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email: roadarch@outlook.com |
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| Bowling Signs (page 1) |
(hit "refresh" to get the most recent version of this page; click on photos for larger images)
| The photos in this section were moved here from my Signs section to accompany an article which I wrote for the (Society for Commercial Archeology) Journal magazine. That article and this section provide information about and examples of vintage bowling signs. As with most of these "companion" sections, the pages are organized alphabetically by state. |
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Alaska:
Center Bowl (Anchorage) |
| Plamor Lanes Huntsville, AL |
Leland Lanes Tuscaloosa, AL |
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The Plamor Lanes features a classic giant pin sign over its entrance. [map]
The Leland Lanes sign is probably from the 1950s. There was also a giant pin panel to the right of the ball panel which was gone by 2013. The bowling alley closed in 2019 but this sign was still there in 2022. [map] |
| Central Bowling Lanes [gone] Hot Springs, AR |
Springdale Bowl [gone] Springdale, AR |
Holiday Bowl [gone] Texarkana, AR |
Golden Pin Lanes Tucson, AZ |
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The Central Bowling Lanes opened in 1960. This photo is from 2010. By 2013, the sign's neon had been replaced with backlit plastic letters. In 2023, the sign had been replaced with a digital display board. For more, see this website. [map]
The Springdale Bowl featured this colorful sign which was probably from the 1950s or 1960s. By 2016, the sign had been replaced with a plastic and LED sign. The Holiday Bowl has been around since the 1950s. By 2024, this sign was replaced with a backlit plastic box. For more, see this website. The Golden Pin Lanes opened in 1960. These signs are probably from then. The business closed in 2019. In 2022, the building was demolished but the signs and curved, rock wall will be preserved. A new building for the Pima County Northwest Service Center will be built behind it. [map] |
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More Arizona:
Cerbat Lanes (Kingman) |
| Peak Bowl Colorado Springs, CO |
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| The Peak Bowl was built in 1957 and this sign is probably from then. [map] |
| Bear Creek Lanes Colorado Springs, CO |
Gold Crown Lanes Fort Morgan, CO |
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Bear Creek Lanes opened in 1961. This sign appears to be from then. The bowling alley was demolished around 2020 but the sign remains. [map]
The Gold Crown Lanes was built in 1961. This sign was installed then. In 2014, the bowling alley reopened as the Morgan Lanes. The new owner looked into having the sign repainted and the neon repaired. The estimate was $23,000 and he passed. There are no plans to remove the sign despite offers from collectors and dealers. The text on the bottom of the sign mentions that this facility had a nursery which was a common perk at bowling alleys in the 1950s and 1960s. Parents could drop off the kids and head off to the bar or lanes. This nursery has been used for storage since about the 1970s. In 2023, the sign was repainted as part of the Home Town Takeover TV show. [map] |
| Crown Lanes Denver, CO |
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| The Crown Lanes opened in 1958 and this sign is from then. It was built by Gordon Sign. In 2019, the sign was repainted blue and yellow. For more, see this website. [map] |
| Golden Bowl Golden, CO 2012: |
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| The Golden Bowl was built in 1955 and these signs appear to be from then. They had neon originally. The pin on the rooftop sign originally had a bowling ball where the "O" is. The bowling alley closed in 2014. The rooftop sign is now on display inside the Natural Grocers store which was built on the site. The pole sign was built around 1956 for the Golden Bowl Inn next door. It was adapted by the bowling alley in the 1970s. I believe that sign is now in a private collection. |
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More Colorado:
ABC Bowling (Denver) [vintage; gone] Fremont Lanes (Florence) |
| Norwich Ten Pin Bowl Norwich, CT |
Hi-Way Bowling Lanes [gone] Plainfield, CT |
Ten-Pin Bowl South Windsor, CT |
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The Norwich Ten Pin Bowl used a giant bowling pin as its sign. This photo is from 2005. The pin was later repainted and the place was known as Norwich Bowling. By 2017, the sign had been removed. It was restored and reinstalled around 2020. For more, see this website. [map]
This photo of the Hi-Way Bowling Lanes sign is from 2007. By 2012, the place had closed and the top panels of the sign were missing. By 2018, the bowling pin and arrow were also gone. The Ten-Pin Bowl was built in the 1950s. The roof collapsed in 2011 and the building was demolished later that year. A new building was constructed for Hartford Truck Equipment. The bowling sign was still in the parking lot in 2023. [map] |
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More Connecticut:
Callahan's Bowl-O-Rama (Newington) [map] Barnum Duckpin Bowling (Stratford) |
| former Phoenix Lanes Jacksonville, FL |
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| The Phoenix Lanes opened in 1958. This sign might be from then or from the 1960s. The business closed around 2013. In 2016, renovation of the building began. The Phoenix Bar & Bowling opened in 2018. The sign no longer has neon. [map] |
| Orange Bowl Lanes Kissimmee, FL |
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| The Orange Bowl Lanes opened in 1960 and the facade sign was installed then. The rooftop sign, which had neon originally, was added later. The orange part of the rooftop sign was painted black like a bowling ball until around 2015. These photos are from 2021. By 2024, the ball was painted orange and the pin was painted seafoam green. It no longer has the "Bowl" text. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
| Felton Lanes [gone] Pensacola, FL |
Ten Pin Lanes South Pasadena, FL |
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Felton Lanes opened in 1941 in Warrington. The business moved to this location in Pensacola in 1948. There were expansions in 1956 and 1958. The bowling alley closed in 2017. The sign remained until around 2021 when the building was demolished. The sign looks like it might have been from the 1960s or 1970s. For more, see this website.
The Ten Pin Lanes opened in 1950. This sign is probably from then. It is installed on top of the entrance canopy. Until 2017, there were individual letters below this sign. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map] |
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Bowling Signs page 2 |
Bowling Signs page 3 |
Bowling Signs page 4 |
Bowling Signs page 5 |
Bowling Signs page 6 |
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Bowling Signs page 7 |
Bowling Signs page 8 |
Bowling Signs page 9 |
Bowling Signs page 10 |
Bowling Signs page 11 |
Bowling Signs page 12 |
California Bowling Signs |
Illinois Bowling Signs |
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Main SCA Article Companion Page |
Main Signs Page |
| RoadsideArchitecture.com |
Copyright. All photos at this website are copyrighted and may only be used with my consent. This includes posting them at Facebook, Pinterest, blogs, other websites, personal use, etc. Tips & Updates. If you have suggestions about places that I haven't covered, historical info, or updates about places/things that have been remodeled or removed, I'd love to hear from you: roadarch@outlook.com. |