Soundbite Selection From Ellen Zisholtz Bowling Alley Restoration Interview

 

Ellen Zisholtz inside the old bowling alley
(Photos courtesy Charleston Post and Courier)

An important future may be in store for an old bowling alley in Orangeburg that was pivotal in the tragic day in 1968 that became known as the Orangeburg Massacre.  

The long-closed All Star Triangle lanes on Russell Street will have a bright future if former SC State museum director Ellen Zisholtz (pictured) has her way. She is leading an effort to restore the bowling alley and make it into a Civil Rights museum. And, yes, people will again be able to bowl there!  

                                                                                            

Students protest the white-only lanes in 1968

February 8, 1968 was a day of infamy for Orangeburg and the nation, though the tragic shooting deaths of three young men on the campus of SC State University by state highway patrol officers did not receive the national attention it deserved. 

Last semester, SC State students and I had the chance to interview Zisholtz about the effort she is leading as part of her Center for Creative Partnerships organization. (Also, SC State communications students this semester began interning with her to help make her vision a reality in the years ahead). 

From the 30-minute interview conducted via Zoom, here are three of the better comments from her (known as soundbites or SOTS in broadcasting terminology).  

SOT 1:  How did you become interested in the bowling alley project? 

SOT   Ellen Zisholtz      :49
In:  I was at SC State
Out: but didn't work out 

SOT transcript:  "I was at SC State and was the director of the museum and planetarium. I became really acquainted with what happened and was at all of the commemorations that go on at SC State every year. And if you haven't gone in the past that you go in February. At the time I wanted to get the bowling alley and make it part of what I was doing at SC State because we were an African American museum. I was on the national museum of the African American museums and I really thought we could save it and make it part of SC State. But it didn't work out."  

Click here to listen to this soundbite.

SOT 2:  Why is this project important? 

SOT   Ellen Zisholtz       :23
In:  It's really important that
Out: unless you know the history

SOT transcript: "It's really important that we learn about the history of this country. I really feel it's important that we have to emphasize history. And from that history we have to move forward. So you can't make changes for the better unless you know the history." 

Click here to listen to this soundbite.

SOT 3:  Who do you hope will come to the museum once it's open? 

SOT   Ellen Zisholtz       :23
In:  I hope we are going to get
Out: bring the community together 

SOT transcript:  I hope we are going to get interaction first of all from Orangeburg, the university students and the OC Tech students in Orangeburg. I think it's important to reach the young people. Kids love to bowl. And I want to reach the rest of the community. And hopefully we can play a part in bringing the community together. 

Click here to listen to this soundbite. 

She also says the museum will create widespread attention to Orangeburg and its place in Civil Rights history. Click here to listen to this comment.