Token Cruise Night

Nineteen-sixties rock star Keith wrapped his fingers around the microphone and pushed his long blond hair aside to greet fans packed Saturday on Brand Boulevard at the 15th annual Cruise Night.

For these die-hard music guests, it was the first time in ages they had heard the rocker perform with fellow pop sensation The Tokens.

“I haven’t performed with The Tokens since they sang background on my first album in the ’60s,” Keith said. “It was just so much fun to be with them again.”

Many might be surprised that the night’s performers — The Tokens, The Surfaris, Keith and Herman’s Hermits — found a way to stay together after forming close to four decades ago.

“We just have so much love and respect for one another and are very good friends,” said Phil Margo, a member of the Tokens. “It’s wonderful, I turn to my left and see my younger brother and my right, I see my son, who is now part of the band.”

As favorites such as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and “98.6” boomed through the stage’s speakers, guests toured the boulevard to gaze at the 400 antique cars that lined the street.

A Refurbished Ford Model-T and a pale blue 1959 Chevrolet Bel Air were two of the several cars that brought back fond memories for resident Beverly Reynolds.

“I feel so nostalgic, I am getting so many flashbacks,” said Reynolds, as she peered into the windows of a 1968 maroon Chevelle. “I had a Chevelle when I was in my 20s, and it was so fun to drive.”

Other vintage cars such as one owned by local Tim McCann had some modern renovations. His 1961 Corvair Rampside Pickup Truck has some heavy cargo — several car batteries generating 144 volts of power. He bought the car from a high school football team that converted the truck to be electrically powered for a science contest.

“I drive it to work every day, so I only go to the gas station to squeegee my windshield every once in awhile,” McCann said. “I love it because it puts out zero pollution, and it’s cheap.”

Some car owners such as Dave Filson prefer to take their prized possessions for only the occasional spin.

“It only has 24,602 miles on it,” said Filson, who has brought his 1955 pearl Chevrolet Corvette to Cruise Night for the past five years. “I don’t drive it that often, but when I do, people treat me differently. They let me change lanes whenever I want.”

As the event came to an end, 8-year-old Leighana Miller collected the night’s goodies.

“I had so much fun,” Leighana said as she tipped her new red plastic fire hat from the fire marshal’s tent. “I got to see so much cool stuff.”

 ALISON TULLY covers City Hall and public safety in Burbank. She may be reached at (818) 637-3242 or by e-mail at alison.tully@latimes.com.