WILLARD SIMMS HEADS MUSEUM'S UPCOMING LECTURE SERIES

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Hibiscus blossom 2009 - North Hollywood Post Office - Photo for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from May Walking Tour of historic North Hollywood. (click on image to enlarge)

Tarzana poet and playwright, Willard Simms is the newly appointed Lecture Series Chairman of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Simms, well known for his successful plays based on historical characters, will organize monthly lectures featuring speakers of special interest to Valley audiences.
If you know of a dynamic speaker who would like to volunteer his or her services to your Museum, please give Willard a call at 1 (818) 347-9665.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

MUSEUM MEETING TONIGHT

arial view of Burbank - negative gift from Gary Fredburg to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
Don't forget the May meeting of your Museum tonight
Call 1 (818) 347-9665
Valley Economic Alliance Board Room - 6 pm until 8 pm

NEAT OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE HISTORIC CALABASAS

(click on image to enlarge)

THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SEEKS PANORAMA CITY REPRESENTATIVES

2009 - The Year of Valley History

Panorama City 21 May 1949 - black and white negative given to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg 2009 (click on image to enlarge) Refer to Photos 918



Seeking to include all parts of the greater San Fernando Valley in the development of your Museum, we invite volunteer representatives from Panorama City to join us. Community volunteers work to include histories of their area, seek photographs, help with oral histories etc.

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

PANORAMA CITY PHOTO NEGATIVES DONATED TO THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Panorama City 21 May 1949 _ black and white negative given to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
Your Museum Community regularly faces new and interesting challenges. Today's blog posting represents one of our adventures - learning how to scan and reverse negative images. Each item donated to your Museum is catalogued, placed in protective materials, photographed or scanned, and given an identification number. We need help identifying these images. If you can help refer to photos by their file number: #918

VANDALS STRIKE THE WEDDINGTON HOUSE

There is something about “crisis reporting” that always reminds me of the story of the Little Boy Who Cried Wolf. However, like brush fires, small issues if not announced often magnify with destructive consequences. In the last two months, 4 windows have been broken in historic mother-house of North Hollywood. It doesn’t seem like much, but considering the present situation of the Weddington House, continued neglect could easily escalate into a tragedy for generations.

As you may recall, the Weddington House sits today in an area of North Hollywood under commercial development. Once near other structures, it now stands vacant and alone, beckoning vagrants and vandals. As with most historic houses, the aged wooden structure would only take a discarded cigarette or an attempt to cook something, to become a footnote in the heritage of the San Fernando Valley.

Now is the time for all stake holders in the Weddington House preservation and relocation into North Hollywood Park to put the house at the top of their priorities list. The Museum Community calls for action now. Let’s put history to work for today and the future.
Jerry Fecht

1983 NEGATIVES OF WOODLAND HILLS

2009 - THE YEAR OF VALLEY HISTORY
My mother will disapprove from her heavenly lawnchair, because her son is violating one of her basic rules: "Never present something that is not ready." But, your Museum has a big new challenge and I think it will be fun for you to be in on it from the start, aside from my lack of skill with a scanner and photoshop.
Here are four images made from negatives just given to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg. They represent my first efforts to make positive copies for our electronic files (the original negatives will be stored in The Museum's archives). So check in on this blog from time to time to watch my progress / or, lack thereof.
Woodland Hills from a negative donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley in 2009 by Gary Fredburg. (click on image to enlarge) Image 1

Image 2

Can you identify these images? I think they were all taken along Ventura Boulevard, but that's all I know.

image 3

Image 4

EXPLORE THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY WITH YOUR MUSEUM

2007 - The Year of Valley History
Charlie Chaplin Mural - Lankershim and Magnolia - Photo by Gerald Fecht for The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. May 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Reading about the San Fernando Valley is endlessly interesting, but it's even more fun to walk through the streets where history was made. And, half the enjoys is in the new surprises that greet us on every tour. Charlie Chaplin is waiting for you to add your name to the walking tour information list.


"My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed this past weekend's walking tour! Great fun, enormously interesting and educational!
Looking forward to the next one! Peter and Wendy"

WALKING TOUR EXPLORERS CHOW DOWN IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD

2007 - The Year of Valley History
Walking Tour of Historic North Hollywood May 2009 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

Nothing like a two and a half hour walking tour to get folks in the mood for lunch. Here Museum explorers line up for the great food of Pitfire Pizza Company. Linda had a folded pizza that deserved Pitfire's motto, "The crust you can trust." The eatery was crowded but comfortable. I had one of the best roasted vegetable panini sandwiches anywhere!
Pitfie Pizza Company is located in the heart of historic NoHo at 5211 Lankershim Boulevard 1 (818) 980-2949. Thanks Nancy Bianconi for introducing Pitfire to us.

In-tourism brings business to the Valley.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

MORE ABOUT THE TOLUCA LAKE FIRE STATION'S PANCAKE BREAKFAST

2009 - The Year of Valley History
T-Shirt Sellers at the Toluca Lake Fire Station's Pancake Breakfast 2009 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
Who had more fun at the Toluca Lake Fire Station Pancake Breakfast - the visitors or the volunteers?

Raffle Sellers at the Toluca Lake Fire Station's Pancake Breakfast 2009 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Richard Bogy and cooks at the Toluca Lake Fire Station's Pancake Breakfast 2009 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
Pancakes, coffee, bananas, scrambled eggs, sausages, orange juice and GREAT FUN!


The Pancake Kids at the Toluca Lake Fire Station's Pancake Breakfast 2009 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

PANCAKES IN TOLUCA LAKE

2009 - The Year of Valley History
San Fernando Valley girls celebrate at the Toluca Lake Firs Station - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - (click on image to enlarge)

Pancake boys - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - (click on image to enlarge)
Great pancakes at the Fire Station - a great memory of growing up in the San Fernando Valley

A pancake breakfast is the perfect excuse to meet the wonderful people related to the Los Angeles Fire Department. - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - (click on image to enlarge)

Fire Department Explorers line up for a reat pancake breakfast in Toluca Lake- Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - (click on image to enlarge)

NOTED ACTOR ERIK ESTRADA SUPPORTS TOLUCA LAKE FIRE STATION 86

2009 - The Year of Valley History.
Erik Estrada at Fire Service Day 2009 Toluca Lake - photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. (click on image to enlarge)
Among the many notable actors who live and work in the San Fernando Valley is famous Erik Estrada. Here he arrives to support Fire Services Day in Toluca Lake. Throughout the 1990s, Erik starred in the most successful Spanish language novella in history, and became world famous for his starring role in the television series Chips (1977 to 1983)

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley adds its thanks to Los Angeles Fire Department Station 86. And, thanks to Erik Estrada for enriching our lives.

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

HISTORIC NORTH HOLLYWOOD SHINES IN 2009!

2009 - The Year of Valley History
No Ho Arts District Street Crossing - Photo by Janne Fecht 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
Watching historic North Hollywood re-emerge from its many years of neglect couldn't be more exciting. Vivid abstractions make the District's street crossings safer and visually stimulating at the same time. Janne held one of her first jobs at North Hollywood Federal Savings just across the street from El Portal Theater.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY "IN-TOURISTS" SHARE THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Amelia Earhart Statue in North Hollywood Park - Photo by Lind Moore 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Your Museum wants to share your photographs of the San Fernando Valley. This image by Linda Moore of Amelia Earhart was taken last Saturday during our 3rd walking tour of historic North Hollywood.

RICHARD HILTON MAKES SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HISTORY COME ALIVE!

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Richard Hilton - 2009 - The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)
SPECIAL THANKS TO RICHARD HILTON
Thanks to the terrific actor and member of the Board of Directors of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, out 3rd walking tour of historic North Hollywood was a real success. If you and your friends would like to learn about this very interesting area of the Valley, just give your Museum a telephone call, and we'll be happy to keep you posted on the North Hollywood Historic Tour and upcoming tours of our amazing Valley.

3rd WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC NORTH HOLLYWOOD - A GENTEEL SUCCESS

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Phyllis Hansen sent these two photographs to the blog of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley today. Here she captures some of our in-tourists looking at the Lankershim Train Station from a vantage point of the North Hollywood Post Office. The post office was built in 1936 in the midst of the Great Depression as one of hundreds of stimulus projects of the FDR administration. William Farley was Post Master General. Farley and Roosevelt created the postal "book rate" in response to the burning of books by the Nazi's at Nuremburg.

Museum Tour at North Hollywood Post Office - Photo by Phyllis Hansen 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Phyllis captures a passing motorcyclist on Lankershim Boulevard through the windows of the stand-alone box office at North Hollywood's El Portal Theatre.

El Portal Box Office Museum Tour at North Hollywood - Photo by Phyllis Hansen 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

MEETING OF THE BOARDS OF THE MUSUEM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - MAY 20th

Woodland Hills Office Water Feature - June 2005 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

REMINDER -

The Board of Directors and Board of Advisors of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley will meet on
Wednesday 20 May, 2009
Executive Committee: 5 PM until 6 PM Full Board Meeting: 6 PM until 8 PM
Where?
Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley Building
5121 Van Nuys Blvd # 200 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Information: 1 (818) 347-9665

WANT TO BE ON THE AGENDA ?- Call 1 (818) 347-9665

REMINDER FROM THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Store Window Stained Glass - August 2005 - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge).

Don't forget - WALKING TOUR OF HISTORIC NORTH HOLLYWOOD - Tomorrow - Saturday - 10 am North Hollywood Park
corner of Magnolia and Tujunga (North Hollywood Park) $10 donation for The Museum fund. hat - sunscreen - good walking shoes - little bottle of water (or brandy?) - apx 2 1/2 hours - nice cafes at the end - amazing history - bring a friend or six friends.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

EXPLORE THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Goat at the Leonis Adobe - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on goat to enlarge)

Hot weather and the economy getting you down? Well, maybe they are the perfect excuse to explore your very own San Fernando Valley. This photo was taken when I walked the length of Ventura Boulevard from Calabasis to Barham Boulevard, a couple of years ago. He lives at the Leonis Adobe.

One of my very favorite places is the charming city of Calabasas and its neighboring Leonis Adobe. Go see for yourself Calabasas Creek, (one of the two year-around streams that form the Los Angeles River), have a required Marguerita at the Sagebrush Cantina, and best of all visit the handsome Leonis Adobe Museum. Go in the morning and watch the animals cavort (Only Mad Dogs and Enlishmen Go Out In The Noonday Sun.) Dinner on at patio at Finns is an especially nice warm weather experience. Notice, I spared you a "goat" pun. Jer

PS - DON'T FORGET THE WALKING TOUR OF NORTH HOLLYWOOD THIS SATURDAY - Meet your Museum guides at 10am at the Amelia Earhart statue - Magnolia and Tujunga in the park - Your $10 or more donation goes to the Museum's development fund and its tax deductible.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

POMEGRANATES AND THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Pomegranate blossom - Photo by Janne Fecht 2009 (click on image to enlarge)
When the Lord of the Underworld, Hades abducted the daughter of Ceres (the Goddess of Vegetation), all sorts of unexpected things occurred as a result. The distraught Lady Ceres was so unhappy that she refused to let things grow. Not unexpectedly human began to starve.
When people cried out to the King of Heaven, Zeus, the powerful Jove ordered a trial. Hades argued that the little Goddess Persephanie was his rightful wife. Ceres claimed she was her daughter. Without Judge Judy, Zeus had to decide for himself. He asked Persephanie if she had eaten anything in the Underworld, and she confessed to having dined on six pomegranate seeds.
"Ah," said Zeus, " six months it is with Hades and six months with your mom." Thus were have six months of plant growth and six months off.
So here's your chance to bring about some good fortune in your life. Send six dollars this week to support The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - it's tax deductible - and will make the Goddess Ceres happy with you.
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
Suite 419
21031 Ventura Boulevard
Woodland Hills, CA 91364

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

TECHNOLOGY CATCHES UP WITH JERRY

Sorry about the delay posting new goodies on the blog of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. This last Thursday my computer rebelled, the "mother board" and "memory board" died! Who knows what was lost. Most of the information was backed up, but I won't know for sure what was lost until this coming Wednesday.
Don't forget that we have a super walking tour scheduled for this Saturday May 9th at 10 am in historic North Hollywood.
I'll do a formal posting this afternoon.

STUDIO CITY IMAGE COMES FROM NORTH CAROLINA

Studio City - vintage postcard collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 - electronic image - gift of Harvey Tow. (click on image to enlarge)

We just received this postcard image of Ventura Boulevard facing East in Studio City, "a main thoroughfare extending through this beautiful Valley from Hollywood to points north on U.S. Highway 101. The image was sent to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Harvey Tow who resides in Greensboro, North Carolina. It was accompanied by this email message:
"Hi,
I was just perusing your website and having lived in the SF Valley for over 50 years, thought you might like this postcard, if you haven't already gotten one. I think it was taken around 1957, the year that I graduated from North Hollywood High School."

Go Bingtown!