Television today is many things.
It’s big-bucks drama. It’s you-are-right-there-on-the-field sports. It’s edgy comedy, kill-to-win reality contests, polarizing news.
It is rarely, however, laugh-out-loud funny.
Back in the day — the black-and-white, 3-channel day — things were different.
Broad swaths of Americans watched the same shows, at the same time. And together, they laughed gently (or uproariously) at human foibles.
“Candid Camera” was one of those popular, family-friendly offerings. From 1948 through 1970s, ordinary Americans fell for practical jokes — a car with a hidden extra gas tank, say — while host Allen Funt narrated.
“Smile — you’re on ‘Candid Camera!'” became a national catchphrase.
In the fall of 1961 the show came to the Westport Lanes bowling alley, on State Street (now Post Road) East. (After several iterations, the space is now BevMax.)
The joke was that certain bowlers — no matter how poor — would always roll a strike.
The last 2 lanes were rigged so that thin piano wires ran under the pins. The lanes’ owners — the Backiel family — would assign those lanes to customers who seemed likely to not bowl many strikes.
“The guy would bowl his regular score, but every time the woman got up, a mechanic in back would pull a lever,” Jack Backiel told “06880” in 2012.
“The poor guy out on a date would bowl his 125 game. His date would roll a 288. The hidden camera focused on his expression as she got strike after strike after strike.”
That anecdote was part of a longer “06880” story, about Westport Lanes in general. But it did not link to that “Candid Camera” episode.
The other day, alert “06880” reader Bill Dedman sent us that show. More than 60 years later, it’s still pretty funny.
It’s still remembered too, by now-aged fans. The comments section of the YouTube video is filled with folks who call it the funniest “Candid Camera” prank ever. Click here or below to see and read.
Meanwhile — because this is “06880,” where Westport meets the world: Do oyou recognize any of the bowlers? Are you actually one of them?
If so, click “Comments” below. That would really “strike” home!
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I’ve been looking for this clip for years! Thank you so much for the best Christmas gift ever!
Thanks for the memories-Bill and Dan.
That is hysterical..And the narration is perfect!
Candid Camera was a blast. We were so blessed to have TV in those days! Just thinking of all the great shows – Ed Sullivan was a Sunday fixture – Beatles, Stones, so many wonderful comedians and acts.
Thanks so much Dan. The two women were our neighbors on Country Road, the Pitmans, Marion and her daughter Sandy. I remember the episode (and the bowling alley) well. I was 11
Laughed out loud; nice memory. Thanks, Dan
Fabulous! My mom used to bowl in a league there well into her 40s and was quite good. I can imagine how she would have reacted if she had been there and witnessed that.
Alan Funt was our neighbor on Green Acre Lane in the 60’s. Never met him, though.
Mike, This is what I understand happened. A high level employee of Candid Camera used to bowl and somehow a discussion happened where they came up with this plan. Only a few people knew- the mechanic named Joe, who serviced the bowling machines and two or three owners, two being my uncles. I couldn’t imagine my father not knowing about this, but it was imperative to keep this a secret! I had no idea Alan Funt lived in town until now. I know they had fake work scaffolding on the wall and some cameras were there.
My grandmother had mentioned this episode many times, but I never had the chance to see it. I just happened to stumble upon this post. @Jack, I am sure Uncle John knew. He seemed to know everything that was going on at the lanes.