This place was known as ‘The Out-of-Door Bowling Alleys’ and was located at Sunset Blvd and Ivar Ave in Hollywood. This puts it within half a block of where the Cinerama Dome would go up 30 years later. As far as I can determine, it was around in the early 1930s, but I don’t know how long they lasted. However I did find a description of the place which talked about how the alleys were covered with a “soundless” composition” and provided balls “coated with rubber.” This meant there was “an absence of the sound of crashing pins and rolling balls.” I read that and thought ‘But isn’t that part of the fun of going bowling?’
There was a large indoor alley over in that direction toward Gower but up at around the Selma alignment. If the outdoor bowl had relocated to Sunset, then perhaps the indoor alleys were constructed as a replacement just above that site? As far as this original location, the extension of Ivar down from Prospect/Hollywood had to cut west (left in the frame) to meet what was the Cosmo alignment, and then turn south again to arrive at Sunset. So, the c. 1940 Life photo that Martin previously published of old houses on Ivar was actually one block to the east of here between Sunset and Selma. That road terminated at the north end of the block (where the Stearns estate land formed a barrier). As far as I can trace, what lay directly north of this view in the beginning was the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway reserve with the station by Cosmo and a possible freight yard where Ivar is now. The St. Stephens Episcopal church structures would have been built next to that yard (east side of it), but not at the actual corner of the future Ivar extension. Photos seem to bear this out, but I wish there were more. [An interior view of the original church survives and is posted on an organ history site.]
This place was known as ‘The Out-of-Door Bowling Alleys’ and was located at Sunset Blvd and Ivar Ave in Hollywood. This puts it within half a block of where the Cinerama Dome would go up 30 years later. As far as I can determine, it was around in the early 1930s, but I don’t know how long they lasted. However I did find a description of the place which talked about how the alleys were covered with a “soundless” composition” and provided balls “coated with rubber.” This meant there was “an absence of the sound of crashing pins and rolling balls.” I read that and thought ‘But isn’t that part of the fun of going bowling?’
Lets go bowling in high heels. Quite a trick!
It’s the only way to bowl!
…and the women bowled in heels! Handmaids, indeed.
Yeahhhhhh…I’ma gonna guess they weren’t serious bowlers.
From the 1940 City Directory. First and Only Outdoor Bowling Lanes In Hollywood, Lunch and Tea Served In Open Air Patio,6110 Sunset.
https://i.imgur.com/dvhrfNB.png
Hey Johnny – that’s interesting. 6110 Sunset would put them at Sunset and Gower. Perhaps they moved from Ivar to Gower later.
Yes, I think you’re right MT. The other buildings seen in these photos put it squarely in the area of Sunset and Ivar.
There was a large indoor alley over in that direction toward Gower but up at around the Selma alignment. If the outdoor bowl had relocated to Sunset, then perhaps the indoor alleys were constructed as a replacement just above that site? As far as this original location, the extension of Ivar down from Prospect/Hollywood had to cut west (left in the frame) to meet what was the Cosmo alignment, and then turn south again to arrive at Sunset. So, the c. 1940 Life photo that Martin previously published of old houses on Ivar was actually one block to the east of here between Sunset and Selma. That road terminated at the north end of the block (where the Stearns estate land formed a barrier). As far as I can trace, what lay directly north of this view in the beginning was the Los Angeles-Pacific Railway reserve with the station by Cosmo and a possible freight yard where Ivar is now. The St. Stephens Episcopal church structures would have been built next to that yard (east side of it), but not at the actual corner of the future Ivar extension. Photos seem to bear this out, but I wish there were more. [An interior view of the original church survives and is posted on an organ history site.]