Championship Bowling: Billy Welu vs Vern Downing 1964

Akron, Ohio's Firestone Bowl-A-Rama hosted this iconic television series during the 1964-1965 bowling season. In this installment, the late Billy Welu takes on California's Vern Downing! The two "Freds" are in the broadcast booth calling the action! [Lening and Wolf!]

[@JoeBallard1979]

hey John...Vern Downing was a proshop operator at Lucky Lanes in San Pablo....he drilled my 1st resin ball...teal rhino pro...he was a hell of a nice man

[@jamesfuire9017]

Grew up watching these shows in toledo

[@michaelschweizer4772]

Billy Welu puts a tremendous amount of roll on the ball.

[@multicaruana]

This must have been the only time in the history of televised bowling that the 4-6 was converted, I would submit.

[@barbaradarnell.3802]

Walter Ray Williams Jr made the 4-6-7-10 on TV.

[@TheBatugan77]

​@@barbaradarnell.3802
Which isn't the 4-6.
🫵😡👎

[@irvinklugh8858]

I LOVE THE OLD SHOWS

[@kevinjohnson4599]

I AGREE with you 1,000% because this was when bowling was bowling. Like the NFL, NBA, MLB & MLS the bowling is now CRAP too & isn't worth watching anymore either. LOVE YOUR COMMENT.

[@TheBatugan77]

ME TOO!

[@heesendr]

"Miracle" shot--38:49!

[@TheBatugan77]

As always, the scorekeeper is the silent hero. (heroine?)😂

[@williamdunphy352]

Commentators:
Fred Wolf & Fred Lenning

[@nelsbruseth792]

Fred said that’s the only way to make the 4-6.
I was in a junior league in East Oakland in 1964
and saw the ball barely nick the 6 which then
bounced straight left and nudge the 4.

[@barbaradarnell7376]

We had a gal in our league pick up the 7-9 split that way.Nicked the 9 which fell straight over,bounced a couple times hitting the 7,knocking it over!

[@danaringquist9730]

dr 6-23-23

[@TheBatugan77]

In the year 2525.

[@danaringquist9730]

@@TheBatugan77 ?. I put the date I watched it so I don’t watch it again