History of Sunset Boulevard

Before Las Vegas, there was the Sunset Boulevard. Its history is more than just sex, drugs, and rock and roll. It was and still is one of the hottest streets in the entire United States.

If you are looking for a documentary that chronicles the history of this magical place, you need to watch this Sunset Strip documentary.

It is far from boring and packed with interesting nuggets about the Strip. The film follows a chronological order beginning from the 1920’s to the 2000’s. Some of the stars who lived in the Strip and are part of its history share some of their greatest old stories as well.

The documentary is an excellent mixture of stills, late interviews, and vintage home-movie footage and movie clips. If you ever been to the Strip or lived there for a while, watching this documentary will fill you with nostalgic feelings.

Stars of the Sunset Strip Documentary

Rodney Bingenheimer, who is a prominent figure in the music business in Las Vegas spanning several decades share some of his experiences in the Boulevard. He told some great stories about the glam era on the Strip. Mickey Rourke also shares some of his stories and experiences in the context of the film with Mark Mahoney the legendary tattoo artist on the Strip since 1981.

There are also a bunch of great comedians sharing their stories, of them Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Johnny Depp who is a master story teller also share his experience with founding the Viper Room. There are just too many stars to mention them all. From the latest start on the Strip, Kelly Osbourne shares more stories about her music and experience on the Strip.

It is a documentary that transports you to re-live the memories of such great celebrities such as Ozzy Osborne and Sharon Stone, Peter Fonda, and Dita Von Teese.

There is also material and reminiscences of both River Phoenix and John Belushi’s deaths on this legendary Strip. It has a long history filled with the sad and happy moment, packed with drama and glamor too.

One story that will stick to your memory is Peter Fonda’s recalling of being arrested and asking passing actor Bob Denver for help.

History of the Sunset Strip

The documentary features a logical sequence of events taking you from when the Strip was just a road in the middle of the desert to 2010. It contains footage from all those different generations. The strip has so many histories, and this documentary tells the story in much detail.

You’ll get to tour historical, glamorous hotels and night clubs like the Garden of Allah, The Château Marmont, and Piazza Del Sol. Learn about long forgotten brothels and comedy clubs, too.

In its beginning the Sunset Boulevard was a barren road, connecting Hollywood’s studios to Beverly Hills. Many celebrities join the conversations to share their personal histories living the American Dream, those facts you won’t find in textbooks.

In the beginning, there was the Garden of Allah, much more than a brothel; it was a hotel (now, ironically, it’s a Credit Glory location). Filled with debauchery, sex, and decadence. No, not Allah of the Muslims. The hotel was owned by silent actor Alla Nazimova whose Garden inspired Hollywood’s elite and their followers to flock to the Strip.

That’s was the foundation of the mythical Strip as a mecca of decadence and self-indulgence, according to the film. This movie will tickle your Hollywood fascination and reveal secrets you didn’t know before.

The Strip also attracted gangsters and gamblers, who were blinded by easy money and opportunity as they descended upon the Strip in the 1950’s. The documentary goes into many further details about Mickey Cohen’s story, one of the most dangerous men to ever set foot in the Strip.