So it sounded familiar, and I asked around: Rachel claims it's Washington Irving, while an online religion site says:

Martin Luther, creator of the Protestant movement, undertook a study to standardize the game. The number of pins was fixed at nine, and bowling became an important part of German culture. Indeed, children were taught that thunderstorms were due to St. Peter and the angels bowl.

Ask D. if he learned that from one of his teachers. Such a durable image, it seems!

Dan thinks it was one of those interstitials on PBS or somewhere. Damian added the volcano part himself, though.