Newsday Eastern Open

In 1948 the Long Island newspaper Newsday launched an individual match-game tournament that eventually became known as the Newsday Eastern Open.  A marathon competition that stretched out to 72 games some years, the event earned the nickname “The All-Star of the East.”  The newspaper dropped its sponsorship after 1980, and the tournament itself died a few years later. 

(For more on the tournament, see my story in the October 2023 issue of Bowlers Journal International.) 

TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

(Petersen Points 1948-1975, Bonus Pins 1976-1986)

1948   Graz Castellano, Jackson Heights, NY . . . . . 350-38 (72g)

1949   George Cann, Hempstead, NY . . . . . . . . . ,  224-33 (48g)

1950   Graz Castellano, Jackson Heights, NY . . . . .  319-36 (72g)

1951   Tony Sparando, Rego Park, NY. . . . . . . . . . . 320-44 (72g)

1952   Jack Horn, Bayside, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  324-41 (72g)

1953   Junie McMahon, Fairlawn, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . 332-11 (72g)

1954   Graz Castellano, Jackson Heights, NY . . . . . . 324-39 (72g)

1955   Marty Cassio, Rahway, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 324-27 (72g)

1956   Morris Cramer, Albany, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332-50 (72g)

1957   Morris Cramer, Albany, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297-10 (64g)

1958   Stan Thaden, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296-37 (64g)

1959   Dick Weber, St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  308-15 (64g)

1960   Dick Weber, St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  322-25 (64g)

1961   Johnny Meyer, Mineola, NY. . . . . . . . . . . . . .  301-22 (64g)

1962   Teata Semiz, North Milford, NJ . . . . . . . . . . .  295-20 (64g)

1963   Teata Semiz, North Milford, NJ . . . . . . . . . . .  306-25 (64g)

1964   Ted Hoffman Jr, Plymouth Meeting, PA . . . . .  300-47 (64g)

1965   Sis Mantovani, Hewlett, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . .  289-49 (64g)

1966   Pete Anderson, North Babylon, NY . . . . . . .  . 310-05 (64g).

1967   Dick Battista, Astoria, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307-49 (64g)

1968   Dick Battista, Astoria, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303-05 (64g)

1969   Johnny Petraglia, Brooklyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 314-40 (64g)

1970   Dick Battista, Astoria, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322-11 (64g)

1971   Jimmy McHugh, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  308-26 (64g)

1972   Johnny Petraglia, Brooklyn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 349-11 (64g)

1973   Doc Iandoli, New York . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312-39 (64g)

1974   Doc Iandoli, New York  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  227-21 (48g)

1975   Mark Roth, Staten Island . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .  239-18 (48g)

1976   Ed DiTolla, Maywood, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11076 (48g)

1977   Pete Pastor, Bay Shore, NY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10891 (48g)

1978   Johnny Petraglia, Staten Island . . . . . . . . . . . 10459 (48g)

1979   Ralph Hartmann, New Hyde Park, NY . . . . . . . 12173 (48g)

1980   Stan Marchut, Paramus, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11240 (48g)

1981   Hank Behrborn, Long Island City, NY . . . . . . .  10936 (48g)

1982   Johnny Petraglia, Staten Island . . . . . . . . . . . 11934 (48g)

1983   Duane Fisher, Pennsauken, NJ . . . . . . . . . . . . 11798 (48g)

1984   Rudy Kasimakis, Long Island City, NY . . . . . . . 11626 (48g)

1985   Mark Roth, Staten Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10997 (48g)

1986   Tony Torrice, Waterbury, CT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8148 (32g)

Tournament suspended

International Bowling Association Tournament

The International Bowling Association was formed in 1909, when the Minnesota Bowling Association voted to accept leagues from Canada. The annual IBA Tournament, usually held in Minneapolis or St. Paul, became a successful regional event that attracted entries from several Midwestern states.  A victim of the Great Depression, the IBA suspended operations after the 1933 tournament.

TEAM CHAMPIONS

1909  Doris, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2653

1910  Chalmers-Detroits, Chicago . . . . . . . . .2760

1911  Capitols, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2849

1912  Americans, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2905

1913  Blatz Beer, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2916

1914  Flor de Knispels, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . .2910

1915  Doris, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3014

1916  Centrals, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2880

1917  Fiat, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2822

1918  Schmidt’s, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2928

1919  Schmidt’s, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2815

1920  Centrals, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2946

1921  Himes Cafe, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2939

1922  A.H. Arnold Bros., Chicago . . . . . . . . . .3062

1923  Bowlers Journal No. 2, Chicago. . . . . . . 3072

1924  Parkway Alleys No. 5, Milwaukee. . . . . . 2993

1925  Green River, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2970

1926  Underwriter Service, Chicago . . . . . . . . 2956

1927  Minnesota Dry Cleaners, St. Paul . . . . .  3037

1928  Andrews Hotel, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . 3204

1929  W.B. Foshay No. 1, Minneapolis . . . . . . 2973

1930  General Electric Refrig, Minneapolis . . .  3135

1931  Mayor William F. Kunze, Minneapolis . . . 2997

1932  City Club, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3178

1933  Speak’s, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3072

DOUBLES CHAMPIONS

1909  Anthony Yost-Jack Miller, St. Paul . . . . . . . . .  1195

1910  Henry Martin-George Vandertunk, St. Paul . . . 1243

1911  Henry Martin-George Vandertunk, St. Paul . . .  1308

1912  Elmer Lee-A. DeVos, Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . 1222

1913  J.J. Klaes-Matt Klaes, Duluth . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1221

1914  C. R. Gibson-George Roblin, Winnipeg . . . . . .  1258

1915  Pete Tennyson-Ben Newhouse, Minneapolis . . . 1265

1916  Jack Miller-Art Nystrom, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . .1201

1917  Bob Wagner-Tony Karlicek, Chicago . . . . . . . . 1234

1918  George Wilke-Charlie Wolf, Minneapolis . . . . . .1309

1919  Billy Metcalfe–Emil Matak, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . 1204

1920  John Anderson-Fred Van Dyke, Minneapolis . .  1227

1921  Dom DeVito-Forrest Luby, Chicago . . . . . . . . . 1204

1922  B. Gilbertson-A. Peterson, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . 1281

1923  S.E. Kellogg-Al Lea, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1319

1924  R. Rice-W. Colbeck, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1286

1925  Leo Mueller-Charlie Wolf, Minneapolis . . . . . . . 1278

1926  Cud Berterman-Ernie Keller, Racine, WI . . . . .  1262

1927  Tony Schwoegler-Joe Hackett, Madison, WI . . . 1299

1928  Bob Ritter-Charley Urban, Chicago . . . . . . . . . 1342

1929  Frank Macho-Abe Zierten, St. Cloud, MN . . . . . 1325

1930  Leo Mueller-Jess Young, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . 1441

1931  Joe Fliger-Frank Kartheiser, Chicago . . . . . . . . 1393

1932  Fred DeLaria-George Tetzlaff, Minneapolis. . . .  1410

1933  Al Krouse-William Lange, Minneapolis. . . . . . . . 1323

SINGLES CHAMPIONS

1909  Jimmy Dolan, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . .636

1910  Al Johnson, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . .   618

1911  Con Sandblom, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . 693

1912  F.L. Trainer, Sioux City, IA . . . . . . . . . . . 642

1913  Harry Steers, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .654

1914  Vic Weber, LeMars, IA . . . . . . . . . . . . . .671

1915  Hank Marino, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 679

1916  Billy Fust, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . .  687

1917  J.N. Deller, Duluth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 705

1918  Joe Shaw, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 669

1919  Elmer Baumgarten, Chicago . . . . . . . . . .631

1920  John Williams, LaCrosse, WI . . . . . . . . .  660

1921  Bill Heerman, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 675

1922  John Brick, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 695

1923  K.G. Seipel, Omaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 717

1924  Oscar Swanson, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . .  704

1925  Billy Metcalf, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .692

1926  Joe Fliger, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .681

1927  Fred C. Jewell, Fargo, ND . . . . . . . . . . . . 681

1928  Eddie Krems, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  721

1929  Al Hahn, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 690

1930  Norbert Jungbauer, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . .  710

1931  Lee Reisberg, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . 746

1932  Hank Marino, Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . 760

1933  Ray Simmons, Des Moines . . . . . . . . . . .  712

ALL-EVENTS CHAMPIONS

1909  Kenneth Kennfield, Minneapolis . . . . .  1719

1910  Casper Hellenbake, St. Paul . . . . . . . . 1819

1911  Con Sandblom, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . 1855

1912  L.C. Bonning, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . .1821

1913  Jimmy Blouin, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . 1887

1914  Joe Sweeney, Sioux City . . . . . . . . . . . 1875

1915  George Wilke, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . .1846

1916  Charlie Wolf, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . .1854

1917  Bob Wagner, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1855

1918  Jimmy Mitchell, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . .1901

1919  Jimmy Dolan, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . 1816

1920  George Becker, Milwaukee. . . . . . . . . .  1772

1921  Harry Van Hoven, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . 1961

1922  Sid Kemp, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . .1875

1923  Hank Marino, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1920

1924  Emil Matak, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1980

1925  Billy Metcalf, St. Paul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1906

1926  Joe Fliger, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1904

1927  C.R. Dyck, Omaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1930

1928  Frank Kartheiser, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . 2089

1929  W. Froemming, Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . .1903

1930  Leo Mueller, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . 2027

1931  William Lenzen, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . 1915

1932  Hank Marino, Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . 2082

1933  John Guzy, Minneapolis . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1974

(tournament suspended)

McMillan Classic

The McMillan Classic was a 5-game sweeper staged at McMillan Recreation in the central Illinois town of Champaign. Fifty miles away in Bloomington, the Pat Harkins Classic operated on the same schedule, and the two events advertised as The Twin Classics. The result was a strong entry of top-flight bowlers in pre-PBA days. Both the McMillan and the Harkins ceased operations after the 1966 tournaments.

1943  Johnny Small, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1108

1944  Paul Krumske, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1062

1945  Pete Petersen, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1104

1946  Bud Wright, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1079

1947  Jules Sowa, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1063

1948  Tony Babs, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1096

1949  Bruce Miller, Champaign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1057

1950  Joe Norris, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1075

1951  Don Carter, St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1103

1952  Carl Berger, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1144

1953  Earl Brosius, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1053

1954  Sarge Easter, St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1062

1955  Bill Jargella, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1071

1956  Jim Vrenick, St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1100

1957  Jim Thomas, Streator, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1079

1958  Bill Slateritz, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1160

1959  Chuck Wagner, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1151

1960  Dennis Chapis, St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1116

1961  Joe Simonis, Chicago. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1096

1962  Wally Walker, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1155

1963  Gary Lewis, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1085

1964  Ed Newton, Thomasboro, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1143

1965  Courtney Gronke, Chicago. . . . . . . . . . . . . . , 1108 

1966  Andy Rogoznica, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1099

Tournament suspended

Pat Harkins Classic

The Pat Harkins Classic was originally a 6-game sweeper staged at the Coliseum Recreation in the central Illinois town of Bloomington. Fifty miles away in Champaign, the McMillan Classic operated on the same schedule, and the two events advertised as The Twin Classics. The result was a strong entry of top-flight bowlers in pre-PBA days. The Harkins went to 5-games in 1960. Both the Harkins and the McMillan ceased operations after the 1966 tournaments.

1943  Buddy Bomar, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1238

1944  Rudy Habetler, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1294

1945  Eli Maricich, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1308

1946  Pete Petersen, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1288

1947  Rudy Habetler, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1257

1948  Adolph Carlson, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1236

1949  Harry Lippe, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1338

1950  Paul Krumske, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1278

1951  Bill White, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1318

1952  Fred Fikes, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1253

1953  Carl Berger, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1269

1954  Ed Brosius, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(tie)   Jim Thomas, Streator, IL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1261

1955  Joe Wilman, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1324

1956  Don Ellis, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1277

1957  Casper DeWitz, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . .    1250

1958  Gerry Schmidt, Fort Wayne . . . . . . . . . . . .  1302

1959  Ed Brosius, Peoria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1270

1960  Robert Dennison, Chicago Heights . . . . . .   1120 (5g)

1961  Herb Ellis, Bloomington . . . . . . . . . . . . .     1134 (5g)

1962  Mario Arizzi, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      1154 (5g)

1963  Don Johnson, Kokomo, IN . . . . . . . . . . .     1126 (5g)

1964  Joe Joseph, Lansing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1136 (5g)

1965  Ed Besse, Lansing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1083 (5g)

1966  Don McCune, Munster, IN . . . . . . . . . . .     1200 (5g)

Tournament suspended

Chicago Bowling Alleys (1935)

America’s Largest Bowling Alleys (1944)

State Fair Recreation (Detroit) is now Renaissance Bowling Center, with 40 lanes.  Are any of  the other places still in business?

Automobowl Classic

The Automobowl Classic was a five-game individual sweeper based in Detroit.  The first Automobowl was staged in 1948 at State Fair Recreation, while the ABC Tournament was in session at the nearby State Fair Coliseum.  After the ABC left, the tournament continued on as an annual event, drawing an entry of top bowlers from throughout the Midwest.  In 1956 it moved to Hall’s Recreation. The last Automobowl was bowled in 1961—the same year the ABC returned to Detroit.   

1948  Johnny Crimmins, Detroit . . . . . . . . .  1127

1949  Paul Cito, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1096

1950  Rudy Walby, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1115

1951  Dick Hoover, Akron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1030

1952  Lou Farkas, Toledo  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1082

1953  Bill Gerlach, Lapeer, MI . . . . . . . . . . .  1102

1954  Harry Smith, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . .  1122

1955  Greg Demres, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . .   1089

1956  Stanley Pitera, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . .  1073

1957  Harry Smith. Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1114

1958  Billy Golembiewski, Detroit . . . . . . . . .  1088

1959  Jack Curry, Lansing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1084

1960  Don Glyinski, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1084

1961  Dale Seavoy, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1103

Tournament suspended

Masters Tournament 1970

The twentieth ABC Masters Tournament was held at the Civic Auditorium in Knoxville, Tennessee, May 9-13, 1970, with a field of 480 bowlers. Coming out of the losers bracket, Don Glover defeated tournament leader Bob Strampe 916-877, then won the title by again beating Strampe, 821-800.

Masters Tournament 1969

The nineteenth ABC Masters Tournament was held at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin, April 19-23, 1969, with a field of 480 bowlers.  In a major upset, unknown Jim Chestney came out of the losers bracket to defeat Barry Asher and win the title—first 962-795, then 923-754.

Vallos Classic

In 1940 George Vallos staged his first five-game sweeper at Champion Recreation in Youngstown, Ohio. World War II cancelled the 1943 classic, but the tournament was back the next year as a six game event. For many years in the pre-PBA era, it was part of the select group of elite singles events.  George Vallos died in 1962—while bowling. His classic died two years later.

1940  Joe Bodis, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 904 (5 g)

1941  Fritz Flanhafer, Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 894 (5 g)

1942  Lou Strizzi, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  885 (5 g)

1943  Not held

1944  Ernie Tripodi, Niles, OH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1300

1945  W.O. Zehm, Cuyahoga Falls, OH . . . . . . . . . .  1297

1946  Buzz Fazio, Akron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1331

1947  Ned Day, Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1338

1948  Ned Day, Milwaukee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1308

1949  Jack Scott, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1342

1950  John Hunt, Canton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1315

1951  Eddie Koepp, Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1329

1952  Pat Patterson, St. Louis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1321

1953  Chuck Hamilton, Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1336

1954  Vic Battista, Canton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1342

1955  Buzz Fazio, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1336

1956  Frank Sospirato. Cleveland . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1302

1957  Jim Schroeder, Buffalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1345

1958  Joe Joseph, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1254

1959  John LoCascio, Port Clinton, OH . . . . . . . . . . . 1309

1960  Tom Kirol, New Castle, PA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1269

1961  Tony Lindemann, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1296

1962  Dave Soutar, Detroit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1297

1963  Joe Cosentino, Canton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1320

1964  Gordon McMahon, Buffalo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1253

Tournament suspended