Cruising the Boulevard

I grew up in the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and Cruisin' Van Nuys Blvd on Wednesday's, Friday and Saturday nights to show off your 'ride'  is one of the fondest memories of my youth. Guys and Gals went puttin' down the boulevard from Bob's Big Boy to  A & W's Drive-In,  in this early version of some of the best 'Pimp Your Ride' cars and trucks of that day and time.

Cruisin' along in this slow moving car show on hot summer nights to meet up with your friends at Sepulveda Drive and Van Nuys drive in to catch a movie or at the Friday dance at the Teen Center on Victory Blvd was the cool crowds social networking of that day and time.

Sure it was a long time ago, but I have to believe someone will remember "Les Femme Fatales" in their red jackets and a hot pink 1957 Chevy with red interior cruising Van Nuys Boulevard.

I met my first boyfriend cruising Van Nuys Blvd, ( a '57 Chevy), the coolest guy's with the coolest car got the girl's in those days!

The days of Oscar's drive-thru, The A&W, Brunswick Bowl, June Ellen Donuts and Bob's Big Boy-Van Nuys are a distant memory. Although one can still get carhop service at the Toluca Bob's Big Boy on Riverside Drive just west of Pass Avenue. And, the Panorama Bowling alley is still in operation. The old Panorama walk-in theater at Van Nuys Blvd. and Nordoff Street presents Latin films but the front of the theater has changed very little since it's opening. Chi's Chi's Pizza is no longer there either and Mike's Pizza on Van Nuys south of Roscoe closed right after the owner Paul Green passed away.

Was this the birthplace of the car crazy girl in me?

Jody DeVere
President
AskPatty.com, Inc.
www.askpatty.com