Monday’s ad is for Blatz Beer, from 1951. The ad is part of Blatz’s “I lived in Milwaukee, I ought to know” series from the later Forties and Fifties that featured prominent celebrities, sports figures and famous folks from Milwaukee claiming to know “Blatz is Milwaukee’s Finest Beer” because they lived there, or near there, at some point in their lives. This one is a second ad featuring professional bowler Hank Marino, who moved to Milwaukee in 1930 to open his own bowling alley. In the first ad, he was bowling in a coat and tie, whereas here he’s more casual, with an open white shirt and no tie. But he’s still got that goofy grin.
As one who bowled for 40 years, I’m somewhat taken aback by his palm-down follow-through. All the pros I’ve ever seen in person/on TV released the ball underhanded, with maybe a slight inward flip of the wrist.