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The spectacular Sunset Strip passes through West Hollywood, and is a mile and a half section of Sunset Boulevard. Sunset Strip travels from the west border of Beverly Hills at Phyllis street to the east border of Hollywood at Marmont Lane, and embraces a star collection of Hollywood nightspots, rock clubs, restaurants and boutiques that are cutting edge businesses. Sunset Strip has become famous for its big, colorful billboards, which glow in the evenings with vibrant neon. Often, several weekend cruisers, hit the strip for a good time and try to catch glimpses of celebrities.
Sunset Strip real estate means the homes in the hills above the Strip just north of West Hollywood and travels over halfway up the hill where Lookout Mountain meets Sunset Plaza. It is recognized by the narrow, winding streets and a variety of architectural style homes. Smaller lots have more affordable homes, but along the hilltops and ridges, the prices for homes soar into the multi-millions.
~ History of Sunset Strip
The area of Sunset Strip was once an unincorporated area and under the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County and the Sheriff's Department. Gambling was not illegal in the county, but it was in the city, in turn this made for a wilder nightlife that Los Angeles did not want. Several casinos and nightclubs were built along the strip in the 1920s, attracting movie people since the area was less restricted. During the Prohibition, alcohol was served in back rooms.
During the 30s and 40s, glitz and glamor defined Sunset Strip, and the rich and famous used it as a playground. Power brokers, movie legends and everyone who was anyone came into stardom at legendary clubs like the Trocadero, the Mocambo and Ciro's. The expensive restaurants and nightclubs were owned by Mickey Cohen and other gangsters. Other hot-spots on the strip were Schwab's Drugstore and Garden of Allah apartments.
The Strip lost its thrill with most of the movie people by the early 1960s, but the clubs, bars and restaurants continued to attract tourists and other locals. The Strip became a popular gathering place for the counterculture by the mid 60s and on into the 70s.
The famous Whisky a Go Go was popular for the Go Go dancers. Bands like Poison, Guns N' Roses, Motley Crue, Van Halen, Metallica, Martha and the Vandellas, Frank Zappa, The Seeds, Love, The Byrds, The Doors and many others played in the clubs along the Strip, some were London Frog, Pandora's Box and the Roxy.
As music became popular on the Strip, the Hyatt West Hollywood became a legendary hotel. Several musicians stayed and lived at the hotel because of the easy access to the music venues on Sunset Boulevard. Some nicknames for the hotel are Riot House and Riot Hyatt.
The Strip continued to be popular for punk rock and new wave in the late 70s, but by the 80s, glam metal became the new thing. By the 90s, Sunset Strip was no longer the hot spot for up and coming bands. Now only major acts can be seen at the House of Blues.
Restaurants
Boutiques
Nightclubs |
Advertising on the Sunset Strip
Hyatt West Hollywood
Argyle Hotel
Whisky a GoGo Bar
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