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Community Corner

Looking Back: Remember the Kirkwood Bowling Alley?

Whether it was pins, pool or pinball, we sure had a blast!

Remember the Kirkwood Bowling Alley? Those of us who were addicted to earning strikes and spares fondly remember this place on Ventura Boulevard, not too far from the Sportsmen's Lodge. It was a regular hangout for me and my twin sister, Teresa, along with our pal Arthur Schaak, who taught me the art of pinball and how to earn an army of free games with just the push of a button.

Although it’s now called the, back in the '50s it was a legendary attraction for the likes of James Dean and William Holden. It still holds its charm today for luminaries such as Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Shaquille O’Neal and many others.

Back in the '60s, the bowling alley was cheap fun for those of us who couldn’t afford ballet, riding lessons or expensive trips to camp. We had a blast, walking along the boulevard to Kirkwood to try our luck at those pinball games, spending less than a few bucks for several hours of joy.

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One of our favorite games was a baseball pinball game, a real lesson in geometry, according to Arthur. If you caught the metal orb inside the bat, slowly you could lower the bat and swing away, the ball flying up one of the arched metal ramps and into the bleachers at the top of the game.

Arthur was a master at this game, and taught Teresa and me how to effectively catch the ball, and increase our chances for home runs, free games and endless fun for pennies on the dollar. 

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If you were lucky, and aimed right down the middle of the field, you’d even get a grand slam, with all the bells ringing like you’d won the lottery. I can still hear the swish and ping of those metal men rounding the bases, as they clamored home, the runs piling up like poker chips in Vegas. We earned lots of free games at Kirkwood off this baseball game alone, and our triumphs made us feel like World Series stars.

If we had a few extra dollars, bowling was always a blast as well, despite that fishy locker room smell of the rental shoes. I wonder if Kirkwood also sold athlete’s foot powder?

I think there were also pool tables at Kirkwood, and although our pool skills were better served in chlorinated water, when we’d play, was easier just to hit the cue ball as hard as we could and hope one of the solid or striped balls would simply slam into the pocket. None of this angling stuff, or banking, or those fancy Masse shots. Just ready, aim, fire.

I still love playing pool and going bowling when the opportunities arise, but that baseball pinball was indeed the best, with its grand-slam promises and MVP rewards.

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