Candlepins for Cash - Part 1

[@anthrocoon]

Bob "Two Beer" Gamere... "He'd be drinking all day in a bar then scribble a bunch of notes on a napkin and go on to do a flawless sportscast"--Howie Carr

[@markg6605]

This brings back memories. I was a CPA, who audited the books of the station. I remember when reviewing the bank account related to this show, there were many small old outstanding checks. The reason was that contestants wanted to save the checks as souvenirs and didn't want to cash them. These checks were typically a small amount because it was based on how many pins were knocked down. So funny.

[@iSNARK]

First contestant: "I've been to every continent in Asia."
BMP

[@pokeryfoosy]

"I could tell you about every continent in Asia..."

[@bobbyb7979]

Was he in the kentucky fried movie?

[@jyesucevitz]

I haven't seen or heard him since then and immediately his voice clicked in my head and all the memories came back.

[@jonkline709]

Good old Bob Remember seeing him in Falmouth “Casino By The Sea” he couldn’t tell you what day of the week it was

[@88DreadGT]

Almost all of my favorite shows growing up in the late 70s-early 80s were on WXNE 25 Boston.

[@AdamJ617]

Do you know if they used “Get to Know Us” by TM Productions?

[@tomjon9939]

This is the opening them and animation (except Bowling for Dollars and ten pins instead of Candlepins for Cash and Candlepins) that was used on WKRC in Cincinnati, WLWD (now WDTN) in Dayton, and WTVN (now WSYX) in Columbus.

[@rockvilleraven]

It’s started in Baltimore as Duckpins and Dollars on WBAL in the 1960s. One strike won the jackpot as duckpins is more difficult. Bert Claster Productions who also produced Romper Room came up with this show, it was franchised to other cities as Bowling for Dollars. Mostly tenpins although in Baltimore later on, either duck or tenpin.

[@spottss]

isnt that the same sliding door recycled from Major Mudds set? as a matter of fact I think it was major Mudds cheap set entirely with a bowling alley added in.

[@wxbjfm3455]

It was when it was at Channel 7 and the bowling alley was in the basement and the garage.

[@johnseal56]

Stagecraft is expensive! They'll reuse what they can.

[@spongeworthyvideo]

Thanks for posting this. My dad used to love this show and I had to sit thru it as a kid. Very painful...but now brings back good memories.

[@davestewart2067]

Yep I watched it with my dad too. Saturday afternoon. Can’t remember the channel.

[@mrceleb2006]

This aired on what is now WFXT (Fox 25), which can be received on a few Canadian TV providers, like Bell satellite TV, Bell Aliant FibreOP TV and Eastlink in Atlantic Canada.

[@AssinnippiJack]

Love the peanut gallery! This show was a staple while supper boiled on the stove. They should start it up again... why not?

[@supersaver87]

@LBAC12
Yes...Bob Gamere's recently begun a 5-year prison sentence for distributing child pornography. O.O

[@johnseal56]

The pins look much more curvy than today's. Why did they get straighter?

[@AdamJ617]

I grew up with Candlepins for Cash oin Ch. 25. Two things to note, the animation in the intro appers to be from Dolphin Productions. Second, the announcing voice sounds like the late Chris Clausen, whose other works include WHDH, WBRC, and WPTV.

[@jameskessel5138]

I was on this show, is there anyway I can find or buy my episode?

[@morgan8757]

sometime in the 1980s bob gamere hosted candlepin professional bowlers tour on sportscenter along with fran onorato

[@donaldmikulec4332]

In December of 1977 my friend's dad was on the Channel 7's Big Money show in Boston. I was in the audience with my friend and his brother. We were all yelled at by the show's host for accidentally interfering with that evening's news broadcast.

[@wnychevy09]

That was the same theme that WGR TV 2 used in Buffalo, NY for its version of Bowling For Dollars- a Bert Claster production in the 1970s into the 1980s

[@StukInBuf]

+wnychevy09 WOR-TV, Channel 9 in New York City, also used this theme in the late 70s.

[@rockvilleraven]

+wnychevy09 Bert Claster locally franchised this show in various markets, it started in Baltimore on WBAL as Duckpins and Dollars with the small ball and pins, they later added tenpins and became Bowling for Dollars Claster also came up with Romper Room. Which had the same franching concept.
Other shows like that were Bozo The Clown and Group W's PM/Evening Magazin.

[@wnychevy09]

we also had PM Magazine here in Buffalo from the late 1970s through the 1980s on 2 stations-WIVB Ch4 and WGRZ Ch.2 which was renamed PM Magazine Buffalo. BTW my mom won $9.00 as a Pin Pal in 1977 on Bowling for Dollars

[@rockvilleraven]

Evening Magazine was the name of the show on the Group W owned stations. PM Magazine was the syndicated version on stations like WDVM Channel 9 in Washington, DC.

[@StukInBuf]

The theme and intro are exactly like what WOR-TV in New York had for Larry Kenney's Bowling for Dollars show on Channel 9 about the same time.

[@donaldmikulec4332]

That was back when $1260 was a lot of money.

[@WaltGekko]

If I remember correctly, he was an announcer for the New York Yankees in 1970 (there is a video of opening day against the Red Sox on CZcams that has him listed as one of the voices of that telecast), replaced by Bill White in 1971 to make up the legendary trio with Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer many of us grew up with on Yankees baseball. This basically was other than doing it with one of two New England Bowling traditions (Duckpin bowling being the other) was the same as "Bowling for Dollars" which for years aired in New York on WOR-TV (Channel 9) with first longtime Mets announcer Bob Murphy and later longtime New York country radio air personality Larry Kenney as hosts.

[@elaineanderson8868]

Loved it! I was a bowler to!

[@jack6832]

does anyone remember and/or have footage from the kid's version of this bowling show in boston named "Pinbusters" hosted by Barbara Borin?

[@gymnastix]

Yes, but "Candlepins for Cash" originally aired on the original WNAC-TV, Channel 7 (part of the old RKO-General network of stations), was taped at special lanes built in the basement at 7 Bulfinch Place in Government Center, which I think is still the facilities of the current Channel 7, now the second WHDH-TV (the original having been Chanel 5, now WCVB-TV).

[@Invisibleplqnetsmusic]

My dad was on this show once.

[@gymnastix]

By the way, I was raised in Waltham, MA, so bowled (and played miniature golf) many times at Wal-Lex, where the version of "Candlepins 4 $" in this video was taped.
But more often than not I bowled at the Riverside lanes in Watertown, MA, as my home was in Warrendale, the section of Waltham that borders Watertown.. Do you remember Riverside? Did you ever bowl there or at Wal-Lex?

[@davestewart2067]

Or Sammy Whites? Wasn’t that on Soldier Field Road??

[@natwhite1679]

Waltham was a pretty funky town, back in the day.

[@trinitylancer]

I bowled at Riverside back in the day prior to it closing in September of 1984. I hung there for the better part of 10 years off and on starting in 1974 and bowled in a Merchants League in the early 80's till its closure, then the league moved to Sammy Whites for the remainder of the 1984 season and we did one more season starting in 1985. Sammy Whites closed in 1986. I was on the Swisstronics team, we bowled Friday evening starting at 8 pm. Back in the mid 60's there was a Special at Wal-Lex in the Summer ...Bowling, rental shoes, miniature golf a hotdog and a cold drink all for 99 cents.... Riverside evolved over the years as you know... The Pin Deck Pub took over the addition to the building that was once a restaurant of sorts that didn't pan out, the Billiards room around 1976 and by the early 80's the new arcade room. Before that the machines were against the parking lot wall to the right of the entrance if you were leaving. Not to mention the wonderful snack bar they had there the first 4 years or so, then it became tables and chairs for a period of time before serving food ended. You have great knowledge of Candlepins for Cash and quite accurate! Dad took me to Riverside when it opened in 1962. Prior to that I first learned to bowl at a 2 story bowling alley place in Newton Corner that overlooked the future Mass Pike extension. They must have torn the place down between 1961-1963 as a victim to the Pike. This place was across from the Paramount Theater but a 1/8 mile before it if you were coming from West Newton.

[@nicholassterling8483]

Twice I was in the audience,and appeared on TV, at the Waltham lanes.

[@dagdogg]

WXNE, which this aired on, is now Boston's Fox affiliate, WFXT-TV FOX 25.

[@natwhite1679]

The good old days.

[@GregStein1024]

Look at that crowd

[@1685SMG1]

I was wondering how you got this video? My father won a car in 1980 on Candlepins for Cash and I would LOVE to find the video of that!

[@LBAC12]

I remember this show from when I was a kid. Brings back memories. Wasn't Bob Gameer arrested for something pretty bad?

[@jeffreyrichardson]

child pornography...

[@DeAngeloStevens]

@AdamJ617 I used to hear Chris Clausen voice of WBRC during ABC era

[@louistenore2185]

We called it bowling for Dollars

[@nellsstuff2.052]

Wal-Lex... yet another memory bulldozed away... (sigh)...

[@pllundgren]

So...I have to ask. How did you get this video? My mother was on this show many, many years ago and my grandmother, sisters, brother and I were in the audience and as I recall had some significant camera time. My mother passed away in 1981 and my brother in 1984. My grandmother also passed several years ago at age 91 (a LIFETIME candlepin bowler I might add!!) and I would love to find our video so I could see them again!

[@pllundgren]

10 years later, I'd still love to know how you got this video! :)

[@spongeworthyvideo]

@supersaver87 He did? Oh..that's sad. I remember he was in some incident in the Fens....actually I think he was drunk and got stabbed. so sad...he could have had a good career.

[@morgan8757]

this had to be from the 1981-1982 season

[@trivet1970]

November the 13th was a Friday in 1981.

[@snuffereet]

goodness sakes, i loved this show to death as a kid, but Bob Gamere... man was he drunk on EVERY show???? He seems more wasted than Brett Somers on Match Game...

[@drummer78]

"I could tell you about every continent in Asia".

[@johnseal56]

Oh well. Heh.

[@gymnastix]

@spongeworthyvideo Yes, as may be seen, Gamere was a good-looking guy with charisma. I once saw him at the Brockton Fair with, I guess (I hope), his own kids, eating an ice cream cone, back in the 1970s, when he was at the very peak of his career as the main sports anchor of (and host of the original "Candlepins For Cash" that aired weekdays on) WNAC, Channel 7 in Boston.

[@gymnastix]

@spongeworthyvideo These later incidents of Gamere's just didn't mesh with the image I originally had of the respected TV sports announcer, and family man eating ice cream with his kids at a summer fair. It is bordering on tragic what happened to Gamere. But he evidently made his own bed, and may therefore, as the adage goes . . .

[@stephenforgione1312]

How can i. Find a bowler that was on show his name Ottavio Serra Revere help me please

[@4EyedAnimation]

I had a shirt like John H...I threw it away

[@mr2del]

sad but true. it shocked me good.

[@jeffreyrichardson]

Brothers Security Doug Brothers President

[@Tralfaz666]

hey Bob... Gamere!

[@gymnastix]

@spongeworthyvideo But, several years later, I saw Gamere at a Boston nightclub, high as a kite. I also heard, from a friend, Gamere was in attendance at this party hosted by a notoriously famous drag queen associated with artist/scene-maker Andy Warhol and rock singer Lou Reed.

[@utube9000]

To all you hyper-sensitive race baiters below (Robert Goldman, syoung0924,etc) I would only ask- "How was the host being insensitive?" Let's review exactly what was said:
1) The host asks where the bowler is from (this is a standard question on the show, everyone is asked that)
2) The guest states that he's from California- but that he was born in Korea.
3) The host asks "Whereabouts in Korea?"
4) The guest says "Seoul" and the host says "The capital city right?"
5) The hosts then asks him how long he's been in America and "where else have you been?"
6) The guest says he's been all over Asia and the host asks him what styles of bowling are played in Asia. He then proceeds to praise the guest for his excellent bowling.
Now, WHAT THE F**K is wrong with that? The host is never offensive in any way whatsoever, he's simply asking standard questions that he would ask of anyone! He's showing interest in the man's background and experience which is actually a RESPECTFUL thing.
I believe that people like Ron Goldman and Syoung0924 below who are constantly scanning for racism are the REAL racists and in my experience, they are almost always liberals seeking ways to use racism (wether real or imagined) as a political wedge.

[@tomjon9939]

utube9000 Amen!

[@rf396]

Bob Gamere was too busy gambling to be a racist

[@770WT]

Do you push politics every 24/7 Why so uptight ? Trump sucks by the way !

[@770WT]

What about idiotic comment . You just don't get it .

[@zacheryalderton6741]

I love travel agents too

[@dunskie]

Every continent in Asia? Isn't Asia one continent?
Man, I am flashing back to watching this during supper at my grandparent's house back in the day. Thanks for posting.

[@danielmcmahon9930]

Episode with Carol diddy

[@Gemelli2906]

Is there any way to find an episode? My dad was on the show. He recently passed and thought of this show.

[@morgan8757]

i'll tell you what they have in Haiti voodoo

[@josephrobertvanderhoff]

WHO PUT THIS TRAIN WRECK TOGETHER ? YOU NEED WORK 😂😂😂😂

[@tommynesbitt4837]

4:46 a bold question during the Reagan administration

[@zacheryalderton9502]

Who is the announcer

[@robphilll22]

I can't believe Bob worked for the Yankees for one season.Terrible and awkward interviewer.

[@WaltGekko]

Replaced by Bill White in 1971, who with Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer made up the legendary Yankees announce team that did games on WPIX-TV (Channel 11) in New York for most of the 1970's and '80s.

[@zacheryalderton7721]

WHO IS THE ANNOUNCER

[@jeffreyrichardson]

Laurie Anne Richardson?

[@morgan8757]

who would want to go to haiti today not me

[@jeffreyrichardson]

carmen carbone
marks doris abalone
t and cs tony

[@syoung0924]

"How long have you been in this country"? "Do you like our food"? Use to watch this back in the day with my parents never realized how racial it was

[@robphilll22]

What an horrible interview. Why didn't he ask him if eats american food?

[@jeffreyrichardson]

dougs lit winston
evinrudes metal piston
mike welchs kristen

[@jeffreyrichardson]

single moms chagrin
hao chens rib eye chen brecht tim
carl westermans kin

[@bobbyb7979]

I remember this, what a stupid show that was!

[@MrDownslider]

This is the WORST production in the history of television.

[@jeffreyrichardson]

chens moms tired feet
robert stones thanksgiving treat
nicks licked hairless teat

[@jeffreyrichardson]

mary d stone school
welch future natonal pool
jean brothers sucks drool

[@jeffreyrichardson]

scotts bikes missing link
brothers securitys ink
cherelles childrens rink

[@zacheryalderton6741]

Who is the announcer