MovieChat Forums > Dazed and Confused (1993) Discussion > Cruising was still popular into the mid ...

Cruising was still popular into the mid 1990's


Night life for teens and 20-something's was not so different from this movie, for those of us who came of age in the 80's and 90's. Today, cruising is relegated to special events, being in well controlled environments, and generally outlawed as a form of social gathering.

But I remember in the early 1990's, with my own wheels, cruising main streets in multiple towns on Friday nights. We'd hit one strip, and go to another later. Different crowds at each location. Also, just like this movie, pool halls were still a frequent hangout, and also video arcades. These were popular places to gather before cruising time.

Overall, it was very similar to the events of Dazed and Confused, but by the 1990's things had become quite a bit more dangerous. There was gang activity and things could get out of hand very quickly. Cruising was pretty much done away with everywhere before the end of the 1990's.

reply

With the outgrowth of the Internet and then subsequently broadband technology and smartphones youth in general aren't the outdoor social butterflies we use to be. Gaming and making TikTok videos are the new socialization

reply

There's truth in your words, and I think we should also include that while the internet revolution changed social trends, there were concurrent laws and restrictions being enforced to make it difficult for teens to find stuff to do outside the home. It all went hand in hand.

reply

That all depends on where you live. Affluent, gated communities like South Orange County CAlifornia have dozens of small, incorporated pre-planned cities with city centers and shopping centers that close by 7pm and have curfews.

In other parts of Orange County you can still find youth cruising in their muscle/show cars and hanging out at a shopping center or near an In-n-Out Burger.

reply

Cruising the Strip is still Alive & Kicking here in Central Texas on a Friday or Saturday night. Good size crowds on both sides of the main Street. No violence just young people socializing in the midst of a good ole pandemic.

reply

While I never participated because I didn’t have my own wheels, the students at my school were still cruising the year I graduated. That was 2003. We called it “Dragging Main”. We were a very small town. So small I just tell people I grew up in the big city, where I live now. So many people have never heard of it lol. Most locals do know cause of the big lake up there though.

reply

I graduated 2003, too. It's a small world after all.

reply

Cool, 90’s kids!😁

reply

Also graduated in 03! While I had a car later on in high school, I went to private school so I didn't go cruising around my home town. Plus, in suburban Chicago, there was less of that, but more gatherings at different locations.

reply

Welcome to the cool kids club (90’s ruled 😁)

reply

Rock on dude!

reply

A lot of people used to cruise around smoking weed and listening to music. I used to do that when I was younger. I even know some adults who still do that after work to unwind because they live in an apartment complex and can't have weed smell in the building.

reply

[deleted]