Andy Varipapa

Born in Italy in 1891, Andy Varipapa immigrated to the United States in 1903, uneducated and unable to speak English. Equipped with little more than athletic ability, the will to succeed, and a healthy dose of self-confidence, he became bowling's first superstar. In the 1940s and 1950s, Varipapa was the world's most famous bowler. For more than 50 years, he dazzled fans with an array of never-before-seen trick shots in person, on movie screens, and on television. Varipapa was not only a performer but one of the greatest bowlers ever. He won the prestigious BPAA All-Star tournament in 1946, silencing critics who claimed he was just an entertainer. And he did so at age 55, long past most bowlers' retirement age. To prove it was no fluke, he repeated in 1947. Bowling fans recognized the outspoken and brash "Great Varipapa," who once said, "I'm the most skillful, talkative, and controversial bowler who ever lived." Few knew Andy, the kind and loyal family man and friend. Sourced from interviews with family and friends and more than 1,000 secondary sources, this first-ever biography of Varipapa tells the personal story of bowling's greatest showman and one of its most influential figures.

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Andy Varipapa won virtually every major bowling championship. He is remembered today for his youtube video, showing his fantastic, almost unbelievable bowling trick shots. To see it, search youtube for "Bowling Tricks with Andy Varipapa (1948)." His advice to the nation's 18 million amateur bowlers: The approach is the most important thing, four even steps with no sudden stop when the ball is released (though he himself, an exception to his own rules, takes five); the arm should swing up as if the bowler were throwing it up to shake hands with someone; the eyes should not be on the pins but on a point at the foul line where the ball will first touch. But there is one thing more: "Varipapa is rhythmical . . . that's why he's the greatest." Andy Varipapa was considered to be "the greatest one-man bowling show on Earth." He would perform fantastic trick shots, sometimes rolling two bowling balls at once that would collide together and then hit the ten pens. Sometimes the balls would hit each other, then hit the gutters and then bounce back and hit the pins. Andy was more comfortable rolling two balls at once then most people are rolling one. Varipapa said, "I can make a bowling ball do anything, but talk." In 1934 he made "Strikes and Spares" the first of his 26 movie shorts. In 1981, at the age of 89 Andy appeared on the TV show "That's Incredible" demonstrating his trick shots.

Andy Varipapa won many bowling championships He is remembered today for his youtube video, showing his fantastic, almost unbelievable bowling trick shots. To see it, search youtube for "Bowling Tricks with Andy Varipapa (1948)." Andy Varipapa was considered to be "the greatest one-man bowling show on Earth." He would perform fantastic trick shots, sometimes rolling two bowling balls at once that would collide together and then hit the ten pens. Sometimes the balls would hit each other, then hit the gutters and then bounce back and hit the pins. Andy was more comfortable rolling two balls at once then most people are rolling one. Varipapa said, "I can make a bowling ball do anything, but talk." In 1934 he made "Strikes and Spares" the first of his 26 movie shorts. In 1981, at the age of 89 Andy appeared on the TV show "That's Incredible" demonstrating his trick shots. In addition to his trick shots, Andy was an outstanding bowler. He was one of the first pro bowlers in the country. In 1946 and 1947 he won the All-Star tournaments. At the age of 55, he was the first bowler to defend his All-Star championship. In 1947 he teamed up a fellow Hall of Famer to win the Bowling Proprietors Association of America Doubles Tournament. They defended their title in 1948.

Born in Italy in 1891, Andy Varipapa immigrated to the United States in 1903, uneducated and unable to speak English. Equipped with little more than athletic ability, the will to succeed, and a healthy dose of self-confidence, he became bowling's first superstar. In the 1940s and 1950s, Varipapa was the world's most famous bowler. For more than 50 years, he dazzled fans with an array of never-before-seen trick shots in person, on movie screens, and on television. Varipapa was not only a performer but one of the greatest bowlers ever. He won the prestigious BPAA All-Star tournament in 1946, silencing critics who claimed he was just an entertainer. And he did so at age 55, long past most bowlers' retirement age. To prove it was no fluke, he repeated in 1947. Bowling fans recognized the outspoken and brash "Great Varipapa," who once said, "I'm the most skillful, talkative, and controversial bowler who ever lived." Few knew Andy, the kind and loyal family man and friend. Sourced from interviews with family and friends and more than 1,000 secondary sources, this first-ever biography of Varipapa tells the personal story of bowling's greatest showman and one of its most influential figures.