Here's an installment of Jackpot Bowling which aired on NBC television in January 1961. The players here included Fred Lening, Al Thompson, and Jim St. John.
20:43 - Hard to tell whether the pin fell naturally or the rake got it, but the applause seems to indicate an obvious strike just before the rake swept. Those Brunswick A pinsetters moved fast in those days. Most were slowed down with different sized belt and pulley systems later on to both prevent wear and for safety reasons. Prior to pinsetters there was no time limit for the pin to fall but I believe the A/A2 manual indicates it's supposed to give about 3 seconds (which the updated speed ratio later did for sure). This is still probably the most widely used pinsetter and even new bowling center owners if they know what they're doing opt to use them despite their not having been manufactured in 40 years. It's easy to tell this machine by the shield covering the deck that drops the pins; often times it will even have a Brunswick logo (though replaced shields may not). More likely than not nowadays these machines will have been updated to run much slower than is seen here.
Those bowling pros really make it look easy---so does Milton! Though largely forgotten today, Milton Berle was one of the most versatile of comics, as well as a good dramatic actor, as most great comedians of that era were. Most of us wouldn't associate bowling alleys as an especially desirable venue for humor & certainly not for a professional comedian like Berle. In fact, I thought maybe he'd jokingly deride his appearance on such a show, admitting he knew it was a comedown. To his credit, he didn't, giving an exuberant performance of relentlessly funny jokes, something at which he was a master, conveying confidence in his material but delivered in a relaxed, totally natural manner. I don't see his hosting this show as a comedown, though I believe other comedians of the day ribbed him about it good-naturedly. Comedown or not, the man was earning a fortune. NBC wanted to pay-off their exclusive, lifetime contract with Berle. Despite the enormous paychecks, the great comic was bored with inactivity, the natural showman in him dying for an outlet. After Milton's contract commitments with NBC were over, he made guest appearances on numerous TV variety shows & specials during the rest of the 60's, never failing to offer witty repartee, always hilarious in sketches & delightful in half-hour guest shots on fully plotted-out sitcoms. Of course, he did full-fledged monologues, too, when acting as host of programs like The Hollywood Palace & such. "Jackpot Bowling" aired at an odd time, I believe---late Sun. nights, after Bonanza & Dinah Shore, I think, airing at 10:30 or 10:45, I'm unsure. The program began as a 15-minute filler at first, later going to half-an-hour. Network schedules, all 3 of them, were very different back then. Of course, I never saw the show. To think how long ago this was---1961---& how young we were---with the entire decade of the 60's before us. Ah, me.....
@@KratostheThird You're welcome. I hope I didn't overdo it. TV history's a major interest for me & I've read alot about the famous comedians of yore who still were going strong all through the 1960's.
@@jackbuckley7816 The only reason I’m here is because I was looking up game shows I watched on GSN over 20 years ago, eventually leading me to here. Milton Berle lived a long life, passing away in 2002. He was a true pioneer of a medium. Sadly, what we have today as TV (which is basically streaming and UA-cam TV) is a disgrace.
Diana Dors was married to Richard Dawson (who you see in the audience on this clip). Dawson, of course, went on to fame in the US for his work on the TV series Hogan's Heroes as well as the Match Game, and later as host of Family Feud.
@@stilltlrforlife I believe he also appeared in an episode of the Hitchcock TV series while still unknown. He also was a regular during the last 2 seasons of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In', post "Hogan" & pre "Match Game'.
NBC had Berle on a 30 year contract through 1981. At the time he could only appear on NBC, later that was amended. His previous show, The Kraft Music Hall with Milton Berle, ended in the spring of 1959, the network wanted to use him somewhere.
Amazing how some of those half-hits carried. Some of those looked like weak tens or even five-pin leaves but blew right out. Must have been 3.2's. Can you imagine a two-hander back then?
Chick Hearn was such a professional he could announce dominoes and make it sound exciting. In addition to Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, Chick Hearn is equally responsible for making Laker Basketball what it is today.
If you read up on it, the pins in 1961 were actually a little heavier than previously. There were several changes made due changes in composition and even a small change in size. The pros also used I believe a 16lb ball whereas todays pros use a slightly lighter ball.
Yeah, I thought the same thing. I wouldn't put it past the show to have lighter pins if this is not a sanctioned tournament. I've seen candlepin bowling shows from the 80s and 90s where the pin carry is insane compared to places i've bowled at in the past few years. Must have been for TV.
"TV bowling?" Such ignorance. The show is hosted by Milton Berle who could fill up Carnegie Hall, or a bowling alley. Add to that the popularity of TV and its three channels, TV being the foremost medium of the time, the opportunity to maybe be seen on TV while watching professional athletes in a sport you and your family all play, and not to mention seeing live a skit with Milton Berle and Diana Dors; and you have a "studio audience for TV bowling."
@@lukehauser1182 I'd have been perfectly content to find Toscanini or "The Voice of Firestone" on TV myself. Now there's so much choice and nothing worth watching.
Whose idea was this program? I wonder if Uncle Miltie ever thought he'd be cracking jokes in a bowling center. (Chick Hearn made a funny when he said you could hear a pin drop.)
Berle was under an exclusive contract to NBC; they wanted him to "earn his money" for the 1960-'61 season, so he agreed to emcee a half-hour version of "JACKPOT BOWLING" (co-produced by his production company)- which had previously been presented as a 15 minute show right after "GILLETTE CAVALCADE OF SPORTS" {aka "The Friday Night Fights"}- but when the fights were eliminated in the summer of 1960, Phillies cigars decided to expand the program that fall, bringing Berle in as emcee, with celebrity guests as well.
+Barry I. Grauman That was Uncle Miltie's infamous 30-year contract, which ran until 1980. Perhaps that's why they had him host SNL in 1979 (with disastrous results).
By the time of that SNL appearance, Berle's contract had been renegotiated; after the mid-1960's, he occasionally hosted "The Hollywood Palace" and had a very short-lived comedy/variety show (with the delectable Donna Loren as resident singer) on ABC, as well as appearing every so often as a guest on Jackie Gleason's CBS Saturday night show which, by then, was based out of Miami Beach (he even put in a cameo in one of the color "Honeymooners" installments). In short, come his "SNL" guest hosting shot, the "exclusive" part went way out the window. And whichever way you look at it, was ultimately a disaster (I speak, of course, of that 30-year contract Berle signed with NBC in 1951) - for both parties. As for this show, it was listed among "The Worst TV Shows Ever" in Bart Andrews and Brad Dunning's 1980 book of the same name.
![Championship Bowling [1966] Carmen Salvino vs Ray Bluth](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/f5zlI2ZzE3U/mqdefault.jpg)
![What's My Line? - Carl Sandburg; Milton Berle; Nick Adams [panel] (Sep 11, 1960)](/img/n.gif)
The announcer was Chick Hearn who would not only become the longtime play by play voice of the Lakers but also the host of Bowling for Dollars
Loved this video. Al Thompson had great form and rolled some beautiful balls. I can see why he was a member of the PBA
Originally telecast on January 16, 1961 ("Friday is Inauguration Day", Berle notes at 1:51- that's when John Kennedy officially became President).
Loved the comedic show of this match.
Yay for Model A's!
20:43 - Hard to tell whether the pin fell naturally or the rake got it, but the applause seems to indicate an obvious strike just before the rake swept. Those Brunswick A pinsetters moved fast in those days. Most were slowed down with different sized belt and pulley systems later on to both prevent wear and for safety reasons. Prior to pinsetters there was no time limit for the pin to fall but I believe the A/A2 manual indicates it's supposed to give about 3 seconds (which the updated speed ratio later did for sure). This is still probably the most widely used pinsetter and even new bowling center owners if they know what they're doing opt to use them despite their not having been manufactured in 40 years. It's easy to tell this machine by the shield covering the deck that drops the pins; often times it will even have a Brunswick logo (though replaced shields may not). More likely than not nowadays these machines will have been updated to run much slower than is seen here.
Those bowling pros really make it look easy---so does Milton! Though largely forgotten today, Milton Berle was one of the most versatile of comics, as well as a good dramatic actor, as most great comedians of that era were. Most of us wouldn't associate bowling alleys as an especially desirable venue for humor & certainly not for a professional comedian like Berle. In fact, I thought maybe he'd jokingly deride his appearance on such a show, admitting he knew it was a comedown. To his credit, he didn't, giving an exuberant performance of relentlessly funny jokes, something at which he was a master, conveying confidence in his material but delivered in a relaxed, totally natural manner. I don't see his hosting this show as a comedown, though I believe other comedians of the day ribbed him about it good-naturedly. Comedown or not, the man was earning a fortune. NBC wanted to pay-off their exclusive, lifetime contract with Berle. Despite the enormous paychecks, the great comic was bored with inactivity, the natural showman in him dying for an outlet. After Milton's contract commitments with NBC were over, he made guest appearances on numerous TV variety shows & specials during the rest of the 60's, never failing to offer witty repartee, always hilarious in sketches & delightful in half-hour guest shots on fully plotted-out sitcoms. Of course, he did full-fledged monologues, too, when acting as host of programs like The Hollywood Palace & such. "Jackpot Bowling" aired at an odd time, I believe---late Sun. nights, after Bonanza & Dinah Shore, I think, airing at 10:30 or 10:45, I'm unsure. The program began as a 15-minute filler at first, later going to half-an-hour. Network schedules, all 3 of them, were very different back then. Of course, I never saw the show. To think how long ago this was---1961---& how young we were---with the entire decade of the 60's before us. Ah, me.....
Thanks for the history lesson.
@@KratostheThird You're welcome. I hope I didn't overdo it. TV history's a major interest for me & I've read alot about the famous comedians of yore who still were going strong all through the 1960's.
@@jackbuckley7816 The only reason I’m here is because I was looking up game shows I watched on GSN over 20 years ago, eventually leading me to here.
Milton Berle lived a long life, passing away in 2002. He was a true pioneer of a medium.
Sadly, what we have today as TV (which is basically streaming and UA-cam TV) is a disgrace.
Diana Dors was married to Richard Dawson (who you see in the audience on this clip). Dawson, of course, went on to fame in the US for his work on the TV series Hogan's Heroes as well as the Match Game, and later as host of Family Feud.
He was also in one of my favorite Dick Van Dyke show episodes.
@@stilltlrforlife I believe he also appeared in an episode of the Hitchcock TV series while still unknown. He also was a regular during the last 2 seasons of "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In', post "Hogan" & pre "Match Game'.
Isn't it amazing how they could get a big star like "Mr. Tuesday night" Milton Berle to host a television bowling show.
More like NBC was burying a flailing star. They ended their 30 year contract with him after this
Truly amazing, indeed!
NBC had Berle on a 30 year contract through 1981. At the time he could only appear on NBC, later that was amended. His previous show, The Kraft Music Hall with Milton Berle, ended in the spring of 1959, the network wanted to use him somewhere.
This is killer thanks 4 the vid.................................
Amazing how some of those half-hits carried. Some of those looked like weak tens or even five-pin leaves but blew right out. Must have been 3.2's. Can you imagine a two-hander back then?
If anyone has the 15 minute version of Jackpot Bowling, can you please post them. Mel Allen was the host of the series.
the late great chick hearn did the play by play for jackpot bowling. He also hosted Bowling for Dollars in the 1970s
Chick Hearn was such a professional he could announce dominoes and make it sound exciting. In addition to Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, Chick Hearn is equally responsible for making Laker Basketball what it is today.
thanks
So cool
It’s odd that they bowl across two pairs, instead of sticking on one pair. I guess it was done for TV to keep the ball return out of the way.
Holy crap those cigar add's
Love to know the weight of those pins. For 1961, they jump like they're awfully light.
If you read up on it, the pins in 1961 were actually a little heavier than previously. There were several changes made due changes in composition and even a small change in size. The pros also used I believe a 16lb ball whereas todays pros use a slightly lighter ball.
Yeah, I thought the same thing. I wouldn't put it past the show to have lighter pins if this is not a sanctioned tournament. I've seen candlepin bowling shows from the 80s and 90s where the pin carry is insane compared to places i've bowled at in the past few years. Must have been for TV.
I have to know - where did they find the people for the studio audience of TV bowling?
From other bowling alleys?
"TV bowling?" Such ignorance. The show is hosted by Milton Berle who could fill up Carnegie Hall, or a bowling alley. Add to that the popularity of TV and its three channels, TV being the foremost medium of the time, the opportunity to maybe be seen on TV while watching professional athletes in a sport you and your family all play, and not to mention seeing live a skit with Milton Berle and Diana Dors; and you have a "studio audience for TV bowling."
@@VinylToVideo I remember three TV channels - people were hard up for entertainment before youtube! :)
@@lukehauser1182 I'd have been perfectly content to find Toscanini or "The Voice of Firestone" on TV myself. Now there's so much choice and nothing worth watching.
@@VinylToVideo We can still watch Rocky & Bullwinkle on youtube!
@22:10, is this Richard's 1st TV appearance?
$30,000 was a LOT of money in 1961.
Equivalent to over $250,000 today.
Now it’s over $315,000.
Whose idea was this program? I wonder if Uncle Miltie ever thought he'd be cracking jokes in a bowling center. (Chick Hearn made a funny when he said you could hear a pin drop.)
Berle was under an exclusive contract to NBC; they wanted him to "earn his money" for the 1960-'61 season, so he agreed to emcee a half-hour version of "JACKPOT BOWLING" (co-produced by his production company)- which had previously been presented as a 15 minute show right after "GILLETTE CAVALCADE OF SPORTS" {aka "The Friday Night Fights"}- but when the fights were eliminated in the summer of 1960, Phillies cigars decided to expand the program that fall, bringing Berle in as emcee, with celebrity guests as well.
+Barry I. Grauman That was Uncle Miltie's infamous 30-year contract, which ran until 1980. Perhaps that's why they had him host SNL in 1979 (with disastrous results).
By the time of that SNL appearance, Berle's contract had been renegotiated; after the mid-1960's, he occasionally hosted "The Hollywood Palace" and had a very short-lived comedy/variety show (with the delectable Donna Loren as resident singer) on ABC, as well as appearing every so often as a guest on Jackie Gleason's CBS Saturday night show which, by then, was based out of Miami Beach (he even put in a cameo in one of the color "Honeymooners" installments). In short, come his "SNL" guest hosting shot, the "exclusive" part went way out the window. And whichever way you look at it, was ultimately a disaster (I speak, of course, of that 30-year contract Berle signed with NBC in 1951) - for both parties.
As for this show, it was listed among "The Worst TV Shows Ever" in Bart Andrews and Brad Dunning's 1980 book of the same name.
What alley is this?
Hollywood Legion Lanes.
bowling AND blunts im in.
20:25
25:00 LOL
How old was he
58
Need the rules
I know they were great in their time but Berle and Hope never even made me laugh.
Al Thompson, at age 22, looks a bit too old to be called a youngster and a boy.
That bra is a machine gun billy.
WHO IS THE ANNOUNCER
@Sanchez Montebello great announcer did he die
Great announcer
This was during Chick Hearn’s 10 year association with NBC. Of course, he was doing Laker basketball at this juncture as well.
@@zacheryalderton7721 Yes, in 2002, due to complications from a fall in his backyard.
@@rockaway2k is he married what was he doing in fall in his backyard
jfk was sworn at this time
Uncle Milty must of been hard up for cash if he hosted this kind of show. 🤣🤣🤣
He was in the middle of a 25 year $25 million dollar contract with NBC. Got paid weather they used him or not.
@@ArtPennington ...Ahhhhh.....I didn't know that......Thank you for passing this information on.
Doubt it. Just stayed public to enhance his publicity (and raise hhis price(.
@@ArtPennington Yes, NBC was scared another network would snap him up if they didn't hold him to an exclusive contract. CBS did the same with Gleason.
how old was he
58.