Filming Locations: Van Nuys Blvd (1979)
Van Nuys Blvd. was a 1979 motion picture released by Crown International Pictures, written and directed by William Sachs. The movie featured 1974 Playboy Playmate of the Year Cynthia Wood. The film tells the story of a small-town boy who hears about the wild nights of cruising Van Nuys Boulevard in California. He drives out there to check it out, and gets involved with drag racers, topless dancers and bikers. The movie’s tag line was: “The Greatest Cruisin' in the Land Takes Place on the Street -- Where it all Began... "
For locals who see the film, they can laugh when one of the characters dares the other--"Want to do a Raymer?" Raymer Street, next to the Metrolink railroad, is a long straightway street in an industrial zone perfect for "drag racing" (Wikipedia).
You can read a good review of the film at the Jennytonic.com site. You can also download the theme song, "Boogie On Down The Boulevard" by Ron Wright & Ken Mansfield here. You can view actual pictures from crusing Van Nuys Blvd here, here, and here which is definitely worth the extra time.
The film about Van Nuys Blvd, believe it or not, actually filmed some scenes on Van Nuys Blvd (sarcasm).
Drag racing took place on Raymer Street as quoted in the movie. I believe this location was 14804 Raymer Street Van Nuys CA 91405.
"Want to do a Raymer?" Raymer Street, next to the Metrolink railroad, is a long straightway street in an industrial zone perfect for "drag racing"
Magic Mountain 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway Valencia CA 91355
Malibu Grand Prix 19550 Nordhoff Street Northridge CA 91324. Now demolished and replaced with Northridge Toyota Dealership. You can read an LA Times article covering the last day of its lease. I am going to cry now.
Drag racing on the unfinished 210 Freeway at the 118 Freeway on-ramp which is near Paxton Street in Pacomia. The other surprising fact is that the race ends where the 210 freeway intersects Van Nuys Blvd with the bridge completed for passing over Van Nuys Blvd but the 210 freeway is still dirt at the time heading east. I dont know if the director planned the ending of the film to be at this specific location but what an awesome way to end the movie at Van Nuys Blvd but in a completely different area where no cruising took place and at the same time drag racing on an empty unfinished freeway which is like every car fanatics dream. I would almost consider this to be pure genius for a film that was low budget and B-rated.
And the closing credits showing thanks to Malibu Grand Prix in Northridge as well as Magic Mountain.
And the trailer:
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Marty Mcfly
Anything and everything about the San Fernando Valley. This blog will take you back in time when the valley was covered with dirt and orange groves to a leader in the space race to its current status as America's suburb. Come along and join me on this adventure, I guarantee you have been influenced/impacted by the San Fernando Valley in one form or another even if you have never visited or heard of the SFV.
I think I may have owned that Cadillac at one time. I am followed on Twitter by Melissa Prophet, who rode in it. She is not sure, but wants to know. I lost documents on some of my old cars, some of which were in old films. I just sold a 1955 Buick from A Beautiful Mind. It is a hobby. Can you read the license plate on it, in any of your images?
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