thumb|[[Studio City Shopping District]]

Ventura Boulevard is one of the primary east–west thoroughfares in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California. Ventura Boulevard is one of the oldest routes in the San Fernando Valley as it is along the commemorative route El Camino Real. It was also U.S. Route 101 (US 101) before the freeway (which it parallels for much of Ventura Boulevard's length) was built, and it was also previously signed as U.S. Route 101 Business (US 101 Bus.).

Approximately long, Ventura Boulevard begins near Calabasas in Woodland Hills at an intersection with Valley Circle Boulevard. The Boulevard travels through Tarzana, Encino, and Sherman Oaks before intersecting with Lankershim Boulevard in Studio City, where it becomes Cahuenga Boulevard and winds through Cahuenga Pass into Hollywood.

Historically, the street has been one of the most concentrated location for small businesses and shops in the Valley, while today it has pockets of housing, mini-malls, and shops, along with a wide assortment of businesses, schools, and other establishments. Houses south of Ventura Boulevard are considered to be among the most expensive in Los Angeles County, ranging from $2 million to $50 million and home to numerous executives, celebrities, athletes, and other entertainers.

Name

Ventura Boulevard is named after Saint Bonaventure.

History

Ventura Boulevard follows an ancient pre-Columbian trading trail that served the Tataviam and Tongva village of Siutcanga, which is at least 4,000 years old.

Due to natural springs in the area, one of the first inhabited areas of the San Fernando Valley was the land around what is now known as Los Encinos State Historic Park, at the corner of Balboa and Ventura boulevards, which was inhabited by the Tongva for thousands of years.

A stretch of the former U.S. Route 101 in the Ventura County city of Camarillo paralleling the current freeway route is also named Ventura Boulevard.

Public transportation

Ventura Boulevard carries Metro Local lines 150 and 240.

Music

The Everly Brothers recorded a song called "Ventura Boulevard" on their 1968 album Roots.

Ventura Boulevard is mentioned in Tom Petty's song "Free Fallin'" ("All the vampires walkin' through the valley, Move west down Ventura Boulevard..."). When Petty died in 2017, what was intended as a walk by four fans turned into a public memorial as 10 times that many ‘Vampires’ walked west down the Boulevard in memory of the singer.

The Boulevard is also mentioned in Frank Zappa's "Valley Girl" ("On Ventura, there she goes, she just bought some bitchin' clothes") a song about a valley girl (voiced by his daughter Moon Zappa) who lives in Encino and participates in typical Valley Girl activities such as shopping at The Galleria, not wanting to do the dishes, and getting her toenails professionally pedicured.

Guitarist John 5 made a song entitled "18969 Ventura Blvd."

In the documentary Living with Michael Jackson, it is revealed that Michael Jackson wrote the song Billie Jean while riding down Ventura Boulevard in his car.

Haim's music video "Want You Back" is filmed on Ventura Boulevard.

In August 2025, Lil Nas X was filmed walking down the street in the middle of the night, almost completely naked in white underpants and white boots, whilst repeatedly asking the cameraman if they were 'coming to the party tonight'. Lil Nas X was later arrested and ended up in hospital.

Film

The boulevard is a prominent location in the movie The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Much of the films Crash and Transformers were filmed on the boulevard.

Television

In the Seinfeld episode "The Trip, Part 2", Jerry and George were said to be calling from a pay phone on Ventura Boulevard. In reality, the pay phone shown was on Ventura Place, about one block away.

In the Treehouse of Horror VI episode of The Simpsons, Ventura Boulevard features as the location of the show's first ever live-action scene.<!--At the beginning of the previous Treehouse of Horror, there is something live-action shown in Black and White...-->

Steve Allen, who lived in Encino, famously joked that "The Valley is the hippest part of town. They even named a boulevard after Charlie Ventura," referring to the renowned jazz saxophonist.

Literature

Detective fiction author Raymond Chandler on Ventura Boulevard from his novel The Little Sister (1949):

Video games

Video game developer Infinity Ward, which developed most of the games in the Call of Duty series, has its headquarters on Ventura Boulevard. The studios can be seen at 15821 Ventura Boulevard, Encino.

Business district

The Ventura Business District is the commercial district along and around Ventura Boulevard. Ventura Boulevard and the district run along the northern base of the Santa Monica Mountains. Mission bells have been placed marking the commemorative route of the El Camino Real.

Neighborhoods

thumb|right|Ventura Boulevard in Encino

Due to the district's extended linear size, it is rare for it to be considered one unified district, instead identified by neighborhoods within and along it. They include:

  • Studio City
  • Sherman Oaks
  • Encino
  • Tarzana
  • Woodland Hills

See also

  • History of the San Fernando Valley to 1915
  • Index: San Fernando Valley

<gallery>

Studio City Hand Car Wash, Ventura Blvd., Studio City, CA.JPG|Studio City Hand Car Wash

Dupar's Restaurant.JPG|Former Dupar's Restaurant, Studio City

Sherman Oaks Ventura Boulevard Shopping District & J.R.'s Jeweler.JPG|Sherman Oaks Shopping District

Citibank and City National Bank Buildings, Ventura & Sepulveda, Sherman Oaks.JPG|Citibank and City National Bank Buildings

Garnier Building at Rancho Los Encinos.JPG|Garnier Building at Rancho Los Encinos, 2008

Garnier House, Rancho Encino, 1900.jpg|Rancho Encino - Garnier Building, 1900

Encino Park Liquor with "Time to Buy" Sign, Ventura Blvd., Encino, CA.JPG|Encino Park Liquor

Encino-Tarzana Branch, Los Angeles Public Library.JPG|Encino-Tarzana Branch Library

Cupid's Hot Dogs, Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, California.JPG|Cupid's Hot Dog's, Tarzana

</gallery>

References