A Great Fad
When the Santa Cruz Bowl opened, the newspapers recalled that there had been another bowling alley near where it was now. It had been, in fact, next door. When you enter the Catalyst and walk forward toward the main stage, you are on the site of the old Santa Cruz Bowl, but when you turn left and walk into the Atrium, you are walking onto the site of a whole other history.
1903 Sentinel Advertisement
In April 1902, the following notice appeared in the Sentinel:
Bowling is getting to be a great fad in this State, and parties interested been interviewing Dr. B. Marshall, who owns 40 feet south of the Bonner Stables, to erect a building suitable for such purpose. Negotiations are about settled, and it will not be surprising to soon see an ornamental building erected at the point named. The building is to be built in the shape of a castle, and will have that name. The whole thing, including the building and appointments, will represent a cost of from $4,000 to $5,000.
The new business meant quality jobs: eight boys over the age of 14 were hired.
By July owner M. E. Putnam opened the Castle Bowling Alleys.
A large and appreciative audience witnessed the splendid match game played last evening in the Castle Bowling Alleys by Santa Cruz Amateur teams. A great deal of interest is being shown in the game, the spectators taking as much interest as the players.
There followed the scores of the Owls vs the Hawks.
Perhaps photos exist of those local bowling alleys at the turn of the century. Here is a Brooklyn bowling alley in 1910.
This is a YMCA, Westmount QC, 1913
Castle Alleys was probably not opened during the winter, because in April the next year it was announced that Castle was to reopen, the occasion celebrated with prizes and an orchestra. In July, Putnam’s assistant, W. B. Boggs, purchased the Castle Bowl with H. W. Swift, but then sold his half to Swift year later. Swift said in winter of 1904 that more alleys would be added before the season started, and that his alley in Palo Alto was doing fine. The remodeled alleys opened in April with a gallery added (for spectators just like the SC Bowl would have 30 years later.) After the season ended, in November of 1905, a rumor was reported that the Castle Bowl was going to be converted to a theater. Two weeks later, the alleys were in storage.
A new fad had come to Santa Cruz, and that fad was vaudeville.
The Empire Theatre. Varieties of Entertainment at the Rough End of Pacific, Part 4.
[Link to a version of this post with footnotes.]
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