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Nerdist was started by Chris Hardwick and has grown to be a many headed beast.

My Dad Bowled in a Beer Commercial (1969)

by on April 2, 2009

My dad, Billy Hardwick, was one of the greatest professional bowlers of all time. Believe it or not, in the 60s that was actually a pretty cool thing. This was the first beer commercial done by a professional athlete (yes, bowlers are athletes) and IT IS AWESOME. After this, though, they mandated that only retired athletes could do them so that it wouldn’t send the wrong message, like “Drinking makes you a champion.”

The 6-7 split he picks up the commercial was one he had picked up the day before to win a tournament. Apparently, the shot in the commercial was the second take.

My favorite tidbit about this is by far that fact that he was supposed to have lines and then take a swig, but quickly got too hammered after several takes. Lucy Ricardo’s “Vitameatavegemin” sketch actually happened to someone, and that someone was my dad.

My other favorite thing are the Bowery Boys schmoes in the background and their “Heeeeeeey Buddy!” reactions. Top to bottom, I love this commercial. How many of us get to see our parents in action in their prime? Cool stuff.

And yes, at one point in my young life I thought about being a professional bowler. Weird, huh?

 
59 comments read them below or add one

  2. Pretty awesome! You could have been the real life inspiration for the movie Kingpin.

  4. You must be so proud. I for one grew up in a bowling ally, though not as much as you. I like your history.

  5. I heard you mention this on Adam Carolla, very thankful you were able to dig it up.

  6. Dude, when did you start time traveling? j/k

    You’re dad just gave me a hankering for Miller Lite @ 12 in the afternoon while I’m at work. Damn you, Pro Bowling Great Billy Hardwick!

    Next time I bowl, I’ll crack a Miller in his honor ^_^

  9. To make this commercial just a little more greater (?) Your dad should of taken a slip of the Miller before making the 7-10 split (or 6-7) although like you said they don’t want athletes sending the wrong message.

    He was the first player to capture the PBA career Triple Crown. FTW!

  11. Love that! It was great to hear you on Carolla’s ‘cast…his show can use more nerdery.

    Have a wonderful day, Chris!

  15. I also just listened to the Corolla podcast. Great fun. I take it the job you got that prevented you from going to SXSW was H2 in Atlanta? I think you made the right choice! :-)

  17. That’s so freakin cool. I booked a national Miiler-Lite spot last year, it never aired = weaksauce. Thanks for sharing Chris!

  20. As a fellow geek and also someone who grew up in a bowling alley, I can definitely appreciate the awesomeness here.

  21. wow, that was excellent! Do you have this on a film reel or did you just find it online somewhere?

  25. About halfway through this commercial, I thought, “Man, Chris is SO LUCKY to have this footage!” You are right; I would LOVE to have video proof of my dad being all awesome* back in the day.

    *To be fair, as a pharmacist, my dad’s “awesome thing” is far less telegenic than bowling. But man, he sure would give you the correct number of the correct pill and warn you about any possible complications!

  26. M’f'er.. your dad could pick up that 6-7 split like nobody’s business. Now if it were a 7-10 split.. he’d have balls nearly as big as the ones he bowled :)

  27. That video reminds me of my husband’s old photographs. His father owned a kettle pin alley and then a bowling alley in Jersey City, NJ. They have nifty pics of all the bowlers and their wives at the different functions, all dated about the time your Dad was bowling. My in-laws have passed now but the pics show them in their heyday… Nice.

    Thanks for the memories!

  28. also heard you on the carolla podcast. good stuff. how did you not mention that in this story?

  29. This is made better by the fact that that’s my beer.
    You can totally see the resemblance, too.

  31. Nice! I listened to you on Adam’s podcast this morning, and was hoping you’d post this. :) I grew up with parents who bowled several times a week in leagues (ah, the late 70s and early 80s), so this is right up my alley. OH! Yeah, I went there. :P

    How sad is it that I live in the home of the Bowling Hall of Fame, and have never been there. I’m a very very bad St. Louisan. :)

  34. My dad was a GREAT golfer and I wanted to be like him. He wasn’t a pro, but he could have been quite easily if he wasn’t tied to a family. Back in the early 70′s you didn’t make much money being a golfer and he chose to be a mechanic instead, but when I would go golfing with my father and my grandfather, I wanted nothing more than to be like them but take it to the next level. I sucked however and there was nothing I could do about it but give it up. I think it’s so cool you like to share what your father did. Not in a “I’m the son of a famous person” more in a “See how cool my dad was.” Which is really awesome.

    Ever since my father died in 2001 I have wanted to just play a round of golf with him. Next time you see your dad challenge him to a game of bowling to make up for the rest of us who can’t do that anymore.

    Thanks for the memories.

    P.S. I loved the Adam Carolla podcast today, that was awesome.

    Michael

  35. It’s STILL a cool thing!! His wrist guard makes him even more cooler. I can smell the lane’s Lysol and french fries from here.

  36. man i loved the bowling tales from the carolla podcast. decided to check out your website and i get treated to the commercial :D

  38. Heard you on Carolla. Knew nothing about you, but this website is hilarious. I will be back regularly. This commercial is sweet.

  39. just let me say this: in the beer commercial, It really looks like you! spitting image, chip off the old block! bravo sir.

  42. Awwwww, you have the same eyes. You put on your bowling shoes much? That could be another video treat….

  46. There’s definitely nothing wrong with wanting to be a professional bowler! I once had similar aspirations! :)

    Gotta say that is a great commercial, it’s a classic!

  47. This is amazing. I love your dad actually. My dad is a former pro bowler as well and has some of his old tour stops recorded on VHS of all things haha. I’m sending this video to my dad now. He will love it.

  48. I heard you on the Adam Carolla podcast, reminded me of when I was a kid growing up in a bowling alley. I was also great at bowling and wanted to go pro, love the commercial.

  49. Your dad didn’t know how to pour a beer back then. Still, cool beans being a pro bowler and doing a beer commercial and all.

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