The iconic Los Angeles Billboards of Sunset Strip have a life beyond just their home city. They have been immortalized in film and photographs seen worldwide for decades. Here are ten of their most notable examples.
The Jimi Hendrix Experience – Axis: Bold as Love
In 1968 a full-color psychedelic mural was placed on the Sunset Strip to promote the release of Axis: Bold as Love by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. The billboard was hand-painted art that exemplified the style of concert handbills and posters of the era. A true masterpiece of rock and roll advertising.
The Beatles – Abbey Road
The iconic 1969 billboard depicting The Beatles in the Abbey Road crosswalk fed into the notorious “Paul is Dead” myth. Conspiracy theorists took their wild speculation of McCartney’s death to be fact by giving the album’s artwork more meaning than it actually held. On December 23rd of that year, the hand-painted head of Paul from the billboard was stolen and it was decided that it would not be replaced to intensify the publicity. Decades later Robert Quinn admitted to the theft and Paul’s ‘head’ still resides in his home to this day.
Richard Donner’s – Superman: The Movie
In 1978 Christopher Reeve became what is likely the most loved and recognized version of DC Comics’ Superman. Reeve’s image in full costume with the S emblazoned on his chest once soared over Sunset Strip to promote Donner’s film adaptation. It is common today to see splash page style billboards for comic characters due to the current popularity of these movies. But in the ’70s, Reeve’s Superman must have been quite the traffic stopper.
The Marlboro Man
In the 1980’s it was commonplace to see advertisements for cigarettes nearly everywhere. One of the most famous of these was the classic Marlboro Man. He was typically depicted as a cowboy riding a horse, or alternatively at rest lighting a Marlboro cigarette. Eventually, the rules changed as the truth of the dangers of smoking were publicized and advertising rules were changed as a result. The Marlboro Man is still considered an icon of masculinity many years removed from the use of this billboard.
LAPD – Welcome to the Glamorous World of Cocaine
During a 1988 campaign, the LAPD took their war against drugs to a billboard image of a morgue with covered corpses on gurneys. It was a disturbing shift from colorful album covers and product logos often seen on similar billboards. It is unclear whether the scare tactics held any sway over their intended audience, but the images remain if you’re curious.
The Who – Tommy
Artist Tom Wilkes was commissioned to create the image of two massive pinballs that seemed to be mismatched eyes staring out at motorists on the Sunset Strip. Independent record producer Lou Adler commissioned the piece to promote the release of The Who’s rock opera Tommy, the story of a blind pinball wizard. The title of the album was added to the billboard weeks later to finally solve the mystery of the artwork.
Tower Records
The outer walls of the Tower Records building on the Sunset Strip were a billboard in themselves. The artwork drew in music fans with the covers of upcoming releases and recording stars of the moment, while just above and across the street a traditional billboard would promote a major release at a key intersection. It is awe-inspiring to note that these were all hand-painted art, and only a few photos exist that illustrate the experience of Tower Records on the Strip.
The Village People – Ready For The 80’s
In 1979 the Village People took over a billboard in full color costuming to proclaim they were ready to carry disco into the 1980s. The image was bold and likely affirming to members of the communities their costumes represented. It declared not only that the public should be looking for a new album, but that minority groups of all types were no longer in hiding.
Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip
The 1982 promotions for Richard Pryor’s Live on the Sunset Strip album included a billboard appropriately placed on the Strip of the raunchy comedian. If you are unfamiliar with his work it is well worth your time to seek out some of his stand-up comedy to understand just how revolutionary this album promotion was. No subject was taboo for Pryor during a time when ‘woke’ culture did not yet exist.
David Bowie – Diamond Dogs Tour
In 1974 a full-color billboard of Bowie in his Diamond Dog look graced the Sunset Strip to promote a stop at The Universal Amphitheater. He was essentially posed naked, but his bottom half was that of a dog. It may have been quite a shock for anyone unfamiliar with Bowie’s style at the time.
Other than photos and split-second drive-bys in older movies and television, most of this advertising art is lost to time. Photographer Robert Landau has personal photos and history on the subject if google has failed to whet your appetite.
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