Jackpot Bowling

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Jackpot Bowling was an American professional bowling show that aired on NBC from January 9, 1959, to March 13, 1961, spanning three seasons. It was also known as Phillies Jackpot Bowling and Jackpot Bowling Starring Milton Berle.

Hosts and format
- The show began with Leo Durocher, who left after two episodes and was replaced by Mel Allen. Bud Palmer took over on April 10, 1959, and Allen and Palmer swapped October 1959 through April 1960.
- Milton Berle hosted the 1960–1961 season. The running time was 15 minutes (1959–60) and 30 minutes (1960–61).
- Two players competed to bowl up to nine strikes. The bowler with more strikes won $1,000. A six-strikes-in-a-row jackpot started at $5,000 and grew each week it wasn’t won.

Locations and sponsors
- The show originally aired Fridays at 10:45 PM after Cavalcade of Sports and was filmed at the T-Bowl in Wayne, New Jersey. The time slot varied because it followed boxing bouts that could end early or run long.
- In September 1960, Jackpot Bowling returned as a stand-alone 30-minute program on Mondays at 10:30 PM, moving to Hollywood Legion Lanes. Brunswick and Phillies Cigars sponsored the show, and Milton Berle hosted with Chick Hearn doing play-by-play.

Later format under Berle
- The format changed to two matches per show. In the first match, six strikes won $5,000; the winner then faced the “king of the hill” for another $1,000 and a chance to return next week.
- If the second match also produced six strikes, the jackpot began at $25,000, with $5,000 added each week it was not won.
- Five Berle episodes are known to exist, including a January 2, 1961 episode in which Therm Gibson won a record $75,000, a January 16 episode featuring Diana Dors, and a January 23 episode with Harry Ritz.