Bowling became huge in the 1950s because it was a "people's" sport (like pool, people actually played it), it was on TV EVERY WEEK, and league and tournament results were published in NEWSPAPERS. Rather a simple formula for success.
The sport was promoted by Brunswick, AMF, Manhattan Rubber and the main bowling shoe manufacturer (forgot the name...Dexter?).
There were professional teams sponsored by Hamm's, Budweiser and other companies\ that traveled around doing exhibitions. There was trick shot artist Andy Varipapa, who would appear for pennies out of love for the game. There was the American Bowling Congress and the American Junior Bowling Congress, which certified instructors (I was one) and promoted high school and Boys and Girls Club leagues.
An annual amateur bowling tournament in Chicago, the Peterson Classic, was huge, and you didn't have to commit to multiple league seasons to qualify for a chance to qualify. There were pro-am tournaments along with the pro events (I had Dick Weber for a partner in Milwaukee in 1967).
Those who promoted the game put the sport first and profits followed. Seems like today, profit comes first and I can't tell you how many times I've heard people in the pool business say stuff like, "We want drinkers, not players" or "This is not a billiard center with a bar, it's a bar with pool tables"...as if catering to players and maintaining a clean, well run business will somehow chase the "drinkers" away.
