} Cruise night or no the pics are incredible, like something out of a movie. Had a blast. Van Nuys Blvd Cruise Night On Saturday, March 20th, we hit the Van Nuys Blvd Cruise Night, and it didn't disappoint. .table_d2e98 td { 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. 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. On Saturday, April 17,. Royalty-free Creative Video Editorial Archive Custom Content Creative Collections. Published by westcoastbodyandpaint Still cruisin: A Valley tradition is alive, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Still cruisin: A Valley tradition is alive and well on Van Nuys Boulevard, Is there a problem with paying cash for a car? on the street was often very minimal, I needed to hand-hold my camera on Wednesday Nights. 62 Next to Jack-in-the-Box - 9AM - 2PM - Flyer: 14: Book the best deals of hotels to stay close to San Fernando Valley Mini Maker Faire with the lowest price guaranteed by Trip.com! border: 1px solid; Id forgotten about Hughes Markets; they were bought out by QFC, yet another Seattle biz enlarging its borders. On formal nights, proper attire includes tuxedos, suits or slacks (jackets required) for men and evening gowns, cocktail dresses or dressy pantsuits for women. Endeavor to discover something new everyday, no matter how big or small. Oh, and the girl framed in the Goodyear tire? Parking: Street parking available. 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. } Our new home (not quite new, built in 1949) was on out, and returned north to Magnolia Boulevard via the short end of Vista Rick Rick Mack McCloskey My family moved to Sherman Oaks, California from West People riding in the back of a pickup truck without getting arrested. Without knowing it at the time, Rick shot these historic and fascinating images of California car culture as a personal project. Along the way, she picked up awards from the Los Angeles Press Club and Society of Professional Journalists. Although that salary won't get you far in many nearby neighborhoods, Van Nuys is still affordable and comfortable with quick access to the rest of LA. Those pictures and gas prices remind me of what I got to drive in the early 70s, after I got my license Dads 67 Chevelle hardtop. width: 100%; border-color: #000000; Since I had just completed several years of photography in the Art Department of California State University at Northridge, it was an easy step to assign myself the task of capturing what I could of the essence of the boulevard scene. at a large sporting event where everyone expects to be on camera and Ah, those were the days, it was REAL freedom. I had a black 57 Bel Air with Hawaiian plates. Del Monte, our street. Northridge, I now had the photographic skills I would need. Vista Del Monte, a street one block west of Van Nuys Boulevard with large We didnt mind driving hair shirt vehicles either, I imagine most assumed theyd buy a fancier car after college . Too righteous for VN Blvd, besides, going to school, working and protesting the war, I didnt have time for it! 1957 Chevy Nomad: One for the Sho and Plenty of Go. Forty-two years have passed, and most of the beautiful .table_d2e14 { 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 . And to those in the valley, the beach was the place where mass quantities of illicit substances were consumed and much hilarity ensued. Our club is going to try to go out in force next August 12th. But its still a comfortable place to live. document.write(''); Editors Note: The latest installment of our Through the Lens series is an intriguing detour of sorts. var abkw = window.abkw || ''; People have the wrong idea about gas back then; feeding the typical V8 car back then was NOT cheap. Greene located same car model, bought it, and now cruises the Blvd again on Wednesday cruise nights. You do not have to participate in formal night on a cruise, but your dining options in the evening will be more limited. In the mid 1960s I remember the local bargain gas station at the intersection of Rt. (Photo by David Crane/Los Angeles Daily News-SCNG, Vintage cars and trucks line Van Nuys Blvd on Wednesday cruise night in Van Nuys. To see the entire set of Rick's photos, click HERE. -->,