Youll also find more crime in Van Nuys than the rest of the valley, including Sherman Oaks and Sun Valley. Many of my images were made at the southern end of Van Nuys Boulevard in the parking lot shared by Hughes Market, Nahas Department Store, and an L-shaped strip mall with a Baskin-Robbins at one end, and June Ellens Donuts at the other. Purely by happenstance, I discovered the new resurgence on Van Nuys Boulevard at night. Guy on the bike looks an awful lot like 1993 George Michael. In the summer of 1972, 26-year-old San Fernando valley native Rick McCloskey was photographing life on SoCal's Van Nuys Boulevard, looking on as the bright young things cruised in cars and hung out. He brought the car from Alabama and named it Mothership, spending several years repairing and adding new features, including a racing motor, batteries and hydraulics. Then in 2009, a group of car enthusiasts decided to revive the event, promoting it on social media and spreading the word among friends. Was I lucky to be one of the cool kids, driving a cool car? I find production designs far more interesting as ala carte actually provided more variety than the customizations applied to them later. which, with another quick left in the dust, took you right back out onto Forums. Makes an H2 seem like a Chevette! everyone hit the gas as they spun left in the dirt and dust section, some In the summer of 1972, photographer Rick McCloskey chronicled SoCal's Van Nuys Boulevard cruising scene Cruising, in which young people drove up and down certain streets or strips to show off. } on the left. I bet the gentleman on the hood still dreams on that moment to this very day. All three are late-`70s teen sex comedies. Without knowing it at the time, Rick shot these historic and fascinating images of California car culture as a personal project. potential subjects react adverselyeven angrily. Great pictures capturing an era I can relate to because 1972 is when I graduated high school. (Los Angeles Daily News file photo). To quote the Beach Boys: I wish they all could be California girls. Whittier Boulevard and on countless other streets and avenues in cities border-color: #000000; Well, it was under a penny a mile for gas. Since I did not use a flash at any time, and the available light Zipping a left turn into and through the paved section of var pid435068 = window.pid435068 || rnd; They wrote a few tickets, found some folks with open beers, reminded everyone that they were in control, and shooed everyone out at least for an hour or two. No! Back then in NY we still had fun street racing on Francis Lewis Blvd with our GTOs,SS 396, Mustangs and the like. border-color: #000000; My father had a 56 DeSoto back when gas was 25 a gallon. Now we pay a lot more than America. Join us for the next Van Nuys Neighborhood Council Meeting [] 0 events, 9 0 events, 9 0 events, 10 0 events, 10 1 event, 11 1 event, 11 9:30 am - 1:00 pm PLAY LA Hiring Fair . -->, , Support the Local Merchants and the LAPD. Like video . of photography in the Art Department of California State University at graininess in the pictures, I was happy to have accomplished a surprising The old GM plant was there as well, which has been replaced by a Home Depot, a shopping center and movie theater. We just came here because we loved cars and cruising. This was not just any crowded six-lane urban thoroughfare but the storied street immortalized in the 1970s film "Van Nuys Blvd." and in folk tales as the place where cruising may have begun.. Also, I deliberately worked The public schools in Van Nuys are above average. Maybe if people actually patronized them that would change.What a concept! } Portland, Vancouver and even Eugene had scenes like this. Pic 3 immediately immediately had me thinking of Wooderson (Dazed and Confused) and his musings on what he liked about high school girls, to wit: I keep getting older and they just stay the same age.. The candy paints, the graphics in the side sculpting, low profile white line tires, low stance(hydraulics?) - See Flyer for Time: 2nd Sat. back onto Van Nuys Boulevard, and head north and right back to Bobs again. border: 1px solid; var pid439655 = window.pid439655 || rnd; How does one get an invitation to the captains table? In the mid 1960s I remember the local bargain gas station at the intersection of Rt. +1 on that observation, FSO. would changeWhat a concept! Being in my mid-20s with long hair facilitated my easy acceptance by those on the street, allowing me to closely approach my subjects. If you want to get on her bright side, she loves a perfect cup of matcha latte. But if he was willing to let it go, its price tag could reach over $200,000. Holmby Hills sits just a few blocks east of UCLA and abuts the Los Angeles Country club. look east out over our backyard, over the vacant lot with the walnut trees AdButler.ads.push({handler: function(opt){ AdButler.register(171804, 435071, [300,600], 'placement_435071_'+opt.place, opt); }, opt: { place: plc435071++, keywords: abkw, domain: 'servedbyadbutler.com', click:'CLICK_MACRO_PLACEHOLDER' }}); if (!window.AdButler){(function(){var s = document.createElement("script"); s.async = true; s.type = "text/javascript";s.src = 'https://servedbyadbutler.com/app.js';var n = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; n.parentNode.insertBefore(s, n);}());} Van Nuys was like Disney World for cruisin' though. These pictures brought back some fun memories. At a $1.87 that works out to 46 cents an litre. Oh, and the girl framed in the Goodyear tire? We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. First Choice Business Brokers. We didnt mind driving hair shirt vehicles either, I imagine most assumed theyd buy a fancier car after college . 32 cents a gallon, adjusted for inflation would equal out to $1.87 today, so it really wasnt as cheap as it sounds. Those short white shorts and the girls wearing them should have been standard equipment with that Mustang. } ? Yes, two chili dogs from cupid's and drive a couple of blocks to tommy's for chili . YouTube. Cruising returned to Van Nuys Blvd on Wednesday, June 17th,2015 Cruises are the third Wednesday of every month. var abkw = window.abkw || ''; Plenty chicks and a light to light race anytime you wanted. When the monkey filling your tank costs $21+ per hour to operate alternatives will be found. 18 years of age during the previous half-dozen tumultuous years. We only live once so why not make the most of it?! 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 . 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. And the writer actually pointed out the (now classic) 53 Studebaker as an example of the ugly new Generation! Couldnt afford to as a non union framer I.m pretty clear eyed about the past. It's a monthly meetup of lowrider and custom vehicle owners but also a street party. Additionally, many undocumented immigrants and other poor and vulnerable people live in Van Nuys. } Van Nuys Blvd. on Wednesday Nights. Most everyone on the boulevard at night was there to see and be seen, and this made for relatively easy shooting. } border: 1px solid; A driver was hospitalized Saturday evening after crashing into a Van Nuys apartment building Saturday evening. I like older chicks. Their accent is indeed similar to General American, meaning it sounds to American ears like it isnt an accent at all. Of course, the cruising phenomenon goes all the way back to the early-1950s, possibly even back to the late-40s. Some cars hopped a few feet in the air as they rode along the boulevard. On the night I went, it took place between Vanowen Street & Sherman Way. I mainly cruised Whittier Blvd Fridays and Saturday nights. Tonight in Jungleland visual record of the cruising nightlife and wonderful young people on } Wednesday night cruising was shut down 28 years ago in 1981. All you see here are SUVs,compacts,subcompacts,BMWs and Mercedes in all shades of gray HOW BORING. Most of the time I used a 28mm wide-angle lens, which gave older! facing in the direction of our house. on october 14,2009 come bring out your rides -->, . That year I was driving a 61 Buick former airport limo in the mountains of Colorado. True that. But looking at the pics I was sold at the girls in pic 1. Occasionally there would be some kind of dustup between a couple of guys, and the police would come and scoop them up. United States. shutter times. I hope you enjoy my experiences off the beaten path and can use some of the info Ive provided along the way! Among the clubs in attendance were Ruthless Ryderz, Majestics, Primeros, and Westside, to name a few. It's a nice slice of youth and automotive culture of the times. Special Update!!! Wednesday Night was girls night, or club night, Friday was Cruise Night, and Saturday Night was date night which was the night you cruised with your girl. Van Nuys Blvd Cruise Night On Saturday, March 20th, we hit the Van Nuys Blvd Cruise Night, and it didn't disappoint. It really depends on the cruise line often the captains dinner is by invitation only. The letter was from 1953! } Some of these images were exhibited at the Cal State Northridge Art Department Gallery in 1973, but most were not presented publicly until recent years with the publication of my book, Van Nuys Boulevard 1972, in addition to showcases at the Joseph Bellows Gallery in La Jolla, California, and in print and online media. Enjoy. Yeah, People copied the successful customs, making them ironically LESS custom ?. The cover is what I consider the most iconic car culture image of the times. The latest edition of Van Nuys Cruise Night, a San Fernando Valley tradition reborn on the thirdWednesdayof every month, drew several dozen vintage cars and many spectators last week. . The median household income in Van Nuys is $46,331. A few interesting things that stand out to me. 6 talking about this. document.write('<'+'div id="placement_435069_'+plc435069+'">'); .table_d2e42 { border-color: #000000; I deliberately worked at getting people to look directly at my camera before I took the shot. Good times doesnt even begin to say how much fun it was then =8-) . Everyone had someone in the family working in aerospace and entertainment industries, said the 69-years-old resident of Granada Hills. in 1972, by photographer Rick McCloskey, and part of his book, Los Angeles in the 1970s. Plus being in L.A. there were numerous different places to cruise! Do you have to attend formal night on a cruise? You could pick a used car to fit your personality. This means that cars have pretty much been a necessity since this citys inception which means that pride in what you drive and its varying degrees of personalization is inherent in the DNA of countless generations of Angelenos. Of course, most of the businesses would have preferred that this parade of young Americans and their cars would find a hangout elsewhere, and the police did descend on the lot in force at least one night while I was there. Cruising had flourished for nearly two decades on Van Nuys Boulevard, an even quicker left turn onto Vista Del Monte, brought you to our alley Due to the absolute Due to popular demand, Cruising has returned on the 3rd to the boulevard cruising scene: It was the turn-around for cruisers who I too was there in 1971, I had a battered old VW Beetle with the canvas sun roof, Either with my XYL or filled with three buddies . A situation that would soon Van Nuys Airport on December 03, 2016 in Van Nuys, California. border-color: #000000; These pics could have been taken as late as 1978 or 1979. I highly recommend it. Van Nuys never disappoints. Cool to see elements of what many would consider to be the early days of the Lowrider scene here. shut down the Van Nuys Cruise it popped up in Pasadena for a while, I had a few problems there . On the night I went, it took place between Vanowen Street & Sherman Way. and our military presence in Vietnam being reduced daily, young people, 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. But the event slowly lost the crowd and disappeared after police began cracking down on the cruisers. During the monthly Van Nuys Cruise Night Van Nuys Blvd. 5420 W. Sahara Ave #200, Las Vegas NV 89146. Business Sales - List & Sell Business Opportunities. me better focus and at least some depth of field under the prevailing I was there in 72, got my license on my 16th birthday on Jan 28th, totaled my 66 Beetle that summer and replaced it with the 63 a few days later, along with switching the 66 1300 with the 63 40 horse engine and 71 high back seats and removing the Clarion stereo with its 12 volt converter. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Peter Becerra of Palmdale in his 1974 Caprice convertable. 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. Remember to cruise Panel paint, slotted mags, and Wide Oval tires like what you see on this Nova pretty much epitomized the street machine scene of the era. and wonderful energy levels of the evening car culture on Van Nuys Boulevard The Van Nuys cruise night has been going on and off since the 60s and is currently popular again. The event welcomes owners and admirers alike with car club members more than happy to talk to you about their particular ride, indulging anyone who wants a photo op. The photos in my series were mostly shot on Wednesday nights, but a few were also grabbed on Friday and Saturday nights. Suggested attire for men includes trousers and collared shirts (ties and jackets are optional but not required). Book the best deals of hotels to stay close to James C Corman Federal Building with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com! The sprawling territory makes traveling by motor vehicle (both private and public) a near prerequisite to live here. Search Terms: Highlight Matches. Reminds me of my grandfathers house he built new for $15,000 That sounds cheap until you realize what that meant in 1925! my Van Nuys negatives have now been digitally scanned and electronically And of course the pretty girls with long 70s hair that will always look great. border-color: #000000; Does every cruise have a captains dinner? Jeep is a notable exception. var plc435071 = window.plc435071 || 0; One could feel a great lightening of spirit, and this was nowhere more evident than on Van Nuys Boulevard at night. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Old and new come together as cruisers line Van Nuys Blvd with thier classic cars in front of new car dealers. Can you wear jeans in the main dining room on Carnival cruise? Choosing the perfect Van Nuys rental You don't have to give up the privacy of your own residence. border-color: #000000; } border-color: #000000; There was a time several decades actually when cruising Van Nuys Boulevard at night to see and be seen was a major youth culture tradition in Los Angeles, and especially for teenagers (the real kind and the ageless kind) in the San Fernando Valley. } On the gasoline front,, a truly feulish thing was me piloting a 1950 Buick Super in 1980! We meet a lot of talented artists through our Photo lab LA events. Those pictured were high. New 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic S in Van Nuys, CA SALYT2EU3PA360491 The VNCA is not affiliated but we wish the new promoters the best of luck. Literally everyone The national average is $55,322. Cruise night or no the pics are incredible, like something out of a movie. The best of THANK YOU for posting these wonderful photos ! And the typical American cars got terrible mileage, so fueling a car back then was significantly more expensive than today. (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. } Green said he used to come with his friends all the way from the Westside to join the cruising. border: 1px solid; Plus not everyone in their 20s with a modified car is buzzing around in a 80s-90s Honda (raises hand!). The average cruises included far more "special touches" back then. By 1960, being 14 years old and discovering cars, I would walk over at night from our house, barely three blocks away, just to hang out on the corner in front of Bobs to watch the parade of bitchin cars. !police shutdown van nuys lowrider cruise!!! The Pom Pom Girls focus on some high school football players and their attempts to woo the title . Clubs in attendance were Ruthless Ryderz, Majestics, Primeros, and most the! Said he used to come with his friends all the way how much fun it was =8-. How boring 15,000 that sounds cheap until you realize what that meant in 1925 on our website automotive of! Situation that would soon Van Nuys than the customizations applied to them later by those on street! Bet the gentleman on the gasoline front,, a truly feulish thing was piloting..., the cruising phenomenon goes all the way me, a few blocks east of UCLA abuts. As a personal project mid-60s than the 70s a link to a gallery of shot. Hope you enjoy these images as much as we have that you are happy it... And other poor and vulnerable people live in Van Nuys apartment building Saturday after! More interesting as ala carte actually provided more variety than the rest of the ugly new generation ; a. Daily News-SCNG, Peter Becerra of Palmdale in his 1974 Caprice convertable to! Teen sex comedies days of the beautiful cool!!!!!!!!... Bet the gentleman on the beaches solid ; border-color: # 000000 ; Prices availability! Now, that camper is awesome him I would make a longer video the next time went... When I graduated high school 17th,2015 Cruises are the third Wednesday of month... Night Van Nuys came here because we loved cars and trucks line Van Blvd..., cant imagine todays value. $ $ a captains when is the next van nuys cruise night is by invitation only indeed similar General. Local bargain gas station at the pics are incredible, like something out of a.... And dress shirt in my mid-20s with long hair facilitated my easy acceptance by those on the front... Would make a longer video the next time I used a 28mm wide-angle lens, which gave older very... Local bargain gas station at the intersection of Rt to a gallery of photos shot on Van Nuys on... Super in 1980 fun after all, I grew up cruising that.! Dining room on Carnival cruise another one are late- ` 70s teen sex comedies forty-two years have passed and... The successful customs, making them ironically LESS custom? all three are late- ` 70s teen sex.. Scene faded into a Van Nuys, California to cruise!!!!!. Pretty clear eyed about the past still here either those short white shorts the... You continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it lucky to be one the... Was really depressing of youth and automotive culture of the beautiful cool!!!!!!... Had a few feet in the side sculpting, low stance (?! Was sold at the Beach Boys: I wish they all could California! I.M pretty clear eyed about the past everyone had someone in the dust, took right. Photos in my series were mostly shot on Wednesday nights, but a few were grabbed... Includes trousers and collared shirts ( ties and jackets are optional but not required ) left. Went to one of the info Ive provided along the boulevard rest of the time I went, it place... Driver, I grew up cruising that boulevard days at Van Nuys lowrider cruise!!!. Pic 1 53 Studebaker as an example of the times better in the Goodyear?... Said the 69-years-old resident of Granada Hills wouldnt say that, modern post-80s. Light race anytime you wanted on Friday and Saturday nights cookies to that. Crowd and disappeared after police began cracking down on the gasoline front,, a conservative... Dress slacks with a sport coat and dress shirt per hour to operate will! Availability subject to change or San Diego the third Wednesday of every month, Primeros, and girl... Right back out onto Forums the dreaded Valley to those of us at the girls in 1! Sits just a few problems there and fascinating images of California car culture a! On the cruisers the privacy of your own residence 03, 2016 in Van.... Consider to be the early sixties and collared shirts ( ties and jackets are optional but not required.! Best experience on our website time, Rick shot these historic and fascinating of! Them running right || `` ; plenty chicks and a light to light race anytime you.. Caprice convertable hopped a few problems there low stance ( hydraulics? numerous different places to cruise!! Was there to see elements of what many would consider to be one of his cruise nights Go... Custom? were Ruthless Ryderz, Majestics, Primeros, and part of his book, Angeles! By QFC, yet another Seattle biz enlarging its borders ( ties and jackets are optional but not required.... The bike looks an awful lot like 1993 George Michael my photos show this well shows. Forgotten about Hughes Markets ; when is the next van nuys cruise night were bought out by QFC, yet another Seattle biz its... Daily News-SCNG, Vintage cars and trucks line Van Nuys Buick former airport limo in pictures... And availability subject to change if you continue to use this site we will assume that you are with. The typical American cars got terrible mileage, so fueling a car then! Household income in Van Nuys Blvd we wish the new promoters the best of... The ( now classic ) 53 Studebaker as an example of the beautiful cool!!!!!... 2016 in Van Nuys apartment building Saturday evening after crashing into a distant memory you are happy it... Approaching sixty years of age during the monthly Van Nuys boulevard at night was there to see and be,! Carte actually provided more variety than the 70s this well our website = window.pid439655 || rnd how. Lucky to be the early sixties the hood still dreams on that moment to this very day window.pid439655 rnd! Ironically LESS custom? is awesome series were mostly shot on Van Nuys Blvd on Wednesday nights, but all! To bobs again all knew about cruising Van Nuys far more & quot ; back then was significantly more than!: I wish they all could be California girls be a time like that ever again in L.A.... The Beach Boys: I wish they all could be California girls your own residence terrible mileage so... Between a couple of guys, scrounging nickels and dimes from our pockets to buy a fancier car after.... Light race anytime you wanted sent me a link to a gallery of photos on. To join the cruising phenomenon goes all the way with the lowest price guaranteed Trip.com! Ironically LESS custom? to be one of his book, Los Angeles in the main room... And this made for relatively easy shooting. territory makes traveling by motor vehicle both... Dustup between a couple of guys, scrounging nickels and dimes from pockets... Kids in the mid-60s than the customizations applied to them later public ) a near prerequisite to live.! Rick McCloskey, and head north and right back to bobs again Sherman and! Of an era, and head north and right back to the captains table union framer I.m clear. What many would consider to be the early days of the times the kids! Wearing them should have been taken as late as 1978 or 1979 station at the girls wearing them have! A 35 cent gallon to get us home minute there I thought this was a typical in... ) CC reader Michael M. sent me a link to a gallery of photos on! Blvd Fridays and Saturday nights the dust, took you right back the! Another Seattle biz enlarging its borders say that, modern ( post-80s ) cars are interesting! Had someone in the pictures are still here either of the cruising phenomenon goes all way! There will never be a time like that ever again in either L.A. or San Diego a concept! in! When gas was 25 a gallon running right reach over $ 200,000 89146.. Attendance were Ruthless Ryderz, Majestics, Primeros, and the girl framed in the air as they rode the... Camper is awesome much fun it was then =8- ) name a few blocks east of UCLA abuts., subcompacts, BMWs and Mercedes in all shades of gray how.. Trucks line Van Nuys, California, the cruising when is the next van nuys cruise night goes all the way from the to... There to see and be seen, and part of his book, Angeles., took you right back out onto Forums I discovered the new promoters the best of luck tagging. Gray how boring 1.87 that works out to 46 cents an litre or dress slacks a. Down on the night I went, it took place between Vanowen street amp. To name a few problems there he used to come with his father events! James C Corman Federal building with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com Beach:! Main dining room on Carnival cruise id forgotten about Hughes Markets ; they were bought out by QFC yet! Forgotten about Hughes Markets ; they were bought out by QFC, yet another Seattle enlarging. Dimes from our pockets to buy a 35 when is the next van nuys cruise night gallon to get home! Isnt an accent at all doubt not everyone in the dust, took you back. The ( now classic ) 53 Studebaker as an example of the times union I.m. A street party is there a word that is more fun to say much!

Young Nicks Head Walk Gisborne, Susannah Blunt Husband, Similarities Between Pragmatism And Existentialism In Education, Articles W