Cruising through the years
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Maybe it's a Motor City thing. While people in other cities were celebrating the end of World War II by dancing and kissing in the streets, these Detroit teenagers celebrate in 1945 by riding around in an automobile. We take a look here at the Detroit pastime of cruising, both before and after the Woodward Dream Cruise became an official event.
The Detroit News archives
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Cars cruise along Woodward in Ferndale, circa 1965. The tail fins of yesteryear are evident on many of the Woodward Dream Cruise vehicles in the 21st century.
The Detroit News archives
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Two young ladies enjoy the ride in this undated photo.
The Detroit News archives
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A group of teenagers try to see how many people they can cram into a Lincoln in the fall of 1957.
The Detroit News archives
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Service to a parked vehicle was a popular novelty at the new drive-ins, and some of the servers wore roller skates. Ruth Hensley delivers a food order on a tray, Oct. 7, 1956.
The Detroit News archives
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Teenagers outside the Big Boy protest the restaurant's anti-cruising policy and the Royal Oak ordinance designed to discourage Woodward cruising on April 20, 1967.
The Detroit News archives
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The legendary Susie Q on Woodward, famous for inexpensive chicken and chips and fish and chips, was a popular spot with young cruisers.
The Detroit News archives
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Cars circle the Totem Pole drive-in at 10 Mile on Nov. 17, 1959. The popular drive-in was at the southern end of the Woodward cruising circuit in the 1950s and '60s. Cruisers called it "The Toilet Bowl," a play on the name and reference to the circular motion.
The Detroit News archives
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Detroit area residents, like the ones in this Chevy on April 27, 1986, never lost their taste for cruising.
The Detroit News archives
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Cars cruise along Woodward near 13 Mile in 1970.
The Detroit News archives
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Cruisers ride down Woodward in a cherry red Chevy on Aug. 16, 1997, the third year of the Woodward Dream Cruise. The first cruise drew 250,000 classic car enthusiasts, and has grown into the world's largest one-day automotive event, drawing over a million visitors and thousands of cars from all over the globe.
Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News
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A participant in the 1996 Classic Car Parade on 12 Mile in Berkley Aug. 16, 1996.
The Detroit News
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People watch a car pass by in the 1996 Classic Car Parade on 12 Mile in Berkley Aug. 16, 1996.
The Detroit News
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From left, Andrew Kovich, 11, Brandon Joerges, 11, and Andrew Benitez, 11, all schoolmates at Berkley, give a thumbs up and yell "Nice car!" to almost every car going by in the 1996 Classic Car Parade on 12 Mile in Berkley Aug. 16, 1996.
The Detroit News
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A spectator watches the cars pass by from atop an awning Aug. 17, 1996.
David Guralnick, The Detroit News
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Dream cruisers in a Buick Skylark Aug. 17, 1996, the first year the cruise took place.
The Detroit News archives
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This rocket ship vehicle at the 1997 Dream Cruise is an early example of a favorite trend among cruisers, the creation of unique custom vehicles that would never have existed back in the day.
Clarence Tabb Jr., The Detroit News
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Cruisers drive by several classic parked cars during the 1999 Dream Cruise.
Steve Perez,The Detroit News
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Spectators watch as cars drive by during the 1999 Woodward Dream Cruise.
Steve Perez, The Detroit News
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A supercharged small block Chevy engine is seen protruding out of the hood of a 1967 Chevy II Nova at Detroit's Cruisefest Auto Show at the State Fair Grounds in 1999.
Steve Perez, The Detroit News
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People walk by two 1964 Chevrolet Impala Low Riders at the 2002 Dream Cruise
Clarence Tabb,Jr., The Detroit News
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Bob and Lorraine Haas of South Lyon drive their scaled down 1955 Red Ford Fairlane in the 2002 cruise.
Clarence Tabb,Jr., The Detroit News
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James Hall, of Detroit, relaxes behind his 1956 Mercury on Aug. 21, 1999, at Detroit's Cruisefest Auto Show at the State Fair Grounds.
Steve Perez, The Detroit News
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Detail shot of a classic Ford truck at the 2003 Woodward Dream Cruise in Royal Oak.
John T. Greilick, The Detroit News
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Bill and Donna Preble from Stuart, Florida drove their 1954 Chevy Bellaire to Detroit for the Dream Cruise in August 2004.
Elizabeth Conley
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Young Elvis and Marilyn Monroe, played by Kelly Basil of Auburn Hills and Jennifer Tremain of Grosse Pointe Shores, wave to the spectators along Woodward in Royal Oak at the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in 2004. Basil said he has been an Elvis impersonator for 22 years.
John T. Greilick, The Detroit News
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Jim and Betty Keelan of East China, Mich. roll by a puddle in their canary-yellow '39 Ford Roadster replica during the 2004 Dream Cruise.
John T. Greilick, The Detroit News
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Andy Norris, of Warren, in his 1966 Dodge Charger, wins the burnout contest at the 10th annual Woodward Dream Cruise, Saturday Aug. 21, 2004, at the Michigan State Fair in Detroit
Steve Perez, The Detroit News
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"Popeye," no other name given, charms passers by during the 2004 Dream Cruise.
Steve Perez, The Detroit News
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Assistant manager Jerry Oikarinen, photographed in 2005, kept the wheels rolling in a series of cars that hung off the roof of Wetmore Tire for over 30 years.
Daniel Mears, The Detroit News
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Cruisers drive on Woodward near 13 Mile, Aug. 17, 2005.
Todd McInturf, The Detroit News
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This twilight hot rod cast a blue glow on the pavement at dusk during the 14th annual Dream Cruise.
John T. Greilick, The Detroit News
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Remember when cruising was all about hooking up with other young people? These two carloads take it old style Aug. 16, 2008.
Donna Terek, The Detroit News
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Order of Divine Charity nun Sr. Vilma, left, waves to cars passing by with Sr. Josephine in front of St. Elizabeth Briarbank's Assisted Living for Women home in Bloomfield Hills during the 2008 Dream Cruise. Sr. Vilma was especially pleased when the cruisers would honk their horns.
Elizabeth Conley, The Detroit News
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Gary Tisch of Warren watches through his "Older But Wiser" sunglasses as the dream cruisers roll by just south of 13 Mile on Woodward in Royal Oak in 2010.
John T. Greilick, The Detroit News
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Members of the Detroit Renegade Motorcycle Club watch the parade of cars from the front of their clubhouse in Pontiac in 2009.
Ricardo Thomas, The Detroit News
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Tom Cole of Royal Oak and his buddy Nelson Marinacci of Troy check out the engine on Herman Zarkis's 1956 Corvette, which has a 350 cubic inch engine and puts out 425 horsepower, in 2009.
Charles V. Tines, The Detroit News
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The crowd cheers on a driver as a group of men push this overheated vehicle along 12 Mile during the Berkley Classic Car Parade at the 16th Annual Dream Cruise Friday, Aug. 20, 2010.
Gary Malerba, Special to the Detroit News
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Five-year-old Cade Smillie of Dallas, Texas makes faces in the chrome bumper of his grandfather's 1957 Ford Thunderbird in 2009. His grandfather Robert Smillie of Northville, Mich. owns the car.
John T. Greilick, The Detroit News
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This 1955 pink Thunderbird tries to get through the heavy traffic on Woodward near Normandy as the sun sets Aug. 14, 2009.
Bryan Mitchell, Special to Detroit News
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A lone car sits under the Woodward bridge after it stopped running during the 2009 cruise.
Elizabeth Conley, The Detroit News
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Maybe it's a Motor City thing. While people in other cities were celebrating the end of World War II by dancing and kissing in the streets, these Detroit teenagers celebrate in 1945 by riding around in an automobile. We take a look here at the Detroit pastime of cruising, both before and after the Woodward Dream Cruise became an official event.
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