Photo Credit: Anthony Ross
Many Angelenos do not realize that popular Santa Monica Boulevard, which runs from the beach in Santa Monica, inland, is part of Route 66. Yes, the end of the Mother Road is memorialized in Santa Monica, and there a a few Historic Route 66 street signs along the way, but for the most part Route 66 is invisible in the City of the Angels.
Photo Credit: Painting by Anthony Ross
One of the attractions that existed along the way was the Hollywood Star Lanes, a unique very retro bowling alley that was situated at 5227 Santa Monica Blvd., a stones throw away from the Hollywood Freeway (route 101). It was built in 1962.
The Google style neon inside and out was the hallmark of the design and today you can see the interior decorations at Lucky Strike Lanes on Hollywood Boulevard, next to the famous Chinese theater at the Hollywood and Highland complex.
One of the claims of fame, besides being visited by movie stars looking for a great place to bowl, was the use of the Hollywood Star Lanes in movies. The 1998 movie "The Big Lebowski" was filmed there in 1998.
The Hollywood Star Lanes was torn down in 2003 after the Los Angeles Unified School District successfully used eminent domain to build a new school, which exists now.
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