The Bowling Boom and Bust: How A Sports Empire Crumbled

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.

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