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.

While Tulsa soon grew south and west, its cultural hot spots shifting with the tide, the Rose Bowl still thrived as a bowling alley, even as Baker built a series of neighboring businesses. Although its employees considered the domed structure haunted, Baker said industry leader AMF maintained the Rose Bowl in good shape until the company decided to shed many of its excess bowling centers nationwide. Closing the alley in 2005, the Rose Bowl soon became the target of vandalism and fire.

That spurred Baker's 2006 rescue attempt, buying the structure for $295,000, a price he thought too good to pass up.

Fearing the effort too big, the 50-year-old executive first tried to find an interested buyer on eBay. When that failed, Baker joined with partner Chris Whinery to launch their own renovation, seeking to turn the Rose Bowl into an event center.

After two years of piecemeal improvements - pulling up and selling the polished wood lanes, installing 20,000- and 25,000-ton Train heating and cooling units, repairing fire damage, and installing a stage and public address system - Baker received a temporary occupancy permit to open this summer.

But his work remains far from finished. To reach his desired occupancy of 3,000 or more, Baker must install a new sprinkler and fire alarm system estimated at $250,000, as well as 30 additional toilets. Ryan's soaring windows remain covered with plywood painted terra cotta rose to match the surrounding block walls. Raw wood comprises the bar counter supports, while temporary wood ramps lead guests to the main floor.

Baker has many improvements on the drawing board, from decorative interior murals to giant Route 66 and "Roadhouse" neon signs he secured from a Tennessee antique dealer for $5,000.

Baker estimated the remaining costs could run $1.5 million or more. With his available funds going to buy out Whinery, who wants out of the project, the owner of Baker Recovery Inc. doesn't know how or when he will raise the money needed to complete this renovation in this wounded lender environment. But Baker also foresees grant funds becoming available for Route 66 projects like his, and he expects the Rose Bowl's historic value will attract the interest of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation and other Route 66 promoters, as it has the many European travelers coming to America to drive the mother road.

He plans to hold a Rose Bowl open house Oct. 18 to show off its potential.

"As Route 66 landmarks go, this is as significant as any in Oklahoma," he said. "I think we could be a big benefit to Tulsa. I look forward to doing that."

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