South Florida was an international bowling hub from 1960 until midway through the 1990s.The 1967 ABC Tournament in the Miami Beach Convention Center drew about 40,000 bowlers from across the country. Bird Bowl, which opened in 1956, was the home of some of the best bowling leagues in the South, including a scratch women’s league that featured three future members of the Women’s International Bowling Congress’ Hall of Fame — Graham, Edie Jo Nealand Paula Carter.  At one time, there were 17 bowling centers playing host to about 40,000 league bowlers ever week in Greater Miami. In addition, Broward and Palm Beach Counties were experiencing a surge in league and tournament play. Many bowling alleys have disappeared in recent years. In 2005, Cloverleaf Lanes — a North Miami-Dade institution since 1958 — closed. The West Dixie Bowling Lanes closed in 1990 after 33 years.

8/31/1966, Marlin Levinson/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling ball throw by a Sunland youngster with good form.

1/11/1962, George Wheeler/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling Convention 1962. No Time to Relax When You're on Top. Shirley Garma, women's All-Star leader

1/5/1962, Geroge Wheeler/Miami Herald Staff: Robbie Fry Demonstrates Her Prize-Winning Form at the Bowling Convention in Miami, 1962.

1/9/1962: Bowling Convention (1962) - Miami. Laverne Carter Rolled 2,275.

12/23/1962: Bowling Convention in Miami, 1962. Flippy takes dive and knocks down six pins.

2/22/1990, Albert Coya/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling Lanes. Classic Lanes Bowl.

8/1/1971, Gus Schuettler/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling Tournament of the Americas. Puerto Rico's Eddie Garofalo strikes during 258 game which wrapped up singles champions.

7/12/1966: Enriqueta Strollreither Setting Sights...Guatemala ace in Americas Tourney

4/1/1971, Joe Elbert/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling Tournament, Burger King Open.

7/12/1981: Mike Scrocca, 11, at Don Carter Kendall Lanes.

7/12/1981: Isabel Schuster at Bird bowl morning mixed league.

4/29/1967: ABC Bowling Tournament.

4/29/1967: ABC Bowling Tournament.

4/29/1967: ABC Bowling Tournament.

5/30/1969, Bill Sanders/Miami Herald Staff: Junior bowling tournament.

7/15/1969: Jose Justo competing at the Bowling Tournament of the Americas.

3/4/1967, Dave Didio/Miami Herald Staff: Golf Tournament Opening at A.B.C. Tournament at the Miami Beach Auditorium.

7/25/1964, Tom McCarthy/Miami Herald Staff: Action at Miami's BowlingTournament of the Americas.

7/25/1964, Tom McCarthy/Miami Herald Staff: It's all leg action as Carlos Munoz goes for spare during Miami's Bowling Tournament of the Americas.

7/13/1966, Jeff Joffe/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling Tournament of the Americas.

1/27/1965, John Walther/Miami Herald Staff: Dick Weber " Pulling String" on a Score Strike.

8/26/1973, W.O. Minor Jr./Miami Herald Staff: Bowling.

6/17/1978, Murry Sill/Miami Herald Staff: Daune Herzon bowling.

1/10/1979, Joe Elbert/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling.

8/20/1978, David Walther/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling and enjoying it.

7/27/1980, Marice Cohn Band/Miami Herald Staff: Ernie Goodman of Cutler Ridge.

1/21/1982, Carol Guzy/Miami Herald Staff: Barbara Wilson from the Trip League at the West Dixie Bowling Lanes.

5/25/1990, Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald Staff: Richard Whittingham drys his hand with the air blower before picking up his ball. Whittingham is one of the long time bowlers at Classic Lanes which is due to close this year.

5/29/1982, Albert Coya/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling - Doe Kane.

8/4/1982, David Walters/Miami Herald Staff: A Member of the Venezuelan team exhibits fine form as he rockets a bell down the alley at the international tournament.

3/30/1980, Marice Cohn/Miami Herald Staff: Vermell Brooks and giving her grandson, Kelvin Brooks, a few pointers.

2/28/1980, John Walther/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling. Bellinger watches his ball hit the pocket.

3/1/1981, Caro Guzy/Miami Herald Staff: Scott Rosenwasser, 11, at Fair Lanes Bowling.

Undated, Miguel Fairbanks/Miami Herald Staff: A bowling ball propped up on a pop can is one way to keep it from rolling away.

1/21/1982, Carol Guzy/Miami Herald Staff: Sid Parker at West Dixie Bowling Lanes.

2/27/1974, Joe Elbert/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling.

2/4/1973, Bill Sanders/Miami Herald Staff: Bowling Tournament - Win's City, Shirley Sprain.

12/2/1955: Architect's Sketch of The New Bowlerama. The $1,000,000 Bowlerama, new 32-lane bowling alley, retaurant and cocktail lounge at 200 NW 79th St., will open Feb. 15. Designed by architect Gilbert Fein, the Bowlerama will have the South's longest horizontal clear span trusses -spaning 119 ft.

3/27/1960, John Pineda/Miami Herald Staff: SHIRLEY GRIFFITH proves a bowler doesn't have to overthrow the pins to knock 'em down. The young lady bowls for Leo Popell's in the Femme Pins League at Bowlerama, and averages in the 140s.

7/20/1986, Rick McCawley/Miami Herald Staff: Michael Brado,12, rejoices at not putting the ball into the gutter during play at Bird Bowl.

12/29/1987, Albert Coya/Miami Herald Staff: John Moss, from Deland, age 11, showing how to do a perfect strike body language and all.

3/17/1989, Bob Eighmie/Miami Herald Staff: Amber Conrad, 2, bowling.

3/23/1989, Raul Rubiera/Miami Herald Staff: Front Row From Left: Jairo Hernandez, Dario Borges, Dean Cosme. Back Row from left: Dr. John Takovich, Danny Saunders, Keith Golns, Ray Seay and Thomas Kelly, This is the Miami-Dade North bowling team, southeastern Intercollegiate Bowling conference Tournament Champions.

Undated, Peter Andrew Bosch/Miami Herald Staff: Bill Insprucker keeping score at the lane's a popular spot since the 1950 on Thursday's afternoon's they have old-timers league bowling.

11/20/1988, Peter Andrew Bosch/Miami Herald Staff: Mike Zappie let's go of his bowling ball to hit a strike at the Hialeah bowling lanes. Located at 740 E 9th street.