In the forgotten landscape of Hawthorne, California—an LA wonderland marked by the Beach Boys' roots and SpaceX's reign—exists a peculiar relic: Michu Lane. Nestled on a short 280 ft. concrete expanse, once a mundane cul-de-sac known as 125th St., it underwent an '80s metamorphosis thanks to a diminutive figure who mingled in acting roles and danced to the rhythms of pop star Michael Jackson.
Now who could that unsung hero of the silver screen be? A force so potent that the great city of Hawthorne bestowed immortalization? None other than Michu Meszaros,, circus sorcerer and sporadic actor, celebrated as TV's ALF! And yes, he's a little person—now the "shortest road in Hawthorne" claim makes sense.
Born in Hungary in 1939, the 2-foot-9-inch-tall Michu rose through the Ringling Brothers ranks under the coveted guise of the "Smallest man in the world." His many skills—which included training poodles to dance and wearing very groovy cowboy outfits—caught the attention of American TV producers. They saw talent (and dollars, most likely) in our pal Michu, and took him to the US, specifically Hawthorne, CA, for a shot at Hollywood superstardom.
The plan eventually worked, as American film/TV audiences in the 1980s started seeing Michu all over the place. First, there was ALF—the worldwide phenomenon where he donned the iconic costume while terrorizing a suburban family—then came appearances in Big Top PeeWee, commercials, vacations with Michael Jackson, and Cyndi Lauper album covers. The Reagan era was Michu's bread and butter, and he thrived beyond anything Barnum or Bailey could’ve imagined, leading us to the genesis of Michu Lane.
During said decade, and in a very bold PR move by the city, Hawthorne decided that this man—one of the few with a burgeoning Hollywood career that actually stayed local—MUST have a street named after him. So after a televised ceremony, this piece of bizarre Hollywood lore took shape and the 80s proved, once again, to be mired in cocaine and questionable decisions.
Despite the notoriety and unusual backstory, the actual street itself might leave visitors a bit disappointed. Those expecting epic circus performances 24/7 and ALF lurking around while "Girls just want to have fun" blares on repeat will be slightly let down. Instead, they'll find a simple industrial road located right around the corner from the "Welcome to Hawthorne" water tower.
The only real excitement showcased on Michu Lane comes from a few random homes and the city’s maintenance plant. But the real delight is seeing THE street sign, proudly proclaiming itself Michu Lane 30+ years after the fact. Close your eyes and imagine a tuxedo-clad Michu enthusiastically yelling “Welcommmme!" to a crowd of adoring fans to really get in the zone. It’s pure bliss.
Although Michu sadly passed away in the Spring of 2016 (RIP, little buddy!), his memory lives on forever via the shortest street in Hawthorne. Los Angeles in the '80s was certainly a different time, a rare era where exploited Michael Jackson cronies could get entire streets named after them, so let’s all raise a glass and bask in the absurdity of what life was.
