email: roadarch@outlook.com

California Bowling Signs (page 1)

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Linbrook Bowl
Anaheim, CA
The Linbrook Bowl opened in 1958. This sign is believed to be from then. It is about 25 feet tall. The bowling pin originally revolved. It reads "40 Lanes" on one side and "Open 24 Hours" on the other. The "BOWL" letters are lit with scintillating, flashing bulbs. For more, see this website. [map]

More Anaheim:
Wonder Bowl [vintage; gone]

Albany Bowl
Albany, CA		 Burney Bowl
Burney, CA
The Albany Bowl had been here since at least 1953. It closed in 2020. By 2024, the parking sign on top had been removed. [map]

The Burney Bowl was built in 1960. This sign appears to be from then. [map]

Canoga Park Bowl
(now Winnetka Bowl) [gone]
Canoga Park, CA		 Riverside Lanes
Colusa, CA
The Canoga Park Bowl sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. This photo is from 2013. In 2014, the business became the Winnetka Bowl and the lettering at the top of the sign was changed. By 2018, the neon letters on both of the bowling alley signs were replaced with backlit plastic.

The Riverside Lanes was built around 2000. The design was based on the Crossroads Bowl sign which was built in 1963 in Williams, CA. The owner of the Riverside Lanes had hoped to restore that sign and install it at his bowling alley. However, the sign fell apart when it was removed. The paint colors of this replica sign were a best guess match of the original. [map]

Costa Mesa (now Cincinnati, OH):
Kona Lanes Bowl: 1, 2

Hayward:
Holiday Bowl [gone]

Gage Bowl
Huntington Park, CA
2016: 2023:
The Gage Bowl was built in 1960 and this sign is probably from then. Around 2019, the sign was repainted with red on top and black for the lower panels. For more, see this website. [map]

Cedar Lanes
Fresno, CA
2008: 2019:
The Cedar Lanes opened in 1959 and this sign might be from then. By 2010, the plastic balls on this sign were gone. In 2012, the bowling alley was demolished. This sign and the former pole sign shown on the right are now at CNI Signmakers.

La Habra:
La Habra 300 Bowl

Long Beach:
Java Lanes: 1, 2[gone]

Southwest Bowl [gone]
Los Angeles, CA
The Southwest Bowl was built in 1958. These photos are from 2008. Later that year, the bowling alley closed. The signs were destroyed but part of the building was preserved. It now houses the Foundation Center. [map]

More Los Angeles:
Hollywood Star Lanes: 1, 2, 3 [gone]
Jensen's Recreation Center

Valley Bowl
Madera, CA		 Century
Bowl [gone]
Merced, CA
The Valley Bowl sign appears to be from the 1950s or 1960s. The bowling alley is still operating. [map]

The Century Bowl sign was probably from the 1950s. The bowling alley closed in the mid-1990s. This photo is from 2014. The sign was still there in 2016 but gone by 2017.

Monterey:
Monterey Lanes [map]

Montrose Bowl
Montrose, CA		 Surf Bowl
Oceanside, CA
The Montrose Bowl opened in either 1936 or 1940. Multiple sources disagree on the exact date but I think 1940 is correct. For more, see this website. [map]

The Surf Bowl has been here since at least the early 1960s. The sign has been updated a bit. For more, see this website. [map]

Ontario:
Thunderbird Lanes

California
page 2		 California
page 3		 Bowling Signs
page 2		 Bowling Signs
page 3		 Bowling Signs
page 4		 Bowling Signs
page 5		 Bowling Signs
page 6
Bowling Signs
page 7		 Bowling Signs
page 8		 Bowling Signs
page 9		 Bowling Signs
page 10		 Bowling Signs
page 11		 Bowling Signs
page 12
Main SCA Article
Companion Page		 Main Signs Page