History column: A look back at Christmas in Lake Geneva in the 1950s
Patrick Quinn
Other magnets which drew residents to the downtown business district included the Geneva Theater and the Bowling Alley which was located in the basement of the Clair Hotel at the southeast corner of Broad and Main Streets (today’s Landmark Center). Here a girl, MaryLynn, is pictured in the bowling alley, in this file photo from the Geneva Lake Museum.
During the 1950s, when Lake Geneva’s downtown business district was the vibrant center of the city, residents used to walk to the business district to do their shopping for clothes, medicines, groceries, and other essentials.
In photos: A look back at Lake Geneva's Clair Lanes Bowling Alley and Hotel Clair
MaryLynn Bowling
Other magnets which drew residents to the downtown business district included the Geneva Theater and the Bowling Alley which was located in the basement of the Clair Hotel at the southeast corner of Broad and Main Streets (today’s Landmark Center). Here a girl, MaryLynn, is pictured in the bowling alley, in this file photo from the Geneva Lake Museum.
Geneva Lake Museum photo
Hotel Clair exterior
The Lazzaroni family was also known for running Hotel Clair and Clair Lanes Bowling.
Lake Geneva Regional News file photo
Claire Hotel 1969
Claire Hotel in Downtown Lake Geneva shown in this 1969 photo.
Geneva Lake Museum photo
ML Bowling
Geneva Lake Museum photo
Grandma Nannie Helen Wren Licatta Brothers Entertained at Claire Lounge
Geneva Lake Museum photo
Grandpa Al Payne
Geneva Lake Museum photo
Joe Payne
Geneva Lake Museum photo
Lazzaroni and Son Hotel Claire
Geneva Lake Museum photo
Mayor Ralph Williams, Ma and George Lazzaroni
Geneva Lake Museum photo
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PatrickQuinn
Patrick Quinn is a Lake Geneva native who is the University Archivist Emeritus at Northwestern University.
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Other magnets which drew residents to the downtown business district included the Geneva Theater and the Bowling Alley which was located in the basement of the Clair Hotel at the southeast corner of Broad and Main Streets (today’s Landmark Center). Here a girl, MaryLynn, is pictured in the bowling alley, in this file photo from the Geneva Lake Museum.