LOS ANGELES EVENTS FOR $1? YES (AND GOOD ONES TOO); BUCK THE TREND OF RISING PRICES FOR A BUCK OR LESS

It's a tough economy out there right now, so who wouldn't like great entertainment in LA for an mere $1 admission cost? (Then partake of Burger King's $1 value menu - Whopper Jr. for a buck ain't bad - or Taco Bell's new under-$1 menu, and you may be dubbed Dr. Wise Frugalman.) Here then are some stimulating things to do for about a buck or less in the Los Angeles area:

1. JEFF GARLIN'S COMBO PLATTER

Comedic actor and star of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" serves up his tasty comedy yukalaya (did we invent a word?). Check out this Yelp.com page for more info: Upright Citizens Brigade Theater - Hollywood - Los Angeles, CA - an excerpt: "I love Jeff Garlin's Combo Platter on Sunday nights. For $1, you see Jeff Garlin and three other ... great names in comedy, incredibly cheap admission."

2. SWAP MEETS

For example, la.com talks about this swap meet in Torrance: "ROADIUM OPEN AIR MARKET ... 2500 Redondo Beach Blvd., Torrance. Information: (800) 833-0304, www.roadium.com. Admission: $1 per car and driver, 50 cents for each additional passenger, 50 cents for seniors Monday and Friday; 50 cents per person Tuesday and Thursday; $1.25 general, 75 cents seniors, with a $5-per-car maximum Wednesday; $1.50 per car and driver, 50 cents each additional passenger, $1 senior drivers, 50 cents if arriving by the free shuttle bus Saturday and Sunday; children under 5 are always free. Shopping guide: Formerly a drive-in movie theater, the Roadium has been in operation since 1954, making it one of the oldest flea markets in California. It's open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily - Mondays are the designated day for antiques and collectibles; the rest of the week hosts more than 500 dealers selling overstock from department stores and a mishmash of discounted designer goods (use caution here - as in downtown L.A., many are fakes). Being more than 50 years old, the Roadium naturally has a legendary history, too. Back in the mid-'80s, it was the go-to place for burgeoning DJs to get the best underground records around, and it was on these very 15 acres that Eazy-E and Dr. Dre connected and L.A. hip-hop as we know it was born."

Another one for a buck or less: the Santa Fe Springs Swap Meet - Santa Fe Springs. Location: 13963 Alondra Boulevard, Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 (approximately 12 minutes from Disneyland, Anaheim). Hours: Wed: 7am - 2:30pm / Thurs: 7am - 1pm / Fri: 5pm - 10pm / Sat & Sun: 7am - 5pm. Admission Fee - Wed: 50 cents / Thurs: FREE / Fri, Sat & Sun: $1. Shops: A large variety of food, drinks, beer, ice cream, and many other different types of food items are served. 99 cent items, Auto Accessories, Beauty Supplies, Canopies & Supplies, Car Stereos, Clothes, Electronics, Gift Items and Games, Hats & T-Shirts, Home & Household, Jewelry & Watches, Locksmith - Keys, Leather, Luggage, Purses, Pets & Supplies, Pictures & Paintings, Real Estate, Plants, Records & Tapes, Shoes, Sports Cards, Sporting Goods, Sunglasses, Tools, Toys, Video Games. Nearly 600+ vendors. (562) 921-4359, or (714) 523-3014; info@sfsswapmeet.com.

3. ANTELOPE VALLEY INDIAN MUSEUM

15701 Avenue M, Lancaster, CA 93535, (661) 946-3055, http://www.avim.av.org/. Exhibits: American Indian artifacts from tribes throughout the Southwest, Utah, Nevada and California. The museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as an official State Park regional museum. Hours: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends from mid-September to mid-June. Fees: $1 for adults and free for youth up to 16.

4. GORDON HOWARD MUSEUM COMPLEX AND MENTZER HOUSE

115 N. Lomita St. (museum) and 1015 W. Olive Ave. (Mentzer house, accessible up a path from museum), Burbank, CA, (818) 841-6333. Exhibits: Toys, Victorian furniture, dolls, wedding gowns, military items and antique automobiles representing the history of Burbank. Hours: 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Group tours of 10 or more need reservations. Fees: $1 donation suggested. Parking is free.

5. LOS ANGELES MARITIME MUSEUM

Berth 84 at the foot of 6th St., San Pedro, CA 90731, 3105487618, http://www.lamaritimemuseum.org/. Exhibits: Memorabilia, photographs, maritime equipment, models of all types of ships and ocean liners, and exhibits focusing on California maritime history and the Port of Los Angeles. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (with last entry at 4:30 p.m.). Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Fees: $1 donation suggested.

6. PAY WHAT YOU CAN PERFORMANCES

There are many of these "honor system shows" in LA during the year, and in fact there is one the week of this posting: a PARLORPALOOZA show, taking place on May 19 and May 20 in West LA, with all proceeds going to charity. Jeannine Frank, the event producer and main force behind Parlor Performances and the Parlorpalooza plethora-of-performers fests, says "You can come for any contribution -- $1 to $1,000! No questions asked, everything helps -- and the evening is always better when there's a full house!" See our separate Parlor Performances post about this great pair of Pay What You Can events.