What happened to 1980s' California?

The California of the '80s that is gone forever

The good, the bad, and the phony. Seriously?

(California Rewind) May 21, 2025: The California that disappeared — and why it matters. Imagine this: It's the summer of 1985. You're cruising down Sunset Boulevard with your Walkman blasting The Cure. Neon lights flicker above. Skateboards scrape through empty pools. And your biggest worry? Getting home before dark.

That California — wild, rebellious, full of soul — is gone. This video goes back to a time when California wasn’t curated, polished, or priced out of reach. From skate culture in Dogtown (Venice Beach) to punk clubs on the Strip…from mall arcades and middle-class dreams to a Silicon Valley built in garages not glass towers, this is the story of a California that was messy, electric, and alive.

Discover:

• How the streets of LA once belonged to teenagers, skaters, and artists
• Why arcades and shopping malls were the heartbeat of a generation
• How radio, not algorithms, shaped identity and sound
• The Silicon Valley that existed before billionaires
• And how California’s bohemian soul was slowly erased

This isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about remembering the culture we built — and how it was quietly taken away. Did you grow up in that California? Or do you wish you had? What do you miss? Say it in the comments. We’re listening. 👇 Like, comment, and subscribe if this hits a nerve. Let’s keep the memory alive.