I was in the audience for a taping of this show one year before this. I was there with my family (I was six at the time), and have photos of me + my brother on the set and posing with Larry Kenney. For some reason, I remember the air date as November 1st. The Jackpot at the start of the show was $800- and it was $580- at the end (that's how it is in the photos). We were in the first row, and I remember seeing myself on TV, which was so cool at the time! If you (or anyone) could post this show, I would be extremely grateful!
Larry Kenny, the voice of Lion-O of the Thundercats, here as a smarmy game show host on Bowling for Dollars. "Thunder, thunder, thunder! THUNDERCATS, BOOOOOWWWLLLL!"
My Mom's friend Barbara was on the NYC version in 1977. I was in the audience during the taping at Madison square garden. I got out of school early. It was a good day! LOL
I used to watch this all the time when I was a kid. I then started bowling in Junior Leagues in 1979 and still bowl in leagues now. My grandmother put all of us grandkids' names in Bowling for Dollars but I don't think any of our names were ever picked.
In 1976 the Bowling For Dollars franchise in the Washington DC area was filmed at River Bowl in Bethesda, Maryland. Some local schools there had Saturday afternoon junior leagues. I first bowled ten pins in the eighth grade. Before that I had bowled candlepins in New Hampshire, where that specific type is popular . I admit that I was never overly impressed with the comparatively paltry cash prizes. Hell, a strike shoulda won ya at least a thousand bucks !!!
Bowling for Dollars was a very popular franchise show from the same company that gave us Romper Room, the Clasters. The hosts varied by market and the one who I remember in Minneapolis was KSTP's sportscaster Tom Ryther. The ratings were outstanding and the show aired three times a week. As for the New York version, Larry Kenney was an outstanding host who replaced Mets broadcaster Bob Murphy. It's a shame he didn't get any other hosting stints since he had excellent rapport with the contestants and a great voice.
+Howard Luloff The show started in Baltimore in the mid 60s as Duckpins and Dollars on WBAL Channel 11, in the late 70s it became Bowling for Dollars where you bowled one strike to win in Duckpins or two in Tenpins. It was on twice in DC, first on WDCA Channel 20 with Don Richards, and a couple of years later with Johnny Holiday on WTTG Channel 5, which was taped at River Bowl in Bethesda, MD.
I saw a late 1960s video of "Duckpins and Dollars" episode with host Tom Cole. When WBAL-TV in Baltimore first aired the show in 1967, it was originally known as "The Bowling Bank". Eleven did the show with the lanes in the studio,so they would not have to do it from a remote bowling alley.
Wow, I *never* thought I would see a WOR "Bowling For Dollars" episode in my life again. Thank you for it being recorded (how much later did it air after the taping date?) and uploaded here. The local ads also bring back some memories too (that's Barbara Feldon of "Get Smart" BTW with the voiceover at the end of the Yardley soap commercial).
I think a show back in 1978 was cheaper than a 1977, the sticker price was something like $2999.00. in 1977, my father had a trifecta at Monmouth Park that paid $33,700.00 , He bought my mother a new Chevy impala, and himself for one year-old Chevy caprice, both cars were under $5,000.
We tape the Show on June 9th 1977@ Madison Square Garden bowling center...I hope there is a way of getting a copy of that show...I am will to pay .....
Bowling for Dollars was also here in Buffalo,NY on WGR (now WGRZ) Channel 2. It was a Bert Claster production in syndication throughout the US in the 1970s
Sort of - not really syndicated in the traditional sense. It was on during the 7PM hour (either 7 or 7:30 depending on the station), which used to be a throwaway slot for local programming after the news. So each local affiliate or indie station had their own version from their own alley. The NYC metro area's version is shown here and it was taped at MSG's old bowling alley underneath the actual Garden for WOR-TV Channel 9.
@@jpwjr1199 It was a franchised show, just Claster's Romper Room. It got its start on WBAL in Baltimore as Duckpins and Dollars, Duckpins is a regional variation of bowling, it became Bowling for Dollars with tenpins in various cities, Baltimore eventually rebranded it as Bowling for Dollars with Duckpins or Tenpins.
This was hilarious, I think they were like seven people in the audience, and the guy would get up there and win six dollars and say he like to say hi to everybody at Joe’s bar
I have been trying to find this episode of Bowling For Dollars in my area. I live in Northeast Pennsylvania The year was 1976 or 1977. I was 11 or 12 at the time & they showed us in the audience and my sister's friend was a contestant. I have tried for years to find that episode but to no avail. My sister's friends name was Keith Ovens I believe!
+georgef551 Duckpins and Dollars was the Baltimore version that started it all, with the small balls and pins, later it was either tenpins or duckpins as Bowling for Dollars In other cities where it was franchised it was known as Bowling for Dollars with Tenpins except in the Boston area.
georgef551 Either I pulled in WBAL in Chevy Chase back then or later there two Tenpin versions of Bowling for Dollars in DC, the first in 1975 with Don Richards on WDCA Channel 20 from various bowling center there, and in 1979 with Johnny Holiday on WTTG 5 from Brunswick River Bowl in Bethesda where I bowled in a few different leagues there before it closed.
The first two commercials. For soap. First, the Ivory pure clean soap, then, a "fancy schmancy" soap that is the complete opposite of the previous commercial.
I think part of the appeal of these shows was how local, and relatively low-budget they were. I think some of the ABC reboots are a little over-the-top. Too flashy, too focused on a contestant's life story, and sometimes the game becomes an afterthought. Not to mention, they seem to enjoy building up suspense, only to interrupt the show with commercial breaks.
@@jasonacg It's the same formula as crap shows like American Idolators. They paste on fake stories of the little guy, ugly guy, down and out gal making it big.
I was a contestant on Bowling for Dollars in 1977, Larry Kenny was the host , I broke the jackpot ..$840 ..my pin pal was a women from Brooklyn ,NY ...we tape the show Madison Square Garden lanes ...how could I get a copy of that taping of the show ?
the funny part was that his name was picked out and he wound up on the show in 1976 Christmas Edition December 24th. He was on bowling tournaments a few years earlier and he knew how to bowl strikes after strikes. Those were good times.
Although not referenced. Bob Murphy did the show from 1973 to 1974. There was actually one host that briefly replaced Bob Murphy before it ended in 1974.
Hey Mitch I have a question would you happen to have The Christmas Eve episode from December 24th,1976 My father Stanley Starr all these years and including my mother was trying to find that Bowling For Dollars episode but failed for many years and I stumbled onto this and asked you. Do you have it by any chance? Thanks.
I'm sorry. It's not that I was a fan of the show, but my father was on this episode. I uploaded this so we have a digital record of it. I'm sorry to say, but this is the only episode I had on tape/dvd. Good luck with your search.
Mitch Weinfeld Were you the newborn baby at home with your Mom when your Dad was bowling those strikes? Did you go on the trip that he won? Of course, you'd be too young to remember the trip!
Bob Bell I was about 2 years old when that episode was on. I was at home with my older brother who was 5 years old watching the show with my Aunt who was watching the show with us as we were cheering on our father who was the first time that he was on TV but I am trying to find that episode from December 24th 1976. Maybe My mother and I will be lucky when the 40th anniversary comes about in 2 years. You never know.
These are such crazy memories, I was in the audience when I was 3-4 years old, and I'm 42 now. My uncle was on the show when it was in Columbus Oh...Did you happen to find the show that your father was in yet? Good Luck, I hope to see my uncle in one of the YT episodes that I have found.
They closed it before they renovated the Garden in the 80s. Also hosted the U.S. Open on the PBA Pro Bowlers Tour where they moved the finals once over to the nearby Felt Forum (now the Theater at Madison Square Garden).
In my opinion, I believe he missed that fourth one on purpose. Nobody wanted a 1978 Chevy Chevette. I remember watching these shows as a child. And I really enjoyed them.
I'm sure it was done to get more people to watch the show. Never know when your name or a friends name might come up. *to make up for the hot girls on Deal or No Deal*
So funny! Wholesome show for sure. So much better then the disgusting garbage family feud hosted by Steve Harvey where every question is a sexual innuendo.
