Hollywood Star Lanes

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Hollywood Star Lanes was a 32-lane bowling alley located on Santa Monica Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.

Hollywood Star Lanes
Hollywood Star Lanes
Address5227 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, California
OwnerJoseph Barnese, Sam Barnese
TypeBowling center
Construction
Built1960
OpenedJanuary 7, 1961
ClosedAugust 8, 2002
Demolished2002
Main contractorsBaingo Brothers General Contractors

The alley was opened in late 1960 by owner Joseph Barnese with 32 lanes, cocktail lounge and a coffee shop. [1] Grand opening ceremonies were held January 7, 1961. [2] Barnese's son Sam Barnese was general manager and Herb Roth, manager. [3] The alley was featured in the film The Big Lebowski , which was filmed on location over three weeks of the eleven-week filming schedule. [4] At the time of filming traditional paper score cards were still used. due to profits from the film electronic scoring monitors were installed. [5] The alley was also a filming location for The Big Empty . In 2002, after several years of failed negotiations with then owner Sam Barnese the alley was closed after the Los Angeles Unified School District seized the land by eminent domain in order to build an elementary school at the site (today known as Kingsley Elementary School). [6] The center closed on August 8 of that year. [7]

In July 1977, the area behind the bowling alley was used by the FBI as a staging area to conduct a raid on two nearby Scientology locations. [8]

References

  1. "Jul 29, 1960, page 6 - Los Angeles Evening Citizen News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  2. "Jan 05, 1961, page 8 - Los Angeles Evening Citizen News at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com". www.newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  3. "Nov 29, 1960, page 9 - Los Angeles Evening Citizen News at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  4. Wloszcyna, Susan (March 5, 1998). "Another Quirky Coen Toss Turning Their Sly Style to Lebowski". USA Today.
  5. "Jun 02, 2002, page 242 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  6. Ramos, George (8 August 2002). "Bowlers Bid Farewell to a Star". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  7. "Jul 11, 2002, page 65 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-07-14.
  8. Ortega, Tony. "Scientology will try to force Danny Masterson accusers into its internal 'arbitration'". The Underground Bunker. Retrieved 13 May 2020.

34°5′28.28″N118°18′12.56″W / 34.0911889°N 118.3034889°W / 34.0911889; -118.3034889