Did you know that the sport of Bowling originated in Egypt in 3200 BC? It then began to be popularized in the 1300s in Europe. Later, it was banned by King Edward III so the country could focus on archery. In the 1840s, the game was brought to New York by European settlers where the game was moved indoors and the American Bowling Congress began. All this history has led to one of the most iconic American pastimes, bowling.
The golden age of American bowling was the 1950’s and 60’s. Bowling was a national obsession, 1 in 8 Americans bowled during this era. There also began to be an emergence of Women’s Bowling Leagues. These were a social outlet for many women who had previously not been welcomed socializing in sports and exercise outside of the house. Many local bowling alleys began opening at this time, with the Bountiful Bowl opening in 1946 and Davis Lanes opening in 1950.
Since the 1970’s, bowling membership has decreased almost 90% nationwide, with many alleys closing. There are now many new sports gaining popularity that take away from the bowling frenzy including pickleball, football, and basketball, which have all become increasingly more popular since the 80’s.
However, today there seems to be a comeback for the forgotten sport. As fashion trends have been changing, there has been a rise in the retro style especially in clothes, technology, and hobbies.
“I think bowling has been popular for just a fun activity with friends, dates, birthday parties, and competition, especially with the rise of a more retro style” said senior Corbin Hancock.
This shows that although bowling isn’t an everyday pass time for Corbin, it is still a fun activity for any time you want to go out.
“I chose bowling for my birthday party because it brings people together in a fun, relaxed setting. It’s an activity where you can socialize, enjoy friendly competition, and build connections all at the same time!” said senior Hallie Neuenswander.
In conclusion, according to students at FHS, Bowling is making a comeback. It is still a fun activity for high school aged students to participate in, and statistics show that it may be becoming more popular soon!
