| In the 1930’s, British Anthropologist Sir Flinders Petrie
became the first to discover evidence of a bowling-like game. He found
ancient objects in a child’s grave in Egypt that were allegedly used for a
primitive form of the game. The artifacts have been dated back to 3200 BC,
effectively making bowling over 5,000 years old! |
The first written mention of a
bowling-like sport can be traced to the year 1366 in England. Allegedly King
Edward III outlawed the game in order to keep his troops focused on their
archery practice, but it was most certainly in vogue (and legal) during the
reign of King Henry VIII. |
| Many variations of bowling have come from Europe including
Italian bocce, French pentanque, and even Britain’s lawn bowling, but the
question of who introduced bowling to the United States is much more
uncertain. |
In the late 1800’s Bowling was prevalent in New York, Ohio,
and Illinois. The first standardization of the rules of the game was
established on September 9, 1895 at Beethoven Hall in New York City. It was
then that the American Bowling Congress was formed and major national
competitions began. |
| The earliest mention of American bowling comes in the form
of a quote from Rip Van Winkle when old Rip wakes up to the sounds of
"ninepins". |
The Women’s International Congress came much later in the
year 1917 under the encouragement of proprietor Dennis Sweeny. The women
leaders participating in a tournament later formed the Woman’s National
Bowling Association. |
| The first Mineralite ball was introduced in 1914 by the
Brunswick Corporation, and the first commercial installation of a pin
setting machine came in 1952, making "pin boys" almost entirely unnecessary. |
Nothing did more for the popularity of bowling than the
first broadcast of "Championship Bowling" by NBC in the 1950’s. Thanks to
this show and many others including "Make that Spare", "Bowling for
Dollars", and "Celebrity Bowling", bowling was thrust into the American
public’s living rooms and hearts alike. |
| The Pro Bowlers tour became hugely popular on ABC Sports
Broadcasting after first being televised in 1961. These events all added to
the popularity of Bowling. |
1455
The first enclosed bowling center is built in London. |
1465
Edward IV passes edict forbidding "hustling of stones" and other
bowling-like sports. |
1555
Bowling centers closed because they were being used as places of "unlawful
assembly." |
1611
Captain James Smith return to the colony in Jamestown, Virginia to find the
colonists starving, but still happily bowling. The sport is quickly declared
illegal and punishable by up to three weeks in the stocks. |
1623
The Dutch enjoy nine-pins in their New York colony. |
1670
King Charles of England, a compulsive gambler, standardizes bowling rules in
order to even the odds. |
1840
Bowling alleys are almost always associated with taverns, and are growing in
popularity in the states. |
1870
Nine-pin bowling banned due to associated gambling and crime. To get around
the law, ten-pin bowling is invented and flourishes. |
1895
The American Bowling Congress is formed. That same year, King C. Gillette
invents the safety razor, allowing thousands of bowlers to get that clean,
comfortable shave they could only have dreamed of in the past. |
1909
Bowing's distant third cousin, Skee-Ball, invented and patented by J.D.
Estes of Philadelphia. |
1916
Women's International Bowling Congress established in America. |
1927
World champion Jimmy Smith beaten in exhibition against local bowler Mrs.
Floretta McCutcheon; the match paves way for the founding of the Mrs.
McCutcheon School for Bowling Instructions. |
1950's
With the advent of the automatic pin setting machine, bowling starts to pick
up mass appeal. An extensive P.R. campaign attempts to make bowling popular
to the upper classes; Capezio introduces a line of bowling shoes with
advertisements showing society ladies bowling. |
1958
Brunswick "Bowling Ped" icon created; screaming rush of teenagers storm
Brunswick HQ; logo designers escape out back door. |
1959
Ed Lubanski from Detroit scores 700 pins for his five-men team in the ABC
all-counts championship; later that year, Grock, the Swiss music clown, dies
(b. 1880). |
1961
The number of alleys in the U.S. jumps from 6500 to over 10,000; neck size
of bowling pins increased, adding 7/10 oz. to total average weight. |
1963
Americans spend $43.6 million on bowling balls. |
1966
Dick Weber wins his fourth open U.S. Bowling championship in five years. |
1984
The National Bowling Hall of Fame and Museum opens in St. Louis, Missouri.
The $7 million complex contains four bowling lanes dating back to 1924
(human pinsetters; four frames for $3); Jim Webb breaks the bowling
endurance record, toppling maples for a grueling 195 hours and 1 minute. |
1990
The A.B.C. estimates 50 million bowlers nation-wide; X Magazine comes out
with fun-e bowling issue. |
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