Don Carter Marquee

2011-11-26T17:37:00.000-08:00

After your done with the door busters and long lines we recommend you come by, kick back and roll your stress down the lane!

2011-11-20T09:21:00.000-08:00

Well, Summer is done. You can still hang out on the patio, or upper deck. Watch as the fish slowly drift into their winter sleep.

2011-07-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Time to ride the heat wave! We've got the AC on and we are open all day. Or just hang out on the patio next to the fish pond and waterfall... Don't you feel cooler already?

2011-06-06T20:34:00.000-07:00

Did you know we have an Ice Cream vending machine? Stop in and see what else is going on.

For Green Thumbs

2011-05-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

Slaving all day in the garden can wear you down. Relax with some bowling and friends. Remember as summer days heat up our patio remains a cool oasis where you can kick back and watch the fish swim.

Derby Day!

2011-05-06T11:32:00.000-07:00

Big spring event! We are celebrating the Derby they run in Kentucky. We even have a big tent if the sun gets too strong or water falls from the sky. Plenty of food and fun for all. Fun running all day and into the night.

Couches!

2010-10-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

Renovations continue on the inside! Now bowlers can relax on new wraparound couches as they wait their turn to bowl. New carpeting and tile is adding to the new look we hope you will enjoy! Checkout the replica sign on the inside west wall. You will have to wait for Rock and Bowl or Cosmic Bowl to see it light up though.

Big Score!

2010-08-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

The renovations continue on the inside as we are replacing the old scoring system with an entirely new one! 42"flat screen monitors for your bowling enjoyment! There will be more changes in the coming weeks but this one you can enjoy right now!

2009-12-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming up fast! I gotta get workin' on my list!

2009-10-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

Construction is well underway and the new colors are spectacular! Our 9th annual car show is Saturday the 10th. Come down and join in the festivities!

Renovation

2009-09-02T21:20:00.000-07:00

Big news! Don Carter is getting a major renovation.
They have started with the exterior and will be doing an interior make over as well. Maybe I can find some drawings to share.... Check back soon or just stop in! P.S. I'm getting 10 points for using the letter x which was last used to declare "NIXON RESIGNS" LOL

More Letters, Same Space

2009-07-23T21:11:00.001-07:00

More letters but no more space. We now can use big long words with all the extra letters but how quickly the lines fill up! Yes "ie" is missing from skies and "e" from lightening because...well... there's no room for correctness, only error...(ouch)! We were able to acquire quite a batch of letters from the Alpine Inn which just recently replaced the letter board with a digital LED one. They are right up the street from DCL and with the new digital signboard and signage about the only remnant of the original Albert Pick Motel neon sign will be the steel beams that support the new light box and led sign board.
When I first came to Rockford and ventured down East State st I saw the huge neon and incandescent giant with all it's peeling paint and missing bulbs. I was overjoyed to read what was spelled out on the letter board. I forget the exact wording but it was something like "WE ARE FIXING THIS SIGN SOON ". I should have stopped. I should have taken a photo because the next time I came down the street the whole sign was removed except for the marquee part and a new vinyl covered light box over it with the Alpine Inn name and logo there instead. I think I cursed out loud.
Times change and renovations bring new life. The vinyl wrap lightbox and old letterboard marquee was removed last month. There new sign looks very nice. I am very glad we were able to save a few pieces of local history which will be used once again on a regular basis.
Noteworthy are the 3 types of letters we received. First is the "slotted B" style which we use and fortunately can still get. Second is the "Sure Lok" style. This style letter is very 3 dimensional and has metal tabs and clips that would clip onto a metal bar. These letters can be converted to the"slotted B" style by removing the metal clips and tabs and cutting groves into the letters with a saw. Not an easy task but well worth it in the end to be able to display these funky letters. The 3rd style are Adler Silhouette letters. They are red(smell like cheese) plastic but very thick and flat with a raised beveled edge. They have c shaped castings on the back which would allow for use on a flat bar rail type sign. To use these letters on our sign they would need to have the c castings removed and a tab of sorts affixed so they could hang on our "B" track. They have a very interesting feature when back lit. Sections are painted to darken the letter and give the appearance of a deeply beveled letter. The Adler Silhouette letter company is more noted for the cast aluminum letters that pre date plastic marquee letters. Some special characters like "&" and smaller diagonal words "WITH" and "IN" might be modified and show up soon !!!

Drive In

2009-05-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

We now have new driveways to go with the new side walks!

Double Trouble

2009-05-18T19:17:00.001-07:00

Kind of a stretch but I think it gets the point across.

2009-04-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

East State Street is getting sidewalks! I have to go find my BIG chalk and Jax!

Spring Leagues!

2009-04-10T21:13:00.000-07:00

Start fresh with a new league!

Spring tune up

2009-04-07T15:21:00.000-07:00

The repair team showed up today from Jacobs Neon! They made quick work of changing out a few of the neon tube letters which had been fading and flickering for a bit too long. I do enjoy a nice flickering neon sign. The buzzing of the transformer trying so hard to excite those trapped gasses and every once and a while succeeding only to fail and return to a flicker. It gives a sort of personality or life to a sign which is laboring eternally to complete its task. It will also be good to see the blaze of the fresh hot pink again. I will have to wait for the sun to go down to catch the new show. Maybe someone will have time to change the marquee tonight.....

2009-03-23T22:29:00.000-07:00

Presidential
commentary
warranted this weeks message.

2009-03-20T09:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks for the extra 4 weeks of winter.
That's all behind us now!

2009-03-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Green Beer and McShamrock Shakes will soon be upon us!
Oh Danny Boy! The Pipes The Pipes!

Hang up your Sweater!

2009-03-09T20:19:00.000-07:00

Daylight Savings and Bowling.... It's all connected.

A few to start

2009-03-08T00:11:00.000-08:00

Once the red letter stash was discovered deep within the catacombs of Don Carter Lanes, strange new signage began appearing on the vintage State St. marquee. Here are a few that were captured on film.
Sometimes I has to impersonate L

Some of these letters are quite old, brittle and becoming transparent like O.

Magically 3 becomes E and still you need to buy a vowel from Vanna. I think this one started out quite different and was heavily edited by letter availability and track space...which I hear is being restored soon!