Sammy White's Brighton Bowl, or simply Sammy White's, was a bowling alley in the Brighton section of Boston, Massachusetts. It was named after and owned by Boston Red Sox catcher Sammy White and featured lanes of both standard Ten-Pin and Candlepin bowling, the latter being the more popular style in New England. The bowling alley is most remembered for an infamous quadruple murder that occurred there in 1980. Sammy White's closed its doors in 1986. A second Sammy White's bowling alley was on the V.F.W. Parkway near the Boston/Dedham line. It closed in the mid-1980s.
On the morning of September 22, 1980, during a robbery that resulted in the theft of $4,800, four employees were brutally bludgeoned and shot execution style. Found at the scene was a bloody bowling pin determined to be the weapon used to bludgeon the victims.[1] Three died at the scene, and the fourth on the way to the hospital. The victims were found when an employee came in and discovered the open safe and contacted the police.[2]
After an investigation, the police arrested cab driver Bryan A. Dyer of Somerville. Dyer had worked at Sammy White's in 1973. During the trial, witnesses testified that in the days following the murders Dyer had paid off an overdue car loan as well as prepaid three months rent at the YMCA where he had been living.[3] Dyer was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for all four murders; he died in prison in 2011.[4]
Filmmaker Eli Roth has stated that the Sammy White's murders were the inspiration for the gruesome campfire story described in the film Cabin Fever.[8][4]
Sammy White's Brighton Bowl was the taping location for WHDH/WCVB Channel 5's Candlepin Bowling (1958–1985), Winning Pins, and Candlepin Superbowl television sport shows.
^ Crocket, Douglas S. and Linscott, Seymour R. "4 Bound, Executed at Brighton Bowl", Boston Globe, September 22, 1980.
^Associated Press. "Mass. High Court Upholds 2 Murder Convictions", Boston Globe, July 13, 1983.
^ abTullos, Amanda (August 15, 2016). "The Horrifying True Story Behind the Campfire Tale in CABIN FEVER". blumhouse.com. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
^Flanagan, Newman. Editorial, Boston Globe, October 31, 1982.
^Blake, Andrew. "Death Penalty Now Law", Boston Globe, December 23, 1985.
^Harvey, Joseph M. "Mass. Death Penalty Ruled Illegal", Boston Globe, October 19, 1984.
^The Movie Chicks. Interview with Eli Roth, August 28, 2003.
Further reading
"COMMONWEALTH vs. BRYAN A. DYER". masscases.com. 1983. Retrieved December 23, 2016.
External links
UPI archives of October 1, 1980
UPI archives of October 2, 1980
January 07, 2023
sammy, white, brighton, bowl, simply, sammy, white, bowling, alley, brighton, section, boston, massachusetts, named, after, owned, boston, catcher, sammy, white, featured, lanes, both, standard, candlepin, bowling, latter, being, more, popular, style, england,. Sammy White s Brighton Bowl or simply Sammy White s was a bowling alley in the Brighton section of Boston Massachusetts It was named after and owned by Boston Red Sox catcher Sammy White and featured lanes of both standard Ten Pin and Candlepin bowling the latter being the more popular style in New England The bowling alley is most remembered for an infamous quadruple murder that occurred there in 1980 Sammy White s closed its doors in 1986 A second Sammy White s bowling alley was on the V F W Parkway near the Boston Dedham line It closed in the mid 1980s Sammy White also owned the Alpine Lanes a ten pin establishment in Chelmsford Massachusetts Contents 1 Murders 2 Popular culture 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksMurders EditOn the morning of September 22 1980 during a robbery that resulted in the theft of 4 800 four employees were brutally bludgeoned and shot execution style Found at the scene was a bloody bowling pin determined to be the weapon used to bludgeon the victims 1 Three died at the scene and the fourth on the way to the hospital The victims were found when an employee came in and discovered the open safe and contacted the police 2 After an investigation the police arrested cab driver Bryan A Dyer of Somerville Dyer had worked at Sammy White s in 1973 During the trial witnesses testified that in the days following the murders Dyer had paid off an overdue car loan as well as prepaid three months rent at the YMCA where he had been living 3 Dyer was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for all four murders he died in prison in 2011 4 The bowling alley murders brought new attention to the question of capital punishment in Massachusetts 5 In 1982 a ballot referendum legalizing the death penalty in Massachusetts passed and was signed into law by the outgoing governor Edward J King 6 In 1984 the law was struck down by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court as unconstitutional 7 Popular culture EditFilmmaker Eli Roth has stated that the Sammy White s murders were the inspiration for the gruesome campfire story described in the film Cabin Fever 8 4 Sammy White s Brighton Bowl was the taping location for WHDH WCVB Channel 5 s Candlepin Bowling 1958 1985 Winning Pins and Candlepin Superbowl television sport shows References Edit Globe Staff News Boston Globe May 17 1981 Crocket Douglas S and Linscott Seymour R 4 Bound Executed at Brighton Bowl Boston Globe September 22 1980 Associated Press Mass High Court Upholds 2 Murder Convictions Boston Globe July 13 1983 a b Tullos Amanda August 15 2016 The Horrifying True Story Behind the Campfire Tale in CABIN FEVER blumhouse com Retrieved December 23 2016 Flanagan Newman Editorial Boston Globe October 31 1982 Blake Andrew Death Penalty Now Law Boston Globe December 23 1985 Harvey Joseph M Mass Death Penalty Ruled Illegal Boston Globe October 19 1984 The Movie Chicks Interview with Eli Roth August 28 2003 Further reading Edit COMMONWEALTH vs BRYAN A DYER masscases com 1983 Retrieved December 23 2016 External links EditUPI archives of October 1 1980 UPI archives of October 2 1980 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sammy White 27s Brighton Bowl amp oldid 1124906975, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
