Hugh C. Bowen (1894-1970), a veteran of WWI, began his tattooing career after his military discharge, setting up shop in Detroit by 1920. He was trained by notable figures such as J.F. Barber, Edwin Earl Brown, and Percy Waters. By 1929, at the time of the Stock Market crash, Bowen was tattooing on the West Coast with Fred McKee at 352 W. Seaside Boulevard, near The Pike in Long Beach. He later transitioned into a successful carnival owner with Joyland Shows and, alongside his wife, “Painless Nell” Bowen, eventually owned about five shops in San Diego, a booming hub for the industry during WWII. It is believed that Hugh primarily worked on The Pike early in his career.
