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Show 1 1 Speaking of Sports . Popular Sport? Bowling Draws 15 Million Fans! By ROBERT McSIIANE (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) A BOUT 75 years ago, the nation's comparatively few bowling alleys al-leys were in an unenviable position. posi-tion. Frequented principally by gamblers, touts and various disreputable disrep-utable individuals, they were shunned as places of evil by the more desirable citizens. Today, approximately 15,000,000 men, women and 'teen-age youngsters young-sters make regular visits to their favorite mapleways. The thunder of ten pins reaches its crescendo be-' tween early September and late May of each year. And to a lesser degree, the game is played during the summer months. No longer are bowling alleys frowned upon. The game has reached its proper place In the sports sun. Indicative of bowling's phenomenal phenome-nal growth to the position of America's Amer-ica's No. 1 Indoor sport is the American Amer-ican Bowling Congress' fortieth annual an-nual tournament, which runs from March 7 to May 6 two solid months. Advance indications are mat all A. B. C. classic records will be smashed in this tournament. Among the 30,000 bowlers who take part in the competition are representatives repre-sentatives from 800 cities, small towns, hamlets and crossroads of the nation. Where Did It Start? Where did this business of bowling bowl-ing start? Why Is It America's chief Indoor sport? Why do more than 300,000 bowlers compete annually In the $50,000 Red Crown handicap sweepstakes to set a world's record for Individual participation In any major sports event? With the possible exceptions of foot racing and flsHlghting, bowling is thought to be the oldest of all MBWIMMIIIWSMMUpjiHIil)lli( w...'... JIMMY DANEK Berwyn, 111., bowler, who won the 1939 A. B. C. singles championship. champion-ship. competitive sports. Humorous woodcuts of ancient origin show cavemen bowling with skulls for balls and shinbones for pins. The Dutch Introduced the gamt to America in colonial days, and Rip Van Winkle helped popularize the sport. In fact, it became so popular before the American Revolution Revo-lution that the game of nine-pins (the number used In those days) was legislated against as an agent of the devil. After the colonial popularity ol the game, bowling lost its hold on Americans until its revival in New York about 1880. The game, at thai time, was indulged in by "hustlers touts, and hangers-on," with the re suit that leaders in sport, business and fraternal organizations met in 1895 to form the American Bowling Congress and reclaim the game from the rougher element. During those days it wasn't safe to win a match. Individuals and teams allowed al-lowed themselves to be beaten in match games rather than take a physical trouncing when leaving tht establishment. At its best the sys tern could not be called more than chaotic and disorderly. First A. B. C. Tourney In 1901 the A. B. C. conducted iu first tournament The entries in the first meet consisted of 41 five-man teams, 72 two-man teams and 115 individuals. Approximately 5,800 five-man teams will have partici pated in the Detroit tourney at its conclusion. Bowling has been successful in capturing the fancy of sports-loving America. It Is the top sport on the planned recreation programs of industrial in-dustrial firms, while thousands ol business houses, wjith no planned leisure-time activity for their workers, work-ers, sponsor one or more bowling teams. The average man bowls for re laxation, exercise, wholesome com petitive sport and good fellowship Comparatively it is an inexpensive game. The town banker may bowl beside the garbage collector; tht president of the big industrial plant may roll on the same team with his assistant shipping clerk; clergymen bowl with the church team, and physicians, dentists and attorneys have theirown leagues. Many schools throughout the country have started their own leagues, and in Chicago letters are awarded to league winners. |