Jeans are welcome in all dining venues during the day, but theyre not appropriate in any public venues for dinner or cocktail hour. It's a nice slice of youth and automotive culture of the times. We all had our time, I hope we made the most of it. And loved Van Nuys. Jeep is a notable exception. Great shots, though, every single one of them, thanks for posting them. Im not from the California area, but Ive been in the LA area a few times in the 60s & 70s and Id enjoyed every minute of it.California is a far cry from from here in New York City. It looked like an old ladys shoe! When the monkey filling your tank costs $21+ per hour to operate alternatives will be found. SOLUTIONS. This all went to jacked up mini-trucks in the next couple of years. I feel his work ranks with the great social photographers like Mary Bourke White and Henri Catier-Bresson.. This was the dreaded Valley to those of us at the beach, but we all knew about cruising Van Nuys! But still. } Everyone has an accent, however. border-color: #000000; We didnt mind driving hair shirt vehicles either, I imagine most assumed theyd buy a fancier car after college . - See Flyer for Time: 2nd Sat. .table_d2e165 td { Published by westcoastbodyandpaint A yellow Volkswagen bus, parked along the road, drew smiles and waves from the the spectators. SOLUTIONS. border: 1px solid; Somehow, the industry continues to grow. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. border-color: #000000; The odds are quite good that some of his music was playing over the car radios or on 8 track tape as these were taken. In an action would surely make The Dude unhappy, the only . The cruise nights became popular in the 1950s as the cruising culture emerged in Van Nuys, spurred by low-priced cars and gasoline. visual record of the cruising nightlife and wonderful young people on (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Vintage cars and trucks are lined up along side new cars for sale along Van Nuys Blvd on Wednesday cruise night. saved. Our new home (not quite new, built in 1949) was on Next really noticeable change in trends in fashion, started around 1980/81. Dealer Advertised Price Those were completely interchangeable, but the pumps also had definite style. document.write(''); Editors Note: The latest installment of our Through the Lens series is an intriguing detour of sorts. Well, I grew up in Northern California, graduated high school in 1973, but it was nothing like this. One those who has become a regular is Jairo Morales. We just came here because we loved cars and cruising. PLEASE do NOT protest in Van Nuys tomorrow. !police shutdown van nuys lowrider cruise!!! Will the fuel prices back in the day thread become as virulent as the dreaded Oil Thread ? Thats what I hear when I see these photos. Wednesday night cruising was shut down 28 years ago in 1981. At a $1.87 that works out to 46 cents an litre. an even quicker left turn onto Vista Del Monte, brought you to our alley Bobs Drive-In, then making a quick right turn on Magnolia followed by Van Nuys - Spring Fling 35 - Woodley Park - Info - V: 15: Carson . shut down the Van Nuys Cruise it popped up in Pasadena for a while, I had a few problems there . And it says, Must Sell. He would even take best offer. The best of Youll also find more crime in Van Nuys than the rest of the valley, including Sherman Oaks and Sun Valley. For this community feature, take the opportunity to get to know Jairo and check out some of his work. Cruising was back, big-time! Royalty-free Creative Video Editorial Archive Custom Content Creative Collections. Van Nuys Cruise Night. My friend Ted and I even managed to get arrested for curfew violation standing there watching cars after 10:00pm! These pictures brought back some fun memories. -->, Support the Local Merchants and the LAPD. Fortunately, The average cruises included far more "special touches" back then. there's gonna be a cruise night on van nuys blvd and burbank in the city of van nuys at 7p.m. The median household income in Van Nuys is $46,331. What city is the heart of the San Fernando Valley? Often people would pull up to the pump and ask for (you didnt pump it yourself back then) one or two dollars worth because that was all that they could afford. You could be right, but I cant remember! (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Vintage cars and trucks are stacked up along Van Nuys Blvd every 3rd Wednesday of the month. border-color: #000000; Among the clubs in attendance were Ruthless Ryders, Low Bottomz, Westside, and Majestics, to mention a few. But I love the cars that were driven at the time. Here are the pictures from that evening. } On a recent night, Green parked his car on a lot near a car dealership on Van Nuys Boulevard and sat in a camping chair to witness the parade on wheels. Gas was expensive out in California. I always had a change of clothes on mine. Van Nuys doesnt have a sparkling reputation for safety. Find popular and cheap hotels near James C Corman Federal Building in Van Nuys with real guest reviews and ratings. .table_d2e42 { . (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Chris Mills 1956 custom Chevy Implala is one of the hottest cars on the Wednesday cruise night in Van Nuys. -->, . I would kill for that Shovelhead. We all get our turn in life. The boulevard was notable for its cruising lifestyle that was prevalent in the 1960s and 1970s, which was depicted in the 1979 film Van Nuys Blvd. Music blares from car to car, food trucks are available for those in attendance, and some even set up chairs along the sidewalk as if it were the 4th of July. And technologically, theyre miles ahead of anything we were doing in our twenties. for young Americans. border-color: #000000; One of the most exclusive communities in the country, Bel-Air has become synonymous with extravagance. New 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S in Van Nuys, CA SALYT2EU3PA360491 He purchased the car from his cousin a few years ago and put a lot of work in to it, repainted it and posted an Uber sign on it, just to get people talking.. Fueled by sweat, hard work, and creativity, Van Nuys Blvd became the catwalk for custom cars. low-light conditions. In the San Fernando Valley, Bob's Big Boy drive-in restaurant opened along Van Nuys Boulevard in the early-'50s and quickly became the center attraction and collection point, the place to be and be seen. +1 on that observation, FSO. For the past 25 years cars have been too boring to be part of the party and the youngest generations have lost interest. CRUISE NIGHT WITH AWESOME PEOPLE AND BEAUTIFUL RIDES . Van Nuys (Cruise Night) Lyrics Down in the valley something stirs You don't need no Jaguar or Thunderbird Get down under the valley skies And go cruising on Van Nuys It's Van Nuys. The photographer is still around, and has a pretty interesting story related to both cars and photography. Not permitted in the dining room during the Cruise Elegant dinner for ladies and gentlemen: shorts, gym shorts, T-shirts, beach flip-flops, bathing suit attire, jeans, cut-off jeans, sleeveless shirts for men, sportswear, and baseball hats. dutifully But the event slowly lost the crowd and disappeared after police began cracking down on the cruisers. Like video . Back then in NY we still had fun street racing on Francis Lewis Blvd with our GTOs,SS 396, Mustangs and the like. Amazing! Its where builders and customizers showcase their custom builds and a destination point where spectators can sit back and enjoy the sights and sounds. No Cruise Night Due to LA Fair - Flyer: 5-6: Riverside - Show & Go Car Show - Downtown Riverside - Info: 5: Buena . Portland, Vancouver and even Eugene had scenes like this. } .table_d2e189 { My folks were just thrilled. But they all moved to other places. .table_d2e127 td { Magnolia Boulevard, you would officially be in Van Nuys. Book the best deals of hotels to stay close to James C Corman Federal Building with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com! behind our property was as yet undeveloped! By. I was at a car show last weekend.A friend of mine told me Van Nuys blvd cruise nights were back. Molina is one of dozens of car lovers drawn to Van Nuys Boulevard for a long-running cruise night. feel a great lightening of spiritand this was nowhere more evident than Gas here was 48c in 1973 it went up dramatically from there it hit $1 a few weeks after I bought a 6 cylinder car now its around $2.50 per litre 1/4 of a gallon and thats for el cheapo 91 octane 95 or 98 are more, The good old days vs reality! Disclaimer. Despite the pandemic's winter surge in Southern California, the Van Nuys cruise nights seemed to intensify in December and January. You do not have to participate in formal night on a cruise, but your dining options in the evening will be more limited. shutter times. everyone hit the gas as they spun left in the dirt and dust section, some Great pictures capturing an era I can relate to because 1972 is when I graduated high school. I remember driving and riding to Eugene and back a few times or even to the coast to eat a pizza just for the he** of it doing something different. Purely by happenstance, I discovered the new resurgence Home Blog Van Nuys Cruise Night. Van Nuys also offers a mix of employment opportunities ranging from manual labor to white-collar industries. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Peter Becerra of Palmdale in his 1974 Caprice convertable. the only one on the block like it. During the monthly Van Nuys Cruise Night Van Nuys Blvd. - Posted on January 28, 2023. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Hugo Gardado in his 1957 Ford Fairlane on Wednesday cruise night in Van Nuys. Also, I deliberately worked Van Nuys, 7 hour Beginner Digital Camera Class (+ Get OFF of Auto) Sat Jul 30 2022 at 08:00 am Woodley Park Sep13 Cruise Night - Cruisin Through The Village Tue Sep 13 2022 at 05:00 pm Wolverine Park Dundee Mi Aug13 Cruise Night 2022 Paul Niedermeyer. Share this: Like this: Loading. a second floor, kind of like a mezzanine with two bedrooms and a bath, ease of approaching my young subjects, I was able to take my time and But, everyone still used the You could pick a used car to fit your personality. The Pontiac Aztec and the original iMac may have been ugly, But at least theyre recognizable. Along the way, she picked up awards from the Los Angeles Press Club and Society of Professional Journalists. Gas pumps and the assorted signage on them and around the rest of the station have been designed so that an ownership change is cheap to do. potential subjects react adverselyeven angrily. border: 1px solid; One those who has become a regular is Jairo Morales. This story has been updated to reflect the correct year of Chris Mills Chevy. but next to our home was an alley which was paved only to a line coinciding Yes; me too. Van Nuys Blvd In The 1970s, By Rick Mack Book the best deals of hotels to stay close to San Fernando Valley Mini Maker Faire with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com! Wednesday of the month. I bet the gentleman on the hood still dreams on that moment to this very day. At 32 cents a gallon is it any wonder traveling by car was so popular back then? ? Copyright 2014 - All Rights Reserved .table_d2e98 td { Its all different now., Vintage cars and trucks once again cruise Van Nuys Boulevard every third Wednesday of the month. To quote the Beach Boys: I wish they all could be California girls. Being in my mid-20s with long hair facilitated my easy acceptance by those on the street, allowing me to closely approach my subjects. Green said he used to come with his friends all the way from the Westside to join the cruising. Becerra, a member of ther Stylistics car club is a car painter and has painted many of the Vintage cars and trucks rolling up and down Van Nuys Blvd on cruise nights. But if he was willing to let it go, its price tag could reach over $200,000. Id forgotten about Hughes Markets; they were bought out by QFC, yet another Seattle biz enlarging its borders. Remember to cruise cool!! My gawd, where was I then??? First Choice Business Brokers. .table_d2e23 { Rick Rick Mack McCloskey var abkw = window.abkw || ''; You get in a car, turn on old-school music and meet people.. As it turned out, and no one in our family realized it Green began cruising Van Nuys Boulevard in the 1960s after he snagged his drivers license and purchased his first car. border: 1px solid; All you see here are SUVs,compacts,subcompacts,BMWs and Mercedes in all shades of gray HOW BORING. Go to next video. Just . me better focus and at least some depth of field under the prevailing Best cruise night in 20 years. when we bought the house, this particular alley was absolutely critical 32 cents a gallon, adjusted for inflation would equal out to $1.87 today, so it really wasnt as cheap as it sounds. I was 11 in 1972, and not from California, but theres so much here that reminds me of when I was in high school on the other side of the country 6 years later. Vista Del Monte, a street one block west of Van Nuys Boulevard with large . The boring blockiness is a feature, not a bug. I could fill the tank and eat for a $5 bill, drive almost all night long and still make it to school then work the next day . Cruising Van Nuys Boulevard in the Summer of 1972 April 30, 2020 1970s, California, life & culture, people, street, vehicles In the Los Angeles suburb of San Fernando Valley, Wednesday night was cruise night. For a moment I thought the gas prices of the Mobil station were in a different currency 32 cents a gallon! border: 1px solid; Hugo Guardado sat in a camping chair next to his 1957 Ford Fairlane. except for a small car lot (now a Burger King) at the south end of that Only differences are the owner demographics and Dayton wire wheels instead of Cragar mags. Dont underestimate what the kids are doing today. Love these vintage shots. border-color: #000000; These photos and fine memories are what are left. Plenty chicks and a light to light race anytime you wanted. That thing could shoot 50 feet or more! Yes, some things were cheap, but I think a lot of us had less disposable income in real dollars, always checked out the lowest price gas station, carpooled and shared the cost of gas, etc in a way that I suspect many (not all) young people dont do now. Holmby Hills sits just a few blocks east of UCLA and abuts the Los Angeles Country club. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG Hugo Gardado in his 1957 Ford Fairlane on . June Ellens was also a favored stop for bikers. But still, those girls in pic 1. Van Nuys Boulevard, I should say, was not at all like the difficult and One could feel a great lightening of spirit, and this was nowhere more evident than on Van Nuys Boulevard at night. had cruised south past Bobs Big Boy Drive-In Restaurant (built in 1953 So glad I read your post about these pics probably being taken on a cruise night. Van Nuys Blvd! Makes an H2 seem like a Chevette! my folks did not. in 1972, by photographer Rick McCloskey, and part of his book, Los Angeles in the 1970s. The old GM plant was there as well, which has been replaced by a Home Depot, a shopping center and movie theater. For this community feature, take the opportunity to get to know Jairo and check out some of his work. .table_d2e180 { Occasionally there would be some kind of dustup between a couple of guys, and the police would come and scoop them up. Back in Cruise Night, , Click here to see the "Ghosts of Van Nuys Blvd " from the Wild Bunch Car Club,