surprised that money is important in bowling today. While the Greatest
L
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Generation seemed to care more about others, an argument can be made that too many Baby Boomers and beyond are more about “what's in it for me.” If you grew up in the 1960s and ’70s, bowling was more about time with friends, family and co-workers. Someone you knew asked you to join them for a lot of fun and a little competition. Rarely was prize money mentioned. It seems to have remained that way until the early 1980s with the creation and proliferation of the megabucks tournaments. You may remember the early days of the Las Vegas High Roller when Former USBC executive director Roger Dalkin. alleged amateurs paid $1,000 for the chance to win more than $200,000. That prize remains one of the biggest ever in bowling and well above most PBA events. And it's not just adults worried about their own tournament payday. Bowling promoter Gary Beck recalled one parent who said if his family's youth bowler didn't make the Teen Masters top four, he would not be able to break even on the trip. Former USBC executive director Roger Dalkin said today's parents sometimes make decisions whether their kids will bowl, not based on the competition but on how much money they will make.
MY FRAME Side pots and brackets have become such a staple of big money leagues and tournaments, some bowlers can easily tell how much money they won in them but not how well they bowled or how many points their team won. “I once talked to an association secretary who had to disqualify a bowler, which cost $2,000 in prize money, but they didn't protest because they won $5,000 in brackets,” Dalkin said. “The only reason the person went there was to cheat the system and win brackets. That means something is wrong.” Maybe bowling is simply mirroring so much else in this country with the emphasis on getting rich quick. That sends the wrong message to the youth so desperately needed to grow the Denton County, TX USBC association manager Tom Turner. sport. It also forces too many new bowlers to quit after just one year “It's no longer about the pride in winning when they see the league they or the competition,” Dalkin said. “It's all about joined is too much about money. the money.” And it takes away what is supposed While tournaments are the highest-profile to be for most people a fun night examples of this permeation of money into of friendly competition. bowling, there's plenty of it in leagues, too. In Perhaps bowling should be both cases, it's all about prize funds. more like golf, which knows how to “Money in leagues hasn't ruined bowling separate pros from amateurs. but it has changed the expectations,” said Turner gives prize money to his business manager When someone wins an amateur Denton County (TX) USBC association manager for safe keeping. tournament, they usually receive a Tom Turner. “I knew of a person who stopped trophy and maybe a gift certificate to buy expensive bowling because there was not enough money in it. merchandise in the pro shop. But they are thrilled “It used to be a night out with friends. It should be about the nonetheless. winning, not the money. My goal is to win first place, not worry If the prize fund is what's most important, consider about how much money I'm going to win.” looking for or forming leagues of similar-minded people. Isn't there something wrong when people quit or stop playing Let those who want to bowl for fun be with those like because of a lack of money? But it happens every year in almost them. But don't marry the two, because it's a recipe for every city. Others will not join certain leagues because they focus disaster for all. too much on the cash and not enough on the fun. Yes, history has shown there always has been and The old American Bowling Congress Office League in Wisconsin always will be money in bowling. The many action bowling charged just $5 a week for many years. Even when it became the stories still being told attest to that. But when that mentality United States Bowling Congress in 2005, it still was only $10. trickles down to the recreational bowler, it's like the People in that league were happy with the $40-60 they received piranhas are out for blood. at the banquet, most of which they spent on liquid refreshments. In a world where many think we grow the sport by And speaking of banquets, whatever happened to them? Many changing the scoring environment, maybe we should try old-timers vividly remember all those late April or early May nights downplaying the money aspects that have been around spent at nice restaurants with hearty meals, a couple of drinks, and so long and hurt us more than we realize. ❖ plenty of stories to share with league mates. It was the trophies they thought about, not the meager amount of money they were about to collect. Mark Miller is a freelance writer, editor, and public It seems too many leagues charge $20 or more each week to relations specialist from Flower Mound, TX. He's the build up huge prize funds when $10 or $11 might bring in more author of Bowling: America's Greatest Indoor Pastime bowlers. Add in the large amounts dropped for side pots and available at Amazon.com or directly from him at markmywordstexas@gmail.com. brackets and it's no wonder bowling has lost so many league bowlers the last 33 years. 20
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COVER STORY Photo by Star Foreman
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Chris Nich COVER STORY o l s ' p a ssion for a a quest to d o c u ment and ll things bowling Along his Powers, wway, he met thepi reserve our bowllei d him on influential ho, in the 1950s, conic architect Gong past. exhibit "B Googie-style bowhelped to design rdon 1954-196owlarama: Califo ling palaces. And the rnia Bowli 4" was bo ng Archittehe rn. cture
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wenty-fiv e miles n ortheast and towe of downto By Robe ring neo wn Los A rt Sax n sign of Gabriel V n g e les, the s Covina B alley sub o o a w ri u l n rb g pink py dominate . Built in thousand ramid roo 1956, Co s of “Go a corner bowling’s vina Bow f ogie”-sty o f the spraw postwar l le is b a o s ling San wling cen tunning e boom ye It was an ars of 195 xample o ters that energetic f the man sprang u 4-1964. bowlers. T and optim p y a c ro s hose time s is th ti c e era in wh country in s were lov 1954-196 ic h 2 ingly doc 5% of Am 4,” a rece umented ericans co nt show a in “Bowla Through nsidered t th e A ra rare pho rc m h themselv a it : e C c ture + De alifornia B tographs architectu es sign Mus owling Arc , drawing re and te e um in Los hitecture s and ori chnology sport in th ginal artif Angeles. that crea e 19 acts, “Bo ted the G fancy resta 50s. California arc w o la o g ra ie ma” look hitects led bowling c urants, su ed at the enter and the way, c mptuous extravag reating la helped re cocktail lo ant mode v in is u h n vent the rn g b es, and liv owling pa architectu Googie is e enterta laces that re. a form of in in ment hou cluded mid-centu Age. It o sed in en riginated ry modern ergetic an in Southe a rc motels, co h itecture in d rn Californ ffee shop fluenced ia during s and gas by car cult coffee sho th s ta e tions. The ure and th late 1940 p in W term "Go s and wa e Space In the earl est Hollywood, de o s g a ie " popular s c s o ig y 20th ce m n e e d s fr b tyle for om the na y architec ntury, bo lit saloon t John Lau me of a n wling had s or urba o tn w n bowling e defunct been a m great exo ale-domin r, which exemplifie alleys tha dus to th d the style t weren’t ated spo e suburb car. With rt played . fit places s cre the adve in hot, dim for wome nt of auto ated a demand fo n and ch ly r mass en matic pin ildren. Th tertainme setters, b en the nt access all return 1950s, it ible by pri s and cen became p vate tral air co ossible to entertain nditionin operate c ment cen g in o the m ters that fortable, The May glitzy bow catered to 17, 1958 ling a family a issue of L centers, s udience. ife magaz tating tha in e t d ocumente “the Am shamefac erican bo d the new edly in a b wling alle ack-street elegance y , b o a n s ce stuck and has b ement, ha loomed in s acquired offering a to an all-p a stunning variety in urpose ple entertain the game asure pala ment and that was ce luxury.... once a m now beco [A]s a res an’s excu me a plac u lt s e for a nig e where By the m ht out ha he takes id-1960s s the whole more tha had been family.” n 12,000 built acro new bow s s the cou those gla li ng cente ntry. Fifty morous G rs years late oogie cen that rem r, most o ters have ain are n f disappea ow the g bowling in red. Thos rande da dustry tha e mes of a t, ironicall such “ne $6 billion y, is expe w” featu ri encing a re re s as upsc nightclub vival with ale food, s. cocktail b ars and
Photo by Star Foreman
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COVER STORY Chris Nichols, curator of “Bowlarama,” grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and visited Covina Bowl often. As the author of Los Angeles magazine’s popular “Ask Chris” column, Nichols covers the pop culture of the sprawling metropolis, giving his readers a historical perspective on the city he loves. A long-time member of the Los Angeles Conservancy, which strives to preserve the architectural treasures of the city, Nichols is a member and former chairman of its Modern Committee. For some time Nichols had been keenly aware of the disappearing Googie bowling centers. He decided to begin documenting the history of what he considers a “lost world of extreme design.” He pitched the idea to Tibbie Dunbar, executive director of the Architecture + Design Museum, who quickly got approval for the show from her board. “I think it’s a period of architecture that has been forgotten,” says Dunbar. “I’m astounded that these bowling centers were torn down. What a shame that they’re not here.” A persuasive Nichols was able to secure sponsorship for the exhibit from Bowlmor AMF, Pinz Bowling Center, International Bowling Industry magazine and the Bowling Centers of Southern California. Nichols began assembling the
exhibit in December 2013, pulling it together in just a few months with the help of friends and fellow collectors of bowling center memorabilia. The exhibit opened on April 11, 2014 and ran for a month. “Chris wanted to do something while Gordon Powers was still alive, so this had to happen fast,” Dunbar says, referring to a pre-eminent Googie designer. “This show is sort of a teaser. I hope that we can do a larger exhibit in the future.”
Cocktail Kitsch and Matchbook Covers The main room of the exhibit was dominated by bowling center relics rescued by Nichols and his colleagues. On one wall was a giant letter ‘A’ from the outdoor sign of Arena Bowl in South Gate, CA. In the center of the room were a Brunswick Gold Crown ball return and telescore scoring table from the now-gone Hollywood Star Lanes, where scenes for the cult film The Big Lebowski were shot. The other walls are adorned with kitschy Tiki-style cocktail lounge decorations, a screen projecting a 1958 Brunswick promotional film, and reproductions of period matchbook covers from dozens of bowling centers. Alan Hess, an architect and Googie historian and the author of Googie Redux: Ultramodern Roadside Architecture (2004), provided some of the photographs for the exhibit. He explains the Googie style as an expression of the Space Age optimism of the time, when technology and American energy seemed to be making the dreams of the future come true. In an interview on Smithsonian.com, Hess said, “I really feel that Googie made the future accessible to everyone. One of the key things about Googie architecture was that it wasn’t custom houses for wealthy people— it was for coffee shops, gas stations, car washes, banks...the average buildings of everyday life that people of that period used and lived in. And it brought that spirit of the modern age to their daily lives.”
Designed by Master Architects Southern California had long been a fountainhead of Modernist architecture, and home to such influential architects as Rudolf Schindler, Richard Neutra and John Lautner. While Los Angeles’s modern residential architecture is worldrenowned, many of the city’s more flamboyant commercial and civic buildings were also shaped by leading Modernist architects. With the boom in bowling, quite a few Los Angeles architects took advantage of the opportunity to lend their talents to the creation of a type 26
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COVER STORY modern architect. Most prolific among these bowling center architects was the Long Beach-based firm of Powers, Daly and DeRosa, which designed more than 50 centers across California and many more throughout the country. Gordon Powers, now 98, attended the opening of Bowlarama and talked with visitors about the extraordinary period that his firm played a major role in defining. In 1952, “AMF went with a guy that invented the automatic pinspotter,” recalled Powers. “They got ahold of me to certify an alley in Long Beach, that the floor would take their machine. I figured it out and it did.” It was the beginning of a profitable relationship for both firms. “Bowling was coming up like mad,” Powers said. “When their vice-president got a lead, he’d call me. He’d sell the machines and I’d sell the architecture.” Powers’ partner Pat DeRosa was perhaps the biggest influence on the classic Googie bowling center. “Pat did all the design of the front elevation of the building. That was his forte,” Powers reported. “I ran the business and did the design of the floor plan to make it work.” Covina Bowl is one of Powers, Daly and DeRosa’s best-known designs. It was designed with an Egyptian theme, using a huge bisected pyramid that forms the roof over the entrance as the unifying element. Inside the center was the Pyramid Room, which hosted top musical acts from Liberace to the Smothers Brothers. Another DeRosa project, Futurama Lanes in San Jose, CA, boasted the Persian-influenced Magic Carpet Room. It was a silky, jeweled fantasy harem with 470,000 beads strung overhead. The “Bowlarama” exhibit also highlighted the work of other top architects of the era, including: n Edward Killingsworth, best known for his award-winning Case Study Houses of the 1950s. He created the crisp, elegant design for Red Fox Lanes in Long Beach. n A. Quincy Jones, known for his innovative work with housing tracts. His design for South Bay Bowling Center in Redondo Beach featured a plush cocktail lounge with windows looking out onto the lanes. This predated by decades the current trend to bars amid the lanes. n Paul Revere Williams, a pioneering African-American architect who designed movie star homes for Tyrone Power and Lucille Ball and an iconic remodel of the Beverly Hills Hotel. He also designed Arrowhead Bowl in the more prosaic environs of San Bernardino.
Where Have All the Googies Gone? “Bowlarama” was a bittersweet appreciation of an American institution that has been decimated by changing tastes, neglect and outright vandalism. In 2009 an episode of the reality TV show Human Wrecking Balls delighted in the destruction of the former Southwest Bowl center in south Los Angeles. Nichols was horrified at the bizarre spectacle. "I screamed...as they tore apart the original oak bowling ball cases, smashed balls into the brick and leaped through the trophy case, but when [show participant] Paul Pumphrey drop kicked the original 1957 pink-and-blue steel and neon sign off the roof, I lost it," he blogged at the time. Not many of the 12,000 classic centers are still extant, and few of those are still in use. Nichols and others in the preservation community are doing what they can 28
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to save them and their history. In the future, Nichols hopes to mount a larger exhibition and publish a book about the Googie bowling centers. In the meantime, for the price of a game, plus shoe rental, you can still experience first-hand the glory that was Googie. Nichols lists the following among the remaining jewels of Southern California bowling architecture: u Bay Shore Lanes 234 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica u Bowlium 4666 Holt Blvd., Montclair u Covina Bowl 1060 San Bernardino Rd., Covina u Friendly Hills Lanes 15545 Whittier Blvd., Whittier u Linbrook Bowl 201 S. Brookhurst, Anaheim u Mar Vista Lanes 12125 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles u Palos Verdes Bowl 24600 Crenshaw Blvd., Torrance u Pinz 12655 Ventura Blvd., Studio City u Shatto 39 Lanes 3255 W. 4th St., Los Angeles u Zodo’s 5925 Calle Real, Goleta ❖
Robert Sax is a writer and PR consultant in Los Angeles. He grew up in Toronto, Canada, the home of five-pin bowling.
SPECIAL REPORT
Clamor for raising the minimum wage is reaching an ear-splitting level, but don't plug your ears! Read, listen and learn. By Anastasia Swearingen
P
oliticians at the federal, state, and local level can have a tremendous impact on how you operate your bowling centers. This has been especially evident over the past year as lawmakers across the country have joined labor activists to push for higher minimum wages. For the first time in many years, there is a widespread, national wave of political support for dramatic increases in minimum wages. At least seven states have passed legislation to raise their minimum wages this year alone. With a growing movement in major cities to push the minimum wage to $15 per hour, wage hikes could have a severe impact on your labor costs and your bottom line. Regardless of whether you do business in one of the states that will raise its minimum wage, the national attention on the entry-level wage rates may have a political effect on Congress. Republicans currently control the U.S. House of Representatives and Democrats control the Senate—but the GOP maintains a good chance of taking control of the Senate in November. Democratic leaders are trying to use the party’s support for a minimum wage increase—a popular policy—to maintain control of the federal government’s upper chamber. For business owners, the minimum wage debate has simply become
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too loud to ignore. Here’s a breakdown of the most important components of the issue:
v 2013 Minimum Wage Action
Last year during his State of the Union address to Congress, President Obama brought the minimum wage to the forefront of national politics once again. Though there isn’t a real possibility of raising the federal minimum wage under the current Congress— Republicans who control the House of Representatives have adamantly said that they do not support a dramatic hike in the federal wage rate—President Obama and national Democrats have rallied state lawmakers to raise their rates. In 2013, state lawmakers in California, Connecticut, New York, and Rhode Island approved higher minimum wages. These legislative victories, however, have not been enough to satisfy activists in those states—each state has seen further pushes for higher wages in 2014. Also in 2013, voters in San Jose, CA, and New Jersey approved ballot measures to increase their minimum wages. San Jose’s measure raised the city’s rate to $10 and tied future increases to inflation, while New Jersey’s measure raised the state’s minimum wage from the federal level of $7.25 per hour to $8.25 and also tied future wage hikes to inflation. These victories at the ballot box and in state legislatures encouraged activists to ramp up their efforts to push for higher minimum wages to new heights in 2014.
SPECIAL REPORT v $10.10 Minimum Wage Gains Serious Traction Politicians and activists who favored drastically higher minimum wages were previously seen as out of touch with the current political realities. (In his State of the Union speech, President Obama called for an increase to $9 per hour.) But now these fringe proposals to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 or even as high as $15 per hour are being seriously considered and enacted by states and localities. For several years, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) has pushed for a federal minimum wage of $10.10 per hour, a figure based on what the minimum wage would be had it been indexed to inflation since 1968. The figure is largely symbolic— had the minimum wage been indexed to inflation since it was originally enacted in 1938 (instead of the cherry-picked 1968 figure), then it would be just over $4 per hour today. Harkin’s $10.10 figure was originally criticized by members of his own party as too high, but after political pressure from supportive labor activists, his $10.10 dream has been embraced at all political levels. At least four states have already approved legislation to raise their minimum wage rates to at least $10.10 per hour. Businesses in Connecticut, Hawaii, and Maryland will soon have to pay their employees at least $10.10 per hour; Vermont has approved a wage hike to $10.50 per hour. Delaware, Minnesota, and West Virginia have also approved minimum wage increases, but to lower levels. Other cities and localities have approved even higher entrylevel wages—Washington, D.C. and two neighboring counties in Maryland will raise their wage rates to $11.50 per hour. And Seattle could soon join SeaTac, WA, as the only cities to approve $15 per hour minimum wages. The movement to raise the minimum wage to such high levels has been spurred by coordinated protests organized by labor unions in major cities across the country to rally for a $15 minimum wage. Unions have organized fast-food employees in 150 U.S. cities to push 32
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for a $15 per hour minimum wage several times in the past year. The efforts have received significant attention, even as critics of the proposal have pointed out that such a high wage would result in fewer jobs and increased reliance on technology to reduce the need for employees.
v Negative Consequences of Dramatic Wage Hikes Those who oppose wage hikes are often criticized for their views, but research repeatedly demonstrates the policy’s unintended consequences. Economists have warned policymakers for decades that raising the minimum wage results in fewer jobs and lost opportunities for entry-level employees to gain valuable job experience. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office analyzed the federal proposal to raise the minimum wage by nearly 40% to $10.10 per hour and estimated it would result in up to one million lost jobs. Raising the minimum wage has a disproportionate impact on some of the most vulnerable jobseekers. Teen unemployment has been over 20% for over five years—a problem that would likely be exacerbated by a minimum wage increase. Research from economists at Miami and Trinity University found that at least 114,000 teen jobs were lost as a consequence of the last federal wage hike. These same researchers also found that for every 10% increase in the minimum wage, employment may fall as much as 6.6% for young black and Hispanic teens ages 16 to 19. Despite the mountain of evidence showing that minimum wage hikes result in job losses, wage hikes continue to be popular with voters. Democrats are hoping to capitalize on that popularity this fall by making the minimum wage a campaign issue.
v Minimum Wage and the November 2014 Elections At the end of April, the U.S. Senate held a vote on Sen. Harkin’s legislation to raise the minimum wage to $10.10. As Democrats expected, the measure failed—but Democrats put the bill up for a vote to force Republicans to openly oppose raising the minimum wage. That’s because polls show that roughly 70% of voters support an increase in the minimum wage. To capitalize on the policy’s popularity, Democrats running for U.S. Senate are trying to
SPECIAL REPORT Labor Activists Use a Bus Tour to Drum Up Support for Wage Hikes Activists even organized a bus tour that traveled the country in favor of the wage hike. And in response to this tour, the Berman and Company-managed Employment Policy Institute arranged for a mobile billboard to follow the bus around the country to warn individuals about the true employment effects of such a wage hike.
bring their support for a wage hike to the forefront of the campaign. They’re also hoping that several ballot measures to raise the minimum wage could help increase turnout for Democrats. Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR) and Mark Begich (D-AK) are both seen as in danger of losing their re-election bids and are hoping that their support for ballot measures to raise their state’s minimum wages will boost turnout in their favor. There is also the possibility of a minimum wage measure on the ballot
in Michigan, where the battle to replace retiring Senator Carl Levin (D) is still a toss-up. The minimum wage is also a key issue in Kentucky’s race—Senator Mitch McConnell is fighting off a challenge from the state’s Secretary of State who is highly supportive of a higher minimum wage. Though Democrats are banking on their support for the policy to help them win votes, polling indicates that it may not be enough. Fifty-two percent of registered voters say they are willing to vote for a candidate who disagrees with them on raising the minimum wage, according to a poll from The New York Times/CBS News. The minimum wage will continue to be a hot-button issue heading into the next legislative session. If you’re interested in how minimum wage bills and other proposals can affect your business, visit the Legislative section of www.MyBPAA.com, BPAA’s members-only information center. Or contact Kristen Eastlick at Berman and Company at eastlick@bermanco.com. ❖ Anastasia Swearingen is a research analyst with Berman and Company, BPAA's government affairs consultant.
SHOWCASE NEW LANE CONDITIONER
Brunswick Bowling’s new lane conditioner, Defy, stays in place longer, providing a predictable and stable ball reaction that allows bowlers to make fewer, less drastic adjustments as the pattern changes. Proven through research and testing, Defy lasts up to 30% longer than other conditioners. Its enhanced flowback characteristic reduces the impact of ball tracks through the heads while minimizing the movement of conditioner down lane to keep the shot more consistent. For more info, visit brunswickbowling.com/Defy.
CUSTOM TABLE TOPS
US Bowling, a leader in custom bowling furniture, offers custom table tops. For that personal touch, you can choose from their exclusive glow enhanced graphics or you can add your own print, graphic, digital file or logo to be converted into a beautiful and durable designer table. Made in the U.S.A., these tables come in standard and custom sizes. Perfect for bowling centers and restaurants. For more info, visit www.usbowling.com. 34
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NEW SEAT COVERS ARE A SNAP
Tri-City Lanes in Easley, SC, upgraded bowling seats with GKM International, Inc.’s Smart Seat covers using a beautiful burgundy color that matched the existing floor tile accent colors. GKM’s easy snap-on installation, the color fit, and an economical budget match were just the ticket. In addition, GKM directed Tri-City to Direct Capital, who funded the entire order including shipping costs. See how Smart Seats can upgrade your center. Contact GKM Int’l at 310-791-7092 or email Gordon@gkmintl.com.
STRIKZ IS WOWED!
Another WOW Effect world of entertainment was added to Neil Farren’s Strikz in Frisco, TX. The 2,300-square-foot, multi-level laser tag arena, designed by Creative Works, includes 14-foot cathedral walls and vibrant flashing lights, complete with color-changing props, detailed murals and interactive props. The arena displays a mural of the Dallas skyline. To learn more about Creative Works, go to www.THEWOWEFFECT.COM or call 877-843-6348.
DATEBOOK
JULY 9 QubicaAMF Webinar Series Birthday Parties: Time to Change the Game (NEW) 2:00 p.m. Eastern https://www1.gotomeeting.com/re gister/864650881
14-16 IBECA Show Park Place Hotel & Conference Center Traverse City, MI Scott Bennett 888-484-2322 scott@bowlmail.com www.IBECA.org
14-25 A-2 Pinsetter Training Program Moline, IL Frank Miroballi 540-325-7684 Frankm1441@aol.com
20–23 65TH BCAM Convention & Tradeshow Shanty Creek Resort Bellaire, MI Ken Prokopec bowlerprok@aol.com
24-26 BCA Carolinas/Georgia Annual Convention Sea Trail Resort Sunset Beach, NC Howard Baum 910-484-5178
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29 Bob’s Business Showcase/Tradeshow Willowbrook Lanes Willowbrook, IL 800-328-9311 www.bobsbusiness.com/events
31 Ace Mitchell Tradeshow Guy’s Party Center Akron, OH 800-321-0309
31-August 1 Ace Mitchell Tradeshow Turning Stone Resort Verona, NY 800-262-2695
AUGUST 5-6 LaserTAG360 EVENT Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Carolyn Goettsch Creative Works, Inc. 317-834-4770
15 Ace Mitchell Tradeshow Carolier Lanes N. Brunswick, NJ 800-262-2695
SEPTEMBER 29 Illinois State BPA BOD Meeting Holiday Inn & Suites, Bloomington Bill Duff, 847-982-1305 billduff@bowlillinois.com
OCTOBER 13 Alabama/Mississippi BPA Annual Meeting Robinsonville MS Chris Gallas 817-385-8471
13-17 Brunswick Training GS-Series Pinsetter Maintenance Muskegon, MI 800-937-2695, Option 2 schools@brunbowl.com
20-14 Brunswick Training Vector Scoring Maintenance Muskegon, MI 800-937-2695, Option 2
27 – November 7 A-2 Pinsetter Training Program Moline, IL Frank Miroballi 540-325-7684; Frankm1441@aol.com
NOVEMBER 29 Folds of Honor Bowling Tournament Little River Lane Little River, SC Laurie Romano 804-301-6054
2-3 Illinois State BPA Annual Fall Meeting BOD & General Membership Timber Creek Inn & Suites Convention Center, Sandwich, IL Bill Duff, 847-982-1305 billduff@bowlillinois.com
CLASSIFIEDS
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE REPAIR & EXCHANGE. Call for details (248) 375-2751. NEW & USED Pro Shop Equipment. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com.
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CLASSIFIEDS EQUIPMENT FOR SALE See redline-products.com for replacement foul lights. Home of bowlingtrader.com. REDUCED TO SELL! Automatic Scoring Systems: Steltronic SuperElex w/ flat screens & AMF Excel w/ flat screens. Used lane panels. Zot reconditioned Gloss Boss. Parts. (719) 251-1616 or knotritellc@gmail.com.
AMF • BRUNSWICK EQUIPMENT COMPLETE PACKAGES WORLDʼS LARGEST NEW – USED SPARE PARTS INVENTORY ALL AMF BUMPER PARTS, XS Q-BUMP, DURABOWL AND GEN II IN STOCK
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Danny & Daryl Tucker Tucker Bowling Equipment Co. 609 N.E. 3rd St. Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-4018 Fax (806) 995-4767
Bowling Parts, Inc. P.O. Box 801 Tulia, Texas 79088 Call (806) 995-3635 Email - daryl@tuckerbowling.com
www.tuckerbowling.com
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NEEDING A NEW VENUE? Nightclub entertainment bowling is HOT. COMPLETE 4, 6, 8, (+) bowling packages with install. Complete 10-lane package just removed and ready to reinstall. Affordable. See tenpinartisans.com for custom ideas or call (970) 946-9933. GOING OUT OF BUSINESS after 43 years! AMF autoscore packages + complete packages. CHEAP + shipping. Call Craig Doren (712) 253-8730.
EQUIPMENT WANTED LANE MACHINES WANTED. We will purchase your KEGEL-built machine, any age or condition. Call (608) 764-1464.
CLASSIFIEDS MANAGER WANTED Don't miss your chance to grow with an Industry Leader! Looking for Experienced, Service-Oriented General Managers for our U.S. bowling retail center locations. Please check us out at www.brunswickcareers.apply2jobs.com for more details on our current openings. Act Now! Apply Today!
MECHANIC WANTED California, Lake Elsinore: Looking for an experienced GSX pinsetter mechanic with supervisory experience and familiar with arcade games, heating/cooling, plumbing and general building maintenance a PLUS. Salary negotiable based on experience. Please email resume to brichards@ipcompanies.com. Full/Part Time. A-2. 12 lanes. Fallon, Nevada. Possible live on property. (775) 867-5551.
SERVICES AVAILABLE Drill Bit Sharpening and Measuring Ball Repair. Jayhawk Bowling Supply. (800) 255-6436 or jayhawkbowling.com. AMF 5850 & 6525 CHASSIS. Exchange your tired or damaged chassis for an upgraded, rewired, cleaned, painted and ready-to-run chassis. Fast turnaround. Lifetime guarantee. References available. CHASSIS DOCTOR (330) 314-8951.
AMF and some BRUNSWICK PC board repair/exchange. 6-month warranty, fast turnaround. Call or write: WB8YJF Service 5586 Babbitt Road, New Albany, Ohio 43054 Toll Free: 888-902-BOWL (2695) Ph./Fax: (614) 855-3022 (Jon) E-mail: wb8yjf@sbcglobal.net Visit us on the WEB! http://home.earthlink.net/~wb8yjf/
PROPRIETORS WITH AMF 82-70 S.S. & M.P. MACHINES Save $$ on Chassis & P.C. Board Exchange & Repair! A reasonable alternative for Chassis and P.C. Board Exchanges MIKE BARRETT Call for Price List
Tel: (714) 871-7843 • Fax: (714) 522-0576
For FLORIDA CENTERS Call DAVID DRISCOLL & ASSOCIATES 1-800-444-BOWL 3800 Lake Center Loop, Suite B1, Mount Dora, FL 32757-2208 AN AFFILIATE OF SANDY HANSELL & ASSOCIATES
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN IBI
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CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE NEBRASKA: 8-lane Brunswick center with bar, game room and restaurant. Active leagues. Call (402) 335-2095. ALABAMA: 30-lane, well-established, profitable center with kitchen, lounge & pro shop. Real estate included. Located in thriving Huntsville. Russ Russell Commercial Real Estate (256) 536-7777. LARRY DOBBS APPRAISALS. (214) 6748187. Bowlingvaluations@yahoo.com. WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA: One of the top five places to move! Remodeled 32lane center. Good numbers. $3.1m gets it all. Fax qualified inquiries to (828) 253-0362.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN MINIATURE GOLF COURSES Indoor/Outdoor. Portable/Pre-Fab. Black Light/Traditional/Pro Putter. 202 Bridge Street Jessup, PA 18434 570-489-8623 www.minigolfinc.com
LOCKER KEYS FAST! •Keys & Combo Locks for all Types of Lockers. •One week turnaround on most orders. •New locks All types •Used locks 1/2 price of new
All keys done by code #. No keys necessary.
E-mail: huff@inreach.com CALL TOLL FREE
1-800-700-4KEY Orange County Security Consultants
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GEORGIA: Busy 32-lane center, real estate included. Great location in one of fastest– growing counties in metro Atlanta. 5 years new with all the amenities. Excellent numbers. Call (770) 356-8751. NE MINNESOTA: Food, Liquor & Bowling. Established 8 lanes between Mpls & Duluth w/ large bar, dining room, banquet area. Two large State employment facilities nearby. High six-figure gross. Call Bryan (218) 380-8089. www.majesticpine.com.
WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/BOWLINGFAN
CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA: 6-lane Brunswick center, bar & grill, drive-thru liquor store in small college town. Also, 3 apartment buildings with 40 units, good rental history. Call (701) 330-7757 or (701) 430-1490. NW KANSAS: 12-lane center, AS-80s, Lane Shield, snack bar, pro shop, game & pool rooms. See pics and info @ www.visitcolby.com or contact Charles (785) 443-3477. CENTRAL ILLINOIS: PRICED TO SELL!! 8-lane center with AMF 82-70s, full-service restaurant, pro shop. Plus pool tables, karaoke machine & DJ system. Asking $125,000.00 with RE. (217) 351-5152 or toms-uvl@sbcglobal.net.
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CLASSIFIEDS
SERVICE CALLS WORLDWIDE • PRE-SHIPS • WE SELL
AS80/90 • BOARD REPAIR • Frameworx NEW KEYPADS • FRONT DESK LCD MONITORS
Michael P. Davies (321) 254-7849
291 Sandy Run, Melbourne, FL 32940 on the web: bowlingscorer.com email: mike@bowlingscorer.com
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SELL YOUR CENTER
(818) 789-2695
CLASSIFIEDS CENTERS FOR SALE SOUTHWEST KANSAS: Well-maintained 8lane center, A-2s, full-service restaurant. Includes business and real estate. Nice, smaller community. Owner retiring. $212,000. Leave message (620) 397-5828. 16-lane center in Southern Colorado mountains. Great condition. 18,000 s/f building w/ restaurant & lounge. Paved parking 100+ vehicles. Established leagues & tournaments. $950,000 or make offer. Kipp (719) 852-0155. CENTRAL NEW YORK: 12-lane center in great condition boasting many upgrades/ improvements. Offers pro shop, lounge and restaurant, OTB, NYS Lottery, Quick Draw & gaming arcade. Great ROI! Established clientele and no local competition. $449,000. Call for pics/info: Jayne Wentworth, Broker, Kay R.E. (315) 264-1456. OKLAHOMA: 16-lane center w/ large laser tag, only arcade in area and thriving lounge. Steltronics SuperElex w/ 42� flat screens and refurbished A2s. Completely upgraded and remodeled. Owner financing and option to purchase shopping center for viable buyers. Business for sale apart from real estate. (719) 251-1616.
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your Classified Ad EASY into place International Bowling WAYS Industry Magazine
CENTRAL OHIO: 16-lane profitable Brunswick center with nightly leagues, lounge and snack bar. In fastest-growing and highest-income county in Ohio. Call Debra (740) 369-3451. NW NEVADA: Retiring Owner-Financed. 12lanes + Leased CafĂŠ + Large Bar/Lounge + Arcade. Established Bowling Leagues + Pool Leagues/Tournaments + Slots. A-2s, Synthetic Lanes, Auto-Scoring, 13,000 s/f Building, 2 Acres, All Equipment. $950K; $50K Down; 5% Interest. (775) 867-5551 or Email: oasisbowlcasino@yahoo.com.
Call (818) 789-2695
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SELL YOUR CENTER OR EQUIPMENT
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E-mail your ad to: info@bowlingindustry.com IBI
July 2014
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REMEMBER WHEN
1944 T
here is a lot going on in this ad. The clue to the date lies in the slogan at the bottom, “There’s Only One Better Buy in Bonds … War Bonds!” It was 1944, and WWII was in full stride. Buying war bonds was the patriotic thing to do and, over the course of the war, 85 million Americans purchased bonds totaling approximately $185 million. That’s not the only ‘bond’ in this ad. Kentucky Tavern touts being ‘The Aristocrat of Bonds.’ More history as ‘Bottled in Bond,’ boldly printed on the label, refers to the Bottled in
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IBI
July 2014
Bond Act of 1897 in which the federal government set forth regulations by which American-made liquor would be aged and bottled—a product of one distillation season, by one distiller, and at one distillery. Let’s not stop there! Tchotchkes!!! Bowling tchotchkes. Cigarette lighters and holders and drink cozies all ensconced in bowling paraphernalia. So, here we are--an invitation to be patriotic and buy war bonds. Then, settle in with a relaxing libation and a good book, followed by…but, of course, bowling! ❖