Opened in 1962, which was then Tulsa's eastern boundary, the Rose Bowl consisted of two-and-one-half large concrete domes resting on two central support pillars. That allowed Ryan to effectively open up one huge area inside the 32,000-square- foot structure, with the side effect of creating a pair of terrific echo chambers that must have magnified the crashing pins.

A World War II veteran's fascination with Nazi bomb shelters gave Oklahoma one of its most beloved Route 66 treasures, Tulsa's multi- domed Rose Bowl bowling alley.

Cherokee businessman Sam Baker, who grew up just a few miles from the arched structure, intends to give the Rose Bowl new life as an event center - if he can get his hands on the money.

"With what we've had, we've done the best we could," he said. "In a building of this size, there's nothing that's cheap to do."

The iconic east Tulsa landmark draws its unique styling from William Henry Ryan's tours in Europe, where the Navy veteran saw how few structures resisted damage like the grand concrete domes Germans rushed under during B-17 raids.

When he returned home, the budding Tulsa architect applied what he'd learned in several Oklahoma projects.

Quickly becoming the place to be among Tulsa's youth, the Rose Bowl boasted audience seating, a game room, food counter and other traditional elements of that 10-pin heyday. Ryan augmented them with soaring windows that opened the action to those driving by on Route 66, or in Tulsa street lingo, 7419 E. 11th St.

  To Read More >> >