Fair Lanes

For other uses, see Fair Lane (disambiguation).

Fair Lanes was an operator of bowling alleys. It was founded as the Recreation Bowling Center in 1927, a 100-lane duckpin^[1] complex on North Howard Street in Baltimore, Maryland, by the Friedberg family.^[2] The Friedbergs expanded to other locations, starting in the Baltimore area, and renamed the company "Fair Lanes". During the 1950s and 1960s, it was the largest chain of bowling alleys,^[3] with over 40 locations in the US and England.^[2] Baltimore designer Betty Cooke was hired to design the interiors, choosing bright colors to bring an air of respectability to what had been mainly and basement and saloon facilities.^[3] The company was acquired by AMF Bowling in 1995, at which point it had 106 locations.^[4]