Museum Theater spans bowling history
November 23, 2009
By Mark Miller
USBC Communications
In the middle of the new International Bowling Museum and Hall Fame in Arlington, Texas, is a visually-appealing section that will serve as an important transition in telling bowling's story.
The Theater will help take patrons from the historical section they've just seen to the modern era they are about to visit. On a large projection screen and on walls on either side, the theatre features narration, music, lighting, pictures, film, graphics and artifacts, plus two regulation 1930s lanes, to give people a true sense of both eras.
"It will be a multi-dimensional experience," said Ross Edwards, design director for Dallas' Museum Arts and the lead designer for the IBM/HF. "The first few minutes will recap the history of bowling from its beginnings to its moving here from Europe to more recent history. Then you'll see a picture of an antique lane. When the screen goes up, you'll see the unique lanes themselves. Then when the screen comes back down, that makes the transition. The music changes, the sound changes and the excitement and experience visually and enthusiastically ramp up to what bowling is about today."
Bowling at the professional, collegiate, high school, Team USA, youth, coaching and international levels will be on display in the second half of the approximately eight-minute presentation. When finished, visitors will continue on the tour to learn more about what's currently happening in the sport.
"By the time people leave the theatre, they will be excited about bowling today," Edwards said. "When they leave the theatre, they will learn about all the opportunities from young children to adults."
The Theatre will have several rows of curved hardwood benches to accommodate numbers as small as individuals and as large as school groups. Opportunities will be available for visitors to roll a few shots on the vintage lanes. And there will be a walkway behind the seats for people who want go right into the modern section.
USBC Communications
In the middle of the new International Bowling Museum and Hall Fame in Arlington, Texas, is a visually-appealing section that will serve as an important transition in telling bowling's story.
The Theater will help take patrons from the historical section they've just seen to the modern era they are about to visit. On a large projection screen and on walls on either side, the theatre features narration, music, lighting, pictures, film, graphics and artifacts, plus two regulation 1930s lanes, to give people a true sense of both eras.
"It will be a multi-dimensional experience," said Ross Edwards, design director for Dallas' Museum Arts and the lead designer for the IBM/HF. "The first few minutes will recap the history of bowling from its beginnings to its moving here from Europe to more recent history. Then you'll see a picture of an antique lane. When the screen goes up, you'll see the unique lanes themselves. Then when the screen comes back down, that makes the transition. The music changes, the sound changes and the excitement and experience visually and enthusiastically ramp up to what bowling is about today."
Bowling at the professional, collegiate, high school, Team USA, youth, coaching and international levels will be on display in the second half of the approximately eight-minute presentation. When finished, visitors will continue on the tour to learn more about what's currently happening in the sport.
"By the time people leave the theatre, they will be excited about bowling today," Edwards said. "When they leave the theatre, they will learn about all the opportunities from young children to adults."
The Theatre will have several rows of curved hardwood benches to accommodate numbers as small as individuals and as large as school groups. Opportunities will be available for visitors to roll a few shots on the vintage lanes. And there will be a walkway behind the seats for people who want go right into the modern section.