Capital City Bowl opened its doors at 120 14th Ave. in August of 1958, entering into competition with the larger (16-lane) Imperial Lanes, which had opened in 1957 on Helena's east side, at 607 N. Roberts. Bowling was more popular in the U.S. in the 1950s than it is today, partly because it is a TV-friendly sport and everybody was TV-crazy. Post-war advances in automatic pinsetting technology also made the game more fun to play.

Capital Lanes, which was located at 2311 N. Montana Ave., was destroyed by fire on March 20, 1957, not 1956 as the story says.

Timeline:
March 20, 1957 - Capital Lanes on N. Montana Ave. burns down.
August 17, 1957 - Imperial Lanes opens at 607 N. Roberts.
August 31, 1958 - Capital City Bowl opens at 120 14th Ave.