All courtesy of Waltham Community. Bottom two are the interior of the Recreation Center where the bowling was. Sorry, no interior available for the rink.
Courtesy of Billboard October 19, 1959, page 55. first column. A fund raising event. It was so successful. Good job!
Courtesy of Pinterest. It sure look like someone did a re-mockup over a real age old label.
Website June 2002 internet capture. They were quickly changed from this in early June 2002 to a different website that Boston bought out asset of the website as kidsboston.com which lasted till May 22, 2003. It is a defunct website as I checked.
Courtesy of Google Map. Aerial view and the street view. The aerial view photo explainded where everything was. So, the present day photo taken in June 2015 is clearly where everything was. Kiddieland is where BK is now and Stables is where the former rink was and the bowling center is where CVS is located. All three businesses been around nearly 20 years. In fact, their appearance is still the same for that long. What is irony is that BK has shakes. Only thing left!
Wal-Lex Recreation Center 814 Lexington St, Waltham, MA
Wal-Lex Rollerway 800 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA
Wal-Lex Rollerway 800 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA
This is one of the best and most unique entertainment center of its time, the Wal-Lex Recreation Center which was on 814 Lexington Street in Waltham, Massachusetts but just 3 years after it was opened, Wal-Lex Rollerway was built and opened next door at 800 Lexington Street, Waltham, MA along with the Mini-Golf.
The name Wal-Lex is a portmanteau of two towns -- Waltham and Lexington. as the center was located on Lexington Street in Waltham which was not far from Lexington town line and the street becomes Waltham Street. Portmanteau is a set of two or more words combined into one word. Like Smog comes from smoke and fog. That huge department store with the name taken from his last name and the mart which means market... well, almost.
Anyway, on July 4, 1947, four men, John Rando, Fred Tortola Sr., Thomas Cappadona and George Rando opened the doors of Wal-Lex Recreation Center. A one story building with just 20 candlestick bowling lanes. Very simple concept but it was so popular and they must have seen that people were interested in more activities so they had to come up with something. They added the Wal-Lex Rollerway, the roller rink in 1950 right next door. Hence the address you saw on top were different. the 814 were the Recreation Center, the 800 was for the roller rink. They also added miniature golf. Likely but no proof, they may have called the miniature golf, Wal-Lex Golfway? We will never know. Because each section they have a name as I can figure it out. But the kiddie rides, well, it was called Kiddieland.
The ownership changed hands frequent but pretty much those men I listed and a few more. For example, James Price was one of them from 1950 to 1952, Douglas Price from 1965 to 1968. Only 1950s to end of 1960s pretty much changed a lot but after that, stayed with Thomas Cappadona and Fred Tortola from 1969 to its closure and demolished in 2002.
At one time, the facility also included a mini-golf course, kiddie rides, and a dairy stand. It was short lived for some. Dairy stand sounds like an ice cream stand. It was an ice cream stand.
It was a full-scale entertainment center with multi-activities.
The first weekly candlepin bowling show is broadcast on WCVB TV channel 5 on October 4, 1958 and ran till 1990s. One of the longest running TV local sports show. The Candlepin for Dollars.
The original pinsetters (also called bowl-mor) were still operational although, the pins were set manually by pinboys. They were one of the first to add machinery to set up pins. The scores were still written down by pencil and paper. The wooden lanes has been sanded down often to the nails. Still a popular attraction for youths and bowling leagues.
Because of that sand-downs, aging fast, and behind in technology, this is why they were all closed.
The downsizing of the entertainment center began before 1985 with the rides but big impact was in 1985 with the closing of the miniature golf course.
The spot where the miniature golf (closed in 1985) is now occupied by Burger King in 1986 as CVS and Staples occupied the former roller rink and bowling center in 2002. The photos and map will explain where they were.
The complex that Frederick Tortola Jr. announced in March 2002 that it is sold and CVS was interested in the former bowling spot as Staples would be in the former rink spot.
The Interior.
Bowling - It had a very simple 1950s Candlestick Bowling alley that it had lanes. First it was 20, then they added 18 in 1954 then in 1960, finally finished with 22 more lanes. Perhaps to equal them on each floor to 30 lanes.
One of the first alleys to have automated pinsetters/bowl-mor.
It had leather seating wrap around Tan colored couches on each section of lanes and a row of Red leather or vinyl movie theater style seating where they had a long running TV series Candlestick for Dollars which is still the longest running local TV sports show although they are not on the air anymore. Dark Green or Forest Green Berber Carpet.
It looked industrial interior for the bowling because of huge exposed heaters hanging from the ceiling, wood paneling walls, and simple 1950s look.
Roller Rink - N/A. It may had an ice cream stand in the rink and maybe kiddie rides indoors but I am not sure. They were able to accommodate up to 15 birthday parties at once. They had plenty of room clearly for those parties.
The Exterior.
Bowling- Very standard Mid-Century simple Red Bricks bricks building with Aluminum frame. But it was one story in 1947 then they added second floor to accommodate more bowling lanes. It was more modern with the second floor section they added on top was the much glass windows and aluminum frames for windows and building itself. Likely Steel truss hidden behind the aluminum frame.
Roller Rink section - It was quite different than the Mid-Century design for the Recreation Center where the Candlestick Bowling was. This really stood out as a retro- Art Deco. Of course Art Deco was out of style in end of 1930s but this was a retro. Like the VW New Beetle came out in 1990s while the old one just phased out matter of few years earlier although the original was still being produced in Latin America right up to 2019. And the New Beetle was already not produced anymore.
Anyway, the Art Deco had a couple of different materials on it. The front door extension had Gray Mosaic Stone Wall. But the rest were Snow White with which appeared to be Hot Lipstick Pink stripes and Teal trim canopy and front doors. Very 1930s Art Deco with popular 1950s colors that the style repeated again in late 1980s and 1990s if you recalled. I did.
It was like a mixture of 1930s with 1990s look since 1950s!
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: 2002. Now a plaza (CVS, Staples, Burger King...)
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Multi-material walled Art Deco Night Club-like Building (Roller rink); Mid-Century Modern 1 story Red Brick building for Bowling (Recreation Center) from 1947 to 1954, added second story above original building, Aluminum framed and Glass second floor. Flat roof.
Roof: N/A (Rollerway); Recreation Center (bowling) - Flat.
Acres: N/A.
Bowling: Candlestick.
Lanes: 20 (1946), then added 18 (Total 38 in1954) then added 22 (1960) to peak at 60 lanes.
Operated: N/A.
Wal-Lex Recreation Center: July 4, 1947 to June 26, 2002. (Wal-Lex Plaza replaced spot).
Wal-Lex Rollerway: 1950 to June 26, 2002. (CVS and Staples replaced spot in 2003).
Wal-Lex Mini Golf: 1950 to 1985. (Burger King replaced spot in 1986).
Kiddieland Ice Cream: 1950 to 1985. (Burger King replaced spot in 1986).
Reason for Closure: Fred Tortola was considering selling for years, and building showed age and needed repairs. Fred Tortola Jr. sold the property.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Wikipedia - Wal-Lex Recreation Center; The Harvard Crimson - Wal-Lex Rollerway;
Facebook - Wal-Lex Skate Club;
Date of issue: 3 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
The name Wal-Lex is a portmanteau of two towns -- Waltham and Lexington. as the center was located on Lexington Street in Waltham which was not far from Lexington town line and the street becomes Waltham Street. Portmanteau is a set of two or more words combined into one word. Like Smog comes from smoke and fog. That huge department store with the name taken from his last name and the mart which means market... well, almost.
Anyway, on July 4, 1947, four men, John Rando, Fred Tortola Sr., Thomas Cappadona and George Rando opened the doors of Wal-Lex Recreation Center. A one story building with just 20 candlestick bowling lanes. Very simple concept but it was so popular and they must have seen that people were interested in more activities so they had to come up with something. They added the Wal-Lex Rollerway, the roller rink in 1950 right next door. Hence the address you saw on top were different. the 814 were the Recreation Center, the 800 was for the roller rink. They also added miniature golf. Likely but no proof, they may have called the miniature golf, Wal-Lex Golfway? We will never know. Because each section they have a name as I can figure it out. But the kiddie rides, well, it was called Kiddieland.
The ownership changed hands frequent but pretty much those men I listed and a few more. For example, James Price was one of them from 1950 to 1952, Douglas Price from 1965 to 1968. Only 1950s to end of 1960s pretty much changed a lot but after that, stayed with Thomas Cappadona and Fred Tortola from 1969 to its closure and demolished in 2002.
At one time, the facility also included a mini-golf course, kiddie rides, and a dairy stand. It was short lived for some. Dairy stand sounds like an ice cream stand. It was an ice cream stand.
It was a full-scale entertainment center with multi-activities.
The first weekly candlepin bowling show is broadcast on WCVB TV channel 5 on October 4, 1958 and ran till 1990s. One of the longest running TV local sports show. The Candlepin for Dollars.
The original pinsetters (also called bowl-mor) were still operational although, the pins were set manually by pinboys. They were one of the first to add machinery to set up pins. The scores were still written down by pencil and paper. The wooden lanes has been sanded down often to the nails. Still a popular attraction for youths and bowling leagues.
Because of that sand-downs, aging fast, and behind in technology, this is why they were all closed.
The downsizing of the entertainment center began before 1985 with the rides but big impact was in 1985 with the closing of the miniature golf course.
The spot where the miniature golf (closed in 1985) is now occupied by Burger King in 1986 as CVS and Staples occupied the former roller rink and bowling center in 2002. The photos and map will explain where they were.
The complex that Frederick Tortola Jr. announced in March 2002 that it is sold and CVS was interested in the former bowling spot as Staples would be in the former rink spot.
The Interior.
Bowling - It had a very simple 1950s Candlestick Bowling alley that it had lanes. First it was 20, then they added 18 in 1954 then in 1960, finally finished with 22 more lanes. Perhaps to equal them on each floor to 30 lanes.
One of the first alleys to have automated pinsetters/bowl-mor.
It had leather seating wrap around Tan colored couches on each section of lanes and a row of Red leather or vinyl movie theater style seating where they had a long running TV series Candlestick for Dollars which is still the longest running local TV sports show although they are not on the air anymore. Dark Green or Forest Green Berber Carpet.
It looked industrial interior for the bowling because of huge exposed heaters hanging from the ceiling, wood paneling walls, and simple 1950s look.
Roller Rink - N/A. It may had an ice cream stand in the rink and maybe kiddie rides indoors but I am not sure. They were able to accommodate up to 15 birthday parties at once. They had plenty of room clearly for those parties.
The Exterior.
Bowling- Very standard Mid-Century simple Red Bricks bricks building with Aluminum frame. But it was one story in 1947 then they added second floor to accommodate more bowling lanes. It was more modern with the second floor section they added on top was the much glass windows and aluminum frames for windows and building itself. Likely Steel truss hidden behind the aluminum frame.
Roller Rink section - It was quite different than the Mid-Century design for the Recreation Center where the Candlestick Bowling was. This really stood out as a retro- Art Deco. Of course Art Deco was out of style in end of 1930s but this was a retro. Like the VW New Beetle came out in 1990s while the old one just phased out matter of few years earlier although the original was still being produced in Latin America right up to 2019. And the New Beetle was already not produced anymore.
Anyway, the Art Deco had a couple of different materials on it. The front door extension had Gray Mosaic Stone Wall. But the rest were Snow White with which appeared to be Hot Lipstick Pink stripes and Teal trim canopy and front doors. Very 1930s Art Deco with popular 1950s colors that the style repeated again in late 1980s and 1990s if you recalled. I did.
It was like a mixture of 1930s with 1990s look since 1950s!
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: 2002. Now a plaza (CVS, Staples, Burger King...)
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Multi-material walled Art Deco Night Club-like Building (Roller rink); Mid-Century Modern 1 story Red Brick building for Bowling (Recreation Center) from 1947 to 1954, added second story above original building, Aluminum framed and Glass second floor. Flat roof.
Roof: N/A (Rollerway); Recreation Center (bowling) - Flat.
Acres: N/A.
Bowling: Candlestick.
Lanes: 20 (1946), then added 18 (Total 38 in1954) then added 22 (1960) to peak at 60 lanes.
Operated: N/A.
Wal-Lex Recreation Center: July 4, 1947 to June 26, 2002. (Wal-Lex Plaza replaced spot).
Wal-Lex Rollerway: 1950 to June 26, 2002. (CVS and Staples replaced spot in 2003).
Wal-Lex Mini Golf: 1950 to 1985. (Burger King replaced spot in 1986).
Kiddieland Ice Cream: 1950 to 1985. (Burger King replaced spot in 1986).
Reason for Closure: Fred Tortola was considering selling for years, and building showed age and needed repairs. Fred Tortola Jr. sold the property.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Wikipedia - Wal-Lex Recreation Center; The Harvard Crimson - Wal-Lex Rollerway;
Facebook - Wal-Lex Skate Club;
Date of issue: 3 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.