"Lightning Strikes" - the way bowling ought to be
June 21, 2000
Bowling may never be the same. Take a somewhat conservative sport, add an array of Martin lighting and what do you get? A whole new way to look at bowling!
Bowling centers around America are discovering the benefits of spicing up their bowling lanes, and with entertainment-bowling packages like Don Carter’s "Lightning Strikes", more people are becoming attracted to the sport.
Out goes the traditional "hush hush" atmosphere and in comes enthusiastic music from Mach speakers, and a Martin intelligent light show complete with strobe, beam and gobo effects, profile spots and ImageScans as well as Jem fog machines.
Lightning Strikes begins with the inspirational theme of 2001 A Space Odyssey as the house lights begin to dim and the Martin light show begins. Some 22 Punishers, 22 RoboScan 812 scanners, 5 MAC 250’s and 7 RoboScan Pro 918’s project gobo and logo patterns across all 64 lanes as bowlers jump to their feet. "People respond immediately to the lgihts," states MC and Entertainment Director Tom Roy. "When the house lights fad and the light show begins, people begin to scream."
Punishers strobe above players and mirror balls spin as logos and gobo patterns glide across the floor. On the walls at both ends of the alley, Martin ImageScan’s project Don Carter logos. Bowling lanes are coated with glow paint and black lights illuminate pins on all lanes. A neon glow pin and ball design along the main wall glows when the lights are out. Video cameras are used to focus on a lane, zooming in on a particular bowler.
Mach speakers have been incorporated as well. Music from Grease Lightning and YMCA to AC DC blasts from 16 Mach M82P’s and 8 Mach M151P’s. Additionally, Mach subwoofers are being built into the ball racks. Smoke generated from Jem Magnum Pro 2000 smoke machines can be seen emerging from holes in the wall above the pins. Lighting design for the Don Carter University Bowling Center was done by Dancetarium. All Martin lighting fixtures were supplied by Dancitarium.