Bowling for dollars promo tv commercial 1977 

I could not wait for this show to come on when I was a kid

Bowling for dollars was a super awesome 1977 game show!

We had bowling for dollars here from January 1971 to around 1977 here in Buffalo on WGR TV 2 at 7 Monday through Friday. The hosts were Ed Kilgore, Frank Benny, and Barry Lillis through that period of time.

Indeed. WTXF in Philadelphia is the same way, they used to be a great station as TV-29, but then came 1995, and Mr. Murdoch got his hands on that station.

I remember back in the mid late 70's, Bowling for Dollars in Pittsburgh was hosted by a guy named Nick Perry, who went to prison because he helped to fix the PA Lottery daily number drawing in 1980.

My dad didn’t go to my First Communion because he didn’t want to miss Bowling For Dollars. I think he had money on it.

I was on this show which aired on Election Day 1977. The show was taped at Madison Square Garden (they had two lanes at the far right end of the bowling alley closed off with a huge black curtain). I "think" it was called Madison Square Bowl at the time and this was their "studio" for taping the show. I got a spare and received a check for $ 20.00 for my efforts. Fortunately, I was one of the few people who had a Betamax (remember them) video tape recorder at the time and was able to tape my appearance, which I still have in my archives today! Great times! The host was Larry Kenney (age 30 at the time)! Wow!!

@tyrese3745 There was no 79-80 season of BfD in New York. In fall 1979, Tic Tac Dough replaced BfD on channel 9.

Wow...who would've guessed Lion-O would host a Bowling show back in the day?

New York Indie station Channel 9, this show was pure campiness with that cheap set.

Might that explain why, when William F. Buckley, Jr.'s "Firing Line" originated from WOR's studios from 1966 to 1971, there was a black background?

I once saw the bowling alley where the BFD show was set. On Thanksgiving weekend 88, I was with my dad and sibs as we took the subway on a visit to grandma's in Brooklyn, and walked to Madison Square Garden. The bowling alley looked just like what the BFD ad here shows.

Wow I remember that promo from Cahannel 9. I was five years old in '77. Anyone remember Romper Room on channel 9?

Wow, I remember this show.

My 9 should do a one time only special celebrating its past, including shooting an episode of BfD for the modern audience. Of course, Rupert and Fox doesn't care as much about WNYW's or WWOR's history as Tribune does about WPIX's history.

"Bowling For Dollars" was franchised by the same people who franchised "Romper Room". Each station would produce it's own version. Here in Boston, where candlepin bowling is much bigger than tenpin bowling, a candlepin version of "bowling For Dollars", titled "Candlepins For Cash", was hugely popular in the mid-1970's.

That's because WPIX has always emphasized quality programming and respects its past.

;Bowing for Dollars started in Baltimore as Duckpins and Dollars from the studios of WBAL, since this version is tougher, one strike won the jackpot instead of two in the Tenpin version. Later it became Bowling for Dollars where the bowler chose either version. There was a Saturday afternoon youth duckpins show called Pinbusters hosted by Royal Parker sponsored by Fair Lanes which had a PBA stop that every other year was in Baltimore, the other year it was in a DC center. Fair Lanes was bought by AMF. Duckpins is dying out in the Washington area but its still popular in up in Charm city.

Based on the "More for You" slogan, this promo would've doubtless been 1978-79.

Wait a second... What about Ralph Kiner? Bob Murphy? You know...the NY Mets announcers? They both hosted BFD also. I can almost hear Murphy now, with that trademark voice, wearing those cheesey plaid suits. Now that was BFD...

Any chance for the opening theme of "Bowling for Dollars"? I recall 2 versions in 1978 or so.

Do you remember "Uncle Floyd" on UHF channel 68.

@stooge81 Yes, but Larry Kinney, who was also a radio DJ for 1050 WHN at the time, was also a Very Good host.

My dad Charles gaylon Mcfarland was on the show sometime around 1975 he has passed away and I am trying to find that episode if anyone could help that would be amazing

I was on this show with Larry Kenny. Wish I could get the tape of my show. Is that possible? Anyone know?