Carolina West

5607 W. Century Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90045

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Additional Info

Previous Names: Century Theatre

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Carolina West

Built as a bowling alley in 1959, it later became a nightclub. For a while in the mid-1960’s, part of the building was in use as an adult theatre, known as the Century Theatre. This theater became home to a notable ‘gentleman’s club’ with live performances, located close-by LAX.

It was closed in August 2009, to be demolished for expansion of the airport. Demolition took place in December 2009.

Contributed by Ken McIntyre

Recent comments (view all 17 comments)

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 24, 2008 at 10:45 pm

I would guess it was already a nightclub in 1967 then, and it had an adult movie theatre as one of its attractions. But it doesn’t appear at all- not even among the porn movies- in the listings of the L.A. Times for February 10, 1971, the earliest Times listings I have at hand.

The place was called Carolina West Century Lounge (a.k.a. Century Theatre) when it was reviewed for this web site, surely within our current decade (Internets being fairly new and all.) After reading the description of what goes on there, I urgently desire never to visit it, and especially not to touch anything within it.

I still suspect the building of having been built as a bowling alley, if it wasn’t a nightclub from the beginning. It’s all wrong (and in the wrong location) for a big movie theater.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 24, 2008 at 11:14 pm

I didn’t provide the seat count. I think the Century aka related to the first post on 3/13/07.

adbmf80
adbmf80 on July 11, 2009 at 1:56 pm

i have been to the back part of the club and it still has the night club and bowling alley intact. they are just not ujsing that part of the building anymore. the club is set to close down on august 31st 2009

adbmf80
adbmf80 on August 23, 2009 at 10:48 pm

unfortunately the club has finally closed down last night and is scheduled for demolition to expand lax airport

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on September 25, 2009 at 3:35 pm

LA Times story today about the impending demolition. I will take some photos when they start bulldozing. Poor displaced strippers.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on October 21, 2009 at 4:11 pm

They put a Wally Park ad on the big sign yesterday.

I took a look at the LA Times archive-there was an aircraft plant on this site in WW II that apparently was torn down in the 1950s. The bowling alley, Carolina Lanes, opened around 1960. There was also a restaurant in the building called Carolina Pines. Later on the restaurant became the nightclub Carolina West, as already has been pointed out.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on November 7, 2009 at 5:24 pm

Here are a couple of photos before the demolition starts. The doors at the back say “Carolina West Disco Entrance”.
http://tinyurl.com/ydk7u49
http://tinyurl.com/ycft4f8

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 3, 2009 at 10:09 pm

The bulldozers have been parked, but no demolition. Maybe the ghosts of strippers past are keeping them at bay.

kencmcintyre
kencmcintyre on December 15, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Adios. Status should be changed to closed/demolished.
http://tinyurl.com/yeebu75
http://tinyurl.com/y97z7lj

outerlimits101
outerlimits101 on August 25, 2013 at 7:05 pm

Back in the 60’s, myself and several friends had so much fun going to the club to meet people and dance all night. One person in particular I met was Rhoda McCullough, she was great.

I sure would like to find some memorabilia regarding Carolina Lanes, Carolina Pines and Carolina West.

Please contact me at .

Thanks, Steve

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