Evening star., 1933-04-04
ALLEY MEN MIGHT
| HELP FOOT BILLS
Scheme Not Practicable as
Money-Maker, but Ought
to Help Sport.
BY r. ID. THOMAS.

A S money-maker, the Inter
II city Bowling League to be
1 \ organized this week at
Hartford, Conn, where the
National Duckpin Bowling Con-
gress is holding forth, seems
doomed to failure, just as 10 years
ago when first proposed.
But this should not deter its sponsors,
principally George ISemann, the N. D.
B. G. secretary, and Frank Barber, man
ager Of the Connecticut Blue Ribbons.
In the next year duckpin shooting, as a
sport and business will be put to a
stern test. 1t will need lots of help. The
intercity league may provide punch to
hold the attention of many q fan who
otherwise might let go.
IN pointing out recently that an inter-
city league would not be feasible, the
writer was thinking only in terms Of
profit. With Washingtons Convention
Hall the only establishment on the pro-
posed circuit with seating capacity
enough to promote dividends, he could
see nothing but red ink on the leagues
ledger
Yet. strangely, not few of the stars
penses be paid from gate receipts, but
considerable cash be turned into a prize
fund.
This might be the case were bowling
establishments in the other cities-Bcs-
ton, Baltimore, Richmond and perhaps
Atlanta-equipped with grahdstands of
the size of Convention Halls.
And around this point many a hot
argument has whirled. 1t has ever been
a problem whether Convention Hall
should work on $3.50 basis with pin
plants OF other cities in staging home
and-home matches with admission
fees. -
CHARLEY BELL, Convention Hall
~ manager. will have this in mind
when he goes to the organization
meeting at Hartford Friday From a
straight business viewpoint Convention
Hall does seem to rate better than a
80 per cent cut on home attractions.
Its accommodations are far superiors to
any offered when Hall teams 20 yis-
iting.
But, taking a broad slant Conven-
ton Hall might do better for itself
IN the long run by being generous.
II an even split in the gate is neces-
sary to put over the league, certainly
the point should be conceded. The
league Is calculated to promote no end
OF interest in the game itself, and the
business men Of the sport may be
asked to help underwrite it.
Star bowlers have dreamed of a day
when the sport could be professional
ized, and some promoters, John BHck.
lSemann and Barber, for instance. have
taxed their ingenuity to find a way to
bring it off. At one time Blick THOUGHT
seriously of installing movable MAPLE
ways in large halls.
Never have the accommodations been
sumcient to care for the number or
people desiring to see Washington,s
major events. Because of crowdi1ga.
TINS reporter hasn't been able to see A.
pig duckpin battle In comfort sirlces
before the war. -'1-...-,,---->,>
a LMOST the acme of mundane hap
\ plness TO some bowlers would be a
Job which called for nothing but
performances on the mapleways. This
might not seem extraordinarily dim
CUT puC the fact remains that in all
the hstcry Of bowling-tenpins or
ouckplns-only one man has earned
a living legitimately chalking IN
spares and strikes. And he-Jimn1y
Smith, famous tenpinner-was paid a
salary by manufacturers Of bowling
Lorraine GULL toiled for a while ss
a sort Of pro. She gave exhibitions.
put her job primarily was to organize
girl leagues. Her title was assistant
secretary of the National ~Duckpin
Bowling Congress. Lorraine very wise
~ kept strings on her Government lob.