Sunday, June 24, 2018

Markay Recreation Center & Markay Bowling Alley, 7221 N. Western Avenue, Chicago

Markay Bowling Alley (Built by the Muno Brothers) - 7221 N. Western Ave., Chicago. 1960
Markay Recreation Center, 7221 N. Western Avenue, Chicago. Built by the Mauno Brothers. Before 1943 it was called the West Ridge Recreation Parlor. The bowling alley, with only 8 lanes, was located in the basement of this commercial building located along Western Avenue in Chicago.
Eight Lanes of the Markay Bowling Alley.
The lanes harken back to the days of "pin boys." Almost directly across the street was the more modern Sunset Bowl opened after the advent of automatic pinsetters.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.
Presented by at
Living History of Illinois and Chicago® , ,

2 comments:

  1. Curt PfeifferThursday, November 10, 2022 at 8:38:00 PM CST

    The eight lanes were at ground level. The basement was used to store cases of beer for the bar, which made more money than the bowling business. The manager was a very nice fellow named Al Taubman. The owner in the 60’s and 70’s was Lou Marcucci, who also owned Gonella bread co. A few of the regular customers were Arnie Biewald, Mickey Hufford, Mike Muno, the Hoppenyan family, I worked there with my grandmother, Lee Liepe on Saturdays, cleaning the automatic pinsetters and tending the counter in the afternoon.

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  2. AnonymousMonday, November 13, 2023 at 2:28:00 AM CST

    I bowled there in 1953 when they still had pinboys and small 8 pound balls. Theater Bowl a block away had AMF Automatics installed earlier. And they were building Sunset Bowl across the street. And 3 other bowling alleys close by too. Those were the days! By the way - I shot a 66 for my very first game - age 6.

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