Larry Miller was the head mechanic at the bowling center I grew up in. God rest his soul, Larry was a great man and an incredible bowler. He averaged 242 in 1981 on a 5 man team! He was one of the best playing outside 5. Interesting note: the ball he was using was a Yellow Dot "bleeder" that was a friend's ball! The friend was Rob Theis, proprietor of the center where Larry worked. Rob was left handed and the ball was drilled leverage. For Larry, it made the ball negative weight..... hence why the ball set up so well. Great performance! Another note: I also knew Bill Beach very well. Bill was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Even though the graphic was shown, Mike Durbin never mentioned Bill was a past Masters Champion, made several shows, and won a title in L.A. I believe.
You have a great memory. I was born in Boardman and bowled AJBC at Boardman Lanes with Terry, Robby and Mickey Theis. My junior and senior years at Mooney I bowled in ABC leagues there and Marvondale, Mar Hill, Holiday and Champion. Mid to late 60's Boardman was one of the toughest houses in the area. I had 747 one night - it was the highest set in the entire house for the season for all the leagues. I also bowled in the BPAA traveling league - Warren, Akron, Sharon - and yes against Bill Beach, Bill Boyd, Rea Buttermore, Max Belchyk and others. Later it became very, very easy. I never moved back after college but I often stoped in. When Larry was there, he taught me how to play the "outside" line - like board 2-3, rather than a soft-belly like most lefties. You mentioned his ball. Actually Larry gave me one of his Shore-D's drilled for him. Same effect as you mentioned above. I think it was somewhere around 68-70 on the Durometer. Thanks for the memories.
@@irishpogi yes - 1972 I believe. Butch made it out of the rabbit squad and Bill Beach beat him for the title. "I made Bill Beach a star," he used to famously quip.
Irishpogi, That was a fantastic upload of the Stepladder Finals of the Pba Seniors Championship from 1982. Also, It was awesome that features Bill Beach. Also, the Commercials are awesome especially the Miller Lite Commercials that have Bowling. Also, Keep up the good work on the Classic Bowling uploads.
I first met Larry around 1963 at Boardman lanes. I was in the AJBC. Later, Larry was the lane guy there. I never moved back to Boardman after college but I often visited,. Circa 1972-1973 when Don McCune introduced the soaker, I spent several weeks with Larry, learning the "outside" line - as a lefty I had always played more of a soft belly shot - like Petraglia rather than Davis. I spent hours just putting the center of the ball over the 1st or 2nd board. Of course Larry oiled the lanes for me. And, always ahead of his time, he drilled a few Red Dots, a few Shore-D's (like 65-68 on theD) and even an AMF Exacta and an Ebonite XL-5 with all sorts of weights (this was way before the cores of today) for me. He had "health" issues and while he was unbeatable on his conditions, he passed away shortly after this event.
Larry Miller was the head mechanic at the bowling center I grew up in. God rest his soul, Larry was a great man and an incredible bowler. He averaged 242 in 1981 on a 5 man team! He was one of the best playing outside 5. Interesting note: the ball he was using was a Yellow Dot "bleeder" that was a friend's ball! The friend was Rob Theis, proprietor of the center where Larry worked. Rob was left handed and the ball was drilled leverage. For Larry, it made the ball negative weight..... hence why the ball set up so well. Great performance!
Another note: I also knew Bill Beach very well. Bill was one of the nicest guys you could ever meet. Even though the graphic was shown, Mike Durbin never mentioned Bill was a past Masters Champion, made several shows, and won a title in L.A. I believe.
You have a great memory. I was born in Boardman and bowled AJBC at Boardman Lanes with Terry, Robby and Mickey Theis. My junior and senior years at Mooney I bowled in ABC leagues there and Marvondale, Mar Hill, Holiday and Champion. Mid to late 60's Boardman was one of the toughest houses in the area. I had 747 one night - it was the highest set in the entire house for the season for all the leagues. I also bowled in the BPAA traveling league - Warren, Akron, Sharon - and yes against Bill Beach, Bill Boyd, Rea Buttermore, Max Belchyk and others. Later it became very, very easy. I never moved back after college but I often stoped in. When Larry was there, he taught me how to play the "outside" line - like board 2-3, rather than a soft-belly like most lefties. You mentioned his ball. Actually Larry gave me one of his Shore-D's drilled for him. Same effect as you mentioned above. I think it was somewhere around 68-70 on the Durometer. Thanks for the memories.
If memory serves me correctly, Bill defeated Butch Soper to win a title back in the early 70's
@@irishpogi yes - 1972 I believe. Butch made it out of the rabbit squad and Bill Beach beat him for the title. "I made Bill Beach a star," he used to famously quip.
Great stepladder. Terrific shot making combined with sportsmanship and showmanship. Thanks for the upload.
Absolutely true. These guys were having fun - and doing some great bowling.
This is a fantastic upload!!!
Irishpogi, That was a fantastic upload of the Stepladder Finals of the Pba Seniors Championship from 1982. Also, It was awesome that features Bill Beach. Also, the Commercials are awesome especially the Miller Lite Commercials that have Bowling. Also, Keep up the good work on the Classic Bowling uploads.
Roy Ryan has a nice fluid, straight armswing 👍
The contestants bowled well in the 1982 PBA Senior Championship on Alleys 39 & 40.
Larry Miller was 53? He must have been very sick😢😢
Looks like a healthy 75 year old
I first met Larry around 1963 at Boardman lanes. I was in the AJBC. Later, Larry was the lane guy there. I never moved back to Boardman after college but I often visited,. Circa 1972-1973 when Don McCune introduced the soaker, I spent several weeks with Larry, learning the "outside" line - as a lefty I had always played more of a soft belly shot - like Petraglia rather than Davis. I spent hours just putting the center of the ball over the 1st or 2nd board. Of course Larry oiled the lanes for me.
And, always ahead of his time, he drilled a few Red Dots, a few Shore-D's (like 65-68 on theD) and even an AMF Exacta and an Ebonite XL-5 with all sorts of weights (this was way before the cores of today) for me.
He had "health" issues and while he was unbeatable on his conditions, he passed away shortly after this event.
@@georgemolnar7344oh im sorry to hear that. Appreciate you providing the update. Saw the quotes around "health" issues. Was he battling addiction?
Not to be rude, but the guy in thumbnail picture looks over 70.......