I decided to revisit the site to see if anyone had responded to this Beeper thread.

I love it. This is some funny stuff. Thanks for the reminder of Beeper's actual name. I knew it was Jeff, but couldn't remember the last name.

The story about beeping until someone paid his Vigorish to the bookie, or whoever he owed "shka-role" to, had me roaring. Being Sicilian, I can imagine that scene in my head.

And I had forgotten about his level of talent. Many times the talent level of these guys is forgotten because they become consumed by the gambling. I used to marvel at the strings these guys would put together, and, in my youthful innocence would ask questions like "why don't they join the PBA?"

Well, I think we know. I remember a bowler named Mike Gaito (hope I'm spelling it correctly) who I thought was great. I believe he bowled action. I used to think to myself how great of a player this guy was, and I think he drove a bread truck or something. Nothing wrong in that; its honorable work. But I think these guys realized they could make more money doing the action thing. And they were right.

There's just no good promotion in the game. But I'll tell you, I get really steamed when I turn on the television and see "The Poker World Series." This is more interesting than bowling? Come on. I love poker, but please.

There ought to be an action bowling show. I bet people would watch. Can you imagine the Beeper on TV? The viewing public would think there was something wrong with the cable box!

Christ, they put everything on TV now, why not action?

Peace, guys. Hope I read some more good stuff on this thread. Its a pleasure sharing stories with you.

Does anyone remember action at Elmsford Lanes, Route 9A, in Elmsford (Westchester County) New York in the early to mid 1980's, starting around 1982? I grew up in the area and used to hang around there and also pinchased there for a while. If you have any good stories, post them here.

I think that for a while action wasn't allowed at Homefield in Yonkers so it came to Elmsford. I definitely remember Jeff "The Beeper" Klein, Mike Gaito and others (maybe Jeff Kidder) bowling action at Elmsford.

Unfortunately, Elmsford went out of business in around 1986. Its now a huge arcade and pool hall called "Sportstime USA" and a couple of other stores. That's how big it was. 62 lanes straight across.

I have not been around the action since the early 1980'2 but I knew Jeff and even backed him a few times. I met him first at Steele Lanes on Webster Ave and 204th street in the Bronx. He was standing next to an old fashioned pinball machine which I thought was beeping but it turned out to be Jeff. He was tremendously talented but was alway's broke due to his sports gambling. Many times I backed him at the pot games on Monday nights at Deer Park Lanes and we alway's did very well. He some of his best bowling at Pel-Park in the Bronx and at Harness Lanes. One great match was Beeper vs a guy named Starr - I forget his first name. Not only were they stringing strikes but they were trying to out do each other running the strikes out some times going 4 to six lanes in both directions. On weekends he would go from Kegler tournament to kegler tournament winning several until he lost all his handicap and then he one at least one scratch. There are many more Jeff stories but one of the funniest as I look back is one afternoon when I arrived at Harness lanes Beeper grabbed me because a lefty Kenny way below his class wanted to bowl him and he needed backing. Kenny also was a marathon bowler who would only bet $50 a game but would go 6 to 8 down. I was all for it and the match started Beeper won the first and was way ahead in the second game when a shylock he owed money to came in. He started to yell at Jeff for gambling while he owed him money Jeff got nervouse and started to beep so fast he could not talk. I gave the guy the $20 Vig to get him to leave which he did but Beeper was done losing the lead the game and two more before he quit. His gambling really hurt the tremendous bowling ability he had.

I think Jeff started to work for a bookmaker in the late 70's. I guess on the phones the customers might have thought the beep was normal. Other than that and trying to grind out a living from bowling and sports betting I don't believe he had a profession. I think throughout the seventy's he still lived with his parents in the Bronx near the old Pel-Park Lanes. He definately did bowl off the wrong foot.