The sounds you're hearing probably evoke a certain image.

Monagram's shirts, shoe spray, the anguished groan of a 710 split.

More than 45 million Americans bowl each year. It's still one of the

countries most played sports. But bowling isn't what it used to be.

Organized leagues have been in decline for decades.

Many of the country's bowling alleys

have been replaced by high-rise condos and office space.

And the establishments that remain have had to get creative to keep their businesses out of the

gutter. People would say,

say, wow, when they walk in,

bowling has become cool again.

For the Freakonomics Radio Network,

this is the economics of everyday things. I'm Zachary Krakkin. Today, bowling alleys.

In the 1960s, bowling experienced a golden age.

Professional bowlers were national heroes who earned more than NFL stars.

Bowling alleys were a critical part of America's social fabric. The poor man's country club,

as one trade publication put it.

There were more than 12,000 of them.

I remember that they were crowded with a lot of men that were smoking cigarettes and cigars.

That's Mike Leong.

He started bowling in 1966, and he was hooked from the start. I think my first league average was around 144, which was not bad for an 11 year old kid.

By the time I was 15. Not bad for an 11 year old kid.

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