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Illinois Bowling Signs (page 1)

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Beardstown Bowl
Beardstown, IL		 Dodge Lanes
Belvidere, IL
The Beardstown Bowl opened in the early 1940s. I believe it has been closed since the early 2000s. [map]

Dodge Lanes was built in 1965 and this sign must be from then. The neon has been missing for decades. The bottom panel was originally a readerboard. The business is expected to close in 2025 as plans were announced to demolish the building for a Starbucks and Chipotle. I doubt this sign will survive. [map]

Belleville:
Bel-Air Bowl

Castaways Bowl
Calumet City, IL
The Castaways Bowl opened in 1960 and this 40-foot-tall pirate sign was installed then. The slanted steel pole next to the pirate's foot originally supported another sign which has been missing for decades. That panel had the AMF logo and read "Bowl Where You See the Magic Triangle." It projected from a tall pile of rocks which reached up to pirate's raised foot. An electronic message board was added beneath backlit plastic panel by 2008. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. [map]

Carlyle (now American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, OH):
Ten Pin Bowl [vintage]

Diversey River Bowl
Chicago, IL
The Diversey River Bowl was built in 1949. The pole sign originally had green and red porcelain panels with neon reading "Diversey-River" on top and "Coffee Shop" at the bottom. The middle panel has always read "Bowl" and been lit with bulbs. For more, see this website. [map]

Woodmac
Lanes [gone]
Chicago, IL		 Town Hall Bowl [gone]
Cicero, IL
This Woodmac Lanes sign was still there in 2006 when this photo was taken although the bowling alley had been closed for years. By 2012, the building and sign were gone.

The Town Hall Bowl sign appeared to be from the 1950s. It had the Federal sign company name at the bottom. The sign was removed in 2022 and will most likely be sold to a collector.

More Chicago:
Fireside Bowl

Crete Lanes
Crete, IL
2009: 2025:
The Crete Lanes sign was restored around 2009 with the neon lit in three-part animation. When the bowling alley closed around 2016, Evil Horse Brewing Co. moved into the building. The sign is now displayed inside the bar. For more, see this website.

Metro Bowl
Crystal Lake, IL
The Metro Bowl opened in 1956. The name came from the original owner, William G. Metropulos. [map]

Pla-Mor Lanes
Decatur, IL
The Pla-Mor Lanes opened in 1963. These signs must be from then. The business closed in 2019 and the building remains vacant. [map]

More Decatur:
Eldorado Bowl: 1, 2 [vintage; gone]

Illinois
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