I used to watch this all the time as an 10 year old. Used to be on Saturday nights I think. They started doing 10 pin and then dropped it down to 5 pin before the show went off the air in 1987.
Bert Claster who also produced Romper Room came up with this concept. Started in Baltimore as Duckpins and Dollars which was a regional variation of bowling. When it started in other cities they used tenpins as Bowling for Dollars. Each city had its own version and host.
I remember the latter two editions shown here; they had aired on WPCQ-TV 36 in Charlotte, NC, and WPMT-TV 43 in York, PA (respectively). As for the WPMT version, they had one unusual advantage when recording the show: the bowling alley happened to be located right next door to the TV station! It's a pity that their edition ran for only 20 weeks (in late 1984). Such great memories; thank you for posting this.
This is what the show would've looked like if say WOR-TV had kept it. It ended I think in 1979-1980 after being hosted by the late Mets broadcater Bob Murphy and DJ and voice of Lion-O on Thundercats Larry Kenney.
All of my 50+ years I thought “bowling for dollars “ was a made up generic name for something really stupid and pointless. I only just realised it is a real thing.
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I grew up watching this on WOKR 13 in Rochester NY. This is the same studio they recorded Funtime Junior Bowling and Brighton-Panarama TV Roll-offs.
My Dad was on Bowling for Dollars here in Pittsburgh. I was in the audience. But it's so hard to track down that episode.
I used to watch this all the time as an 10 year old. Used to be on Saturday nights I think. They started doing 10 pin and then dropped it down to 5 pin before the show went off the air in 1987.
I love this! The opening animation and music is different from most cities, but the script is very similar.
love it, low budget, regular folk. this was reality t.v. in the 70's.
❤
Bert Claster who also produced Romper Room came up with this concept. Started in Baltimore as Duckpins and Dollars which was a regional variation of bowling. When it started in other cities they used tenpins as Bowling for Dollars. Each city had its own version and host.
I remember the latter two editions shown here; they had aired on WPCQ-TV 36 in Charlotte, NC, and WPMT-TV 43 in York, PA (respectively).
As for the WPMT version, they had one unusual advantage when recording the show: the bowling alley happened to be located right next door to the TV station! It's a pity that their edition ran for only 20 weeks (in late 1984).
Such great memories; thank you for posting this.
That one guy @2:00 looks like Lewis from Christmas vacation
This is what the show would've looked like if say WOR-TV had kept it. It ended I think in 1979-1980 after being hosted by the late Mets broadcater Bob Murphy and DJ and voice of Lion-O on Thundercats Larry Kenney.
Does anyone know if the show duckpins and dollars can be found on video? I'm looking for the year 1964-65. Thanks
oooohhhyes
I am looking for the Los Angeles Version of this show with Chick Hearn as the Host.
When TV was for realz.
Who is the announcer
All of my 50+ years I thought “bowling for dollars “ was a made up generic name for something really stupid and pointless. I only just realised it is a real thing.
At 3:55 and 4:05, didn't he sound like he said, "a## cream business"?