History
American Legion Post 43's stadium on El Centro Avenue staged boxing from 1921 and drew Hollywood celebrities to its ringside seats; in 1933 Al Jolson punched Walter Winchell there. The original building was condemned in 1938 and replaced by a larger arena that opened that September.
The last boxing card was held on September 12, 1959, followed by a wrestling bill two nights later. The building became a bowling alley in 1960 and later a health club, and now operates as an LA Fitness with the old shell and trusses intact.
Why it matters: The leading boxing venue of Hollywood's studio era.
Timeline
- August 12, 1921Boxing begins[1]
Wikipedia dates the stadium's operation from August 12, 1921.
- July 31, 1933Jolson punches Winchell[1]
Al Jolson punched Walter Winchell at the stadium.
- September 1938
A larger rebuilt arena opened after the original was condemned.
- September 12, 1959Last boxing card[2]
The final boxing card was held; a wrestling bill followed two nights later.
- 1960Bowling alley[1]
The building became Hollywood Legion Lanes, which operated until 1985.
The site today
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
|---|---|
| Current use | LA Fitness gym[2] |
| Surviving remnants | The 1938 building's outer shell and roof trusses were retained in a 1980s renovation.[2] |
| Mapped location | Former venue site |
Street View near the former site · Satellite view (external, current imagery)
Venue facts
| Location | 1628 El Centro Avenue, Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles, California[1] |
|---|---|
| Venue type | Arena |
| Sports | Boxing & wrestling |
| Level | Boxing, Professional wrestling |
| Opened | August 12, 1921[1] |
| Last used for sports | September 14, 1959[2] |
| Physical status | Standing, repurposed |
| Original capacity | 4,400[1,2] |
| Final capacity | 6,000[1,2] |
| Capacity notes | A little over 4,400 in the original building; the 1938 building seated 6,000 (Wikipedia) or about 6,300 (Hollywood Partnership). |
| Owner / operator | American Legion Post 43 |
Documented details
Sources
- Hollywood Legion Stadium, Wikipedia. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: address, capacity, coordinates, events, opened
- Unlocking Secrets: Hollywood Legion Stadium, Hollywood Partnership. Accessed 2026-10-19Supports: capacity, closed, current land use, events, remnants
Research confidence
Key facts on this page (opening, closing, status and location) are each supported by sources, with key dates corroborated by at least two independent sources. Last reviewed 2026-10-19.
Where sources disagree (2)
- Opening: Hollywood Partnership says Post 43 built an open-air stadium in 1919 and reopened it roofed on December 16, 1921; Wikipedia dates operation from August 12, 1921.
- Closing: Wikipedia says it operated until 1960; Hollywood Partnership gives the last boxing card as September 12, 1959, with wrestling two nights later.
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