Make That Spare (1964)

From 1960-1964, ABC-TV aired live boxing matches on Saturday nights at 10 PM Eastern, lasting about 45 minutes. The network needed a short "filler" program to take it to the top of the hour, so ABC Sports concocted this short-format (approximately 15 minutes) bowling show called "Make That Spare." Hosted by night club singer/performer-turned-sports announcer Johnny Johnston, Make That Spare pitted two of the PBA's stars in a five-frame sparemaking competition to crown the week's "Sparemaker" champion. Players were awarded points for converting a sequence of five spares. Frame #1 was the 2-4-5-8 for 25 points. Frame #2 was the 1-2-4-7 for 25 points. Frame #3 was the 4-5 for 50 points. Frame #4 was the 1-2-4-10 for 50 points. And frame #5 was the 5-7 split for 100 points. If tied after five frames, the winner would be decided in sudden death as the players started the spare sequence over. The winner was given the opportunity to convert the "Sweepstakes Spare" for a brand new 1964 Ford Mustang. In the 1964 season of Make That Spare, the Sweepstakes Spare was selected at the beginning of the show by an electronic contraption like the old "Whammy" board that randomly moved from one split to another until the player hit the button and stopped it. Sometimes the boxing matches would end early and Johnny Johnston would be called on to vamp to fill the time. Other weeks, the boxing matches would run a little long and they'd have to rush through the show. Ah, the age of live television. Johnny Johnston was masterful as emcee on this series. In this episode from 1964, reigning Sparemaker champion Jim Schroeder faces Jerry McCoy. This is classic TV at its very best.