The Breathing Bush

     While it may sound like one of those “urban legends,” Burbank’s Breathing Bush was very real.
     Located on Whitnall Highway under the power lines that cut across town, the breathing bush was one of those freaky things that attracted local teenagers for years. You could find it where Whitnall runs into Hollywood Way, just south of Clark Avenue, hidden by the huge Oleander bushes that lined the edges of the power line right of way.
     Aside from being very poisonous if you eat any part of the them, Oleanders tend to grown quickly. Those plants had to be 10 or 12 feet high, and were quite thick. They really created the “mystery” part of the Breathing Bush, by hiding what it actually was. Located behind the wall of Oleanders, several feet from the street, was some sort of pressure relief valve for an underground pipeline. As pressure built up, air would come out of the pipe, creating a breathing sound, thus the Breathing Bush.
     Late at night (darkness added to the mystery) groups of teenagers could be seen standing at the curb listening for the Breathing Bush. On several occasions, when we saw a group of girls there, my friend Kevin White and I would add a little more excitement to their Breathing Bush experience. We would drive over to the other side of Whitnall and park the car. Being as stealthy as possible, we would climb through the bushes and make our way to the open center area, getting as near as possible to where the girls were. Then we would begin adding a few moans to the bush’s own sounds before yelling and scaring the heck out of the girls. I not so sure they appreciated our efforts.
     The other day I stopped at Whitnall and Hollywood Way, trying to find the Breathing Bush. The Oleanders are all gone. In their place is the manicured lawn and low shrubs of Whitnall Park South. There was one pipe sticking up with some sort of valve on it, but I sure couldn’t detect any breathing. I’m afraid the Breathing Bush has breathed its last breath. Without those Oleanders to hide it, it wouldn’t be much of a mystery anyway.

     --- Stan

Questions or Comments email Stan at Burbank History.Com