Make That Spare
Encyclopedia
Make That Spare was a fifteen-minute bowling
program that aired on ABC
from October 8, 1960 to June 30, 1962 and again from October 6, 1962 to September 11, 1964.
The series was hosted by bowling legend Johnny Johnston in all but the 1961-1962 season, where Win Elliot
hosted.
and Nelson Burton Jr.
as the commentators, prior to ABC's long-running Saturday afternoon series Pro Bowlers Tour
.
The program always followed the "Friday Night Fights", hosted by the legendary Don Dunphy. The Friday Night Fights were broadcast on WABC, Channel 7 in New York City, beginning at 10:00 P.M. Most Fridays, the fights would last until 10:45 P.M. It was in that brief time slot that ABC chose to air "Make That Spare". If the fights ran into overtime, Make That Spare was preempted. The program was broadcast live from Paramus Lanes in Paramus, New Jersey.
The show pitted two professional bowlers against one another. Each bowler was given a series of spares and splits to attempt to convert; as the bowlers progressed, the spares and splits became more challenging.
The first was "double wood", the 2-8. Next was "the close line", the 1-2-4-7. Next was "the bucket", the 2-4-5-8. The third was the first "baby split", the 1-6. Next in line was the "steam fitter", 4-5-7. Next to the last was the very complex, 4-6-7-10. The last split was the most famous...
Professional bowler, Don Carter made history on October 28, 1961 On that evening, Don became the first to convert the 6-7-8-10. For his efforts, he was rewarded with the grand prize of $18,000.
Monroe Moore also made the 6-7-8-10 spare and held the record by winning nine weeks in a row.
Bowling
Bowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
program that aired on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
from October 8, 1960 to June 30, 1962 and again from October 6, 1962 to September 11, 1964.
The series was hosted by bowling legend Johnny Johnston in all but the 1961-1962 season, where Win Elliot
Win Elliot
Win Elliot, was an American television and radio sportscaster and game show host who was best-known for his long tenures as a play-by-play broadcaster of NHL New York Rangers and NBA New York Knicks games and host of Sports Central USA on the CBS Radio Network.Born Irwin Elliot Shalek in Chelsea,...
hosted.
1988
The program resurfaced for a one-time special on March 12, 1988 with Chris SchenkelChris Schenkel
Christopher Eugene "Chris" Schenkel was an American sportscaster. Over the course of five decades he called play-by-play for numerous sports on television and radio, becoming known for his smooth delivery and baritone voice.-Early life and career:Schenkel began his broadcasting career at radio...
and Nelson Burton Jr.
Nelson Burton Jr.
Nelson "Bo" Burton, Jr. is a professional ten-pin bowler and former longtime analyst for the Professional Bowlers Tour on ABC Television. He is the son of Nelson Burton, Sr., who himself was a successful bowler in his day, competing with the likes of Glenn Allison and Billy Welu...
as the commentators, prior to ABC's long-running Saturday afternoon series Pro Bowlers Tour
Pro Bowlers Tour
The Professional Bowlers Tour, also known as Pro Bowlers Tour, is a broadcast of the Professional Bowlers Association that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1997...
.
The program always followed the "Friday Night Fights", hosted by the legendary Don Dunphy. The Friday Night Fights were broadcast on WABC, Channel 7 in New York City, beginning at 10:00 P.M. Most Fridays, the fights would last until 10:45 P.M. It was in that brief time slot that ABC chose to air "Make That Spare". If the fights ran into overtime, Make That Spare was preempted. The program was broadcast live from Paramus Lanes in Paramus, New Jersey.
The show pitted two professional bowlers against one another. Each bowler was given a series of spares and splits to attempt to convert; as the bowlers progressed, the spares and splits became more challenging.
The first was "double wood", the 2-8. Next was "the close line", the 1-2-4-7. Next was "the bucket", the 2-4-5-8. The third was the first "baby split", the 1-6. Next in line was the "steam fitter", 4-5-7. Next to the last was the very complex, 4-6-7-10. The last split was the most famous...
Professional bowler, Don Carter made history on October 28, 1961 On that evening, Don became the first to convert the 6-7-8-10. For his efforts, he was rewarded with the grand prize of $18,000.
Monroe Moore also made the 6-7-8-10 spare and held the record by winning nine weeks in a row.