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It was just like old times again back on Sunday, October14th, 2001 at the Fairway in Natick, MA .
The cameras, batteries and digital media cards were all set to record a little history at the first
$30,000 Candlepin Challenge taping.

Moments after I arrived that rainy Sunday morning the portable bright lights turned on over lanes two and three.
All was very quiet except for the sounds of the turntables running in the pits. After a few minutes of listening to the tables I began to think they were sending messages to me.  I could almost hear them saying  " Hey stupid! Drop the camera gear and go get your bowling bag ! ........You have time! ..........C'mon..... this will probably be your only chance in life to bowl under the lights! "

  How I would have loved to bowl under the lights on the same two TV lanes that I watched all my favorites from  the CH 5 show which ran for 37 years.  Names like Onarato, Czernicki, Romani, Sargent, Saniuk, Iannuzzo, Vadney,  Flynn, Olzsta, Carrington, Renaud, Tavernese, Kelly, Berger, Morgan, Richmond, Pray, Petty, Baldinelli,  Ruzzanno, Poch, Regan, Downey all came to mind at first.

After those names, the memory faded a bit and I had to stop and think about others who stood out there on the approaches all those years. As I proceeded to tap into my memory banks for more greats, a gentleman in a dark colored suit walked by and said hello. It was Dan Murphy. How on earth could I forget about my old teacher!
(Sorry about that Dan)

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The guys in the truck outside just told them they forgot to bring their ear pieces! Communication for all the replays and commercial breaks were done with que cards that day......just like old times

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For all you history buffs out there, here's the answers to a few questions you might hear in another 37 years....

Who was the entering champion on the first show?

Answer:  Jason Gauthier from Springfield, MA
 

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Who were the first two contestants on the first $30,000 Candlepin Challenge show?

Answer:  Charlie Jutras from Feeding Hills, MA and John Sagan from Indian Orchard, MA

          

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And who was the first champion crowned on the show?

That's right, the legend himself - Charlie Jutras
 
 

Challenger Match
Charlie Jutras 111 John Sagan 103

Championship Match
Charlie Jutras 241 Jason Gauthier 230

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We asked Charlie if he still gets nervous bowling on TV.
He shrugged his shoulders and quietly replied
"Yeah a little bit" with a grin ......  That's so hard to believe!

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Jutras earned himself a couple of 1250 point totals
while knocking out Jason Gauthier and then Nashua
New Hampshire's Chris Boisvert in the first few weeks
but ran into trouble when this man entered the scene!

Dave Dupuis

After beating Bill Treeful in the challenger's match of week 3, Dupuis then put the hammer down on Jutras beating him 307-234 to take over the overall top spot. He also earned himself 2350 points from his efforts which included a show season high 184 game with 9 straight marks.

Dupuis then went on to win 5 more weeks before losing his title to Dave Arlitt. He then waited out the next 28 weeks to see if his 2350 would stay at the top for the finals at the end of the season.

After a few scares from Det Klein and Lou Alberghini, Dave Dupuis was finally the top man in the $30,000 finals with a chance to win $15,000, the highest TV payout in candlepin bowling history!

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The
Hall Of Fame
"Triple Play"

 We spotted Candlepin greats, Hellen Sellew, proprietor of the Fairway and Jim Barber,
proprietor of Lucky Strike Lanes in Lynn cheering on their fellow Hall of Famer, Mr.Jutras

Barber had more reasons to be there cheering. He, along with Nick Moschilli, Nick Genimatas,
Bob Ficco, Dan Larochelle, Dan Murphy and the big guy in candlepin bowling, Bob Parrella, were responsible for getting the show on the air. The tireless efforts of these guys through thick and thin brought the show to the airwaves even after a time when contracts and negotiations looked extremely grim. If you happen to see them out and about in the candlepin community please give them a pat on the back. They deserve it.

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