Candlepin bowling

The Surfwood in Topsfield!! I used to bowl there
while I was a student at Masconomet Regional High School.
Great memories

Hi George,

Just wondering, did you and your friend ever complete the candlepin documentary?

One candlepin house in Wyoming, Ohio near Cincy

i was on that show in 1979 i got a 7 box, but at least i hit the headpin on the 1st ball.

I just did candlepin bowling for the first time in massachusetts at a friends wedding..
holy jeezus it's fun!
I was really sad cause I hurt my wrist and can't bowl with the big ones and thought that's what we were off to do. much to my surprise it was candlepin...
I went all night with my friends and didn't have a bit of pain,
Really wish it was down here.

I believe it was Gibson Steet -- The Sands Cafe was across from Lucky Strike

Urb,

You still around? I still light up the lanes in Norwood Sports Center. I dont see Travers around much and some of the wood is a little dead, but overall its a pretty good facility..

--Barry

My Dad & Joe Donovan were very good friends who as it was told hustled unsuspecting bowlers on a regular basis. Joe was the closer of course.

when you mentioned sat candlepin bowling that brought back a lot of memories. i also watched the noon time bowling show from boston. they don't have candlepin bowling in mich. it is to bad because i think people would really like it.

This is hysterical to me!! I only know one way to bowl - and I guess it's with 'duckpins'. I've never seen a bowling ball without holes for your fingers!! This candlepin stuff is much harder I'm sure, but I love the bowling I've been raised playing. Balls with holes and big fat pins.

I believe the show you're refering to was Candlepins For Cash

Candlepins for Cash. The host was Bob Gamere.

It's not just Mass....Mainers love it too!

You forgot Creature Double Feature and Kung Fu Theater

Just to clarify Ralph Stewart WAS the Lob line/foul line judge for the Channel 5 shows, BUT... before Ralph it was Lou Spera.(sp)

My First Tv appearance was on the Boys Show with Bill o'Connell as the Host, I Believe it was Called Winning Pins. I Actuaaly Saw Fred Huegels Comments Ealier, I Got on that Show Bowling 393 @ Colonial Lanes in Weymouth, and Fred had a chance to beat me, he needed 5 to tie and 6 to win in his last box on his spare he picked up.. and punched out the spread eagle..

Olindy was my grandfather.... yes the Alleys was in the square

utube carries a lot of the matches from 1980 through 1995.. etc...enjoy

The larger bowling balls, which have at least 3 or 4 holes to put one's fingers in were much heavier and much more difficult to use. I prefer the smaller bowling balls myself.

THE NAME OF THE SHOW ON CHANNEL SEVEN WHERE CONTESTANTS WERE GIVEN MONEY FOR A STRIKE OR SPARE OR THE NUMBER OF PINS THAT WERE KNOCKED DOWN IN THREE SHOTS, WAS CANDLEPINS FOR CASH WITH THE HOST BOB GAMERE.

It was called "Candlepins for Cash" with Bob Gamere. You'd come out the little sliding door and talk before you bowled your frame! It was awesome!!

The first time that I ever went Candlepinning was in in Brockton MA. and I broke the lane. I am from Down South....i.e., Delaware and grew up playing 10 pin...The Bowling Centre in Brockton is a Mixed House...Some 10 Pin some Candlepin...So I went to the Candlepin lane and threw a 10 Pin Ball down the Lane....The Lane Broke because the Ball return obviously couldn't return the ball... so they had to get a mechanic to come and fix it.... then I was like...huh...Skee Ball/Bowling Balls... and then had a magical time getting used to Candlepin Bowling...Unfortunately, I don't get up to New England a lot and am Suffering from Wiket Candlepin Withdrawal.

Host was Bob Gamere. My uncle appeared on that show.

Hello.
Did you ever find an alley near PHX for duckpin or candlepin bowling???
Please reply!!!
Thank you!

The gentleman that host the channel 5 candlepin bowling program before Don Gillis

Thank

was the originator of the program Boston Red Sox and Boston Braves commentator Jim Britt.

I am also looking to see how to get a copy of the episode my Dad was on...can anyone out there help me? I know the host was Bob Gamere. Not sure of year though

Marcel Aiken was a great lady bowler

I grew up and still live in Falmouth, Ma. on Cape Cod. Started bowling at the old Pafford's Bowling Alley on main street here. There were no 10 pin lanes in our town back then. Cape Bowl opened in the early to mid '60s. Marcel Aiken bowled for a few years at Paffords and I remember watching her. She was pretty darn good. I once bowled a 156 in a league back in the late 1970s. Paffords is now, and has been for a few years, called 'Ryan's Family Amusement'. They have lanes just over the Bourne Bridge in Buzzards Bay.

Tom Olszta lives in Florida now. Peter Flynn was away from the area for a number of years but returned a few years ago and is bowling great -- he was inducted into the candlepin bowling Hall of Fame last fall.

Being the son of a Mississippi man and a woman born on Long Island, NY and raised in Connecticut, I had the chance to experience both candlepin and "big-ball" bowling in my childhood; we lived in Maine from 1969-81. My mom and a couple of her friends used to take me, my brother and a few of our friends to Figoli's Bowling in Augusta - all candlepin, all the time. The place closed in the early '80s, a couple years after we moved, and I haven't had a chance to do the "wikkid awesome" candlepins since (there was also a "big-ball" alley in Augusta - Jerry-Brook Lanes, which I didn't find on my last trip there; my folks retired in 2004 and now live in Readfield, ME, not far from where I spent my childhood). Never had a chance to do duckpins. First time I ever did "big-ball" was at a bowling alley in Oxford, Mississippi - Kiamie's, a favourite hang-out for locals and Ole Miss students - when I was eight. Scored a big goose egg and cried my eyes out; my grandfather wouldn't pay for more than one game, so that was all I got. I felt so cheated! I'm moving to Massachusetts in a few weeks and plan to get back into the candlepin swing of things ASAP!

in the late eighties and early ninties,there was a show on the atlantic canadian t.v channel ATV.i believe it was called "candlepin skins".it pitted the top bowlers from n.b. against the top from n.s.,the problem being was that the major sponsers were tobacco firms and legislature soon put an end to the program.i miss watching the show.i was young at the time and little did i know,i would grow up to become great friends and teammates with some of the "stars".i love the sport and i am very surprised to see it as a new england-maritime pasttime.another reason to call us unique..

OK URBIE, YOU SEEM TO KNOW A LOT OF CANDLEPIN HISTORY... WHAT STREET AND ADDRESS WAS THE HIPPODROME IN SOUTHBRIDGE LOCATED.....
ART

I have been friends with the owners of that Building ( Monson Lanes) for many years. The reason the lanes were closed was not because of lack of interest, The owner Mr. Josephiak had passed away and they wished to sell the building as they are the same owners as the Rollaway Lanes in Ware , Mass. Most of the leagues are now in Ware ( Rollaway). I had helped the Josephiaks on many occassions, updateing the pinsetters, and the such. I am the same Steve that used to own the Midtown Lanes in Springdield mass. Yes Tom Olsta did bowl in monson as well as the rollaway and many others in the surrounding area. I hope this helps as to the answer of your question!

Hippodrome lanes was located on Ashland ave in Southbridge , MA

I'm not sure of the exact address...

Last I knew the building was being used as a day care center I believe..

Just got back from candlepin pro tour from the pilgrim lanes in haverhill. sunday aug 14th 2011 friend was bowling in it. John KAFALAS.... he said some stars from ch 5 show would be there.. saw mike morgan, jim putney,bob whitcomb,pete perriera.. and shook the hand of a bowler i grew up with back to the 70's ch 5 show. peter flynn. a real gentleman and hall of famer. like the way the pro tour is run as compared to duckpin.. 6 guys a lane and they bowl faster than duckpin 4 somes. steve renaud's son a flamethrower like his dad! also craig holbrook on second shift. can't help remembering olszta droppin a triple on him in 10th to win!!!!! plan on seeing the senior candlepin tour when i can. artie

MIGHT GET SOME FLACK FOR THIS ONE. BEING MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE DUCKPIN WORLD, WHAY KIND OF GUY WAS TOM OLSZTA...HARD TO TELL FROM THE OLD T.V. SHOWS...DID HE HANG AROUND AND HAVE A BEER WITH THE GUYS ON LEAGUE NITE? WAS HE A LONER? WAS HE AN IN YOUR FACE AFTER BEATING YOU GUY? IN DUCKPIN, SOME OF THE BEST BOWLERS ARE QUIRKY TO SAY THE LEAST... SOME NICE. some NOT so nice. true year after year league bowlers know what i mean. met peter flynn recently for first time after watching friend on candlepin pro tour.when i'd turn on t.v. on sat after my duckpin lgue,they would say his age.. same as mine. he seems to be a real gentleman...hope someone answers this found pic of hippodrome online and now have it as my wallpaper....art