This postcard shows the former North Hollywood Car Radio Service, Inc. at 5535 Tujunga Avenue in North Hollywood. It is a great snapshot of the era when car stereos, CB radios, burglar alarms, and custom auto audio installations were specialty businesses of their own.
The front of the postcard shows a low-slung commercial building with a prominent roadside sign reading North Hollywood Car Radio Stereo. The storefront advertised major car audio and electronics brands including Motorola, Craig Car Stereos, Audiovox, and Blaupunkt, with a covered installation bay visible on the right side of the building.
The back of the postcard gives a fuller sense of what the business offered. North Hollywood Radio Service described itself as “Auto Stereo Specialists” with sales, repair, and installation. Services listed included service on foreign and domestic cars, FM multiplex systems, automatic speaker relay systems, auto burglar alarms, CB sales and service, and custom installations.
The postcard also advertised 98 units on display, complimentary coffee, a color TV lounge, and the phone number (213) 985-5684. A small map on the back places the business near Tujunga Avenue, Burbank Boulevard, Magnolia Boulevard, Chandler Boulevard, and Cumpston Street.
Modern views of the property show that the same basic commercial site still survives, although the business identity has changed over time. The vintage North Hollywood Car Radio sign is gone, but the later sign structure remains, now advertising car electronics, stereos, alarms, installation, and sales-related services. The building has also taken on different uses and appearances over the years, including signage for paging, cellular phones, and car electronics.
What makes this postcard interesting is how specific it is to a certain time in Valley car culture. Before factory infotainment screens and Bluetooth audio, businesses like North Hollywood Car Radio Service filled a major niche. A better stereo, CB radio, alarm, or custom installation was part technology upgrade, part status symbol, and part Southern California driving culture.
Today, the postcard preserves a small piece of North Hollywood’s commercial history: a time when Tujunga Avenue had a dedicated showroom for car stereos, radio service, and custom auto electronics complete with a lounge for customers waiting on their installations.
Postcard Details
Business: North Hollywood Car Radio Service, Inc.
Address: 5535 Tujunga Avenue, North Hollywood
Phone: (213) 985-5684
Specialty: Car radio, stereo, alarm, CB radio, and custom auto electronics installation
Brands shown: Motorola, Craig, Audiovox, and Blaupunkt
You can view more North Hollywood postcards here.
You can view more SFV postcards here.
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