Highland Park Bowl (Los Angeles, California)

USA / California / South Pasadena / Los Angeles, California / Figueroa Street, 5621 1/2
 bowling alley, rock/ pop music venue
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5621 North Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA 90042
(323) 256-7561

The brick-and-concrete-block building across from the old Highland Theater, opened in 1927 as a garage.

At some point during the early 1940s the property was converted to a bowling alley. From a nondescript double-glass door, a long hallway led to a single room divided into a bar and a dining area. Curved wooden benches lined the slightly submerged playing area. For years, the alley prospered alongside the neighborhood's family-owned department stores and movie houses.

Joseph "Mr. T" Teresa, a son of an Italian immigrant by way of Louisiana, who owned a nearby liquor store, bought the property in 1966. Live big-band music, Mr. T's favorite, filled the space. Mr. T set up home-style buffets for hungry bowlers. And students from nearby Occidental College and other Eastside campuses indulged in the tradition of collegiate drinking there. Over time, the bowling alley evolved into a music venue.

The 1933 Group completed an overhaul of the building including exposing the original façade and interior, refurbishing the lanes, and put items original to the bowling alley on display.

www.highlandparkbowl.com/
la.eater.com/2016/4/25/11503366/highland-parkb-bowl-pho...
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Coordinates:   34°6'34"N   118°11'37"W

Comments

  • The best place to hear shitty bands, bar none. And quite often a decent place to hear good bands.
This article was last modified 6 years ago