(Words and photos by Scott Liggett) – The 10th George Barris’ Cruisin’ Back To The ’50’s Car Show took over the downtown streets of Culver City on Saturday morning and brought in bigger crowds and more cars than any year before. Held right outside the front gates of the historic Culver Studios in the shadow of the landmark Culver Hotel; George Barris’ show attracts cars from all genres of the hobby. There were classics and muscle cars. There was even a gang of late model Chrysler muscle machines and a gaggle of disco era Trans Ams. The show also had european classics and low riders, And, because this is George Barris’ show, there was even a Batmobile. The biggest Batmobile we’ve ever seen. George even brought a station wagon he customized for the Duke himself, John Wayne.
Culver City is a small town completely surrounded by big city Los Angeles and it’s a tight knit community. As such, everyone in town gets involved in the show. Even the fire department who were raising money with a pancake breakfast. When you were done with your hot cakes, the firemen gave tours and showed off their big red trucks for the kids. This show is all about the kids as it raises money for local children’s charities.
Since this show takes place only a few blocks from the home of our SoCal man on the scene, Scott Liggett, we naturally gave him the assignment. Scott grabbed his camera and walked down the street to the show. Yes, we did say ‘walked’. When Scott was done walking, he shot more than 200 photos for us to peruse. Hit the links below to see all great cars that were at the show.
A little history on Culver Studios. It was opened by silent movie producer Thomas Ince in 1918 who died mysteriously on William Randolph Hearst’s yacht in 1924. Movie producer and director Cecille B. Demille purchased the lot and continued to make big movies. The lot was the location for filming for such classics as 1933’s King Kong, Citizen Kane, Gone With The Wind, and Wizard of Oz. TV shows that were filmed there include Lucille Ball, The Untouchables, Hogan’s Heros, and the pilots for Star Trek and Batman. The wedge shaped Culver Hotel played host to all the little people in the Wizard of Oz during the filming. This reporter met the last surviving Lollipop Kid, Jerry Maren. He was only 17 when he was a part of filming that iconic movie and said the Culver Hotel was party central for the little people, describing it as Sodom and Gomorrah in one pie shaped building.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO SEE OUR GALLERY FROM THE 10TH ANNUAL GEORGE BARRIS CRUISIN’ BACK TO THE 50S SHOW!
Very cool, anyone know the story behind that black merc with the gun on it????
It and the 4×4 mustang are from the B movie Road Furies 2.
Anything to do with the Mad Max: Fury Road movie supposed to come out next year?
No. Not at all. Road Furies 2 is barely a B flick. Cast names sound like porn stars.
Haha its so bad when i searched on google nothing came up!
Hi Johnny G.! See my comment below. 😀
Haha! Yeah, the movie is still a concept only and being created by the guy with the ’51 Merc. He made the poster from a photo shoot done by Douglas Saunders Photography a few months ago. If you want to know more about the car, the owner is Paul C. Miller https://www.facebook.com/PMiller64. The owner of the ’67 4×4 Mustang is Cupcake and in mho that thing is badass!!