Who invented Bowling?

Summary

Episode Summary: "Who Invented Bowling?"
Podcast: Who Smarted? - Educational Podcast for Kids
Release Date: June 27, 2025

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Introduction

In the "Who Invented Bowling?" episode of Who Smarted?, hosts Trusty and Bolina embark on an engaging journey to explore the origins, rules, and evolution of the beloved sport of bowling. Through a blend of humor, interactive questions, and fascinating historical insights, the episode captivates young listeners while imparting valuable knowledge about this popular pastime.

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Understanding the Basics of Bowling

The episode begins with Trusty posing a clever analogy between baseball strikes and bowling strikes, setting the stage for an interactive discussion.

• Interactive Quiz on Bowling Rules:
  Trusty asks listeners to identify key aspects of bowling, such as the number of pins and frames in a game.

  Trusty [04:40]: "Smarty pants, any ideas? Is it 9, 10, or 12?"

  Donnie [04:46]: "While 9 pin used to be the most popular version, these days most people play with 10 pins."

  The hosts explain that a standard bowling game consists of ten pins and ten frames, with players having two chances per frame to knock down all pins.

• Strikes and Spares Explained:
  A playful trick question by Donnie clarifies the difference between a strike and a spare.

  Trusty [05:30]: "Donnie, why would you do that?"

  Donnie [05:32]: "I just wanted to see how good they were paying attention... If you get them all down on your second roll, that's called a spare."

  The duo emphasizes that both strikes and spares can earn players extra points, enhancing the strategic aspect of the game.

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The Rich History of Bowling

Transitioning from the basics, Trusty and Bolina delve into the historical roots of bowling, uncovering its ancient beginnings and cultural significance.

• Ancient Origins:
  Bolina uses a "magic crystal ball" to transport listeners back to ancient Egypt, revealing archaeological findings.

  Trusty [07:03]: "But why was it called bowling? Did they use actual bowls to throw at the pins?"

  Bolina [07:11]: "Inside the tomb of an ancient Egyptian buried over 5,000 years ago, anthropologists discovered nine stone pins and a ball."

  This discovery suggests that bowling-like games have been enjoyed for millennia, highlighting its enduring appeal.

• Bowling in Ancient Germany:
  The conversation shifts to ancient Germany, where bowling served as a religious ceremony.

  Bolina [08:38]: "Bowling back then was actually a religious ceremony. Ancient Germans would place a club called a kegel at the end of a long Runway, similar to our modern lanes, and they'd try to hit the kegel with a ball."

  Successfully knocking down the kegel was believed to grant forgiveness for sins, underscoring the game's spiritual significance.

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Evolution to 10-Pin Bowling in America

The episode traces bowling's transformation from a sacred ritual to a popular recreational activity, particularly in the United States.

• From 9-Pin to 10-Pin Bowling:
  Bolina narrates how legal restrictions influenced the shift from nine-pin to ten-pin bowling in America.

  Trusty [10:08]: "Any guess what that publication was? Was it A, the Great American Book of Games, B, the biography of Thomas Jefferson, or C, Rip Van Winkle?"

  Bolina [10:18]: "The answer is C, Rip van Winkle by Washington Irving... By the late 1800s, tenpin bowling took over and today it's the most popular kind."

  The transition was partly due to Connecticut's ban on nine-pin bowling, prompting bowlers to adopt a ten-pin format to continue enjoying the sport.

• Modern Bowling Culture:
  Today, bowling is associated with family fun, social gatherings, and festive atmospheres rather than its historical ties to gambling and crime.

  Trusty [11:32]: "But today, bowling is also more associated with birthday parties, glowing lights and music than crime."

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The Importance of Bowling Shoes

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to explaining why specialized bowling shoes are essential, enhancing both performance and lane maintenance.

• Functionality of Bowling Shoes:
  Bolina elucidates the practical reasons behind using bowling-specific footwear.

  Bolina [15:11]: "Because bowling shoes keep the polished lanes free from outside dirt. Plus, they're better for bowling."

  Bolina [15:22]: "You want to slide when you bowl so you can easily roll the ball down the lane... With bowling shoes, you can glide into your release of the ball."

  The rubber soles allow bowlers to slide smoothly during their approach and stop reliably after releasing the ball, which standard sneakers cannot provide.

• Distinctive Designs:
  The bright and varied colors of bowling shoes serve both functional and security purposes.

  Bolina [16:13]: "They stick out. Chances are nobody's going to steal a pair of bowling shoes or accidentally walk out of an alley with them on."

  This unique appearance helps prevent mix-ups and theft, ensuring that players always have the correct footwear for their game.

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up by recapping the fascinating journey of bowling from ancient civilizations to its current status as a beloved sport worldwide. Trusty and Bolina effectively blend educational content with humor and interactivity, making the history and mechanics of bowling both informative and entertaining for young listeners.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Trusty [04:40]: "Smarty pants, any ideas? Is it 9, 10, or 12?"

• Donnie [04:46]: "While 9 pin used to be the most popular version, these days most people play with 10 pins."

• Trusty [05:30]: "Donnie, why would you do that?"

• Donnie [05:32]: "...If you get them all down on your second roll, that's called a spare."

• Bolina [07:11]: "Inside the tomb of an ancient Egyptian buried over 5,000 years ago, anthropologists discovered nine stone pins and a ball."

• Bolina [08:38]: "Bowling back then was actually a religious ceremony."

• Bolina [15:22]: "You want to slide when you bowl so you can easily roll the ball down the lane."

• Bolina [16:13]: "They stick out. Chances are nobody's going to steal a pair of bowling shoes or accidentally walk out of an alley with them on."

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Credits

This episode was written by Dave Bolarama Beaudry and voiced by Charlotte Queenpin Cohn, Jason Wombat Williams, Adam Strikes Davis, Max Kingpin Kamasky, and Jerry Bolamat Kolber. Technical direction and sound design were handled by Josh Headpin Hahn at the Relic Room Studios. Associate Producer Max Kamasky contributed to the production, with the theme song by Brian Brian Spare Suarez and lyrics by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted? is created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert under Atomic Entertainment.

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This summary provides an overview of the episode's educational content on bowling, highlighting key discussions and historical insights presented in an engaging and structured manner.

Transcript

[Trusty]

Hey, smarty pants, quick sports question for you. In baseball, if you're up at bat and you swing and miss, it's called what? Strike. Right, A strike. And if you get three strikes, what happens? You're out. Yep, you'd be out. Unfortunately, I was pretty good at getting strikes. You're out. If only there was a game where getting a strike was a good thing and getting, say, 12 strikes was perfect. Smarty pants, can you think of such a game?

[Donnie]

Hey, way to go, trusty. That's another strike. You're on fire today.

[Trusty]

You could say I'm on a roll. Smartypants, did you say bowling is a sport where getting a strike is a good thing? Nice job if you did. I'm guessing some of you smarty pants have gone bowling before. Maybe for a birthday party or a play date or a fun way to spend a rainy day. Hey, how would you like to join me and my friend Donnie Trusty?

[Donnie]

I don't think all those smarty pants can fit on one lane.

[Trusty]

Good point, Donnie. I'll go to the front desk and rent out a few more lanes. Come on, smarty pants. We'll get you set up on your own lane with your own bowling ball and some bowling shoes. Um, excuse me, ma' am. Yes, we'd like to.

[Bolina]

Let me guess. Your bowling ball got stuck in the gutter. No, it got stuck in the machine.

[Trusty]

Nope.

[Bolina]

Oh, I know you need new bowling shoes because I accidentally gave you two left shoes earlier.

[Trusty]

No, but now that you mention it, my foot does feel weird. But I'm bowling so well today, I'd hate to change anything.

[Bolina]

Ah, I know you want to learn all about bowling. Like, how did it start? Why do you need funny shoes? How did bowling go from being a religious ceremony to an illegal activity? And why it's called bowling when you don't use bowls to play.

[Trusty]

Actually, I was going to ask you if I could rent some more lanes, but Ms. Smartypants and I are definitely curious about all those things.

[Bolina]

Great. Play the song and let's get started.

[Trusty]

Get ready to be bowled over with another whiff of science and history on who Smarted? Who's smarted? Who's smart? Is it you? Is it me? Is it science or history? Listen up, everyone. We make smarting lots of fun, but who's smarted? Psst. Hey, Smartypants. You know how much we love sharing super cool facts here on who's Smarted, right? Well, I've got another super cool fact for you. The podcast Snoop and Sniffy is absolutely awesome. Now get this Snoop and Sniffy are these brilliant dog detectives who help kids like you level up your sleuthing skills. We're talking problem solving, deductive reasoning, the whole nine yards. And they do it by going on the most hilarious crime solving adventures you've ever heard. One day they're meeting Magic Cockapoos. Magic Cockapoo, Smarty Pants. The next, they're rumbling with something called the Barking Bandit. They explore ghost trains. They time travel. I mean, there is never a dull mystery with these two furry detectives. So here's what I want you to do. Help everyone's favorite dog detectives crack their cases each week by listening to Snoop and Sniffy. You can find them on Apple, Spotify, @gokidgo.com or wherever you you get your podcasts. Trust me on this one, smarty pants. Your brain is going to love the workout on Snoop and Sniffy. Smarty Pants, if you like to bowl, you're not alone. By some estimates, bowling is enjoyed by as many as 120 million people in more than 90 countries. But even if the sport itself is not your thing, you can still enjoy hanging out with family and friends down at the bowling lanes. And of course, wearing funny shoes.

[Bolina]

Is this where I tell you why you wear those funny shoes?

[Trusty]

Not just yet, Bowlina. First, let's see how much the smarty pants know about bowling. Hey, Donnie, wanna help walk us through a typical game?

[Donnie]

Sure thing, Trusty. Okay, smarty pants, the way it works is this. You and whoever you're bowling with each take turns rolling a heavy round ball down a long, narrow lane, trying to hit objects called pins standing at the very end. But you got to avoid the sides of the lane called gutters. A gutter ball won't hit any pins. Now, first question. How many pins are in the most popular version of bowling?

[Trusty]

Smarty pants, any ideas? Is it 9, 10, or 12?

[Donnie]

While 9 pin used to be the most popular version, these days most people play with 10 pins. Now you actually get two chances to knock over the same 10 pins. After that, the pins are reset every time you step up to face a new set of pins. That's what's called a frame. Can you guess how many frames there are in a bowling game?

[Trusty]

Take a guess. Is it 6, 8, or 10?

[Donnie]

Once again, the answer is 10. Now, like I said, you get two chances to knock down all the pins in each frame. Now, true or false, if you knock down all the pins with your second roll in a frame, that's called a strike. Smarty pants, what do you think the answer Is false. I tricked you, smarty pants.

[Trusty]

Donnie, why would you do that?

[Donnie]

I just wanted to see how good they were paying attention. See, it's only called a strike if you knock down all the pins with your first roll. If you get them all down on your second roll, that's called.

[Trusty]

What did you say? A spare, smarty pants. Nice. And both. A strike or spare can get you extra points.

[Donnie]

That's right. Most times, knocking down a pin will get you one point. But if you roll a strike or spare, you get extra points for the next frame you bowl. But for many people, it's not really about your score. It's about having fun. Not me. I'm all about my score.

[Trusty]

Um, didn't you just roll a 68?

[Donnie]

I'm working on my form. Anyway, it's your turn to go, trusty, so hurry it up.

[Trusty]

Coming. But first, I have to know where bowling started. Bolina.

[Bolina]

Yes? I will show you. Look into my magic crystal ball and tell me what you see.

[Trusty]

Um, that's not crystal. It's just a regular green bowling ball made of rubber, polyester, or urethane. And all I see is three holes for gripping the ball.

[Bolina]

You're not seeing any images?

[Trusty]

Uh, no.

[Bolina]

Fine. Just close your eyes and think of ancient Egypt.

[Trusty]

Ancient Egypt?

[Bolina]

Shh. Do as I say. Good. Now think of a desert. And in this desert sits a pyramid. Only this pyramid's sides are flat, not stepped.

[Trusty]

Okay, I'm picturing a flat desert pyramid in ancient Egypt. But what does this have to do with bowling?

[Bolina]

Believe it or not, inside the tomb of an ancient Egyptian lies a treasure. A bowling treasure.

[Trusty]

Ancient bowling shoes.

[Bolina]

Nope, not the shoes, but rather bowling itself. Inside the tomb of an ancient Egyptian buried over 5,000 years ago, anthropologists discovered nine stone pins and a ball. Do you know what this means?

[Trusty]

Ancient Egyptian sandals work as bowling shoes.

[Bolina]

Yes, yes, that, and bowling has been around since ancient times. And ancient Polynesians and Romans also had versions of the game. Nice throw, Strikus Maximus.

[Trusty]

Wow. But why was it called bowling? Did they use actual bowls to throw at the pins?

[Bolina]

No. No bowls. However, the Latin word bulla means round thing. So bowl in this case, doesn't mean the dish. It actually comes from a word meaning ball. Now close your eyes and picture Germany around the year 300.

[Trusty]

Uh, my imagination isn't that good. Let's use my teleportation app instead. Hey, look. People are bowling. But that doesn't look like a bowling alley. It looks like a church.

[Bolina]

Ah, yes. Bowling back then was actually a religious ceremony. Ancient Germans would place a club called a kegel at the end of a long Runway, similar to our modern lanes, and they'd try to hit the kegel with a ball. They believed any person able to knock down the kegel would be forgiven of all sins and wrongdoings.

[Trusty]

Just one Kegel.

[Bolina]

Or 17.

[Trusty]

17.

[Bolina]

Over time, people played with any number of pins, even as many as 17. In the 1500s, a famous religious leader named Martin Luther is said to have set the number of pins at nine. But by then, bowling was no longer a religious ceremony. Martin Luther simply enjoyed playing and he built a lane for his children. That's when ninepin became the most popular type of bowling.

[Trusty]

But today, Most lanes have 10 pins.

[Bolina]

Yes, today 10 pin bowling is most popular. And you know which country is to blame for that, smarty pants.

[Trusty]

Any guesses? If you guessed the United States of America, you're right.

[Bolina]

Uh huh. But we must go back in time to before the Statue of Liberty was even made. For Bolling's arrival in America. Nobody quite knows when immigrants brought Bolling here, but a publication from around 1820 contains the earliest known reference to bowling in the U.S. smarty pants.

[Trusty]

Any guess what that publication was? Was it A, the Great American Book of Games, B, the biography of Thomas Jefferson, or C, Rip Van Winkle?

[Bolina]

The answer is C, Rip van Winkle by Washington Irving. At the time of that book, Boeing was becoming very popular in America, but it was still the nine pin kind. See.

[Trusty]

I see. I also see a lot of people exchanging money.

[Bolina]

Ah yes. The sport that had started as a religious ceremony broke bad in America. Bowling became known for gambling and crime. So the state of Connecticut tried to do something about it. They made nine pin lanes illegal. No more nine pin bowling was allowed.

[Trusty]

Smarty pants. What do you think happened next? Did bowlers give up?

[Bolina]

The actual history is a bit fuzzy, but according to legend, to get around the ban on nine pin bowling, bowlers simply decided to bowl with ten pins. By the late 1800s, tenpin bowling took over and today it's the most popular kind. Today, bowling is also more associated with birthday parties, glowing lights and music then crime.

[Trusty]

Oh, that reminds me. Can I rent some extra lanes for the smarty pants?

[Bolina]

Of course. How many shoes do you need?

[Trusty]

Um, why can't they just wear the sneakers and shoes that they have on now?

[Bolina]

There's a good reason.

[Trusty]

Great. You can tell me right after this quick break. Hey friends. Trusty here now. You know the only thing I love more than adventure is not going on an adventure and hanging in my backyard eating pizza. With Chet and the Woah girl.

[Bolina]

Whoa.

[Trusty]

And. And there's something magical about finally making your space feel like yours. For me, it started with chairs. I used Wayfair to find the perfect chairs for my backyard. Stylish, affordable, and honestly, way more comfortable than I expected. And that's the thing about Wayfair. It's not just a place to buy furniture. It's a one stop shop for creating the home that you've been dreaming about. Whether you're sprucing up your patio, planning backyard hangouts, or just upgrading your morning coffee spot, Wayfair has everything. Dining sets, lounge chairs, fire pits, string lights, you name it. Plus, the shopping experience is super easy. And they even have free shipping on the big stuff. So this summer, make your space your oasis. You and your family deserve your own little Paradise. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop a huge outdoor selection that's W a Y F A I R.com Wayfair Every style, every home. Hey, smarty. Friends trusty here. I grew up on the Smurfs Saturday mornings, cereal in hand, glued to the screen. So yeah, I cannot wait for this. Smurfs is back. And this time it's bigger, bolder, and bursting with magic. Blue magic. When Papa Smurf is taken by two seriously evil wizards, it's up to Smurfette, voiced by Rihanna, to lead the rescue mission into the real world. Along the way, the Smurfs discover that saving the universe means trusting something they've never relied on before. Magic. The music, all new. Rihanna. Cardi B, DJ Khaled. Yes, please. And the cast is stacked. James Corden, Danielle Levy, Sandra oh. Octavia Spencer, Kurt Russell, John Goodman. Honestly, it's wild. It's got everything. Laughs, heart, music, and that classic Smurf spirit that I've loved forever. It's perfect for the whole family. Or anyone who remembers what it felt like to believe in a little blue world full of hope. Just like I did. Smurfs hits theaters July 18th. I'll be there. Hope you will too.

[Adam Gidwitz]

Hi, I'm Adam Gidwitz, host of Grim Grimmer Grimmest. On every episode, we tell a grim fairy tale. Not the cute, sweet versions of the fairy tales that your children have heard so many times. No, we tell the real grim fairy tales. They're funny, they're weird. Sometimes they're a little bit scary. But don't worry, we rate every episode Grim, Grimmer, or Grimmest. So you, your child, your family can choose the episode that's the right level of scary for you. Tune in to Grim, Grimmer, Grimmest, and our new season available now.

[Trusty]

So, Smarty pants, now that you know that bowling began in ancient times, was once a religious ceremony, and then became legal before turning into the fun game it is today, there's still one burning question. What's up with the funny looking bowling shoes? Why can't we just use our own sneakers?

[Bolina]

Because bowling shoes keep the polished lanes free from outside dirt. Plus, they're better for bowling.

[Trusty]

Really? How so?

[Bolina]

Tell me this. When you lug a heavy ball weighing between 6 and 16 pounds, or 2.7 to 7.2 kilograms toward the lane, do you want your shoes to be slippery?

[Trusty]

Smarty pants, what do you think? I don't want to fall, so I'm guessing no.

[Bolina]

Ah, but the answer is yes. You want to slide when you bow so you can easily roll the ball down the lane. Your sneakers have treads underneath which create friction to help you walk outside without slipping. But they might make you stop short or trip wide while bowling. With bowling shoes, you can glide into your release of the ball. However, the heel of a bowling shoe is usually made of rubber, which helps you stop after you release the ball so you don't slide out onto the lane.

[Trusty]

Okay, but what about the crazy designs and colors?

[Bolina]

There are many theories as to why bowling shoes have different colors, but one thing's for certain, they stick out. Chances are nobody's going to steal a pair of bowling shoes or or accidentally walk out of an alley with them on. You won't mistake them for your regular shoes.

[Donnie]

Hey, narrator. We bowling or what?

[Trusty]

Alright, smarty pants. Let's all strike out a double shout out to super Smarty fans Grayson and Moose in Mooresville, North Carolina. We hear you love who's Smarty because it's fun and helps you learn new things. Sounds like you're bowling for knowledge. You two keep on laughing and learning, smarty pants. This episode, Bowling was written by Dave Bolarama Beaudry and voiced by Charlotte Queenpin Cohn, Jason Wombat Williams, Adam Strikes Davis, Max Kingpin Kamasky and Jerry Bolamat Kolber. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Headpin Hahn who Smarted is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Brian Spare Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who's Smarter was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Lindy Sperling.