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'Bowling for Dollars' flashback and the Rotary Club

“Bowling for Dollars.”

Bob Allison

It was my favorite game show as a kid, watching casual bowlers attempt to string strikes together for prizes. The more strikes in a row, the bigger the prizes.

Bob Allison, who had a voice made for radio, was the host of the show, which took place at Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park. It was broadcast on WDIV Channel 4 around 7 p.m., if memory serves me correct, just before “The Muppet Show” – another favorite of mine.

I hadn’t seen or heard from Mr. Allison since the heyday of “Bowling for Dollars” in the 1970s – that is, until yesterday.

[More:]

Jon Morgan and I were the guest speakers for a Detroit Rotary Club meeting at the Detroit Athletic Club. Our topic, of course, was the Fletcher Field project, and Mr. Allison was there as a Rotary Club member and the meeting’s entertainment.

Turns out he plays the piano – very well. In fact, Mr. Allison told me yesterday that he played the jazz circuit in Los Angeles before coming to Detroit to get into broadcasting.

He continues to use that broadcaster’s voice on WNZK 690-AM, Monday-Friday from 9-11 a.m., on a radio show called “Ask Your Neighbor.” For more than 46 years, Mr. Allison has been providing an avenue for neighbors to exchange recipes and household hints, and deal with how-to-do-it and where-to-get-it problems.

After Jon and I finished speaking to the club, Mr. Allison gave us a few hints on some other neighborhoods we might look at. Wonder if he could help me with my bowling game.

I didn’t really know anything about Rotary Club until one of its members, Dave Allen, contacted me last spring to see if we needed any help. Now I know that the club stands for everything we’re working toward at the park and the surrounding neighborhood.

THE FOUR-WAY TEST
of the things Rotary club members think, say, or do:

1. Is it the truth?

2. Is it fair to all concerned?

3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: 6/hoover [Member]

I remember Bowling for Dollars. My mom was a bowler and everyday she watched it. Me and my sister's would laugh because she watched it, but I guess to her it was fun. Also, a friend of the family bowled on the show.

Permalink 11/14/08 @ 09:27

Comment from: d.p. [Member]

Bowling for Dollars was very popular back in the day since Detroit is a bowling town. The first host was another radio guy, Dick Van Sice (sp) who was replaced by the more personable Bob Allison. By the way, our beloved Mr. V made an appearance on the show. Mr. V was a very good bowler but didn't throw a strike on the show. He made a spare after coming in high in the pocket on his first ball, I believe.

Permalink 11/14/08 @ 09:34

Comment from: 2bucks [Member]

The year was 1974, unbeknownst to me, friends sent my name to Bowling for Dollars, I received an invite, went down to the Thunder Bowl with three friends, was prepped with other contestants by the producer on how to act while on camera i.e. pleasant manner yet excited if we won, then when it was my turn Bob asked me a few perfunctory questions which ended with "What do you do for a living?...."I work as a Recreational Therapist at Glen Eden Hospital"...."So, you work with the patients after their surgeries"?...."It's a psychiatric hospital".....{awkward pause}"Ohhhhhhhh, OK, let's go bowling for dollars". Well, I spared out, won ten bucks, treated my friends to lunch, which cost twenty bucks [remember it was 1974], had an entertaining day and it only cost me ten bucks.There you have it, and if anyone sends in a comment about Oopsy the Clown show, Ill have to tell you about the time I...........

Permalink 11/17/08 @ 18:27

Comment from: geraceyvette [Member]

My 15 minutes of fame came from appearing on Kelly & Company. Twice. First time I was on the panel discussing the topic of sins of the father. I regretted that show. I had no idea how many people watched that show till then. I was recognized for a very long time. At work- giving wedding photo presentations to customers, in the grocery store, at the dentist office, almost anywhere I went. The second time was a Shop till you drop contest. Send in a fashion tip and if they liked it you went on the show the group of winners got to go by bus on an expense paid shopping spree at Manufactures Market Place, aka Birch Run. I got picked. I worked in a Portrait Studio in downtown Mt. Clemens, it was 1990....Winds whipped aroung the tall buildings daily making it at times impossible for a woman walk anywhere in a dress. You'd HAVE to hold it down. So being married at that time to a man who loved to fish, I incorporated his slip line sinkers with the inside seems on my dresses and skirts as weights. Problem solved. I was called at work by the producers and invited back on the show on a much happier topic and won best tip! Now as a young girl I had it with the 3 years of girlscouts(Leaders Mrs. Elam and Mrs. Scalba) and I quit. That was the year they went on BoZo. I missed out. I'm not over it.

Permalink 11/18/08 @ 02:19