Alfred S. (Babe) Ernst was the general manager of Harkins Palace from the time it opened in April 1947 until it was destroyed by a fire on April 26, 1968.

He served as president of the St. Paul Bowling Proprietors in 1957-58 and was president of the Minnesota Bowling Proprietors Association in 1962.

Babe was co-chairman of the All-Star Match Game championships held at various Twin Cities houses during the 1950s and 1960s.

He originated and hosted the St. Paul Singles Classic at Harkins Palace for 10 years. Along with George Hammond and the late Larry Goodman, they created the Captain-Sponsor dinner in 1956. It is now called the Bowlers Recognition dinner and honors the St. Paul Bowling Hall of Fame, all-city team selections and other bowling dignitaries.

He was one of the proprietors who originated television's Bowlerama and All-Star programs in the 1950s.

Babe was a member of the St. Paul bowling committee that went to Des Moines, Iowa in 1962 to help bring the 1965 ABC tournament to the St. Paul Auditorium.

Harkins Palace was the site of the 1950 Women's International Bowling Congress tourney, the 1961 and 1967 men's state meets and the 1953 and 1962 women's state tournament.

Babe was inducted into the St. Paul Bowling Hall of Fame in 1979.