Bowling Aces (1949)

1949 film short "Bowling Aces" features trick shot artist Joe Falcaro, one of bowling's early superstars. Check out the pin boys! I love seeing these old bowling lanes and equipment. What a hoot!

[@keithperry6137]

The most surprising moment for me in this video is the flying eagle. I had no idea the trick was that old.

[@keithperry6137]

@steven mckay I love Andy Varipapa videos.

[@sololegit]

Ironically, the young girl at the end threw it far better than anyone else in the film. Wayyyy better.

[@jamvan2k]

She had an excellent form and release.

[@piglitlol]

They did say at 0:57 in that women tend to have better technique and form

[@nicolabentley4643]

Does anyone know who she is? She was great!

[@_1ben]

@@nicolabentley4643 twinkle watts

[@patgalvez4563]

@@nicolabentley4643 Shirley Temple

[@thinkcivil1627]

Some of my youngest memories were watching my father during league play, when pin setters were still used. They stayed out of sight until all the pins stopped moving, allowing a little more time for a pin to fall. Everything was basic and gravity returned the balls. A new, larger bowling complex opened in 60s and only then did I see automatic pin setters. Bowling seemed more popular back then; especially league play.

[@dfo132]

Always a hoot to see the old-timers bowling in long sleeve dress shirts and ties.

[@9sbth]

That little girl at the end was the best!

[@bartthegamer1354]

Earl Smith I know

[@daveconleyportfolio5192]

I like the mom at 7:23, cranking her backswing like Pete Weber. Now that's a real woman!

[@KeithNashRealtor]

Looks like she says " DAMN "

[@agoo7581]

She was the only one who had a decent follow through!

[@wecontrolthevideo]

Yes! She had great form and follow thru at the line.

[@royplayer]

Those special effects are amazing!

[@djarcforceable]

Definitely a cool old video. Love this kind of stuff.

[@markfinn0]

It's not just the bowlers with ties - even the pin boys are wearing them!

[@drbluzer]

I love these bowling trickshots !

[@Banjosplatooie1990]

I love bowling period!!! These vids are awesome!!!

[@mikesoct82484]

I to bowl with special Olympics

[@morgancolton7399]

sorry to be off topic but does someone know a trick to log back into an instagram account? I was dumb forgot my login password. I love any help you can give me.

[@kamdenimran1313]

@Morgan Colton instablaster =)

[@00kt86]

Bowlers would slide a dime down the lane to the pinboy at the end of the game for a tip. Not a bad tip back then, unless you just had your shin cracked by a screaming hardwood missile.

[@bwithrow011]

This is awesome! 1 year after I was born!

[@williamhrivnak7345]

Imagine bringing these people back to see what bowling is like today. Everyone throws big hooks with reactive balls, automatic pinsetters, most scratch bowlers averaging over 200. It would probably look like witchcraft lol

[@peytonbryant5347]

2 handers as well

[@terminat1]

Most scratch bowlers average under 200---well under.

[@williamhrivnak7345]

terminat1 Maybe it depends on where you’re from. Where I live though you have to be averaging at least around 200 to be competitive in scratch leagues. If you’re under 190 then your money is better spent in a handicap league. I live in a pretty crowded area though so maybe it’s a different situation in places where bowling is less popular and there’s less talent.

[@tkool74]

@@terminat1 this is patently false. Most leagues set scratch at 220 or 230. I have a 205 average and get 15-25 pins depending on which league.

[@terminat1]

@@tkool74 I misunderstood what was meant.

[@Cincy_B]

Best video on KZbin. Hands down.

[@willstyron1738]

Thanks so much for posting these videos I love all of them!!! And please post more!!!!

[@christantoytattersalltheuk7431]

Will Styron .

[@davidsullivan7593]

I couldn't help but notice the "Flying Eagle" trick shot (Chris Barnes favorite) along with the 7-10 2-man trick shot that Norm Duke seems to love to perform (at least I think it was him). But what really caught my eye were the old school pin-boys and the long above-ground ball returns. This was a really cool video. Thanks for sharing!

[@whovillekayy]

Ok soooo, This just poped up on my recomended for you in 2020.... Creepy

[@ajoofsmukus2007]

6:50 How could you say something so controversial yet so brave

[@nippy7425]

He’s spitting fax

[@billp4]

Well, you know the father does need to babysit every now and then.

[@ooooscottoooo]

no lane courtesy...lol

[@JS-fe8sx]

I assumed those shots where 10 or 20 people were throwing at once were staged.

[@mrceleb2006]

When WTAE-TV in Pittsburgh did their version of 'Bowling for Dollars' back in the 1970s, the lanes were not automatic...all the pin settings were done by hand backstage!

[@PontusMusik]

I want an Elkskin shoe!

[@vito_keys]

The "flying-eagle" trick had been around since the 1940s. Interesting

[@bottledbeans8809]

the balls only had 2 finger holes

[@dbkparm]

heardcracker productions you simpleton.

[@ruhroh7857]

Thuinder Yeah, just like yer girlfriend

[@chriskelly509]

@@ruhroh7857 there is a 3rd hole hehehe....

[@pentaxel3905]

Varipapa and other geniuses is the OG Trickshots you see in the PBA!

[@stilltlrforlife]

Woner whe the little girl at the end was? She had a great release and balance at the foul line, she had the most modern form.

[@fromthesidelines]

Revised edition of original 1941 film. This was available through Castle's catalogs until 1953.

[@expfighter5112]

man the pins in this video were LOUD!

[@johnseal56]

I'm sure they were dubbed, yet still an authentic sound. Solid wood, man.

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

@@johnseal56 -- Sound was recorded along with the film, usually on a secondary recorder and synched back up in post-production. Not that different from today, except nowadays we do it digitally.

[@chunkymunkey9182]

Yea i think they played the same pin sound every time someone got a strike.

[@jimfair3215]

Love the guy standing at the end of the alley ready to set up the pins after they fall... Lol

[@Octolicia]

It was another era. One job that disappeared after Brunswick launchesd the automatic pinsetter system.

[@marbleracingstudios9552]

When Bowling Brooklyn is a trickshot Uhhh I do that at least 10 times every tournament

[@calvinmessick9406]

Hey 2 handed bowling in 1949

[@patgalvez4563]

7:39 sweet!

[@treeman2660]

3:10 astoundingly accurate BROOKLYN 😂

[@piddles11]

I always wear a long sleeve button down shirt, dress slacks and a tie when I bowl

[@pinbolosboliches346]

GREAT!! 🎳👏👏👏

[@Zoomer30]

Even the pinfall sounded different back then.

[@billwarren3701]

Old pins were different didn’t have hollow bottom keeping center of balance lower. They bounced up instead of falling down and spinning like modern pins.

[@WillCMay]

8:28 that's me when I get a strike. And the bowling alley where I bowl is older than this video, still has the ball return above the lanes.

[@happytappyslappy]

Must’ve sucked being the pin boy back then... before the automatic pin setter machines took over.

[@chunkymunkey9182]

I bet. Wonder how many pin boys got hit by a flying pin lol.

[@Mage_Nichlas_]

That little girl's got a better form than I do.

[@JamesFerret]

I’d hate to know what the bowling display animations were-probably done on a flip book. 😆

[@msnow22000]

Mark it ZERO!

[@_1ben]

the little girl at the end really surprised me, great delivery, form and balance for a "kegler"

[@dept2]

She's TWINKLE WATTS - look up her name - champion Ice Skater & Bowler

[@_1ben]

@dept2 Wow! She was great, you know a piece of history, I passed it on, thanks

[@ChristianClayton2000]

1:54 Flying Eagle

[@Renville80]

Christian Clayton I had no idea that trick shot was that old!

[@ChristianClayton2000]

@@Renville80 that's where Chris Barnes must have gotten it from!

[@kenparr9666]

@@ChristianClayton2000 munson

[@finishstrongdoc]

Sporty ties.

[@H0TWHEELS]

Anyone else just want to yeet it real hard and hit all those pins above the lanes

[@Hexstared]

Hey niko it’s your cousin, lets go bowling.

[@johnbecker9242]

No automatic pin setters.

[@oldschoolsinger]

"Tall or short, thin or fat....." He sure as hell wouldn't have been able to say that these days.

[@cameronnorris7089]

Thats the truth. Sad

[@douglasharris5216]

Tall or short, fat or fatter...

[@haliwud24]

wow CGI started early. 5:33 no way that 10 pin fell on its own lol.

[@steveboone1498]

Actually the pin hit the ten pin enough to topple it

[@darklordojeda]

7:40 wowza.

[@lars9168]

indeed

[@vetteguy1647]

Lou Campi at 0:20.

[@daveluttinen2547]

I wondered if anyone else noticed him.

[@vetteguy1647]

@@daveluttinen2547 I wonder if anyone searched Lou Campi on KZbin to see what we’re talking about. I remember the old bowling shows with “Wrong foot Lou”.

[@daveluttinen2547]

@@vetteguy1647 In spite of his odd approach, he was a competitive bowler. I grew up watching Championship Bowling and was glued to the television when it was on.

[@johnseal56]

So who was first? Joe Falcaro or Andy Varipapa? I was under the impression that Varipapa was the trick shooter back then, but here's this gent I've never heard of.

[@ruhroh7857]

John Seal Are you kidding? This Joe Falcaro is a phony piece of shit who can't even deliver a decent stike. He's an absolute fake & a joke. No comparison to Andy Varipapa (not a great fan of either).

[@H0TWHEELS]

4:55 I tried this and they kicked me out 😆

[@colby7703]

Are these rubber bowling balld

[@JS-fe8sx]

Probably hard rubber, I still have a “Manhattan Rubber” brand bowing ball I occasionally use. It’s several decades old.

[@aidan-io4kj]

love how the “master” barely made it but all the girls are just mothers who need a past time but are way better

[@brenthildenbrand7556]

I got a semi at 1:05

[@johnseal56]

1:03 Missed the headpin

[@johnseal56]

3:53 "...especially if it's the ten-pin that's left." *Shows 9 pin standing*

[@johnseal56]

7:41 That was a foul, no score recorded for that roll

[@mollies13]

Tricksshot was long before the 2000???

[@michaelworcester3081]

Amazing they have no bowling etiquette for waiting on the lanes next to them. They all just plow ahead at once.....

[@johnsouthard8673]

Joseph southard

[@wecontrolthevideo]

Two finger full grip can’t be that easy to hold. Also it looks like there is no targeting arrows on the lanes either.

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

The targeting arrows (and the dots a few feet beyond the foul line and the dots at the foul line and at the back of the approach -- aka, the "rangefinder system") wasn't added until years later. Nobody had 'em back in the day. You just had to pick out a dark board and aim at that. And since every lane was different, those dark boards could have been most anywhere.

[@kevinrussell5099]

That's actually false. There's another video here on KZbin from 1947 that shows the range finder system and how to use it. The lanes on this video are much older though, not having mechanical pinsetters is proof of that, where the 1947 video had them, so these lanes would likely not have arrows.

[@Dan-oi4kt]

Don't need all the weight blocks and fancy coverstocks to be a great bowler

[@reiddylans8895]

Plenty of English on the ball to get it to perform?

[@lars9168]

1:02 bruuh

[@paulshobbyshop5416]

They have absolutely no follow through lol

[@chunkymunkey9182]

I dont know, that girl at the end had really good form and follow though i think.

[@garla5851]

I Guess most didn’t believe in actual “ follow through “ in the old days. 🙄

[@chunkymunkey9182]

Little girl at end of clip: "Hold my kool-aid" :P

[@twopapitas9667]

Man just about everyone in this video is probably dead

[@terminat1]

Humans are mortal.

[@salvation4all313]

@@terminat1 ... Jesus said, "I am telling you the truth, whoever believes in me has eternal life." (John 6:47) Immortality! Awesome isn't it!

[@terminat1]

@@salvation4all313 Ultimately, mortality has to do with how one relates to God. If a person is saved, then they have an immortal soul. Their body is presently mortal, but will be given eternal life on the last day.

[@johnflaherty9945]

Ummmmm HELL YEA... pins are falling with no hit

[@flint9889]

When america was owned by america.

[@teejay6063]

Lmfao

[@FukChina78]

19 year old young lady? 19 year old girl more like it

[@benwalker843]

Nothing cool about this video, knowing what took place behind the scene to make bowling Quick and possible.

[@user-ss5mn2ip3h]

0:52同時投球すんなｗｗｗ

[@randomgaming667]

Woahhhh look at all those black people having fun

[@donaldblankenship-ph1un]

There's a guy with a tie, because he knows it's on camera. The real pin setters were all 15-17 years old. You'd be a laughing stock if that's how you made money into your 20s. These bowlers were deadly serious. It was also the best place to meet someone to have sex with. More split ups and divorces originated in bowling alleys than in courtrooms. Also, I find it fascinating that a person stood down at the end of the alleys. When I was 12, I would have wiped em out accidentally. I never got into the culture. Mostly because the bowling alleys and your club demanded in no uncertain fashion that you pay dues or they'll burn your house down and murder your children.

[@ruhroh7857]

Joel Falcaro? Joe Falcaro? Whatever, the guy's a friggin joke! No sense of "follow-through" at all, just watch his arm flailing around after the delivery. Not even the slightest clue of what he's doing. Shooting for the 1-3 pocket means a Brooklyn for this sap! I spit upon his grave as a "professional" bowler. If he was ever able to complete a "trick shot," it was only by dogged determination in terms of repetition & a faithful camera crew.

[@dirklerxstpratt2112]

I think you meant the 1-2 pocket is Brooklyn for the righty.

[@ruhroh7857]

@@dirklerxstpratt2112 No, what I meant was this guy's accuracy was so poor that when he goes for the 1-3, he hits the 1-2.

[@joshuanewcombe8454]

William Hardwick was the father of modern bowling as we know it.

[@JS-fe8sx]

You still see this from time to time in modern pro bowlers.@@ruhroh7857