Episode
The Bowling Boom and Bust: How A Sports Empire Crumbled
- Podcast
- History of Everything
- Published
- Apr 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1342
- Processing state
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Summary
In the 1960s, bowling wasn't just a sport—it was America's favorite pastime. With over 9.8 million league bowlers, bowling alleys dotted every American town, and professional bowlers were household names. Today, that empire has crumbled to less than 1.2 million league bowlers nationwide. Today, we explore the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of bowling as America's most popular sport. We'll trace bowling's journey from ancient Egyptian origins to its golden age in post-war America, where it became a cultural phenomenon that transcended class, age, and gender barriers. Watch the podcast Fight me at war of the barons Travel to Croatia with me here Travel to Greece with me here Travel to Thailand with me here Check out our sister podcast the Mystery of Everything Coffee Collab With The Lore Lodge COFFEE Bonus episodes as well as ad-free episodes on Patreon. Find us on Instagram. Join us on Discord. Submit your relatives on our website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices