TARZANA, NORTHRIDGE : Bowling Alley, Ice Rink Plan to Reopen

Two San Fernando Valley recreation centers, buckled and rattled in the Jan. 17 earthquake, are planning comebacks this month.

Thunder will once again roll down the alleys at Corbin Bowl in Tarzana, while would-be Dorothy Hamills resume their triple-axels at the Laurel Plaza Ice Chalet in Northridge.

The 34-year-old bowling alley and celebrity hangout at 19616 Ventura Blvd. is set to open Sunday, even though its demise seemed imminent this spring.

Unable to reach a new rental agreement with the building’s owner--intended to help offset $250,000 in quake damage--Corbin Bowl operator Allen Shaw began auctioning off 1950s-era jukeboxes, bowling balls and light fixtures from the facility in March.

But the facility’s new operator, Recreation World Inc., took over and invested about $500,000 in improvements, additions and renovations to the alley, which was used as a set for television shows, including episodes of “Quincy” and “Moonlighting.” The alley was also a popular site for cast parties.

The newly renovated facility sports a new lounge, pro shop, billiards, darts, video arcade and karaoke entertainment.

Ivan Axelrod, Recreation World president, said he became interested in the bowling alley after reading a newspaper report that the alley might close for good because the owner couldn’t negotiate terms with the former operator.

Axelrod, who was in a bowling league at Corbin at the time of the earthquake, said: “I couldn’t believe they’re going to make this place something other than a bowling alley. So we stepped in.”

Corbin is the first bowling alley managed by Recreation World, which runs 13 ice rinks nationwide, including the Laurel Plaza Ice Chalet, which was also closed after the quake.

The rink at 6100 Laurel Canyon Blvd., which suffered about $100,000 in damage from the temblor, is tentatively scheduled to reopen Sept. 30.

Despite the fact that all but a handful of stores at Laurel Plaza remain closed, Ice Chalet President Al Osterloh said he expected business would quickly return to its healthy, pre-quake status, when the rink took in about $80,000 a month.

“We don’t really get our customers from the mall; the mall gets its customers from us,” Osterloh said. “We’re kind of a destination ourselves.”