We killed a theater AND a bowling alley

VOLUNTEERS (the movie David Isaacs and I wrote) did so poorly it not only closed a movie theater but also the bowling alley next door.

The Pickwood Theater and Bowling Alley were longtime fixtures in West Los Angeles on Pico Blvd. Many major pictures had their exclusive first runs at the Pickwood. There were star studded premieres and klieg lights. And the bowling alley was so popular it was open almost 24 hours a day.

Then VOLUNTEERS opened.

Three weeks later the wrecking ball tore the entire complex to smithereens.

The official word was that both structures were torn down to make way for the Westside Pavilion shopping mall. But we know better.

And the irony is the Pavilion itself has been renovated and what’s in that spot now? The Landmark theatres.

So moviegoers have forgiven us. But bowlers still hate our guts.