Old Towne Mall
Torrance, California - circa 1970s
Esteemed Malls of America reader (as you all are), "Don-O", sent me these nifty photos of Old Towne Mall, in Torrance, CA, along with some youthful memories of the place, which is now redeveloped and called Torrance Promenade. The frist image (above) is a postcard depicting the mall's locally famous Singing Security Guard. The second one below, is a shot of the kiddie play area featuring the "Old Towne Puppet Theater". Thanks for the great submission, and take it away Don!
"My personal story attached to this place is a bit spotty as during the times I lived in the South Bay, I visited the Del Amo Fashion Mall, the old South Bay Center and the beach more than this place.
As you see and might have heard, this place was closely modeled after Main Street in Disneyland and had strolling entertainment and was thoroughly decorated. It wasn't until around 2000 when I discovered that they had a indoor roller coaster, thanks to a then-new roommate who worked as the 'coaster operator. The central attraction was the two-story carousel, which I managed to ride many times.
Old Towne Puppet Theater
The major stores, that I remember, were Federated & K-Mart. In the late '80s began the slow death of this wonderful mall. The detailed street design was slowly being stripped away, the carousel was moved twice until it was finally sold off and so on. Finally, the mall was turned into an outdoor strip mall and the Mann Theatre was turned into a Linen 'n Things store.
Too bad I couldn't spend more time and take more pictures, but it was located between Del Amo and SBC, which, no doubt, lead to it's downfall: location! location! location!
Don-O"
Mall history: 1970s - early '90s (redeveloped)
Current website: n/a
Current aerial view (Torrance Promenade)
Previous entries: 1
posted by Keith @ 3/24/2007
55 Comments:
These are beautiful photos. very creative look.
However, the woman on the piano in the first photo looks like she tunneled out of the sixties with that hairdo and outfit not the seventies which made me question the year that is posted.
And can someone please explain, what the hell is a prommenade and why the hell would anyone prefer that to this?
This mall was part of 4 malls during the 70's in the area (South Bay Galleria to the north, and both the Del Amo Mall and Del Amo Fashion Center to the south). Some time during the early 80's, the Del Amo Mall and Del Amo Fashion Center across the street merged, forming at the time the largest mall in America. This lead to the downfall of Old Town Mall. The Old Town Mall, like Eastland in West Covina, was just gutted and subdivided into big box stores. You can see where they cut into the mall in the picture for more parking.
The Kmart store is still there today. Federated was a highly popular chain of electronics stores.
I just loved Old Towne Mall. The rides, the atmosphere, and the nifty stores all added to the great experience that was Old Towne. I've been blogging about the mall for some time on my site. I'm glad that it finally got some recognition on such a popular site as yours. Old Towne opened in 1972, and was sold in 1988, then redeveloped in 1989. The carousel remained next to the theater until 1994 when it was sold to Eastwood Mall in Niles Ohio. The Mann 6 closed after becoming a three dollar theater. Almost nothing remains of the original mall now, except a tribute inside the Trader Joe's.
Aren't the Trader Joe's stores owned by the Aldi chain? Cause the idea of a tribute to anything existing inside an Aldi store is incredibly funny.
And you're right, didi, the piano lady's dress and hairstyle look more like early 1960s to me, though the people in the background look more 1970s. Perhaps she performed in the same dress with the same hairstyle (or wig?) for 15 years or so?
I'm not a huge fan of the "fake small town street" look, but this mall definitely did it very nicely. Those faux houses are very detailed, including balconies, etc... Kind of sad that they tore this one down, while building similar things (albeit outdoors) all over the US.
Reading this post reminded me that there was also an "Old Towne" mall in Fort Lauderdale Florida in the mid to late '70's. It looked very much like the one in the pictures. Opened in a converted strip that once housed a W.T. Grants store, it featured no anchors, but did have a multiplex theater. I wonder if the two were related...
Hey look! A security guard NOT penalizing citizens for cameras!
I lived in the South bay in the early 80's and visited Old Towne regularily. There was a game store near the north end, and there was always this guy who would play backgammon to all comers. I never took him on, and regret it.
I went to this mall in error in the late Eighties. We were looking for Del Amo and stumbled upon this mall after being enticed by the “e” in “Towne.” The outside was contemporary and looked like any other strip center, but it was exceptionally long. A trip inside revealed Victorian/old West-type facades for store fronts. Similar to Disneyland’s Main Street, but undeniably cheesy looking. There were no skylights, just a flat ceiling with rectangular florescent lights commonly found in office buildings. The store facades butted up against ceiling, which gave the mall a collapsing feel.
During our visit, there weren’t any entertainment venues and we were befuddled why the mall was even there. It was only twenty years later before I found out what its popularity was before it faded. Nevertheless, we compared it to the Twilight Zone. An indoor climate-controlled city where all the people had disappeared while we were away in a bank vault. I suppose the entertainment novelty wore off. I know the South Bay Galleria had also just remodeled. Plus, Del Amo was now a super-regional center with national chains. Old Town just couldn’t compete. I’d bet their mall security also went from singing to prosecuting children for taking their picture. ;)
Scott
My first job was at Old Towne Mall at the Belgian Waffle Cafe. I worked there when the restaurant and many of the shops closed down in, that had to be, 1989. It was a charming place, it had a couple of rides, actually, the 'roller coaster' was more like a slow fantasy ride, but The carousel was two stories, and amazing. That place used to go all out for Christmas, and it was a tradition in a lot of local families to take pictures there. There used to be a store called the Federated Group, its spokesperson on the T.V. commercials was Shadow Stevens, I met him while working there, and also met Homer and JR, charachters in the old Miller's Outpost commercials. It was a specialty place, it never fully 'competed' with Del Amo, but when the South Bay Fahion Center, as it was called, converted into the South Bay Galleria, it killed Old Towne. But it was cool, for a while it was a $3 movie theater - $1 on Tuesdays. I wonder if anyone can remember the old South Bay Center, in Redondo Beach, with Putney Station restaurant, Newberry's, and In the May Co. there was this really trippy restaurant, that looked like it got stuck somewhere in the 40's. I live in Albuqueque, now, it's a trip to read something about Old Towne
"And you're right, didi, the piano lady's dress and hairstyle look more like early 1960s to me, though the people in the background look more 1970s. Perhaps she performed in the same dress with the same hairstyle (or wig?) for 15 years or so?"
LOL! Perhaps she was trapped in a time warp and refused to wear plaid of the 70s.
I loved this place...the rides were incredible (for a mall), although I can't imagine what stores were there originally to draw anyone. All I can remeber is the head shop, arcade, comic books, and shooting gallery. I wonder what the original tenants were.
Also, there was a really cool model train setup inside a glass case...you could pay a quarter to control the trains. It was a really elaborate setup with mountains and a lake and little people and cars.
A real original place.
Thanks for sharing, Don-O!
wow, searched on Old Town Torrance and came across this site.
I remember Old Towne Mall, I used to get models at a hobby store there, and patronized some leather shops and pet stores there as well, often getting an ice-cream while I was there. This was in about 1981-84, I lived in Hermosa Beach and it was quite close. I lived near the power plant between Hermosa and Redondo.
So the mall is no more, wow!
Even took a one-time date with a wonderful Cuban woman I knew there for an ice-cream shop. Now that I think about it. LOL. We worked on the phone together, she was at a different business than me.
I'm not a big "mall Guy" but love local history. I "Googled" Old Towne Mall and this is what I got. What a trip! This brings me way back. This used to be one of my favorite places as a young kid. I can still remember the smell of the place, Like caramel popcorn. There was an indoor bandstand and seating area that was torn down and replaced with a Marshall's about 25 years ago. We used to sit there and watch the "ragtime" band play in those early 1900's era funny flat hats and red and white striped jackets. The "singing security guard" was not a security guard at all, but was really called "the Old Towne Policeman" and was part of the band/show. I actually got to see him sing once when I was around 4. Every so often he would come up to the bandstand and sing a song with the band. Like the other comments say, the carousel was amasing, truly unforgettable; and part of the bygone era of the late 1800's/early 1900's. I only wish I had a picture of it. Thanks for bringing an old South Bay kid back about 27 years. Butch
There was this kid with no legs. He rode around that mall on a skateboard doing a handstand. I found out later that he was one of the actors inside the E.T. creature.
wow does this bring back memories. We used to go to Old Towne all the time as a kid. I used to walk my "invisible dog" there (the dog leash and collar that made it look like you were walking a dog but weren't). Then I went to work at Waldenbooks in the mall for a couple years until it closed. Used to do breakfast at the Belgian Waffle Place which was across from Waldenbooks. The carousel was right outside of the store and restaurant. Everytime I drive by that area I think about the mall and still miss it.
Old Towne Mall. WOW! What a trip! Go to Trader Joe's in that same parking lot and look at the painting above the registers.
Later,
M1SK Crew
It's funny I found this site. I remember the Old Towne mall vaguely my parents took me there when I was 3 and 4 I remember the carousel and there Was this other ride that looked like a cave. What was that called and all about?
I lived in Manhattan Beach in the 60's and 70's and my mom and I used to bring Lion Cubs to the south Bay Mall to raise awareness for the ELSA foundation. Greta website, brings back many fond memories. Does anyone remember the Scary Ride? GREAT!!
My First job was working at the Ole Town Mall as a busboy back in the last 70's and early 80's. Now I work for Raytheon in tucson
Oh my gosh. I was telling a coworker who's from Pasadena about the Old Towne Mall of my childhood and Googled it. To my extreme delight, this site came up complete with pictures!
I LOVED that mall, as my grandparents used to take me there in the summers when we would visit them from Fresno. They lived just up the street on Avis and was it Garnet, I think?? My grandfather would wait patiently for me while I went on each ride over and over. They used to have a bumble bee ride and the carousel was really neat with the swings on the second level. And I loved that dark coaster ride.
Somebody else mentioned the ragtime performers in the red and white striped jackets and that brought back so many other memories. I loved the ceramics shop and used to buy little creatures to paint at home. I think I still have a pink hippo figurine somewhere packed away!
I still think of it when I drive by that strip mall now and it feels like a big hole where something special is missing.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane everyone! It made my day.
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back in the day the mall had an eatery in the front of the mall. it had all the different kinds of fool you would find in Today's Mall, but better. Looked like white picket fence wood and had a band inside that played while you ate. They had several "tourist" nic nac shops, Trader Joes, Fed Group (very large) a Sega Center which turned into a Time Out. The cinema was at the other end. They remodeled it and we lost the eatery as they placed it near the cinema. It was loss of the eatery that killed it, as that place was always packed.
Nice to have memories, unfortunately we had film and photos of the place that got destroyed, lucky we still have some shots of the place.
Anyone remember the lady mime?
Hi,
I don't remember the lady mime, but I do remember boy mime which his name was Curtis Tingman I believe. Has step brother was Phill Flamingo, which he was a busboy at the time I worked as a sweeper for the maintenance department for the mall. I was there around 77 thru 80
Dave
I used to do the puppet shows at Old Towne Mall for many years. My experiences at the mall really helped me develop as an entertainer. I not only performed at the sunken puppet theatre (see picture above) I also did a Walking Puppet Theatre and 16 foot tall "Pageant Puppets" which strolled around the mall. I remodeled the puppet theatre from what it looks like in the picture above, adding an improved sound system, more places in the structure that puppets can pop out of, etc. Making this show an attraction. I knew my gig was near an end when the mall management, in there devine wisdom, tore down the puppet theatre and filled in the hole. They then built a portable Puppet Theatre "building"/closet thing that I performd out of at various locations in the mall.
I guess the in ground puppet theatre was conflicting with the movie theatre lines.
I am still performing. Still doing puppet shows, magic shows and science shows see my wed site:
http://www.wonderworldproductions.com
I went to Old Towne just after it opened in '72. Enclosed malls were just getting started then in the South Bay, so that in itself was an attraction of sorts. But Old Towne was one of the few malls to actually try to be something more than the usual cookie-cutter mall. It was a themed mall with an emphasis on entertainment. It had indoor rides, restaurants, artists, interesting shops... It almost felt like an enclosed amusement park at times.
Alas, the mundane won out over the novel. The mall was reduced to an average mall, and then into something even more boring - into an outdoor strip mall.
I, too, LOVED going to Old Towne Mall. I lived in Glendora at the time. It was one of those special "road trips" we'd take. How sad that all the speciality stores we had back then have all gone out of business. I HATE the big box stores and retail giants now. Old Town Mall leaves a pleasant memory whenever I think about it. I never go there now...too trashy. Who needs another strip mall?
I loved hanging out at Old Towne and Del Amo- in fact the 1st R-rated movie I ever saw was at Del Amo- "Scarface," with Al Pacino. Man, Michelle Pfeiffer was HOT.
My First R rated was "The Driver"with Ryan O'Neil. Great action flick
I'm always amazed to find people who had the same experiences as I did. Grew up in S. Bay (ick), but went to Old Towne all the time with my parents. I saw "Caddyshack" with my brother and mom. Talk about embarassed during the breast shot of Lacey Underall. Hah! I long since moved and forgot it was in Torrance. Also forgot it was so close to Del Amo which would have easily put it under. Didn't they have a Sees Candy store in Old Towne? Will South Bay residents of the late 70's/early 80's have to get together to remember all of our collective history that was torn down in the name of commercial progress?
Anyway, thank you so much for posting. Brings me back.
Thank you all for bringing back some good memories. The "Bonanza Shooting Gallery" was my first job in 1980 and I walked around with an apron full of quarters to give to the patrons. Remember the spittoon next to the old time saloon piano player? Awesome place to work for a first job, we had sooo much fun working there. We used to ride on the rides all the time on our breaks. Remember the Buckle Gallery, all they sold was belt buckles and next door was the cotton candy/caramel corn and on the other side was the "Castle Ride", other favs; the water bed shop, the head shop and the arcade. Places to eat; "Fritzenkotters" a deli with sandwiches named after famous people, the Perry Mason sandwich was great, they also had good chili. "Mama & Papa Pizano's" had the best pizza and garlic bread, oh yeah and there was "Hungarian Gulash", I'd get their roast beef sandwich. MMM Oh, the memories..Thank you for the Pics, wish I had some to share.
I also remember the great times working for the mall. I worked as a busboy from 78 - 80. I enjoyed the entertainment that the provided, which made a great place to hangout. Too bad we don't have these malls.
I remember a pizza place in the food court area that had a picture of a baby with a bowl of spagetti on his head.
Thanks for this post. Seeing the pics and reading through the comments brought back a lot of fond memories.
I remember taking the "Pepsi Challenge" here; the line for that was always dozens deep. (To my dismay, I kept picking Pepsi, despite being a Coke devotee.)
I'll never forget seeing "Raiders of the Lost Ark" for the first time at the Mann Theatre.
As a kid, I used to make the long trek by bike from southern Torrance just to go spend my hard-earned dollars at the hobby/model shop there.
Warm, nostalgic memories…
My parents took me there on sundays all through the 70s.It was the highlight of my week as a child.We would go to perrys pizza and they had a gazeebo in the middle of the food court and barbershop quartets singing or old time piano.There was a bumblebee ride just like the dumbo ride at disneyland and the best shooting gallery.My dad bought me my first comic book at the Dc comics shop there.Good times..
I was happy to see the photos of this mall.My parents would take us (brother too)there as it was a special treat and go on all the rides. My favorite was the 2 story carousel. I also liked the cave ride(it had figurines and moving animation of fairy tales). I loved the shooting gallery and I remember the bumble bee ride also. I used to watch the puppet shows. I always wondered what happened to the carousel. It is so sad that this went all away. I thought it was the coolest mall ever and I hate malls.
I do remember the comic vendor, which I still have some of the comics that bought back in the 70’s…I had great time there….lots of good memories.
I loved Old Towne mall. I grew up in L.A. Taking the 25 minute drive to the mall was a treat. It felt like we'd driven to a different town and era. I'd ride all the rides with my younger sister. Then we'd visit most of the shops with my mom. I too am sad that this super charming place lost its appeal. What a shame.
Wow, I love the pictures. I remember going here when I was a kid in the 70's. One thing I remember was the chandelier in the arcade. Of course as a kid, you always had to go to the model shop next door. Yes I remember spending a few weekends at the Old Towne Mall.
OMG This was a wonderful treat to see the old pics, and see what others remember. My aunt and uncle used to own the Rose Garden inside this mall and my mother (and other family members) worked there. I feel as though i was almost raised in this mall. However I had forgotten so many things until reading the other posts. For example Ric Morton.. omg I used to love your shows, and I very much remember you. The mime Curtis Tingman was a good friend of one of my uncles (Glenn). I used to help my friend Melanie start the carousel ( i was about 8 then) "the carousel is now in motion, please stand behind the yellow line...etc" boy do I miss those days when life was simple. I used to help clean up the movie theatre in between shows and they would let me watch for free! Oh and does anyone remember the glass stand. Where they would blow all the great things with glass. Wow so many memories are rushing back right now. I am so thankful for this page...
Tami,
The mimi's name is Curtis Zimmerman, he is a motovational speaker now. I am good friends with his brother Phillip. I remember the glass blower ... had bought some tiems from him, was cool to watch the item being made. I worked on the Carousel from 1977 - 1981.
The old two story carousel? You be the judge.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llunTwI1HEo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Copy and paste to see it!. The carousel is identical!
I LOVED THIS MALL. I USE TO SHOP AT A STORE CALLED THE SHADY LADY.. EARLY 1970'S I THINK. I LOVED THAT IT WAS "THEMED". SUPER FUN INTERIOR.TOO BAD IT FADED AWAY. I ALSO WORKED AT "THE ORIGINAL COOKIE COMPANY" THERE.
The mall was owned by Lincoln Properties, and the entertainment director was a guy named "Boots" (I couldn't make that up). I responded to an ad (Variety? H'wood Reporter?) looking for entertainers. I became one of the first pianists there, accompanying Bruce (the singing cop with the red beard) and Lenny (who later was put in charge of entertainment). At Christmas the first year (1972), the mall hired some "little people" from Billy Barty to be elves to Bruce's Santa. Bruce was stoned a good portion of the time, but that made him all that more loveable. The best banjo player I worked with was a cute 17-year-old who'd sit on top of the upright piano and play--always an attraction. 40 years later, I'm still playing music.
I was once a "Mall Rat" at Old Towne Mall. I got a job at the Comic Vendor Store while I was in high school and I knew the place like the back of my hand. I was good friends with Hippie Ian who worked at the little Churro shop. Those who saw it might recall that it had some animated mechanical figures at the top of the front of the shop. These were actually something that was very valuable as it had its origins somewhere in the Disney family as I recall, and when the shop closed the little scene sold for more than $50,000. Some might also remember the "Balloon man" who walked around making balloon animals and doing juggling tricks etc. His name was Dennis Farrell and I eventually got to know him and he was a very nice guy. While it was there The Federated Group was a great store and I loved the place as well as many others. I fell in love for the first time, smoked my first joint, and saw the original Friday the 13th when it first came out on a Friday which was the 13th day of that month, all at this mall. I guess I basically grew up there one might say. It wasn't the biggest or the brightest mall but nonetheless, to me it will always be a magical place that I will never forget.
To Tami Goodson (Robarge) who wrote above, I remember you and your family's shop well. I was a friend of sorts with your Uncle Glenn, who actually took pity on me and let me hang out with him once in awhile after I had my heart broken by a girl who worked on the carousel who was actually quite crazy about him. Despite my feelings for her, as far as she was concerned I was never anything more than a momentary distraction, and a complication she never wanted beyond what amounted to an attempt to make your Uncle perhaps a little jealous. In any event he was extremely kind to me during all the emotional carnage that I went through and he was probably the coolest individual I ever met in my youth. He was basically Fonzi while I was a great deal less even than a Richie Cunningham, yet he still was a friendly towards me and I will always cherish the moments he spent with me. Your mom was pretty nice to me as well and was understanding a couple of times when I showed up late at night on your doorstep needing just to talk to someone about various emotional tragedies that I experienced from time to time, and as I recall I even bought you a present of some sort for your eigth birthday. You wanted to grow up so fast and that was the last thing any of us wanted for you, although I have no doubt you ended up doing just that. In any event, if you read this and/or find it and if you still communicate with your Uncle Glenn just tell him that Walt the guy from the comic vendor at Old Towne said Hello to him and that I thank him for being so kind to me. I wish you all the best and I hope all is well in your family. Take care.
Tami, I knew your aunt and uncle when they owned the Rose Garden. I was in the navy at the time . They befriended me and made me feel part of family. They were some of the people I ever known . Think of them often. Really miss the times I spent with and the rest of the group that worked there .
My Dad, Paul Carlson, was the General Manager of the Old Town Mall back in the early '70's. I used to go to work with him all the time when i was a little kid and loved it! I knew all the tenants and i roamed all over that mall from 2nd grade until 5th grade. I was even in their commercial, the one where the guys was singing "Come on down to the Old Town Mall." It was on TV constantly and i was slightly famous at my school. LOL!
Does anyone remember the name of the comic book store that was there? My parents used to take me and my cousin there in the late 70's when we were both big collectors/readers...It was a great time..movies, carousal,food.. Just fun times back then
I did puppet shows from 1972 to 73 for John Whiteriver who had the contract there. Great job. I loved it.And the German Sausage behind it. Meet Cary Grant and his daughter there. She wanted to see the puppets. Great place.
Remember the cool record store. Lots of Roxy Music and rare records. Very cool store.
I grew up in this mall. My family had many businesses there. After school each day
(Victor Elm) my grandfather would pick me up and take me back to our restaurant
Ole Hickory BBQ (213-542-8966)in case i got lost.
I was to due my homework on the tables (north end of the mall) before
I could run around and pester all the other merchants.
Kurt-arcade manager
Ted-waterbed store
Leland-magic store
Jim-Golf shop
?-Scorpio (head shop)
Robert- bumper cars
My mother had had the juice bar and eventually opened the dime toss / balloons.
My sister and I both worked there. Wearing a apron filled with dimes, we would make
change and watch with complete amazement people throwing thier money away. Occasionally
someone would win a ash-tray or stuffed animal. Filling balloons with helium was my
specialty - $.50 each. On the weekends the mall was packed and I noticed many of my balloons
had been accidentally released floating to the ceiling. Being the entrepreneur I was at 9 year old. I started my own business. I walked out to K-Mart and purchased a roll of kite string and tape. Attaching the string to a balloon with tape on the top I was able to
recover all losted ballons for the crying children. This was done at a small fee of $.25 each-50% off who could resist.
The mall did change hands and the new owners had different ideas for it. Saddly over time
the crowds became less and we were forced to sell all of our busninesses. It was a great time while it lasted. I enjoyed it and will never forget that place.
David Z
My very first job was also at The Old Town Mall. I see at least two posters who said they worked the puppet shows in the sunken theatre there. I must have worked it before you all. I worked for Uncle Sky’s magic and toy shop there in 1972. Uncle Sky did magic and puppet shows there when Old Town first opened. I worked in the toy shop and with the shows. I had to set up the magic tricks, place the bunny in one of the tricks, do the dog puppet and the talking tree during the show, catch the props when Uncle Sky would toss them behind the curtains. Take the bunny out of the illusions and place him back in his cage, etc. Unfortunately the job only lasted a couple of weeks as “Uncle Sky” was a better showman than a business man. One day I waited for Sky ( real name Skye Ivan) to show up and open the store. He never showed up again. I think I only got paid twice. Never got my last paycheck. Bumped into “Uncle Sky” a couple years later at the Renaissance Fair, lol.
Many, Many years ago I purchased a console TV and stereo system from Federated Group. I still have the stereo receiver and it still works.
I also dated a beautiful waitress who worked at the Belgian Waffle, Lori always was happy and had a smile on her face. So, I spent alot of time there waiting to pick her up after work or just stopping by to say hello, Unsure why we drifted apart?
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