From The Beginning...
Wanda
Jackson biographer and Poison Okies rhythm guitarist Robert Medley got together with childhood chum Michael Haynes and pondered the idea of having the Okies
play at Michaels' family owned bowling center situated on the famed Routee 66. Having it
in the bar would have scared off the regulars..so Mike decided to put the band at the
south end of the bowling center, and that night, with all it's sound problems and
naivite' changed the local scene forever. " I thought ,well, that was a blast--but now I'll go
back to spinning discs on saturday, but then i had my friends Billy Joe Winghead paly andf the phones
just started ringing." Haynes said. Early on it was mostly local bands but then things
began to expand.
Having live music was nothing new to the Bowling alley but Oklahoma was alone,
in the middle of nothing. Some people embraced the idea and some did not like it at
all, all that loud music, punk , surf , garage and rockabilly destoying peoples ears. " I
actually saw some people scratching their heads some nights--but I didn't care. This was one
night out of the week dedicated to rock and roll and if you didn't like it--well then just
leave. But i was laughing my ass off the whole time at the hiliarity of it all!" However,
one of theses nay-sayers was Michaels father Jim Haynes, who worried that the family atmosphere
and greaser and punk crowds coming to the shows were not creating the best
atmosphere for a family-owned business. " When you have Bettie Page in bondage on a poster
advertising an upcoming show--and there is 150 kids bowling a few feet away--you're going to
raise a few eyebrows.." said Mike. However, things began to gather momentum and bands
from all over the U.S. took notice--such as: Girl Trouble, The Drags, James Intveld, Bob Log
III, Shiner, Brian Parton and the Nashville Rebels, The Mimsies, Truckadelic, The Black
Haloes, Bell, Hot Wheels Jr., The Chicken Hawks, Jack Black, The Blue Flames, The Gimmicks,
The Fells, The Weird Love Makers, The 45's, Pulpit Red, The Lee's, Traindodge, Little
Turkey, The Ex-Husbands, Mack Stevens, The Hillbilly Hellcats, The Reverb Brothers, Schatzi, as
well as legendary creator of "the Hunch" Hasil Adkins! "I sent all theses
bands from an early "Sleazefest" cd information on the Bowl and he was the only one that
replied.." explains Mike. " I had to contain myself..the show was set and it was just a matter
of getting Hasil here--i heard stories that he wasn't real reliable but i talked to him on the
phone alot and he would sing songs for me for like 2 and 3 hours so i figured we had a good
thing.. but i was concerned he wouldn't show up. " But Hasil did indeed show up and the
result was a historic evening at 66 Bowl. No one bowled as Hasil played on top of the lanes
using a custom made stage on lanes 13 and 14. "Hasil was just a perfect gentleman
and everything. He shook hands and talked to all the crowd, and had people bringing him drinks
every ten minutes" Things are still going strong at 66 bowl and Michael doesn't see
live shows on saturday nights ending anytime soon-- and with recent addition Beau Turkey
giving him a hand --(actually Beau is no better than a go-fer!!) there fun won't go away.
" Unless you're into chasing tornadoes or gambling there's not alot to do here--so I'm inviting
you to join in my reindeer games" sneers Mike. So if you're ever travelling through
Oklahoma City and you're wanting to get your kicks on Route 66 --check out 66 Bowl----
Beau Turkey