The Last Frame

.Like these models of old-fashioned pin boys who vanished with changing times, the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame has slipped into our city's past. If it interests you, go look it up in Texas in a couple of years. Everything is bigger in Texas.

WHAT THERE IS TO SHOOT IN ST. LOUIS THIS WEEKEND: nothing that I know of. Better put my thinking cap on.

TOMORROW: upper deck.

A 4-sided regular polygon with all sides equal and all internal angles 90°

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Yeah yeah yeah, it's stereotyping and prejudicial and it would feel completely normal if you lived in that time and place. But, having admitted my bias, aren't these people square? I mean, bowling in a dress shirt and tie? Beaming over a baroque but cheesy multi-tiered trophy with a clock in it? (If you really need to know the time, become a bowling champion.) Heavy-set, middle aged Polska mama knockin' 'em down while someone who looks just like Edward G. Robinson leers lustfully over her shoulder? I mean, really. These are display panels of Great Moments In Bowling History or something at the dear departed International Bowling Museum, which recently closed its doors in downtown St. Louis.

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS: a Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM Telephoto Zoom Lens, which lets you shoot portraits with unsurpassed clarity. But, um, then there's the price, so fat chance.

TOMORROW: Thursday Arch series WITH A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

Queenpins

.One of the most interesting things about the late International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame is the large area devoted to women bowlers and the Women' International Bowling Congress. The greater part of it contains scores of portraits like the ones you see here. They are all formulaic but there are interesting little differences. Who gets blue and who gets gray backgrounds? What's with the one in pink? What if anything do these paintings tell us about the subject? I think the best one is the Italian-looking woman on the right of the top photo, who looks like she is about to leap out of the plane of the picture. By the way, IMHO the last photo is the best image I've made in some time. Your results may vary. Which portrait appeals to you the most? Why?

WHAT I FOUND OUT TODAY: St. Louis has an ambitious little semi-pro opera company, New Opera St. Louis, that puts on one or two productions a year in church halls or school auditoriums. We just heard that they are doing a rarely performed gem this weekend, Camille Saint-Saëns' Samson and Delilah, in the sanctuary of a local Jewish temple. We say: be there or be square. This burgh has three opera companies. How about that?

TOMORROW: they say white men can't jump. But they sure can bowl.

COME BACK THURSDAY FOR A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Bowl No More

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Little know factoid about St. Louis: since 1984, we have been home to the International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame. Until Saturday, that is, when it shut its doors. Despite being across the street from the baseball stadium, it had very few visitors. It got no promotion and did nothing to make people aware of it. Some years ago, the Cardinals baseball team took part of the space for its own hall of fame but it wasn't enough. Now, I haven't bowled a line since my son's bowling birthday party when he was about 10, so 2008 - 1990 = a while ago. Although I drive by the place almost every day going to and from work, I set foot inside for the first time on closing day, camera in hand. It was really pretty interesting. Over the next few days we will look at some of the neat stuff inside.

WHAT'S TICKING ME OFF: the old camera I had modified to shoot infrared doesn't seem to be working right. Everything comes out in shades of red. If I can find the solution to the problem, you'll find out here.

TOMORROW: women who set 'em up and knock 'em down.

COME BACK THURSDAY FOR A SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT