In the late 20's or early 30's, an additional recreational facility was created for the enjoyment of Hawthorne citizens with the building of Hawthorne Hall on the west side of Hawthorne Boulevard between 126th Street and El Segundo.

A 1945 picture of the Hawthorne Club.

Heavyweight boxing champion of the world, Max Baer, is shown refereeing a match at the Hawthorne Club in 1942.

In 1928 and 1929, marathon dances were featured at the hall, which gave Hawthorne quite a bit of publicity throughout California and the west. This craze, where dancers hung onto each other for days at a time was carried on throughout the nation. No definite records are available, but old-timers claim that Frankie Laine, later to become a very popular singer, and his partner danced continually for six days to win the grand prize. Throughout the years, the hall featured many types of activities; for some time it was a bowling alley, during another period many important boxing exhibitions were held there, and it was operated as a night club for many years. Eventually the hall was purchased by the Northrop Corporation as a recreational facility for employees. It was torn down in the early 60's and replaced by modern office and store buildings.

Among nationally known personalities who had something to do with Hawthorne are actresses Jeanne Crain and Marilyn Monroe, actors Roy Rogers and Slim Summerville. Marilyn Monroe's real name was Norma Jean Baker. She lived for a time with her grandmother on Rhode Island Street, which is now 134th Street. Slim Summerville lived for some time in the 4300 block of 134th Street. Roy Rogers worked under his real name of Leonard Sly. This was before Warner Brothers made him famous and gave him a slide-kick named Trigger. Gorgeous George, the famous wrestler, lived at 126th Street and York Avenue. Congressman Glenn Anderson, the former Lt. Governor of California and Mayor of Hawthorne, was born in Hawthorne.

If Hawthorne ever had a genius in the arts, he would have to be a man named Felix Peano, a name unknown to most residents of today. His manners were strange and weird. Children thought him slightly crazy and tormented him in many ways.