City Life

55 Years of Vintage Bowling

Lang's Bowlarama celebrates more than five decades of strikes, spares and retro cool

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New vintage-inspired bowling alleys seem to be popping up all over in these nostalgia-ridden days we live in, but if you’re looking for throwback bowling, why not go authentic and experience a true time tested local gem?

Lang’s Bowlarama was founded in Cranston in 1960 by Ed Lang, and celebrates its 55th birthday this year with Ed’s grandchildren at the helm. Opening his own bowling alley had been Ed’s dream for years, and in the late ‘50s he purchased a lot and constructed the property he’d always wanted. He is described as being a friendly person; someone everyone knew, shaking hands with patrons in the suits he always wore.

In 1982, as bowling alley popularity began to diminish, the Lang family opted to lease the alley to corporate giant AMF, who remodeled it with their own colors and branding, but kept much of the original structure otherwise intact. Some of the accents are original, such as the tiles in the ladies’ bathroom and the bar countertop. Thirty years later, Ed Lang’s grandsons decided to take back the business and reopen with as many of the original ‘60s décor touches as possible. It helped when, as they pulled apart pieces of the bar and other walls, they discovered the original paint colors still underneath and decided to bring them back to life: oranges, teals and blues. They even brought back the original font from the ‘60s. 

According to Sales, Marketing and Events Director Dayna Mancini, the coolest part of this vintage establishment is not open to the public: Ed’s original office, which appears to be untouched since the 1960s. When he leased out the building to AMF, it was the one room not included in the lease and a padlock was placed on the door. When his descendants finally opened it three decades later, they were incredulous.

“It’s basically like stepping into a time capsule,” says Dayna. “It’s something right out of Mad Men – orange shag carpeting, the works.”

Nowadays, Lang’s grandsons and alley owners Rick and Dave have brought back Ed’s original vision of a warm, family-orieted environment. They make it a point to know each one of their employees by name – even part-time ones. There will be big parties and events happening the weekend of October 2 to celebrate the 55th anniversary and the revival of this Rhode Island gem that once hosted the PBA pro tour in 1976 and, more recently, Justin Bieber, who visited on his way to the airport once in 2014.

“We’ve had a great 55 years, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone and look ahead to the next 55,” says Dayna. Lang’s Bowlarama will continue to be a place where people come to have fun; hosting lots of leagues, corporate events, kid and adult birthday parties, and wedding-related functions like engagement parties, rehearsal dinners and more. Lang’s also looks forward to unveiling its new bar sometime next year.

Lang’s Bowlarama
225 Niantic Avenue, Cranston
944-0500

Lang’s Bowlarama, Ed Lang, Cranston, bowling alley, providence monthly, bowling, bowl, vintage bowling, amanda m. grosvenor, Dayna Mancini

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