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Photos: Cruise Down The 1980s Sunset Strip Of 'Wicked City'
Tonight, ABC premieres Wicked City, a show about a serial killer (played by Gossip Girl's Ed Westwick) who stalks the Sunset Strip, preying on naive women, who have freshly arrived in Hollywood. He almost sounds like a Brat Pack-era version of 1893 Chicago World's Fair killer H.H. Holmes.
So far, advance reviews of the pilot are not good. Judging by the flashy '80s pop soundtrack, it seems that much of the budget for Wicked City went towards licensing music from the era—much of which was born on the Strip itself.
But the show is as good a reason as any journey back to the past, in all its seedy, hair-sprayed glory. As Westwick's character says in the pilot episode of Wicked City, "Accept me for who I am—that's the Sunset Strip." We dug up photos of those famous billboards and marquees on Sunset Blvd., inside the seedy clubs and outside where protesters campaigned against prostitution. If you've got a hankering for even more photos of the '80s L.A. scene, beyond the Strip, the Los Angeles Public Library showcased an exhibit featuring photos of the L.A. music scene from 1978—1999 earlier this year.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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