On August 20, 1962, the Tangerine Bowl opened its doors to the bowlers of Quincy and the surrounding area. Built and owned by Melvin and Roger Richmiller, it was a showcase of modern bowling lanes, machines, and seating. Also included, was a restaurant and bar that served steaks, pork chops, and chicken dinners.
A large pool room with five 8-foot tables and a 10-foot snooker table was a main part of the building. It quickly became the place you went to work on your pool-shooting ability. The Tangerine also offered a nursery for the younger children of the women bowlers who bowled during the mornings and afternoons.
In 1962, the bowling balls that most bowlers used were black and made of hard rubber. As time passed, the balls started to change to soft rubber, plastic, urethane, and reactive resin urethane, and now they are mostly particle coverstock balls.
Just as the bowling balls changed, so did the scoring. It went from paper and pencil to telescorers (wax pencil and clear plastic score sheets), to the first automatic scoring system in 1977. In October 1984, Brunswick As-80 Automatic Scoring was installed. During the summer of 2009, 42″ LCD Flat Panel TVs were installed for the overhead monitors on each lane. These screens, from Quibica/AMF Scoring, contain vibrant colors and amazing graphics.
Over the years, the Tangerine Bowl has hosted three Illinois Women’s Bowling Association State Tournaments (1974, 1999, and 2009). They have also hosted two Illinois Youth Association State Tournaments (1988 and 2003). In 1976, the Illinois Moose State Tournament Doubles and Singles was held at the facility. George Billings, Jr. bowled the very first 300 game ever bowled at the Tangerine Bowl. He received $300.00 and a giant trophy.
On June 26, 1996, Melvin and Roger Richmiller sold the Tangerine Bowl to Marvin and Cheryl Hoebing, Ross and Becky Hoebing, and Pete and Kathy Holtschlag. The Holtschlags and Hoebings put in a new scoring system and new overhead monitors and updated the banquet facility, located on the lower level. They also enhanced the party room used for birthday parties and brought Shadowlight bowling to the Quincy area. Shadowlight bowling was a new twist to a great game, including blacklights, music, fog machines, and glow-in-the-dark bowling balls. New seat covers were also installed which glow during Shadowlight bowling.
On July 31, 2014, the Hoebings and Holtschlags sold the Tangerine Bowl to Pam Williams and Doug Wiewel. They started with a major renovation of the restaurant creating the Spare Time Sports Bar which features a 9-foot Big Screen, along with other flat-screen TVs so you can catch all the games! As a 5th Anniversary gift back to bowlers, Pam and Doug installed Clutch Interactive bowling and Specto tracking. Clutch lays video games down on the lanes, while Specto provides professional ball tracking as seen in the PBA.
On Nov 2, 2020, Pam Williams became the sole owner and she plans to continue the tradition that Melvin and Roger Richmiller started with having the premier bowling facility in the area. Although the Tangerine has gone through many changes, one thing remains the same – it’s a great place to bring your family and friends if you want to have fun.
