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Spend 5 Minutes Cruising Sunset Blvd In The 1960s
In 1966, the Sunset Strip saw curfew riots (also known as "hippie riots"), as the antiestablishment counterculture-era kids clashed with the cops and the squares, man.
Residents and business owners complained of loitering, demanding a 10 p.m. curfew for those 18 and under, and a rally protesting this was promptly held at Pandora's Box. Jack Nicholson and Peter Fonda even showed up, joined by thousands of others—bottles were broken, punches were thrown, and arrests were made (even Fonda was cuffed).
The events led to Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth," as well as other songs.
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But it wasn't just a scene on Sunset at night—during the light of day, various parts of the Boulevard saw a lot of congestion and kids hanging out on the sidewalks. Below, find some fantastic footage that puts you in the passenger seat and allows you to slowly cruise Sunset throughout the latter half of the 1960s:
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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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