California Lanes

Moniteau County, Missouri

California Lanes

Started as Leisure Lanes in 1960

From the August 25, 1960 California Democrat:

Leisure Lanes To Have Grand Opening Sept. 3

Women's Teams to Start League Games Sept. 12

The new Bowling Alley here to be known as Leisure Lanes will open next weekend in the brand new brick building on Highway 50 west. The Grand Opening has been set for Saturday, Sept. 3. Ora Lee Barry, contractor, erected the modern building especially to house the ten lane bowling alley.

The equipment includes automatic pin spotters and under lane ball return. The building is air conditioned. Seating capacity is available for spectators who may attend free of charge at any time.

Money for the project was supplied by a group of civic minded business men who formed a corporation known as California Enterprises, Inc. The sum of $20,000 was spen on the project. The building has been leased to Leisure Lanes for a period of 10 years.

Thirty-six teams have been organized in the league. Most of the teams are sponsored by business firms in California and Tipton.

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Wayne Sellers will be the manager of Leisure Lanes and Walter Pigman, of McGirk, the assistant manager.

Mr. Sellers, 32, is a native of Camden County. He has been living in Kansas City for a number of years. For the past four years he had been employed at the American Machine and Foundry Co., in the service and installation department. This is the company which is installing the lanes here.

Mr. Sellers is married. His wife, Josephine, and their daughters Linda Kay, 4 and Cathy Ann 2, will join Mr. Sellers here to live in the former Baptist parsonage on East Street. The house will not be available for two or three weeks, or until the new parsonage is completed. Clarence Britton now owns the former parsonage. Mr. and Mrs. Sellers plan to sell their property at 7911 Highway 71 in Kansas City.

Mr. and Mrs. Sellers belong to the Baptist Church and he is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

From the April 20, 1961 California Democrat:

Leisure Lanes Has Been Sold

Presently Owned by Local Businessmen

The sale of one of California's newest and leading business places has been announced. Leisure Lanes, Inc. has been sold to California Enterprises, Inc.

The California corporation was formed about a year ago for the purpose of erecting the 62 by 139 foot brick building presently housing the bowling alley. It entered into a contract with Wayne Sellers and Frank Octavio of Kansas City for rental of the building. The Kansas City men then formed the Leisure Lanes, Inc. to operate the business.

Mr. Sellers and Octavio also operate a bowling alley repair business in Kansas City and are representatives of American Machine and Foundry, who manufacture automatic pin setter and other bowling equipment. This business has grown to such an extent the men decided to concentrate their full efforts there. Mr. Sellers and his family plan on residing in California for the present although he will be on the road a good part of the time.

The new bowling establishment was first opened Sept. 1 last year and was an immediate success from the start.

The local corporation is owned by seven business men who operate the property as an investment. They are: A. W. Baker, president; Dr. C. B. Butts, secretary-treasurer; H. T. Renfrow; H. F. Dahler; C. E. Alexander; Oralee Barry and H. E. Friedmeyer.

Lloyd Dunham is the manger of the lanes.

From the June 15, 1978 California Democrat:

Alexander, Butts take possession of bowling alley

No one bid on the Leisure Lanes bowling alley at the courthouse Saturday, so the property reverted back to the original owners, Pete Alexander and C. B. Butts. The men sold the bowling alley and adjoining property to Mr. and Mrs. Louis Troutman Sept. 1, 1977, but held a note on the amount still owed. Attorney John Inglish acted as trustee of the deed of trust and when the Troutmans defaulted on their payments, it was Inglish who put the property up for sale at public auction.

Alexander said Monday that the bowling alley is still for sale, but in the meantime the lanes will be refinished and the machines reconditioned so the place will be ready for the leagues to start bowling the middle of August. He added, "There is one thing for sure. Whether we sell or not, I'm going to see to it the lanes are run right and the equipment is operating so the leagues can finish bowling on schedule."

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