Hall Of Fame Inductee

Jim Beeforth

Inducted into: Builder Division in 1986

Inducted into: Builder of the Bowling Industry in 1973

Location: Toronto

Deceased: DEC

  • Builder
  • Industry

The late JIM BEEFORTH of Toronto launched his career in 5 Pin Bowling at the tender age of 10 years as a pin boy at the old Beach Alleys. He was involved as a Manager and Proprietor in the operation of several bowling centres in Toronto and London for 50 years, helping to organize the Bowling Proprietors’ Associations of Toronto in 1937 and Ontario in 1954, eventually serving both organizations as President. He was among the first to see the need to “organize” the sport and its programs across Ontario, and in 1959 became the first Chairman of the former Ontario Bowlers Council, which was succeeded by the Ontario Bowlers’ Congress, and in 1978 became today’s Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association.

Jim Beeforth was born in Yorkshire, England in 1905 and came to Toronto with his family in 1910. He attended Kew Beach Public School and then entered Shaw Business College at the age of 13. His first experience in bowling came as a pin boy at Beach Bowl when he was 10 years old.

He became the Manager of the old Riverdale Alley in Toronto in 1924 and later leased Riverdale in 1931. He helped organize the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Toronto in 1937 and was its’ first President in 1939.

During the war, Jim was Sports Officer for 4 years in the Salvation Army and after he returned to Riverdale. He organized new leagues for Ace Bowl on the Danforth in Toronto and then leased the centre until 1961. Jim was the President of the B.P.A.O. in 1956-1957 and 1957-1958 and then moved on to become the 1st Chairman of the Ontario Bowlers Council when he saw the need for organization that existed.

After that Jim went into the supply business but returned to his first love- bowling management in 1969. Jim worked in the new Ace Bowl for 2 years. He leased Bowladrome on Yonge at Eglinton in Toronto, where he can be found today.