Old Towne Mall in Torrance

Above, a post card of Old Towne Mall featuring "Keystone Kop" Bruce Bishop.

Back in the early-1970s, indoor shopping malls were the rage. Many were built around the country. This allowed people to shop all year in air conditioned comfort. There was one mall that dared to be different: Old Towne Mall in Torrance, California. 

Old Towne Mall was opened in 1972 on Hawthorne Blvd. and sandwiched in-between 190th Street and Amie Avenue. The interior was designed to look like the turn-of-the-century (that is, around 1900) America. 

There were strolling banjo players, barbershop quartets, an "antique" merry-go-round and a security guard dressed in "Keystone Kop" garb, his name was Bruce Bishop. 

Above, yours truly working at Old Towne Mall in 1972.

At one end (north) of the mall was the food court where customers had a choice of a variety of cuisines including Chinese food, Galvan's Mexican food, Mama Paizano's (or was it Papa Paizano's?) Pizza and many others (I used to hang out with the pizza girls). In the center of the food court was a gazebo where musicians would entertain the diners.

The mall also had a section for artisans, I believe it was called "Artisan Alley." Here, artists using all kinds of mediums (from paintings to metal works) sold their artworks. 

I worked at Old Towne for about a year (1972-1973) in maintenance starting in the summer following my high school graduation. It was the year of the Nixon vs. McGovern presidential campaign and Bruce Bishop (a McGovern supporter) and I (a Nixon-backer) used to banter politics during our breaks.

Unfortunately, Old Towne Mall lasted only a few years as it was not anchored by any major department stores, even though there was a K-Mart store next door, to lure more spenders. 

It was a fun place to work and we had a good crew. One thing we liked to do, before our shift started, was to meet at the mall's donut shop for coffee and fresh-baked donuts. Those were the days!