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 Java
Lanes, the oldest bowling alley in Long Beach, California,
is threatened with demolition! Built in 1958 by the firm of DeRosa,
Daly & Powers, it is the very last of the authentic Polynesian style
bowling centers in Southern California. Java Lanes' swirling neon
'BOWL' sign is a stunning example of Googie. Java Lanes has been the
home of the exotic Lava Lounge, one of the city's largest entertainment
venues whose live entertainment permit was denied by Long Beach City
Council in July 2002. Sign
the on-line petition to Save Java Lanes!
In February 2004, Long Beach City staff recommended approval of Brookfield
Homes of Costa Mesa's request to build 79 condominiums on the Java
Lane site. Java is the sister bowling center to the 1958 Kona Lanes,
which was demolished in 2003. Kona photos at http://www.roadsidepeek.com/losttreas/konalanes/
and see below. Contact Adriene Biondo, Los Angeles Conservancy Modern
Committee and RPPN member, at astroluxe@mindspring.com More
photographs here... |
 Demolished,
Nov. 2003: Nave
Lanes in Novato, CA. Designed by Gordon Philips, a disciple of
F.L.W., and built in 1958. Photo and background information at: http://www.plannet.com/news/navelanesletter.html
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Demolished,
July 2003: 1958
KONA LANES, a 40-lane "Polynesian-Googie" bowling
alley in Costa Mesa, Orange County, California. Tod Swormstedt,
director of the American Sign Museum in Cincinnatti, was able to
remove the massive neon sign and truck it back to Ohio on Monday,
June 23. The BOWL was demolished later that day. In business for
45 years, the bowling alley retained nearly all of its original
equipment.
See
related stories:
Goodbye
Nude Bowling: The Last Days of Kona Lane, by Anthony Pignataro,
Orange County Weekly [June 2003]
Bowlers
rally to save Kona Lanes. Developer claims failure of nearby
Edwards Theaters, Ice Chalet proves area not suited for recreational
uses. By BRIAN MARTINEZ The Costa Mesa Breeze [Sept. 2002]
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Holiday
Lanes Bowling Alley,
Lansing, MI. More photos. |
Photograph courtesy
South Carolina SHPO. |
All-Star
Bowling Lane
[now All Star Triangle Bowl].
"Orangeburg, South Carolina's only bowling alley--this building
played a pivotal role in the February 8, 1968, 'Orangeburg Massacre'
on the campus of South Carolina State College. In this confrontation
between black students and police, three students were killed and
27 injured." More details from We
Shall Overcome: Historic Places of the Civil Rights Movement. |
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Hollywood
Star Lanes
5227 Santa Monica Blvd., Hollywood, CA
Hollywood Star Lanes opened in 1962 and remained Hollywood's only
bowling alley for 40 years. Open 24 hours, HSL served as more than
a neighborhood recreational facility with a full cocktail bar and
killer jukebox, it was also a low-key late night hangout for celebrities
and can be seen in the movie "The Big Lebowski".
Friends and fans gathered to bowl their last games and bid an emotional
goodbye on August 7, 2002. Ever-popular owner Sam Burnese autographed
his entire inventory of bowling pins for a long line of loyal customers.
Hollywood Star Lanes will be replaced by an elementary school, but
its spectacular neon will soon glow again at the new Lucky Strike
Lanes at the Hollywood and Highland development. -- Adriene Biondo
See more images here |
| A
Listing of Recent Past Bowling Alleys, as discussed on the RPPN members
listserve June 2003... |
Southport
Lanes & Billiards 3325 North Southport Avenue, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 472-6600. Established 1922, still uses "pin boys"
or manual pin setters.
Lincoln Square
Lanes 4847 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60625. Featuring a grand
mural of the Lincoln Monument across the entire back end of the
alley, overseeing all bowlers.
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Chops
Bowling
2518 S. 13th St Omaha, NE 68108 402-341-3878.
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Rose Bowl
on Route 66 in Tulsa.
Photograph links:
Tulsa TV Memories | Roadside
Peek
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