Memories of Carol, Nick & The Hot Pot No-Tap

By CalUSBC

by Dave Williams

We received so many emails and other comments last week about Carol Mancini, Nick Mancini, and the Hot Pot No-Tap, that I thought it might be fun to condense some of them into an article of memories. What a wonderful time it was to be alive and living in California during those years of the Hot Pot!

I also found some old advertisements and clippings to confirm that The Hot Pot No-Tap was indeed on Saturday nights at 6:30 PM. Some of the emails mentioned that the Hot Pot was on Sunday nights. That’s not to say that it could have changed to Sunday in later years, but in the summer of 1979, it was definitely every Saturday night.

As I was looking through the old tear sheets and articles from the California Bowling News, I noticed that there was a no-tap doubles on Sunday night at 6:00 PM, which began on August 19th, 1979, at Grand Central Bowl. It was called “Shoot the Mule.” Perhaps that’s where the confusion lies regarding the days and times.

The tear sheet that I have provided includes ads for both the Hot Pot No-Tap, Shoot the Mule No-Tap, and the results from the August 4th installment of the Hot Pot, in which a record 13 no-tap 300’s were recorded. How times have changed, because in 2024 it’s entirely possible for a league to have 13 REAL 300’s — in one night!

Now, without further ado we present some fond memories from others:

Dean Lopez, Editor of California Bowling News: “Carol was a great boss and a close friend. I will miss our weekly talks and her touch with the paper.”

Former California Bowling News Editor Bob Johnson:  “I often wondered if Carol and Nick talked about anything besides bowling. They ultimately got divorced… who knows why those things happen… but they both ate, drank, slept and probably bled bowling. Two highly creative minds.”

Former Pro Bowler and Owner of Baldwin Park Bowl, Bud Horn:  “I met Carol when I came off the tour and purchased Baldwin Park Bowl. She loved bowling. I had a great relationship with Carol and Nick. Bowling lost a good woman with the passing of Carol Mancini.”

Fred Eisenhammer, California Bowling News: Fred recalled a humorous story that Carol told him regarding a brief encounter with pro golfer Arnold Palmer. The anecdote originally appeared in the March 14th, 2024 edition of California Bowling News. It is repeated here for the benefit of readers of this column in other states:

“I was standing on a small hill next to the sixth green at La Jolla,” said Carol. “I looked to the right, catching Palmer addressing the ball for his first shot off the 6th tee. Whack — the ball headed right toward me. As it got closer, I raised my hand to ward off a hit. The ball hit my hand and rolled within four feet of the flag stick.”

“Palmer came up and asked if I was okay,” said Mancini. “I managed to say yes. His comeback was, ‘Thanks for the save. It’s the best shot I’ve had on number six all week!’”

Juan Fonseca, Fill the Frames Bowling Services: I noticed this comment from a mention on Facebook. Fonseca says that when he opened his first pro shop, Step Above Bowling Supplies, inside Grand Central Bowl, Carol was a fixture there, as was her husband Nick.

“Nick was the GM at Grand Central Bowl. Both Carol and Nick had a love of the game that we don’t see often enough. Thanks to both of you for creating an atmosphere where I met, and am still in contact with many from those years.”

A Look Back – 1979

Those of you familiar with the California Bowling News will remember one of Carol’s favorite duties of delving into the past binders of newspapers in storage at Keystone Lanes in Norwalk, dating back to 1940. In honor of that favorite task, we take a look back at some old headlines from 1979:

  • 48 year old GLENN ALLISON was inducted into the ABC Hall of Fame along with CARMEN SALVINO.
  • GUPPY TROUP (Kyle’s father) got his nickname for bowling in a “Guppy Junior League.”
  • DONNA ADAMEK (age 21) was named “Bowler of the Year” by Bowling Writers Association of America (now the IBMA).
  • 36 lanes were added to the SHOWBOAT, making a total of 106 lanes.
  • LEISURE TIME SPORTS purchased MIRA MESA LANES in the San Diego area.
  • At last, a movie about bowling and a bowler. “Dreamer” is about the struggle to become a pro bowler, and features TIM MATHESON and DICK WEBER.
  • The great BILLIE LEE of San Diego was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
  • ART GODDARD rolled his first 300 at COLUMBIA BOWL. He found time to bowl league while managing KEYSTONE LANES and building VILLAGE LANES.

And that’s just a portion of Part 1 of 1979, appearing in the February 8, 2018 issue of the California Bowling News. This is something that Carol loved to do. I can remember her giving me a call when she would run across my name. What memories!

California Bowling News tear sheet is from the August 10th, 1979 edition – ENJOY!