Hello, For us roving teenagers in So Cal, this was the main exit to get to the busiest cruising street in Los Angeles Metropolitan area. Famous movie stars, famous places, rock music venues, theaters that actually showed first run movies, etc were all the attractions that pulled us there on Friday-Saturday nights. During the day, it was just a busy street with the same buildings and attractions, but the glimmer had toned down a lot. But, at night, it came alive with activity and the boulevard was almost magical. Talk about cruising West as we got off of the 101 freeway. If we did the whole length, it was only a mile or so long. Then turn around and cruise back through the busy street with all of its unusual activities. Jnaki The turn around and cruise back down Hollywood Boulevard was a time honored tradition for most teens involved with hot rods and cruising sedans. Girls from other parts of So Cal just loved going to “Hollywood” and at the time for us, it was the only way to get to the famed street and activity. If the Hollywood Blvd activity was a little slow, then the next big street just around the block was the next destination. Sunset Blvd. It was the same cruise up and down. plus, this one had a better extended drive ending... Yes, I took my wife (then girlfriend) to the street activities and surrounding areas many times from 1966 onward. The big OC where we lived had nightlife, but not like the West Los Angeles area during the late 60s, 1966 to well into the 70s. The "Summer of Love" era was centered all around this hot spot as part of Los Angeles. After cruising and walking the streets to go to a first run movie or eat at one of the famous street diners, or those low cost LP record stores, it did not get old. Something new was always happening there. But, for a change up and a different way to come home, but yet spend more time with her, we always took Hollywood Boulevard or Sunset Boulevard to the West. With several streets joining each street together prior to going through the hills to get to the ocean. Sure, we could have jumped on the closest freeway to head back to our OC area, but what was the fun in spending less time together? The winding extension of the main streets led to the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica area and from there, it was a coastal cruise down the highway through several top ocean front cities back to Belmont Shore in Long Beach. We could have cruised near my house on the Westside as PCH runs right by the old house. But, our route took us into Palos Verdes and the huge peninsula down into San Pedro for scenic drive over the suspension bridge through Terminal Island to her small apartment in Long Beach. Note: The early area activities for hot rod, custom cars and drag racers was shown to the public on the previous street exit at Sunset Blvd. A 6 day/night motor sport show at the Hollywood Exhibition Building on Sunset Blvd. A 1955 photo of the Sunset Blvd exit leading to the exhibition building at the first corner.
The Jalopy Journal
