Bowling on NBC
Encyclopedia
Bowling on NBC is a television program
presenting professional
ten-pin bowling
matches on NBC Sports
.
's inception, bowling was broadcast on television sporadically beginning in the early 1950s. NBC
began with an early 1950s special telecast entitled Championship Bowling.
(also known as Phillies Jackpot Bowling and Jackpot Bowling Starring Milton Berle) was a professional bowling show on NBC
from January 9, 1959 to June 24, 1960 and again from September 19, 1960 to March 13, 1961.
Jackpot Bowling was the first national TV bowling show since Bowling Headliners
. The show aired on Fridays at 10:30 PM following the Cavalcade of Sports Friday Night Fight.
Leo Durocher
was the show's first host, but bowed out after only two shows and was replaced by Mel Allen
. Allen's lack of bowling knowledge made him an unpopular host, however. On April 10, 1959 Bud Palmer
became the show's third host.
Allen returned in October 1959 and remained with the show until April 1960, after which Palmer returned and hosted through June.
The show was put on a brief hiatus after the June 24 episode. When it returned on September 19, 1960, a retooled version hit the airwaves; the series not only moved to Monday nights at 10:30, but Bayuk Cigars replaced Phillies Cigars
as sponsor, the Hollywood Legion Lanes replaced Wayne, New Jersey
's T-Bowl as the show's venue, and Milton Berle
took over as host.
covered several professional bowling events throughout its run that were not broadcast as part of the Pro Bowlers Tour
on ABC
. From 1984-1991, it had its own series called The PBA Fall Tour. Jay Randolph
& Earl Anthony
were the commentators. Not like ABC's coverage, it was NBC that introduced uninterrupted coverage of the championship match.
From 1988-1990, bowling had its own version of the Skins Game
called The Bowling Shootout. Four bowlers (three pros and an amateur in the 1989 & 1990) competed. Each frame had a designated value & to win, you must be the only bowler to strike, spare or have most pin count to claim the prize. Two tie meant all tie, but all players bowled regardless (where there was a game within a game). If it was still tied after the 10th frame, a one ball roll-off happened. The bowler with the most money won the Shootout. Plus, the bowler who threw the most strikes (the game within a game) won a boat (Marshall Holman
) won all three boats. Brian Voss
was the only bowler to win a frame with a spare.
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
presenting professional
PBA Tour
The Lumber Liquidators PBA Tour is the major professional tour for ten-pin bowling, operated by the Professional Bowlers Association. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA Tour consists of "exempt" bowlers who are a part of the almost 4,300 members worldwide...
ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling
Ten-pin bowling is a competitive sport in which a player rolls a bowling ball down a wooden or synthetic lane with the objective of scoring points by knocking down as many pins as possible.-Summary:The lane is bordered along its length by semicylindrical channels Ten-pin bowling (commonly just...
matches on NBC Sports
NBC Sports
NBC Sports is the sports division of the NBC television network. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games, the NFL, the NHL, MLS, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Triple Crown, and the French Open, among others...
.
Championship Bowling
Prior to the PBAProfessional Bowlers Association
The Professional Bowlers Association is the major sanctioning body for the sport of professional ten-pin bowling in the United States. Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the PBA membership consists of almost 4,300 members worldwide...
's inception, bowling was broadcast on television sporadically beginning in the early 1950s. NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
began with an early 1950s special telecast entitled Championship Bowling.
Jackpot Bowling
Jackpot BowlingJackpot Bowling
Jackpot Bowling is a professional bowling show on NBC from January 9, 1959 to June 24, 1960 and again from September 19, 1960 to March 13, 1961....
(also known as Phillies Jackpot Bowling and Jackpot Bowling Starring Milton Berle) was a professional bowling show on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from January 9, 1959 to June 24, 1960 and again from September 19, 1960 to March 13, 1961.
Jackpot Bowling was the first national TV bowling show since Bowling Headliners
Bowling Headliners
Bowling Headliners was television's first regularly scheduled bowling show. Bowling Headliners aired on ABC from 1948-1949 and the DuMont Network from November 13, 1949 to April 9, 1950....
. The show aired on Fridays at 10:30 PM following the Cavalcade of Sports Friday Night Fight.
Leo Durocher
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
was the show's first host, but bowed out after only two shows and was replaced by Mel Allen
Mel Allen
Mel Allen was an American sportscaster, best known for his long tenure as the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees. During the peak of his career in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, Allen was arguably the most prominent member of his profession, his voice familiar to millions...
. Allen's lack of bowling knowledge made him an unpopular host, however. On April 10, 1959 Bud Palmer
Bud Palmer
John S. "Bud" Palmer is a former pro basketball player. He was a member of the original New York Knickerbockers, and was their leading scorer in their inaugural season 1946/47...
became the show's third host.
Allen returned in October 1959 and remained with the show until April 1960, after which Palmer returned and hosted through June.
The show was put on a brief hiatus after the June 24 episode. When it returned on September 19, 1960, a retooled version hit the airwaves; the series not only moved to Monday nights at 10:30, but Bayuk Cigars replaced Phillies Cigars
Phillies cigars
Phillies is a brand of American-made cigars, originally made in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from which the brand takes its name. Phillies cigars, originally produced by Bayuk Cigars, Inc., are presently manufactured by Altadis U.S.A., Inc., which is the American subsidiary of Spanish-based Altadis...
as sponsor, the Hollywood Legion Lanes replaced Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne, New Jersey
Wayne is a Township in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, located less than from midtown Manhattan. As of the United States 2000 Census, the township had a total population of 54,069....
's T-Bowl as the show's venue, and Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
took over as host.
Sportsworld
The seriesSportsworld (U.S. TV series)
Sportsworld is an United States sports anthology series which aired on NBC on Saturday afternoons from 1978 until 1992.-Format:...
covered several professional bowling events throughout its run that were not broadcast as part of the Pro Bowlers Tour
Pro Bowlers Tour
The Professional Bowlers Tour, also known as Pro Bowlers Tour, is a broadcast of the Professional Bowlers Association that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1997...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. From 1984-1991, it had its own series called The PBA Fall Tour. Jay Randolph
Jay Randolph
Jennings "Jay" Randolph, Jr. is an American sportscaster whose career has spanned more than fifty years.-Early life and career:...
& Earl Anthony
Earl Anthony
Earl Roderick Anthony was a left-handed American professional bowler who amassed records of 41 titles and six bowler of the year awards on the Professional Bowlers Association Tour. His title count was amended to 43 in 2008, when the PBA chose to include ABC Masters titles earned by a PBA member...
were the commentators. Not like ABC's coverage, it was NBC that introduced uninterrupted coverage of the championship match.
From 1988-1990, bowling had its own version of the Skins Game
Skins Game
A skins game is a type of scoring for various sports, most notably golf but also for curling and bowling.-LG Skins Game:There was an annual skins game for male professional golfers which takes place in November or December each year after the end of the official PGA Tour season. It is recognized by...
called The Bowling Shootout. Four bowlers (three pros and an amateur in the 1989 & 1990) competed. Each frame had a designated value & to win, you must be the only bowler to strike, spare or have most pin count to claim the prize. Two tie meant all tie, but all players bowled regardless (where there was a game within a game). If it was still tied after the 10th frame, a one ball roll-off happened. The bowler with the most money won the Shootout. Plus, the bowler who threw the most strikes (the game within a game) won a boat (Marshall Holman
Marshall Holman
Marshall Holman is an American professional bowler primarily known for his success on the PBA Tour throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He also served as a color analyst alongside Mike Durbin on several ESPN and ESPN2 bowling telecasts from 1996–2001...
) won all three boats. Brian Voss
Brian Voss
Brian Voss of Kennesaw, GA, is a professional ten-pin bowler and member of the Professional Bowlers Association since 1982. The right-hander currently owns 25 PBA titles...
was the only bowler to win a frame with a spare.
- 1988: Muskegon, Michigan (Mark Roth/Marshall Holman)
- 1989: Reno, Nevada (Mark Roth/Marshall Holman)
- 1990: Atlantic City, New Jersey (Brian Voss/Marshall Holman)