Good evening, my name is John Hodgman.
This week we visit with our FOURTH secret guest (tho in our conversation, I think I referred to her as our FIFTH. SORRY.)
It’s AUTUMN MOWERY of D’AMANDA’S BOWLING in Ellsworth, Maine.
If you’re new to a SECRET SOCIETY, I wrote about trying (and failing) to go bowling at Autumn’s candlepin bowling alley back in DECEMBER.
Then, over the holidays, I actually DID get to go bowling there, and I did FINE.
But the best part about bowling was the spirit and dedication and INCREDIBLE HANDWRITING Autumn brings to the lanes and their cranky antique 1940s pinsetters that she AND ONLY SHE repairs, because she is the only employee.
Humans (and maybe some bots) REALLY liked my Instagram post about her, so I asked her if she would talk with me, and she said YES.
Our conversation is below, and as you will discover, there is so much more to the story than I even thought.
And because I want EVERYONE to know about the glory of candlepin in general and Autumn specifically, I’m making this whole post free for the cool kids on the stairs.
BUT, PLEASE: before you press play, please consider clicking a couple of links.
FIRST, as you know, I’m performing LIVE in San Francisco next Saturday at 4PM, and it would be very nice if you were there.
So please go HERE for tickets.
SECOND, I mentioned on the PODCAST this week that I am indeed returning to the JOCO CRUISE this March. And in fact I have proposition for you:
If you book using code HODGMAN24 at check out, they will let me know, and I will then play Scrabble with you in my favorite part of the ship: THE CROW’S NEST.
I haven’t been playing Scrabble for a while, so I promise you: I will not be a great opponent, but I hope acceptable company.
So please go HERE and use code HODGMAN24 when checking out.
OK, those are the clicks. Now here is my conversation with AUTUMN MOWERY of D’AMANDA’s (soon to be ELLSWORTH) BOWLING of ELLSWORTH, MAINE.
Press PLAY if you want to hear about CANDLE PIN BOWLING, WEIRD MAINE STATE LAWS RE: ANTIQUE PIN SETTERS, CONVENIENT MDs, TRUCK DREAMS DEFERRED, and THE HAUNTING OF LANE FIVE
PLEASE PRESS PLAY TO RECEIVE THE NOT-SECRET MESSAGE
As mentioned in the video, it is a strange miracle that no one had grabbed the bit.ly/CANDLEPIN url when I made it seconds before connecting with Autumn, so you are obliged by fate to click on it.
HERE IT IS AGAIN: bit.ly/CANDLEPIN
The main website for bowling reservations is HERE.
Autumn runs BEHIND THE SCENES TOURS from time to time. You can reserve your backstage experience HERE. I am pretty sure this is not a scheme to feed the pinsetters your blood!
And also please make sure to check out Ryan’s store, 207 COLLECTIBLES, whenever you are in Ellsworth for a visit to Convenient MD or the OLD CREAMERY ANTIQUE MALL, or just stop by virtually HERE.
Please share, and next week we will open up the secret room at the top of the stairs for more secret messages.
But there will always be public information for those cool kids like you who like to hang out on the stairs.
And let me know your highest bowling score/best bowling story in the comments.
Until next time, the tomb is closed.
Several years ago we had a work outing to a dive bar/bowling place in northeast Minneapolis. I’ve always been a bowler of inconsistent quality, and am really pleased if I get over 100. Something very strange happened that day. The first frame I had a miss and a 7 - not unusual for me. Next frame: strike. Next frame: strike (I’m looking at a photo of the scorecard which unfortunately I can’t embed here for verification). Two more strikes, so that’s four in a row, and by frame 5 I have 127. This was getting very weird. Sixth frame, another strike and now the attendant is watching and I’m freaking out a little. Seventh frame: another strike. 175 points! Eight: a nine. And a miss! Took the pressure off! Ninth frame: strike again! 202 points! Final frame was a whimper with a 7 and 1, total of 210. I was totally wiped, and the next game we played I got 80 or so, much more my normal score. It was such a weird experience and I’ve never come even slightly close since
From the information you have provided about d'Amanda's on Judge John Hodgman I was able to identify (and give some trivia about) the bowling alley on The Holdovers as a Candlepin variety to my wife while we were watching the movie, which impressed her and improved my know-it-all quotient significantly. Thanks! I'm going to have to try it out when we finally make our way to the northeast to visit.