This undated image of Hollywood’s Sunset Boulevard is most likely Spring 1980. There are many clues on the plethora of billboards that help determine this. In the first detailed view, we see the Chateau Marmont hotel, with a “Kramer vs. Kramer” billboard in front. While the movie was released in December 1979, the ad touts its five Oscar win, making the date of the photo post April 14, 1980.
The film was groundbreaking in that it challenged the notion that women are always the best parent. Exceptional performances by Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep helped show the flaws as well as the positive attributes for both characters. Justin Henry was outstanding as the little boy caught in the middle of their battle.
There is also a billboard for the album Cameosis by Cameo, which was released April 24, 1980.
Eric Clapton’s album from the Stigwood Group, Just One Night, was also released in April 1980.
The photo also shows an a billboard for Gilbey’s Vodka; below is the print version:
The lower right hand corner of the photo has a billboard for The Whispers’ album, which was released on October 24, 1979. Amazing that it was still around almost six months later.
At the time the photo was shot, the tall hotel in the foreground was known as The Hyatt on Sunset:
In my May 2014 image, you can see that it is now The Andaz, when apparently Tequila was the drink of choice instead of vodka!
Sorry, Gilbey’s! See more photos at my main website.
A nice review of a time that doesn't seem that long ago. I looked up the Whispers to find that only 3 of them from that period are still with us. That abruptly reset my thinking. It seems to happen more frequently these days. The photos of those days still look fresh to me. KS
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