Covina Bowl, Covina, California, 1955
This is the moment of ignition. A small, controlled flame is sucked in a post lunch cigarette pursed between the red lips of a space age suburban matron. Her black and white tweed suit is as sensible as it is smart. And that double rose head ornament is as unexpected as it is outstanding.
Those spectacular two-tone gold Lurex diamond drapes could easily be fashioned into a ball gown. They are a stark and glamorous contrast to the wood-grain Formica table top, paper placemat and pink and gray dishes lunch is served on.
Speaking of lunch…isn’t she going to finish her peas and baked potato? She hasn’t even touched that boxy basket of crackers and double wide pat of butter served on a side dish. Should she want to salt, pepper and or sugar anything; no problem, the shakers are full. And she’s got plenty to drink –water, wine and coffee. Oh well, I guess she’d rather smoke her lunch!
Here’s to the Covina Bowl, (its still standing!) double roses, gold lurex and YOU!
Water, coffee AND wine? ….and somebody to light your cigarette??? I gotta get a LIFE.
RIP Jerry
I dig the chairs, too. With the construction going on Azusa Ave at its early stages, Covina Bowl is visible from that street, and it’s a nice treat to see it as I drive by.
Charles!
Do you have an address for the Covina Bowl? I want to go! Not that I know where Covina is (I’ve only been through West Covina a hundred times and that was just this week alone.)
Do you think this woman might still have an incredible complexion after all these many years of fashionable smoking?
I think the chair is pretty cool too! Thanks Charles & co.
Are those bowling ball ear rings ? I’d bet this gal is a leaguer !
This picture is so politically incorrect by today’s standards that I couldn’t love it more. Big carbohydrates, boiled vegetables, giant containers of sugar and salt and SMOKING! YAY! I have to say I’m disappointed that Miss Tobacco didn’t take the time to do her nails. Blunt nails with “Cherries in the Snow” polish to match her lipstick would have been the BEST!
Keep ‘em coming, Charles, and thanks!
Charles, I grew up in Covina. I spent many an hour @ the Covina Bowl as my dad & mom were both on leagues my entire childhood. I’m soooo proud that it is still in operation!!
“meow”
Alas, Eastland shopping center is not what it used too be. Clifton’s, Moskatel’s I could go on and on.
Thanks for sharing my childhood with others.
Kittie Velour
This lady has come to enjoy the cusine unless there is a pink and white bowling shirt under that chic outfit. I grew up in Baldwin Park, adjacent to Covina. Does anyone remember the Jack Benny radio program when Mel Blanc announced the bus loading as “now leaving for Anaheim, Azusa and Coooook-amunga” but I digress…
Wow, all this in a bowling alley! Now you’re lucky to even find a bowling alley let alone a restaurant in it with classy drapes to boot. I love the smile on the waitresses face like she lives to do this. What a time when we dressed-up to go anywhere. I love it.
Thanks again, Charles.
Pamela
Hi Charles — love your stuff — just changing our e-amil address. We’ll get sitters for the kids as soon as we can make it out to another show!!
I dunno…the jacket looks like a silk blend to me….
I have a funny story about the Covina Bowl. In 1958, I was born while my mom was bowling there!
But, before you get too excited. I was adopted. She just got the word while she was bowling.
I always enjoyed going there as a kid, as it had cool pinball machines and an awesome miniature bowling alley game (10 cents) for kids.
We have a brand new smoker here, just learning. You can tell by the way she holds the cigarette with the very tips of her fingers, and places the tip of the thing just barely between her rather tight lips,fingers touching her lips. She probably read that 4 out of 5 doctors recommended that brand, so she thought she would give it a try, and it’s oh so fashionable. Give her awhile and she’ll really be hunkering down on that thing, but right now she’s rather tentative.
Yeah, it’s definitely the 50s. You can’t smoke nowadays in most eateries.
Amazing fondue shot.
Grew up walking distance from here. Attended a Sweet 16 in one of the banquet rooms, played Mortal Kombat in high school there. My dad even used to get his hair cut in their “salon.”
Good times.
WOW! Covina Bowl – My wife Donna & I graduated from Monrovia High in 1966 and our senior all-night party was held at Covina Bowl. It was voted on over Disneyland. Can you believe it? Free bowling, pool, music, food…all night…but if you leave early, you couldn’t get back in. Drove my 56 Chevy there. Still have my first car and my first wife. How many can say the same? Good times.
Louis Brutacao, who, with his brothers, built the Covina Bowl, died September 25, 2008. The Brutacaos were very prominent in the Covina area; he served as mayor, and they had a big part in the building of Sacred Heart Church. I grew up across the road from Covina Bowl, and have fond memories of many afternoons spent there in the 60.s
I have many fond memories of the Covina Bowl. My early years were spent not far from the ‘Bowl’ on Thelborne St. Went to many parties there through the 60′s & 70′s (Gad’s I’m old…) I really got a slap in the head when I took my daughter there for a Cosmic Bowling party and was amazed how some things never change from generation to generation; kid’s still love to bowl! Thanks for the great pic, love all of the nostalgia it envolks. (I’m coveting those earrings…)