Sunset Strip

Sunset Strip. This iconic 1.7-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard runs through the city of West Hollywood, connecting Beverly Hills to the east with Hollywood. Renowned globally as a symbol of rock culture, celebrity, and nightlife, it has evolved from a dusty wagon trail into a legendary entertainment district. Its history is marked by the rise of speakeasies, the golden age of Hollywood nightclubs, the transformative 1960s counterculture, and its enduring status as a destination for music, fashion, and media.

History

The route originated as a segment of the El Camino Viejo, a Spanish trail, before becoming part of Sunset Boulevard. In the 1920s, its location just outside the jurisdiction of the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles City Council made it a haven for Prohibition-era speakeasies and gambling clubs like the Clover Club. The post-war era saw the rise of lavish nightclubs such as the Mocambo and the Trocadero, attracting stars like Frank Sinatra, the Rat Pack, and Marilyn Monroe. The 1960s brought a cultural revolution, with venues like the Whisky a Go Go and the Troubadour launching the careers of The Doors, Love, and Joni Mitchell, while the 1980s cemented its reputation for glam metal at clubs like the Roxy Theatre.

Geography and boundaries

The Strip is not an officially designated municipality but a famed district within the city of West Hollywood. It is generally defined as the portion of Sunset Boulevard that begins at its western border with Beverly Hills at Havenhurst Drive and extends eastward to the boundary of the Hollywood district of Los Angeles at Crescent Heights Boulevard. This corridor winds through the southern slopes of the Santa Monica Mountains, offering dramatic views and a steep, winding path that distinguishes it from the more grid-like streets of surrounding areas.

Culture and entertainment

For decades, it has been a central nervous system for American music scenes, from the Sunset Sound studios where The Rolling Stones recorded to the seminal punk and alternative shows at the Roxy. The culture of celebrity spectacle is embodied by the annual Playboy Jazz Festival and the constant presence of paparazzi outside storied restaurants like Dan Tana's. It has also been a historic gathering place for the LGBT community, with landmarks like the Comedy Store hosting early performances by Robin Williams and Eddie Murphy.

Landmarks and venues

Notable historic sites include the Chateau Marmont, a hotel famous for its celebrity clientele and association with events like the death of John Belushi. The Sunset Tower Hotel is an Art Deco landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. Music venues form its backbone: the Whisky a Go Go is credited as the birthplace of the go-go dancer and launched The Doors; the Viper Room was once co-owned by Johnny Depp and is infamous for the overdose death of River Phoenix; and the House of Blues chain originated here. Iconic billboards, such as those for CBS television shows, have become landmarks themselves.

In popular culture

It has been immortalized in countless songs, most famously in the 1966 instrumental "Sunset Strip" by The Marketts and referenced in tracks by The Mamas & the Papas and the Eagles. It served as the setting for the television series 77 Sunset Strip and the film Sunset Boulevard. More recent depictions include the comedy The Player and the documentary The Sunset Strip. The street's aura of excess and fame is a recurring theme in the works of writers like Bret Easton Ellis and Joan Didion.

Category:Streets in Los Angeles County, California Category:Tourist attractions in Los Angeles Category:Music venues in Los Angeles Category:West Hollywood, California