The Mid Century Vault

Currently Playing: 037 Bowling - Mid Century's Favorite Pastime

Step into The Mid-Century Vault as we explore the Golden Age of Bowling (1930-1980)! 🎳 From its working-class roots subsidized by beer companies to its transformation into the "poor man's country club" of the suburbs, discover how tenpin bowling became America's leading participant sport in the 1960s. Learn about the historic Sunset Bowling Center in Hollywood that attracted stars like Judy Garland, the role of WWII military bases, and the game-changing invention of the AMF Automatic Pinsetter that replaced the "pin boys." We break down the rise of the PBA Tour, televised sports, and the cultural shift that made Dick Weber and Don Carter household names. This is the definitive history of the classic American alley! WATCH NEXT: Miniature Golf! https://youtu.be/rKavVvdl6s8?si=bAI9jRiAkbWneCMi TV Show Lunchboxes! https://youtu.be/wWgqcAafbOE?si=DCGS-6_kGQdMMqOd If you'd like to further support my work, here's my buy me a coffee link: https://coff.ee/philipmershon #midcenturyvault #popculturehistory #nostalgia #bowling