At one time Buffalo, N.Y., led the country in bowling alleys per capita, but recently many bowling alleys have closed.

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In 1950, the Bowling Proprietors Association of Western New York had about 45 members, says executive secretary Whitey Heidenburg.

"In the late 1970s, we still had 45 members," he said. "Now we have 21."

Longer working hours, casinos and the state smoking ban have cost the bowling center patrons, bowling center owners told the Buffalo (N.Y.) News Sunday.

However, one bowling center owner -- Len Pimm, who owns bowling centers in the cities of Tonawanda and Niagara Falls -- is optimistic.

"The people that are left are hard-core bowlers, and I feel good about that," says Pimm.

Mark Miller of the United States Bowling Congress says nationally, league-sanctioned bowlers have gone from a high of 9 million in 1980 to 2.9 million this year.