Re: WGY... bowling alley???

["Aaron 'Bishop' Read" <aread@speakeasy.net>]

At 12:34 AM 4/5/2002, A. Joseph Ross wrote:
>On 4 Apr 2002 at 8:06, Shawn Mamros wrote:
>
> > Was it really easier/cheaper for these stations to build their own
> > alleys (even if they were only one or two lanes) rather than shoot
> > the shows at a local bowling alley, the way WCVB did "Candlepin Bowling"?
> > Maybe so...
>
>Or maybe not.  I have this strong suspicion that someone at the station 
>high enough up to
>get his way liked bowling and had the alley built, ostensibly so the 
>station could do a
>bowling show, but actually so that he could have his very own bowling 
>alley whenever he felt
>like taking a break from work.

Boston University built a 10 lane bowling alley into their "GSU" (George 
Sherman Student Union) building on Commonwealth Avenue, right across from 
Guitar Center (I don't think Guitar Center was there at the time, this was 
in the mid to late 1960's I think :-)

Anyways, "The Alley" as it called, was built in the basement at least 
partially under the courtyard in front of the GSU (where all the bike 
stands are now).   Unfortunately, it had to be permanently closed not all 
that long after it opened due to structural failure in the ceiling...if you 
go there now you can see how the courtyard is rather uneven and has several 
"sinkholes"     While I was a student at BU I snuck behind the 
formerly-temporary-now-permanent dividing wall that closes off the 
lanes...it's kinda creepy back there - the lanes and everything are still 
there - there's just several large posts strategically placed to reinforce 
the ceiling.

Needless to say, it proved to be a rather expensive lesson on how not to 
build a bowling alley!   :-/

______________________________________________
Aaron "Bishop" Read       aread@speakeasy.net
Fried Bagels Consulting   www.friedbagels.com
12 Walnut St. / Waltham, MA / 02453