Cruising Van Nuys Boulevard in the Summer of 1972

[@rickreardon4163]

I graduated high school in Orange County California (Anaheim) in 1977. This is exactly what it looked like. The cars, the chicks and the music. Closest thing to heaven on earth brothers and sisters.

[@rufuspipemos]

Also grew up in The OC in the 1970s. The current generation stuck on their cell phones and X-Box can never understand how cool it was. You actually LIVED. And there was time to relax and have fun.

[@JLH1956]

Life in the Seventies, what a great time to be alive, and young!

[@jamesmack3314]

Yep no tech thankfully

[@scarbourgeoisie]

Unless you were shipped off to Viet Nam...

[@spaceexplorer6636]

@@jamesmack3314 yes with no tech you actually had to be with friends and hang out! Meet girls instead of over the computer. Ban tech and well all be better off.

[@scarbourgeoisie]

@wyomarine No, I was merely a child back then. I'm not even American, but I have a lot of respect and empathy for the young men who were conscripted during that era.

[@humboldthammer]

@@scarbourgeoisie My lottery number was 296 -- that's how I dodged the draft.

[@captjim007]

Life seemed so much simpler back then. I was just back from Nam and had bought a 70 Camaro. Hard to believe I am now 70. I still have the Camaro.

[@dogsense3773]

Got out of navy 73, purchase a 1967 cougar 4 speed 390 I still have the car

[@captjim007]

@@dogsense3773 Yeah those were the days.

[@steveswearingen2188]

Thank you for your Service sir Welcome Home!!!

[@jamesmotley2409]

I grew up in the 70s and didn't realize how good it was.No cell phones,computers or video games .People actually talked to each other and went cruising looking for girls,looking at cars or just hanging out.

[@danoc51]

This is a time and culture that we will never see again.

[@dwightrenfield2241]

Sadly, you are right. Get ready for the Hunger Games, people.

[@-oiiio-3993]

No time will ever be seen again.

[@oldschool6345]

Ain't that a shame.

[@Frank00]

We are being overrun by every country

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@Frank00 That's essentially what Tecumseh said: www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/tecumseh

[@twillbdone3273]

I was working nights as a carhop at Bob's Big Boy. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays the cars would be lined up all the way to Sepulveda. So many amazing cars. So much fun.

[@melanie7781]

Growing up in the 60's and 70"s was the best time of all. Kids today will never know that greatness of spirit and freedom. The cars and the music will never be matched.

[@user-ij6xs4ut7j]

A simpler time and way of life! I miss the America I grew up with!

[@barrybarnes96]

Kids growing up today will say the same thing 40 year from now.

[@charlesmorris6476]

Me too it’s so depressing now. Hell I was there, I miss the old Van Nuys Blvd. cruise night but nothings the same anymore, the place or the people, or life. That was so long ago and far away like a beautiful dream when you wake up and it fades away and the reality of the real world now comes back in focus. I live in the middle of a small town in Missouri now and oh how I miss the old San Fernando Valley. In many ways our generation lived in a much better time.

[@rexspangler4641]

I DO TOO!!!

[@magnusatheos7301]

That's the Liberal vote working for ya.

[@charlesmorris6476]

@@barrybarnes96 I don’t think so

[@bluesharp59]

What really makes this video even better is all the great comments and the fun you all had back in the good ole days. You can take away material things but you will never take memories from the heart. I will leave it at that and peace to all of you out there.

[@HITEKSTRANGER]

Exactly!!!

[@bluesharp59]

@@HITEKSTRANGER Thanks bud.

[@Samson518]

Amen

[@70stunes71]

I miss the 70s. Damn glad I grew up then...great cars/music/memories....

[@jpolar394]

The babe's are sweet, the cars are fabulous and not one smart phone zombi in site.

[@jamesmack3314]

The smart phones are amazing but they have ruined a lot of interaction I’d rather go back ... we did fine without them progress is not always a good thing

[@koollee]

Lol. True. U cud also buy a house for around 24,000$ n up

[@-oiiio-3993]

It was also pre - Walkman. The transistor radio craze had been ten years prior and some people were just beginning to carry 'boom boxes' (ghetto blasters).

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@jamesmack3314 BELIEVE IT... those damn fones are and have always been part of The Plan... Along with several other things us folks over 40 "just don't understand".... ALL contrived to get us to the state we're in now.

[@jamesmack3314]

@@slicksnewonenow and what’s scary is that this is only the beginning...

[@inverterville]

As an Irish man I can honestly say some of the best times I ever had was when I worked in the States, great friends there and so many good memories, love from the Emerald Isle

[@kimmer6]

My friends from Galway spent 3 weeks in NorCal with us. They camped for the first timed under 50 meter tall Redwood trees next to a brook. We did a lot of touring with them and they certainly enjoyed it. The girls played tin whistles around the camp fire. That was delightful.

[@Raughwe]

Bless you, Cuz.

[@dojocho1894]

My dad came over from Ireland as a baby lol......Ulster county in the North but was Roman Catholic not protestant for life.... married my mom who was a model for Dior. She came from Florence, Italy. Off to fight in the war..... back got a MBA from Fordham Univ. became a executive for IBM in Manhattan. Married happily for 50 yrs. The greatest parents a kid could have...They never really ever got angry to each other and not once ever cursed. I was a lucky child. Myself divorced 2x Looking back I think I ws raised too well and I expected everyone to have had a life as mine....I was severely mistaken. Cheers from Manhattan.

[@karenbrown2135]

I was a teenager back in the 70’s growing up in The Valley (North Hollywood) and I loved it. I would not want to change my past. A lot of great memories.

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

My aunt and uncle lived in North Hollywood by the Circus Liquor, made famous by so many TV shows

[@karenbrown2135]

I know exactly where that liquor store is. They showed that liquor store in the movie “Clueless”.

[@Clemmers316]

I grew up in North Hollywood at the same time. Great memories!

[@karenbrown2135]

@ what High School did you go to? I went to Grant and graduated in 1981.

[@4runners496]

Ah, the days before cell phones and internet, when you had to go outside to talk to people.

[@spaceexplorer6636]

Should have stayed that way! We didn’t need cell phones back then and we don’t need them now!

[@MercedesMechanic]

Yeah, I vote we kill internet and smart phones before they kill humankind.

[@rollin19]

It's the truth...people need to regain their health and stop eating the fast food crap...people are really sick physically and mentally..women and men look like bowling balls now. No offense alot of us been there but you gotta remember we didnt have this crap food we have now. Please go plant based..for your family for your kids..for your health....for our planet is going to hell from the pollution we put out....Im begging you!

[@freedom_323]

it was awesome! I took it all for granted, I never thought we'd regress as a nation like we have. These were innocent days of boys chasing girls, girls chasing boys, and cars, weed, beer and thats mostly it...(occasional mushrooms or acid :P )

[@brettk9316]

Lol I was thinking about that when I saw all the people outside just enjoying themselves chillin not much technology other than cool cars and motorcycles haha. Lots of smoking it seemed though back then.

[@mofr4747]

Awesome when California was free all the people in the pictures were smiling and having a good time I’m sorry to say not anymore

[@fastdude2002]

Have lived here my entire life, 54 years and what you say is so true....

[@humboldthammer]

There's an Epochal Eclipse a CROSS the US on April 8th 2024. That's when the aliens ask, "Will you Earthlings ever agree on OUR CREATOR?" Exercise faith to get in shape for that awakening. It's our last chance for reprieve. Matthew 16: 4 Jonah 3: 5-8 Jonah 4: 11

[@robmcgowan4034]

@@fastdude2002 Me too, I'll be 64 in May. There's nothing to be happy about here or anywhere else anymore. Everything's all over with, and has been for many years.

[@larrydrozd2740]

@@robmcgowan4034 This is what happens when the rest of the country tries to move to your state. For three decades it was expanse, people leaving the rust belt and Texas and other areas to start over and enjoy the beautiful Cali weather. The same exact thing is happening in Austin, Texas. Why? Supply and demand. When the price of a house triples in 4 years.....something is wrong. Part of that "wrong" is there used to be corporations that paid the bills, not the populace. They bought the products. Now? You and I pay for ALL of the sports arena's and the schools and the roads and the police and fire, the corporations that move there pay nothing into it because they were given a huge tax "incentive".... I.E. pay nothing for ten years. So....the working folk get to pay for All of it, and their retirement (no pensions) and their healthcare. This is a broken economic model. Hell....a pickup truck costs 50 grand?? Its broken and all people can do is point fingers and blame entities they are told to blame from watching propaganda disguised as "news". Oh well....at least I'm old enough so I won't see the final outcome.

[@robmcgowan4034]

@@larrydrozd2740 I agree with you Larry, and all your points. The ironic part of these images being from 1972, is that '72 was the last year of the 26 year post-war economy that started in 1946 but would end the year before OPEC and the oil nightmare we've been living with since 1973. That was REALLY the beginning of the end of upward mobility for the middle class-----permanently. The beginnings of stagnant wages & inflation (stagflation) that never went away. CEO pay becoming thousands then millions of times the pay of the average worker.The rich getting richer by not (jeff Bezos) having to pay taxes, the Republican party working against the average American at every turn starting with Reagan, the ghettoization of American culture with rap starting in the late '80s and too much more to state here.

[@joeblow1115]

This was one of the highlights of summer growing up in the Valley. Our oldest brother is a mechanic and he had a bright yellow 56 Chevy and a 63 Ford Galaxie 500 we used to cruise the Blvd with. Those were the days. You did not have to worry about getting shot or even harassed by anyone. It was truly a better time in America as all the differents types of folks hung out together and got high and happy. I recall cruise night getting taken over by lowriders and gang bangers in the 80's and then it bacame a dangerous place to be at night.

[@jcdawg8363]

A couple thoughts: 1) Cars had actual unique styling back then, even the regular run of the mill cars. Today's cars all look pretty much exactly the same. 2) The people in those pictures who are still alive are all in their 70s now. When those pictures were taken they couldn't imagine even being 40. Time flies.

[@jamesmack3314]

No doubt...I was 12 that summer..ugh

[@alexaltrichter1597]

Life was good ,no cell phones,no computers, just kids having good clean fun.

[@jamesmack3314]

@@alexaltrichter1597 lack of tech made for a much more fun time but as to it being “clean” I’m not sure about that!

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@jamesmack3314 Likewise. Twelve in Van Nuys.

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@jamesmack3314 'Save water - shower with a friend' was a popular bumper phrase on stickers and t-shirts.

[@yamahaxs6501]

The pictures are absolutely amazing. The photographer was incredibly talented, the way he captured the feeling of the night. I am an 80's kid, and it was certainly special, but East Coast 80's doesn't even compare to West Coast 70's. The cars, the styles, the girls. I just want to spend one night there.

[@henrystowe6217]

The 80s were comparatively awful, though you could still see a little of the old culture. The music sucked though

[@reesedaniel5835]

Each decade from 50s onward circled a little lower in the toilet. We are in the septic tank now 🤨

[@aframers]

I graduated HS in Ohio in 1972 and went on a road trip to California with 3 buddies the summer these great pictures were taken. This returns me to the life-changing vibrancy of that visit. We drove my 1960 Ford Econoline van back to Ohio, and I enlisted in the army rather than be drafted. I got sent to Germany, (handy since my dad was German and I could speak it well enough) and when my 3 year hitch was up, I moved to California. I still love my life here and these pictures are a fine reminder of what caught my attention almost 50 years ago. Thanks for the fine post.

[@5thdimension625]

Where in CA did you land? Just curious. I’m from Michigan and almost did the same but I landed a job that I stayed in for 15 years that kept me from taking the leap. My college roommate was from the Pacific Palisades and that was my debut trip to LA. Lol. Such a contrast to Ann Arbor

[@aframers]

Went to Fresno first for GI Bill college, then UC Davis, then grad school near Berkeley, then fellowship training in Riverside. I have loved the mountains and the coast, and have been in far northern Ca. for the last 17 years.

[@5thdimension625]

@@aframers you’re in beautiful country. You have the best of both worlds. Btw, Are you a physician? If so, so is my husband and we’re grateful to be almost retired. We haven’t like the change in medicine since the inception of electronic medical records. Lol.

[@deborahchesser7375]

What part of Ohio did you leave behind

[@aframers]

@@5thdimension625 I am a psychiatric PA in practice in a rural health clinic and I miss paper charts too!

[@nowiknowhy]

I graduated H.S in 1972 in Santa Barbara CA. I was so fortunate to live there at a time when southern CA was still a magical place to grow up in. It was like growing up in Disneyland! And freedom still rang, and you could live on a minimum wage paying job with plenty of time to enjoy life with your friends. Today it breaks my heart to see Santa Barbara crumbling; infested with the homelessness, and more stores closed than open . Downtown Santa Barbara , with all my awesome childhood memories and wonderful days at its beautiful beaches are just that - memories.

[@barrybarnes96]

You can blame it on the Republican Party which gutted the middleclass and the manufacturing sector at the bidding of the 1% majority shareholder/political donor class who wanted to manufacture in cheap labor Asian countries. The Republican Party is owned and operated by the 1% majority shareholder class.

[@nowiknowhy]

@@barrybarnes96 It was the Clintons in the 90's who sold all our jobs to China. Thats an irrefutable fact. The whole democratic party is in bed with China. Most of them are married to a Chinese person. All but 2 or 3 are members of the communist party. But yes, there are some RHINOS that are as dirty as the democrats. The MSM propaganda works well. Note: I wont be debating any responses. You can do your own research.

[@sassy0010]

@@barrybarnes96 Both major parties are today.

[@Timinator62]

Santa Barbara was so cool until the 90's, things real went down hill, while Home prices Skyrocketed, the bums took over the Downtown.

[@chuckgates1171]

Welfare...

[@vladimirtserademowitz5040]

Wow, thanks so much for posting. I was a little younger than people in photos, but just a few years later starting 1975 I was out there every Cruise Night. The cool thing is at 1:31 on your Vid just at rear of Bucket Hot Rod there is a business on the Van Nuys PONY exPRESS printing...that was my parents business, the lights are on inside...and I was likely in the Window watching the Cars go by when the photo was taken. I did that regularly, it was a family business and we worked many late nights. Keep up the good work. :)

[@geezermann7865]

Cool story.

[@spaceexplorer6636]

Wonderful to hear about and see your past ! Thanks for sharing!

[@minbannister3625]

C V Mildew Desire?

[@vladimirtserademowitz5040]

@@minbannister3625 You obviously know The Cheap Detective. You are the first to figure it out.

[@minbannister3625]

@@vladimirtserademowitz5040 I prefer to be called Rita.

[@jaminova_1969]

My Aunt used to say, "Youth is wasted on the young" but I think those really were the best of times! I'm Gen X, but it was a good time to be a kid in the 70's too! I would give anything for my Orange Huffy with the Banana seat!

[@AngriestAmerican]

We did this in 1984 where I live. Cruised then went to the A&W root beer drive in. Waitresses came out to you car and took your order. It was great! That is what life is all about people, making connection and memories with those connections. When you get older you will realize that is what true wealth is!!!

[@supercoolyguy]

While I like having Stuff. It's not that important anymore. I'd leave it all to have some people back that left too soon.

[@-oiiio-3993]

Cruising on Van Nuys was shut down in '80 or '81, when I was out in Florida. I was born on VN Blvd (Valley Hospital) and spent many hours of blissfully wasted youth there. Who remembers the angels that were hung out for Christmas before the 'War of the Worlds' streetlights were put in?

[@koollee]

Well do u remember how kool Santa Monica and Venice beach was : )

[@fastted3504]

Had that goin' on at the A & W in Chicago off Archer & Pulaski, in the spring and summer.

[@johnnygross4415]

Also in 1964

[@mikeburke6828]

I wish those days were back Jack ! ! ❤🎉😢

[@bestname7281]

The biggest difference from nowadays is how beautiful the girls were back then. They are very feminine and casual. No wonder babies were boomin back then.

[@PhuckHue2]

A lot of bush

[@archvizwiz]

and there were not any people over weight from our so called food. Thank you FDA.

[@stephensmith60]

And NO tattoos!

[@cindysue5474]

@@archvizwiz No its called social media people used to walk to see their friends yes there were phones when people really talked to each other now twitter is nothing but a screen between two people and fast food was a treat not one of the food groups as some believe. Kids wanted to get out of their houses now they live in bedrooms.

[@alb12345672]

I feel with some women I meet online I'm almost talking to a man. Just their attitudes, even the way they hold themselves. It is like they are aspiring to be men. Hard to get any attraction for that. I guess today it is wrong to discriminate...

[@mythumbsupgettingdeleted]

despite just being a little kid in '72, even I could tell that older people than me were living in special times...

[@larrydrozd2740]

Funny thing, I was a kid in the 70's....and all I heard from the older people were how bad it had gotten and how I missed all the good stuff. Go figure.

[@slowdancer5563]

Indeed. I was 8 years old and I remember it.

[@RichWeigel]

I was 2 too little to remember much until the late seventies.

[@mmaranta785]

I was 10 and life sucked then too

[@artemioramirez4440]

The ladies have natural, raw beauty. Ali McGraw had this natural and raw beauty that was common in the early 70’s. It’s not the same ol’California in more ways than one.

[@DavidBrown-dj7tw]

Memories, memories. Beautiful visual memories. Brought a tear to this 76 year old hippie. It's on my favorites list.

[@gary9426]

What a great time to be alive...awesome time capsule!

[@abrahamnutrition]

I was born in 65 but remember this era! Girls were so hot back then! No tattoos!

[@auggie803]

-And no fatty's.

[@johnmcintyre1965]

I was born in 65 too. So much of the original California from our time is gone now. Sad.

[@jgrab1]

@@auggie803 No fatty's what?

[@TS-ef2gv]

Also no hair like Ronald McDonald or a build like a nose tackle (aka a "run stopper").

[@leonardcarrillo2148]

64 here. 🇺🇲

[@rickolson-51]

Married my HS sweetie in the 1972...I was stationed in San Diego in 70-71 and some of us would drive to Van Nuys on the weekends to cruise the strip. Man that was fun. At the time I had a 63 Impala HT.

[@claudiocorleone7856]

I am glade I was a young teenager back then to witness the best decade of all time!

[@victorslowik3786]

When everything was almost free, Joints were cheap, gasoline wouldn't break the wallet. The girls were always looking pretty. :)

[@vladimirtserademowitz5040]

AND the girls were skinny and hot! Very different than the youngins today, of which some are in my family. I believe the food and the lifestyle today is not healthy at all. When I, a 60 something man, is lighter and thinner than most of the 20somethings at events I go to...there is a problem.

[@kevinmontgomery1383]

@@vladimirtserademowitz5040 I just turned sixty-four last month, and have made a lot of dietary changes. I am loosing muscle mass, beer belly transformed into love handle, and only loosing inches in my hips. Any advise, would be appreciated!

[@jamesmack3314]

Girls were actually friendly and wanted to meet guys unlike now where they avoid contact

[@streetsmart1164]

@@jamesmack3314 And, Girl's.. wanted to be Girl's.. but nowadays... Fhat the Wuck !

[@davshaw5]

Right, and no “Tramp Stamps....”

[@redfred70]

Wonderfully nostalgic. I wonder what happened to all those people we saw. We'll never know. To be that age in early 70's California was as good as it gets. The reality of the smiles and positive looks have an ethereal quality.

[@davidlotspeich5547]

My wife and I tell our kids about cruising our local strip back in the 80's. Our "cellphones" were yelling out the window to our friends. 😆

[@wb3161]

Same here. Best of times. I suppose because no responsibilities just work to buy some gas food cigarettes and pot and hang out with 30 or 40 of lifelong friends

[@cjbecker1683]

@@wb3161 Absolutely correct 👍 I don't understand all the hate & crime today.....back in the late 80's my only worry was working to have gas money & take out the girlfriend to be with friends hit the backroads for some racing while enjoying life........time flies

[@slicksnewonenow]

@@cjbecker1683 ALL of the latest "racism" stuff has been manufactured by "THEY" to use against us... The name of THEIR game is Deride, Divide and Conquer. And if we let "THEY" continue...THEY will win. Stay VIGILANT 👍

[@cjbecker1683]

@@slicksnewonenow Crazy times......we need to clean out 95% of the politicians then start over....

[@davidholmes2283]

As a Brit I have always loved American car culture.

[@timhitt9541]

I've always love British cars.

[@Fresh-tw7ev]

I love British 🇬🇧 prog rock... Moodies, Uriah Heep, DP, early Genesis the list goes on!

[@72cut87]

Is there much of an American car culture in Britain,wife is Scottish, I look for it when I am there

[@spaceexplorer6636]

Agree, but you guys had some cool stuff too, Escorts, cortinas, mini, Capri, I was a big fan of lotus back in the day.

[@davidholmes2283]

@@72cut87 There is, but on a very small scale. Very rarely will you see a piece of American metal on the UK roads. There are specialized shows and there is one at Tatton Park, Cheshire, England. I was going to go to it last year but COVID stopped all that. Another problem is the price of fuel for running the big V8's. Currently at $7.70c per UK Gallon!

[@mckinleymorganfield8494]

A much better time then what we have here now. That's for sure.

[@jamesmack3314]

Girls were so special back then sweet ,unpretentious and not completely devoid of desire like It seems now

[@dennisbrown4524]

We all got old lol

[@kpaulsen01]

They may have had desire, but there was a reputation to protect. Now it seems the opposite.

[@bertiewooster3326]

US women are mostly overweight humpa lumpas today.

[@markreed171]

Today's woman is covered in ink and attempting to dress as naked as they legally can. #attentionwhores

[@CH-nl3oo]

At some point women became guys

[@jamesmack3314]

Crazy almost 50 years ago everybody who is alive then is pushing 70 or above but what a great year that was so much went down in that summer not to mention the incredible music good times

[@pamelahsmithsmith2366]

just turned 67, graduated high school in 72.still alive and kicking! LOL

[@jamesmack3314]

@@pamelahsmithsmith2366 rock on!

[@pamelahsmithsmith2366]

@@jamesmack3314 LOL..that's what I"m doing!! "Forever Young" :)

[@steveanacorteswa3979]

I was only 15 so had to wait till the next year and I am only 63

[@vinniemartin3682]

Transistor radio tuned into 93 KHJ and K Earth 101 great music and great times thanks for the video !

[@HemiVic]

I grew up in Chicago and cruised the famous “Archer Avenue” in the mid-70’s. The street was a hotbed for American Muscle Cars and street cruising. In 1980, I visited and cruised Van Nuys Blvd. It was something I always wanted to do! I had fun! I miss those days of being young!

[@Ballenxj]

I cruised Van Nuys BLVD in the mid seventies in my 67 442. Thumb up for the memory.

[@bassplayermarty6032]

Me !979 Bright Yellow Chev PU

[@-oiiio-3993]

Jeff?

[@truckerray9634]

@@bassplayermarty6032 how did you cruise a 79 Chevy pick up on the Blvd in the summer of 1972, that's a pretty good trick 👌

[@James-bv4nu]

'65 Cutlass 425 cu. 350 HP; 4 barrel Rochester, dual exhaust.

[@Ballenxj]

@@James-bv4nu Nice! I'll bet that was fun.

[@johnduffant9694]

I used to cruise VN blvd during that time in lime green 69 Z28 it was the best of times.

[@spaceexplorer6636]

69 Z28 cruising the boulevard. What great times. I had a 70 Cuda myself, they just don’t make them like that anymore!

[@nl6431]

Maybe you'd remember me then? I used to cruise in my 69 maroon Camaro (not a Z28). I also had a green 70 'Cuda. Did you guys ever go to Raymer St to race? I'd work on my cars almost every night to get it ready for Wednesday night...then off to Raymer to race. I remember getting stuck there till 3am when the cops blocked both ends of Raymer.

[@jameslittleton6079]

Oh boy, 1972, the US Army sent me overseas to join up with my other buddies, never forgotten

[@maxsdad538]

I was Air Force and I had it pretty easy (compared). Flew reconnaissance (EC-121) out of Korat RTAFB, Bangkok. Sawadi.

[@gregrogers6886]

I was there, 73-74. Stoplight to stoplight in first gear, my 57 DeSoto had small holes in both of its' mufflers so it sounded like glass packs. We were all there, young and old with our cars. Old cars, hot rods, low riders, and motorcycles, I can remember one elderly couple would show up in a model T with the stars and stripes on her radiator. I miss those days.

[@scorpio5289]

Ah, those were the days. Cruised every Wednesday night. Turned around at June Ellens at one end and at McDonalds at the other. Got my first ticket one Wednesday night for exhibition of speed in my 55 Chevy. Remember chirping the tires in June Ellen parking lot pissing off the low riders. All in good fun. Those were the days. I will never forget those summer nights out on the blvd.

[@JLH1956]

Me either Scorpio52. We owned what we owned and everyone was proud!

[@EricW4445]

@scorpio52 Damn Highriders! Ha! Just kiddin’. We had good times back then even if our car styles were different. All the best to you from a former Wednesday Night Van Nuys Blvd Crusin’ Lowrider!

[@DrJohn493]

I bet you wish you still had that '55 Chevy. Not a day goes by I don't miss my '65 Chevy Nova SS.

[@EricW4445]

@John Jones on the south end of Van Nuys Blvd.

[@ErinIsReal]

LOL 'exhibition of speed'; had a few myself! What does that even mean? I never asked. We weren't speeding! Ahhh the good old days forever gone!

[@stevewhite791]

Outstanding 70's images. I was just a kid on my Schwinn but I had a couple of those cars when I was in high school and college. Brings back good memoires and the little things like flipping the 10speed bike handlebars around like one girl had in a image. Pretty girls, big hair and great cars, you had to walk up to each other and attempt a conversation. Guts and glory or down in flames. No swiping left and right. Those people look alive.

[@paintslinger16]

Awesome being on the East coast this is what we imagined Cali to be like, then you all pulled the plug on that life style.

[@chickenalaking1319]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZbUi5Sfj9Kia7M

[@charliechristie2949]

Beautifully done. Since I was 19 in 1972,it looks like photos from my own album. I thank you VERY MUCH for bringing this to KZbin !!!

[@terryballard4674]

who wants to go back in time???? :-)

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Terry Ballard Please Please Please Please. And know what I know now.

[@-oiiio-3993]

I'd have to have a serious talk with myself. Probably wouldn't listen, though.

[@dan-xxx-8713]

ME!

[@dilberta6046]

I wish I could more every day.

[@deliveryguyrx]

(Cue the Trident gum commercial) "I do, I do!!!"

[@saywhat664]

I was born 62 in Japan, moved to states in 81 by myself. As I grew up in Japan watching movies like “ American Graffiti, Two Lane Blacktop“, this was image of America for me and one of the reason I came here. America has been very good to me, got married with nice girl, about to have grand kid and don’t forget I got 66 396 Caprice 2dr and track days 89 Iroc too. But lately something has changed, not only getting away from my youth, but what I thought America was as well. America was beacon of freedom. Maybe I’m just getting old…..

[@RBEmerson]

"Those were the days, my friend. We thought they'd never end..." -- Gene Raskin / Mary Hopkin Life's like that, folk.

[@fredtayam3638]

party every week end none stop port Hueneme, Oxnard, Ventura, Santa Barbara and Malibu all over, what a good old day, love 70's.

[@007heatingandair]

I drag raced from every stoplight on that street, usually just into second gear then we would go over to raymer street where the 1/4 mile was marked off. Spent every Wednesday and saturday night there all through the 70s ...Friday was date night...good times I tell ya.

[@007heatingandair]

@@rickg882 Yeah I did Irwindale on Wednesdays also, had a new 1977 Pontiac Can Am pulled the entire drive train 2 weeks old, went built W30 455 Olds Th400 411 posi B&J overdrive and went racing...damn that was fun. If you were there in the late 70s you might remember my car it was the only Can Am in town, bought it right on Van Nuys Blvd the only one Prestige Pontiac ever sold.

[@spaceexplorer6636]

Great to hear all you guys story! Fast cars, cute girls, hanging out, I’ve watched movies of the era and truly love it.

[@michaelwoodward2824]

Saturday night street races. Good times!

[@johnmcintyre1965]

Paraquat Kelley

[@samiam9059]

Simpler times with zero ugly tattoos(imo)

[@-oiiio-3993]

There were a few very well known tattoo shops on Van Nuys Boulevard in the 60s - 70s which were quite busy.

[@robertdavis3433]

Tats look like skin cancer.

[@benjigaines7044]

No tats 👎

[@fastdude2002]

No tats on the women for sure ....

[@samiam9059]

@@-oiiio-3993 for men....always an exception though

[@professorwizard4143]

All those Young People are in their 60's and 70's now! Life is very different.

[@purushaonezeroeight165]

Me to

[@johnfalcone9520]

Wish it was like that still. Simple and pure. Not like today. Everything was beautiful . Girls naturally pretty no FAKE shit like today. Cars were bad ass with alot of style. Good wholesome times.Try doing that today probably have multiple shootings and drive byes.How times have changed. It's so sad that our American culture is being destroyed today. All we'll ever have are those great memories of those great times. To bad kids today will never experience good times like that. God Bless America.

[@frequentflyer56]

Great memories! I was there and had the privilege of the experience. Time rolls on.

[@SPEEDOFDOG]

Real life. Something that’s missing today. So glad I was around to experience it.

[@samuelsavage-ll6tl]

Such great memories of the days when L.A. was still a beautiful place.

[@brucereimer4604]

I have listened/watched this over and over. The more I listen the better it gets. This video takes me back to a time before everyone had to make a political statement...back to simpler times. Love the scenes, love the music! Best nostalgia video ever!!!!

[@c5back9]

Some of us were making political statements back then hoping to get the public to understand that bigger government means more laws, more spending, higher taxes to pay for spending, diminished privacy, and vast bureaucracies emerging over which the public would have less and less control. We were trying to explain that more laws would result in less individual freedom, and threats to our rights. By now it should be clear that we were right yet many still don’t seem to get it.

[@21stcenturyfossil7]

I remember those days. Even your haircut was a political statement.

[@spaceexplorer6636]

@@c5back9 Give it a rest man! It gets old fast! You just play the blame game your entire life and never take any responsibility ! Society is responsible for its decline, politicians have very little to do with it and is not as important as you make them out to be! Left, right, middle it’s all the same crap! look in the mirror man!

[@brucereimer4604]

@@c5back9 Yes that's true, some of you did. And some of you had a legitimate cause. I didn't make a conscious choice to have a life when I was young, I simply did. Like most of us, I didn't think about the bigger picture back then, I just lived my life and had fun! So let me ask you this, was it worth it? Now years later I am trying to make politcial statements to people who just aren't listening. The world is a f%#kibg mess! I admire that you sacrificed your youth in hopes of changing the world but in the end it seems to me like it was total waste of time! Tell me I'm wrong.

[@c5back9]

@@brucereimer4604: Wow, brother, I have to admit that I look around now and see many things around the world to be disappointed about. You’re correct the world is quite a mess, and America is in many ways one of the saddest messes of all. As I young man I believed in the power of individual commitment to a cause. Now that I’m on the back 9 of earthly life, and I’ve had ample time to see the world and grow to understand things far more deeply than I had when I was young, I’ve come to understand that only The Almighty can change mankind. Was it worth it? Absolutely! Had I not been there, I might not be where I am now. I have complete faith in the Lord, He’s in control. The path this world is on might soon be filled with massive tribulation, but it’s His plan, and I’m 100% with Jesus. May His Grace be with you always brother!

[@smalltalk.productions9977]

i was 17 and driving around brooklyn in a 1961 lancer! i was smiling for the entire 3:50 of this vid. thanks for the posting.

[@SK-bb6ms]

Well done, really depicts this era perfectly! I can still remember what everyone drove back then (sometimes more than names of the people), cars were like an extension of who we were.

[@yougear100]

Great Pics. Thanks for this!

[@waynescott9218]

I remember Wednesday night cruises on Van Nuys Blvd in my 71 Cuda with my car friends and watching the low riders, van guys and gals and the surfers hanging out together and LAPD trying to figure out how many times you passed by to site you for illegal cruising. Gas was 35 cents a gallon for premium and cruising was a great way to get out and have fun. I miss those days.

[@MontrealMan1970]

Cruisin' was the original internet.

[@FINfinFINfinFINfin]

Curious why the cruise was on Wednesday nights? Here in GA we cruised on Friday and Saturday night.

[@shaunclifton5281]

Wayne, you had THE DREAM Car. 71 Cuda is such a work of art. That cheese grater grille is breathtaking.

[@waynescott9218]

@@FINfinFINfinFINfin I think it was a night that the boulevard was low on daily traffic and accessibility was available. Friday and Saturday night was a nightmare to drive Van Nuys Boulevard due to restaurants and shopping the locals used. That’s a quest on my part, but growing up about 6 miles east of Van Nuys Boulevard I remember my dad staying away on the weekend evenings.

[@aceyorba]

71 Cuda....Nice . probably wish u still had it.

[@_Peremalfait]

McCloskey's photographs are beautiful and capture the culture, the cars, the people. A true artist.

[@jerrydelacruz5119]

When the city council banned cruise night because the merchants complained, all the kids stopped working on cars and started dealing drugs and joining gangs. Talk about biting your nose to spite your face.

[@paulhare662]

Now they got skateboarders with spray cans burning stuff down.

[@lightrose100]

A lot of them moved to Hollywood Blvd and created traffic on weekends

[@-oiiio-3993]

As had been predicted. LAPD never had it so good as when a large segment of the adolescent population was doing their partying right in front of them. When the Blvd. was closed to cruising, they threw all of that away.

[@JLH1956]

We told city council that we were the ones who worked on their cars when they broke. And if they ever wanted their car fixed at a fair price then they should remember who works on their cars. Cruise night continues even to this day.

[@DavidSmith-fr1uz]

That's "Cutting off your nose to spite your face."

[@byroncurrin227]

Thanks for sharing....your photos bring the 70's to life(photos...such good quality), 1970's....a wonderful time to be young....

[@elchato1590]

Everyone was together it seems....beautiful times

[@richthetrashpicker-upper5244]

I miss those days I was only two years old 1972 they were the best

[@Music-pq8cm]

Back when California was California. What happened Cool replaced with cellphone zombies

[@cknights9612]

Stupid A** PEOPLE THAT THINK ITS THE END OF THE WORLD 🌎 WITHOUT 👀 AT THEIR CELL PHONE FOR 10 SECONDS ....EXACTLY CELL PHONE ZOMBIES ...

[@illusionclassicrock6742]

Leftism

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@illusionclassicrock6742 Without 'leftism', those scenes of 1972 Van Nuys Blvd. would be entirely bland and populated with Howdy Doody clones.

[@-oiiio-3993]

California is still California, it's just not 1972 any more. Nothing stays the same, particularly in a place as dynamic as Los Angeles.

[@tractormantp2113]

Very true probably if you went out there now they’re just looking down at their phones and nobody’s even interacting that’s big tech big companies that’s what they’ve done to America made a bunch of zombies

[@peteshaw7848]

I love this, so nostalgic. A classic slice of Americana 😎

[@lulujrlaulom7905]

My Dad Louis Laulom used to role Van Nuys.. He would love to see this..

[@jerrybooth2087]

What is this "role" you speak of?

[@lulujrlaulom7905]

@@jerrybooth2087 Cruise

[@livinaftermidnight9651]

I got there a little bit later, 77-80 but had a hell of a time on the Boulevard!

[@debrawineland5709]

Omg! I recognized my cruising buddy Anita, she was gorgeous and always drew lots of attention. I was arrested 3 times on VNBlvd for curfew! I LOVED Wednesday nites on VNB!

[@Stuckneutral]

Oh man, I loved those days. They were the best with so many memories. Thanks so much for posting, you just made my day.

[@mikemike1071]

They all managed to live with no cell phones.

[@-oiiio-3993]

Yes, we did.

[@4406bbldb]

I remember.

[@d.s7741]

@Joe Duke - that's funny I didn't watch T.V. from 1980 to 2000

[@riverraisin1]

@@d.s7741 That's funny I haven't watched KZbin since forever

[@henrystowe6217]

@Joe Duke cool. There has been nothing worthwhile save for Rockford Files reruns

[@boyfrmnewyork]

Almost 50 years later and I'm still "California Dreamin' "....

[@marlena1jb]

I grew up in Glendale so I know exactly were this is at. I love the video. Those were the good times . The girls the guys the different cars damm. Boy I wish we were back then again. Just beautiful.👊🏼👊🏼💪🏼💪🏼🇺🇸🇺🇸😁

[@chrisscoleri2341]

You almost never can appreciate it at the time, but growing up in the 70s and 80s in So Cal was really something. Looking back, it may really have been the golden age of Californian living. We were always looking forward to "what's next" and didn't grasp what a great time we were already living in. I've cruised Van Nuys many times, thanks for the trip back. I can almost hear KMET (The mighty Met), KLOS, or KFI (Back when they played music) in the background. The culture, cars, and music were pure California gold. To quote Eddie Money's cover of I Wanna Go Back: I wanna go back And do it all over But I can't go back, I know I wanna go back 'Cause I'm feeling so much older But I can't go back, I know Oh Lord

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Chris Scoleri IMO. KMET was the Greatest Rock and Roll Radio station Ever .And as they used to say on the Mighty Met WWWWHHHHHOOOYYYYYAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's kinda fitting that I'm watching this on Friday the 13th and thinking about the fish report with a beat.

[@reesedaniel5835]

Now Eddie's singing "Give me some water"....❤‍🔥🔥

[@CarsandCats]

I was too young to cruise Van Nuys but I sure followed it though the pages of Car Craft magazine and their "Cruisin' USA" stories.

[@HITEKSTRANGER]

Here's to my California buddys that i will love till i die... Don and Ken. Each had a Camaro ...a 68 and a 69 i believe, and it was like swimming in a dream, hanging out with them for 2 weeks! Absolutely amazing guys living the California dream. Thanks for the hospitality and fun memories !

[@JLH1956]

I was a teen and yes this was our time. Every thing I see here is retrospect to the day I was there. We had the world back then, and life had no bad. What happened?

[@jamesmack3314]

Tech overload happened

[@jmsjms296]

Greed and ignorance. Ronnie Reagan, etc etc.

[@gregfeldman6818]

Corporatization.

[@humboldthammer]

Crusin' was our Social Media.

[@blisterbrain]

You forgot all the shitty stuff, that's what happened!

[@gerryd6853]

Great time to be a kid. I had a 64 VW Van and cruised all over PCH. up and down the coast...

[@coolmoodee]

Simpler times then.... wish we could go back to cool cars and fun times...

[@theonlybuzz1969]

There are a few periods of time that I would have loved to explore , this would have been one of them. Thanks for sharing these little glimpses into the lives of everyday people who knew how to enjoy themselves thank you 🙏 namaste 🙏

[@alexroberts9349]

94.7 KMET was the rock station pretty much everyone listened to(the mighty met)

[@bassplayermarty6032]

Jim Ladd The Original Dr Johnny Fever

[@jakebumbstead]

“A little bit of heaven ninety four point seven, KMET”

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

Robert Reed And hearing the fish report with a beat on Friday night with Mary The Burner Turner and Paraquat Kelly. WWWWWWHHHHHHHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On Wednesday night my friends and I would cruise Van Nays Blvd. then on Friday night it was driving up Beach Blvd or as some people called it Highway 39 to Whittier then back down Beach to P.C.H. and start it all over again. Sadly some of those friends are no longer with us , but the memories will always be there. Some good times for sure. They filmed WKRP in the same building where KMET was. I always thought that one was copying the other. It was called Metro Media Square and for about the last 25+ years it's been a high school. I hope those kids know what haloed ground that they are walking on. Feb.14,1978 R.I.P. KMET.

[@-oiiio-3993]

@@jakebumbstead Tweedle dee.

[@mattf49006]

@@bassplayermarty6032 ..in 72 Ladd was at KLOS

[@deanryder4922]

Back then everyone was beautiful and natural on the inside and out.Great memories!!

[@carlosvillegas6113]

Beautiful days, i drove a 1970 grand prix.

[@jeffreym.keilen1095]

Your G.P. is my ultimate dream car to own.

[@archvizwiz]

wow! this brought back some memories. thank you

[@cashewnut2539]

Looks like simpler and fun times, no COVID BS, cancel culture and woke nonsense. Shame to thing a lot of these beautiful people have now grown old or worse....You guys lived in a great age...hats off to you

[@paullacroix3585]

Thanks,it was a good time to be young. I pity today’s kids. Most can’t even change a tire, or drive a stick. Suks to be them,but they don’t know how good it was.

[@Eagle7433]

Every generation says this about the new one tho.

[@DavidSmith-fr1uz]

It was better times. This civilization has been on a steep downhill slide ever since.

[@cashewnut2539]

@@paullacroix3585 Both my daughters are learning to drive stick shift for this very reason

[@jamesmack3314]

Man you weren’t kidding everybody was much more free and easy and accepting back then no bullshit like today or a lot less

[@sotim812]

Love these songs put with the pics of past great memories!!!

[@dennishetheymemanscarfile3364]

Those were the days, my friend, I thought they'd never end....

[@myrskylintu1]

Beautiful, beautiful video. This video with "Tumbling Dice" playing...please.

[@DavidSmith-fr1uz]

Testosterone levels in boys was higher and they looked more like men. The kids weren't so fat as today either. It was just better times.

[@RJMEL24]

That’s because we didn’t sit indoors playing video games or watching tv eating Tostitos all day. Got out of the house early in morning and only came home to eat or sleep.

[@cknights9612]

So True Amigo , That's Exactly how it was 😎 back in the day ...Couldn't wait 2 get out of house .... And the later you stayed out ...The better it got !!!!

[@tedfox2683]

@@cknights9612 I concur

[@robmcgowan4034]

To further add to that David, I have friends with a VERY obese 17 year old son who just sits in his room 24/7 screaming at virtual reality machine in his room. Up to and past age 16 he had all of these boys (also 16!!) in his room with the VR machine, running around the house with Star Wars light sabers, dressing up as current movie comic book hero movie characters and more. Up until exactly 1 year ago when COVID stopped all of this, he'd have "sleepovers" with these other kids almost constantly. Nothing changed in 7 years from when they were 10! I never heard of boys having "sleepovers" until 10 years ago. Of course I was 15 in the summer of '72----back in the dark ages now, I know, but don't you think this supposedly common thing now is weird??! I mean I'd heard of girls having an occasional pajama party in the '50s-'70s that was a one night thing, but nothing like this--for boys?! These are kids born in 2003 that AREN'T kids age-wise (17/18) but might as well be. I think half of them or more, are autistic too. Very disturbing.

[@realaussiemale567]

Teens & children actually went out doing mostly things that weren’t harmful to others, there wasn’t the heavy influx of foreigners taking all the jobs, you were mostly safe if you minded your own business.

[@robertflores5370]

Great street shots. ELA had the lowriders on Whittier Boulevard, the valley and the town of Whittier, on Whittier Boulevard, had the muscle cars. Good times!

[@rosemarywhite5805]

Trina Sobiech, Allison McCabe and Robin Ann Procetto................Found these High School Friends while watching the video. We were 16

[@ravenm.]

Just attended my 50 year HS anniversary reunion (Class of '72). What an amazing decade to be alive!

[@rc51cbrguy]

Every one was so fit. Not because of their age but the food and lifestyle. I remember those days. But for me, it was Whittier Blvd.

[@kpaulsen01]

Great pics. Brings up memories of the noise and smells of the muscle cars exhaust. I lived in Sunland back in the 60's and I traveled on Van Nuys blvd and Foothill it was very much like this. I was 16 or so and just got my DL. Thanks for posting!

[@kimmer6]

Me Tujunga boy. Climbed Mount Lukens many times. My brother still lives in Tujunga off Haines Canyon.

[@mksherwood3068]

This is OUR generation [boomer] and WE begat today's kids. So we have no one to blame for the 2021 failed culture except ourselves. But I agree...the 70's are gone forever. [smartphones take the place today of Saturday mixers back then]

[@dadsonworldwide3238]

We has so much fun cruising the strips around America growing up. Cars was huge the first freedom and independence gaining dl . Didn't call anyone you drove around and found them .

[@SK-bb6ms]

You could hear them coming by the sound of their motor