1977 AMF Grand Prix of Bowling (Women's matches)

Decisive final frames of the two final matches of the 1977 AMF Grand Prix of Bowling women's matches. In the semi-final, Virginia Norton takes on Betty Morris. The winner advances to meet tournament leader Edie Jo Neal. In the men's matches, Jay Robinson defeated Mark Roth in the title match. Originally telecast December 10, 1977 from Thunderbowl Lanes in Allen Park, MI. Jack Buck on play-by-play. June Llewellyn on color.

[@MrJoeE1970]

I worked for Edie Jo Neal (Norman), in the early 2000's at her center in Spring Hill, FL. Super nice lady, one of the best people I've worked for. Soooo, yeah, I was rooting for her.

[@yuppiehi]

Woah! I've never seen Betty Morris bowl until now. I only started watching women bowling when the likes of Aleta Sill, Wendy Macpherson, Lisa Rathgerber and Jeanie Maiden were on most of the telecasts. Great to see 70's women bowling!

[@doctorrobert60]

Wow, this is 40 years ago! I go to practice at Westminster Lanes in Westminster, CA and see Virginia Norton there giving bowling lessons to people there. My Pro Shop operator respects her so much he will only hand out Virginia's card out to people who want professional lessons.

[@ronaldshank7589]

I didn't even know who Betty Jo Morris was, and I was STILL rooting for her to win!

[@joaness45]

Not only is Virginia Norton STILL classy, but also look at all the suits and ties in the audience!

[@swellybibbsenterprises5185]

And the ladies wore pantyhose, inc,. the bowlers.

[@chriskelly509]

I miss those days... sadly b4 my time

[@TheLTD_]

What class and elegance in a time long forgotten.

[@rosewoodfretboard]

Great seeing Betty Morris. The legendary Jack Buck was one of baseball's golden voices behind the mike calling balls and strikes, near the top of a very short list with Ted Husing and Vin Scully. Buck was a good NFL play-by-play man, too. Calling a bowling match is a different animal, though. It's easy to overwhelm the viewer by thinking you have to keep filling with commentary. Sometimes, it's movements and measure, like an orchestra, if I can be excused for sounding a little too analytical. That's why Chris Schenkel was the master. Whether it was with Billy Welu or Nelson Burton Jr. providing the harmonies, Schenkel was the unflappable rhythm section.

[@frenchfrey65]

that alley looks exactly like our Ashwaubenon Lanes in Green Bay, WI. Ours hasn't been updated in years! yet it's hosting next years USBC Masters! Somethings never change in bowling :D

[@irishpogi]

She does. If you watch the qualifying games for the US Women's Open tournament, there is some footage of her throwing the ball. Her other son bowled with Missy Parkin at the 2012 USBC Open Championships event and there's footage of that here on youtube.

[@kenrozmislowicz1635]

the first time I saw Betty Morris Bowl was on television back in the seventies and she was one of my favorite lady bowlers and she still as beautiful today as she was in 1977 and one thing me and her have in common we both use the same brand of bowling ball Columbia 300 and she still has the most beautiful red hair

[@Wa3ypx]

Virginia has some rockin hair!

[@irishpogi]

Virginia's delivery hasn't changed much in decades

[@brucecarney4416]

Great match !

[@pineapple51ut]

I believe her name is June Llewellyn. She wasn't a bowling standout on the women's tour but she was sponsored by AMF and traveled doing exhibitions with Cheryl Robinson who ended up winning this tournament in 1978. She is a Florida Bowling Hall of Famer. Thanks for posting vintage women's bowling videos. I hope you have more in store.

[@joaness45]

Betty Morris can verify this, but either before the Grand Prix or the Great and Greatest, Betty was understandably nervous. Earl Anthony told her to pretend it was just practice. It worked!

[@Xplantdad]

I was able to be friends with and watch Virginia Norton, Ginnie Adams and a bunch of other great women bowlers in the late 70's early 80's at tournaments. In fact, I got most of my gear from Ginnie-at her house. All of the ladies were nothing but classy. Those were some good times!

[@daveconley6076]

I always had the hots for Betty Morris. Redhead, built, and a big cranking power game that even the old guys at the bowling alley could admire.

[@kbron3250]

Dave Conley I agree Dave. I was a teenager watching Betty back then and oh boy this woman was built like a brick s**thouse. Larry Laub. Lucky man.

[@johnford7477]

Betty morris if you get a divorce i am available hotsy

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

@@johnford7477 I saw her future husband Larry Laub throw a 299 at the same bowling alley hosting this tourney. His style was the opposite of hers, rolling the ball behind the foul line with no lift. Great bowler, though, and one assumes a very lucky man.

[@Dana_Danarosana]

I know what Thunderbowl looks like now with the newer Brunswick scoring & masks and the 80's scoring and masks in the arena bay... but I never saw it in this era. What is going on that the masking units on the next pair to the right are HUGE compared to the rest? Also, they must've replaced the 82-30's with 70's at some point...

[@donaldirvin1692]

As to release, she may be a lot more on the side of the ball, but that spin does not over hook and has great carry. The result is in. The score, not the look!

[@sommerssmith]

@yuppiehi There's a 1987 tournament posted that includes Betty in it.

[@robs531]

Ahhh the LT-48….. memories

[@BowlingOldies]

I haven't seen her bowl in years. Does she still hold it high like this?

[@1moredayof]

I was searching for any videos with Cheryl Robinson or Cheryl Kominski (her maiden name). I'm about to conclude that there are none available

[@victoriamiller3840]

Virginia Norton, Betty Morris, and Edie Jo Neal, great bowling! Is Thunderbowl Lanes still open? Love the retro fashion!

[@edwardrossman9448]

yes its open but business is way down from its heyday

[@ruhroh7857]

Those incredible late 1970's "flip" hairdos as opposed to those early-to-mid 1960's "flip" hairdos, huh! What a hoot! All feeding into this vague myth of "The Bimbo." But man, could those bimbos bowl!

[@tonyvincent9753]

I must admit, I was rooting for the lady with the Farah Fawcett hair do! 😂

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

"The lady with the Farah Fawcett hairdo," Virginia Norton, is the mother of PBA star Scott Norton.

[@tomy5868]

that a white dot or a yellow dot? I still throw a white dot sometimes...bang bang...

[@TonysMusic1974]

Why not just show the entire matches?

[@edwardrossman9448]

T-Bowl Lanes owner george prybla in background

[@martintothjr.4754]

Eddie Rossman...you are correct!

[@edwardrossman9448]

@@martintothjr.4754 M. Toth and T.Toth, I didnt think anybody would see that ,instead it took about 2 days.

[@MrChristopherHaas]

What, they couldnt get Sissy Spacek to play the role of Betty Morris in her life and times eoic?

[@teeken8850]

The male announcer seemed as if he preferred the other lady to win...Although he couldn't say it, he did however flavor his comments to suggest my response...lol

[@keithlauderjr1691]

Those hairstyles.

[@dariowiter3078]

Jack Buck.....legendary baseball play-by-play announcer.....doing a bowling telecast?!? THE WORLD HAS JUST "ENDED" FOR ME!!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 😆😆😆😆😆 😄😄😄😄😄 🎳🎳🎳🎳🎳 😂😂😂😂😂

[@paulberthold932]

In the 50s and into the 60s, pro bowlers like Dick Weber earned as much as baseball players, if not more. Buck would have had plenty of time for calling bowling during the winter.

[@bufb]

Betty Morris married to Larry Laub now

[@cygnusrider]

Are the two announcers showing A TON of favoritism toward Betty Morris or what?

[@tomy5868]

+cygnusrider doesn't affect the outcome...

[@thehotcorner3337]

I think she may need another strike.

[@MrNYCman530]

The plastic ball era!

[@l.rongardner2150]

Wow! Farrah Fawcett copied her hairdo.

[@joeambrose3260]

Wouldn't know these women if they fell on me

[@MassEffectFan113]

Betty has a terrible release. Look at that top spin... lol.

[@BowlingOldies]

A terrible release? She threw a spinner, which was not all that uncommon in the era when bowling was transitioning from lacquer finishes to polyurethane finishes. She was one of the winningest women on tour during her time on the lanes. So it was pretty effective. Wouldn't work as well today on the modern conditions we bowl on and with the balls we use today.

[@tomy5868]

+MassEffectFan113 love people who make "terrible" comments about women's bowling in the 70's and 80's. ladies are bowling on wood lanes and not hiding behind reactive equipment that does all t he work for you...

[@yuppiehi]

Sign of a lack of bowling knowledge.... Spinning allows the bowler to control the ball on even the worst of oil conditions. A full or semi roller requires friction on the lane, and carry when it hits the pins. Spinning however takes the friction out of the sport. Back then, we didn't have what is considered today oil "patterns." In the pro's, they even spray lacquer onto the lane with a spray bottle, so no one knew what kind of lane condition to expect when they walked in. With that in mind, the bowler had to come up with some kind of a game that can, one adapt to any lane condition in a hurry, and two with very little bowling balls he brought with him. Spinning also creates more pin deflection, and can at times give you a few more strikes on even light hits. And that's extremely important for the ladies who don't throw as hard as the men. There are variations to spinning, such as what Pete Weber does today. Spinning is also very popular in parts of Southwestern Asia, where the lanes have oil all the way to the pins.

[@MassEffectFan113]

First bowler, smooth release. Had side turn... not top spin. Give me a break. What averages do you all carry?

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

Betty was women's bowler of the year several years running during this era. Whether you like her release or not, it was very effective on the lanes she was bowling on.