“Now you can bowl anytime, anywhere!”
Released by TOMY in 1987, the Strolling Bowling game let kids take the fun and excitement of bowling wherever they went.
The compact, foldable plastic carrying case doubled as the bowling alley, designed to resemble a polished hardwood lane. When opened, the alley measured 13 3/4 inches by 5 inches. A plastic platform, stored on the underside of the lane, served two purposes: it held the wind-up bowling ball and acted as the pin area once snapped into place at the end of the alley. Levers on either side of the platform raised the pins into position.
To play, kids wound up the bowling ball (fitted with little feet for walking) and set it loose. It hopped down the lane toward the ten pins, offering up a playful version of real bowling.
Scoring followed the traditional bowling rules. Players tracked strikes, spares, and pins using a ten-frame scorecard included with the box. The player with the highest score after ten frames won the game.
When finished, the ball was returned to its storage spot, the platform was tucked back under the lane, and the entire game was folded shut. The clever design made setup, play, and cleanup part of the toy’s charm.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
TOMY released several other games using this distinctive fold-out case format. Bumbling Boxing (1980) featured a boxing ring and two wind-up boxer figures. Goof-Around Golf (1980) included a golf green and a wind-up golf ball. Funny Football (1987) utilized the case as the playing field, featuring two wind-up player figures that kicked tiny footballs down the field.
Watch a classic commercial for Strolling Bowling on the Toy Tales YouTube channel.
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