ART JACOBS SHARES REPUBLIC PICTURES 75th ANNIVERSARY MOMENTS

2010   THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

 

Art Jacobs at the Republic Pictures Anniversary

To our delight, Art Jacobs paid a visit to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley's Kids Arts Corner and our San Fernando Valley Memory Bank tables at the 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures. Art is serious about capturing Valley history, especially through oral interviews. Above, Art Jacobs holds the special program produced for the event, in front of the iconic car that once transported the Valley's famous Nudie around our town.

A panel of classic film and television stars share memories of the days of Republic Pictures. Photo by Art Jacobs. (click on this image to find your favorite performer from yesteryear.

 Backed by Los Angeles City Council Members, the great stars of Republic Pictures still celebrate the San Fernando Valley's contribution to the world of entertainment. Photo by Art Jacobs. (click on image to enlarge)

If you share Art Jacobs' love of San Fernando Valley and Entertainment Industry history, contact your Museum Community today. We have a major oral history project on the immediate horizon and will be training interviewers for The Museum's archives soon. Our telephone number is (818) 347-9665.

A VIETNAM CHRISTMAS DINNER

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

There's a German word, popular in World War Ii movies, called "ersatz".  To my understanding, the word means a synthetic that just doesn't measure up to the real thing. I suppose that half the problem with a synthetic is the promise that it will taste or smell like fresh strawberries when it's closer to "mystery meat."

25 December 1967 - Christmas Dinner menu and holiday message to American Marines in Vietnam.
 Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2010.

 Less sensitive to religious diversity than modern military officials, the leadership of the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War made the above assumption that their enlisted men and women shared their preferences.

 (click on this menu to read Jerry Berns' notes on the menu he saved from his service as a Marine during the Vietnam War.)
Tomato Juice Cocktail - none
Shrimp Cocktail, Saltines - none left
Scotch Broth - Didn't have it.
Roasted Turkey - canned, overcooked - dry
Cornbread Dressing - Didn't have it.
Baked Ham - Canned - Not bad.

DANTON BURROUGHS AS A YOUNG MAN

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

One of the most beloved residents of the San Fernando Valley was Tarzana's Danton Burroughs. This great photo of Danton was found among artifacts recently donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Danton's lifelong friend Jerry Berns. Danton was among The Museum's first supporters, who supplied us with materials for our first public exhibit, "The Genius of the Burroughs Family - Edgar Rice Burroughs and John Coleman Burroughs". Danton died the day after a fire in his Tarzana home.

                   Danton on the Catalina ranch estate of his grandfather Edgar Rice Burroughs

SHEILA GOLDMAN SHARES REPUBLIC PICTURES PHOTOGRAPHS

 2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

"Here are some photos that I took yesterday at the Republic Pictures  75th. Anniversary, which was so enjoyable and such a successful and terrific event.   It was a real Tribute." Sheila Goldman - Los Angeles.  (click on images to enlarge) 

Last vehicle owned by the famous Republic Pictures actor John Wayne. The Pontiac Grand Prix Safari Wagon was made especially for Wayne by GM. Photo by Sheila Goldman .

Character actors at the 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures - Photo by Sheila Goldman.

Artifacts from the Roy Rogers - Dale Evans Museum Victorville, California - Photo by Sheila Goldman.

NEW BROCHURE FOR THE MUSEUM OF THE SAN FERNANO VALLEY PUBLISHED

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

With gratitude to Michael Stevens, Board Member, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley has a brand new brochure. 400 of the brochures were distributed this last Saturday at the 75 Anniversary of Republic Pictures  (click on image to enlarge.)

US POSTAL CANCELATION FOR REPUBLIC PICTURES ANNIVERSARY EVENT

2010   THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Highlighting the role that Republic Pictures and the great San Fernando Valley played in America's much loved "Westerns", the US Post Office had personnel available during the 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures to provide commemorative envelopes, stamps of great cowboy stars and a special cancellation for the day.  (click on images to enlarge).

FORMER ACTOR TY HARDIN AT REPUBLIC PICTURES 75th ANNIVERSARY

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

                                                   Ty Hardin - Photo for the Archives of
                                                The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
                                             by Gerald Fecht   (click on images to enlarge). 
Former television actor Ty Hardin poses aside the tricked-out Cadillac of the great Nudie of North Hollywood. Ty Harden was a much admired actor and Nudie was the considered "the tailor to the stars."
A highly collectible program was produced for visitors to the 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures. The sepia photograph of Ty Hardin above was featured in the program. 

SIGN AT ENTRANCE TO MUSEUM SPACES AT REPUBLIC PICTURES EVENT

This was the sign at the entrance to The Museum's spaces at the 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures event. It was created by the genius of the great Elizabeth Gulick. (click on the image to enlarge it)


The blogmaster for our site has switched formats, and I am just beginning to get the hang of it. If no stor or image shows, just double click on it to bring it up on your screen.

THE GUNSLINGER WAS A BIG AUDIENCE PLEASER

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

 Gunslinger Entertainer was a big hit at Willard Simm's Theatre of Will's production for The Museum's KIDS ART CORNER.  Photo by Janne Fecht for the Archives of The Museum

REPUBLIC PICTURES EVENT SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25th 2010

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

COL. JOHN C. FREMONT IN THE UNIVERSAL CITY SUBWAY STATION

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

 One of America's most famous explorers, and later to be the first Republican candidate for the United States' Presidency was John Charles Fremont. Towns all over the West are named for him. One of Fremont's most important military engagements occurred in the San Fernando Valley, just across from the entrance to Universal Studios, at historic Campo de Cahuenga. You can see this handsome tilework, and other fine works of ceramic art on the subway platform at Universal Station. Campo de Cahuenga will soon be re-opened to the public after years of renovation. (click on image to read Fremont's less than flattering comments about Texas.)

VIET NAM PAPER MILITARY MONEY

Among the many items just donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley recently by Jerry Berns is this paper nickle distributed for use during the Vietnam war.
Paper coin-denominations have been long issued by the American government for military usage. (I have a paper quarter found in my great grandfather Josiah Crites' Civil War "picket duty" reminder book.) The use of paper money makes sense from the perspective of weight but also because of its noise factor.
Who do you suppose the lady with the fancy hairdo is?

IMAGES FROM THE TARZAN FOUNTAIN AT WHOLE FOODS IN TARZANA

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

The new Whole Foods Market in Tarzana has a terrific Tarzan themed fountain facing Ventura Boulevard. Here a chimpanzee swings toward Tarzan and Jane. No doubt his name is Cheetah.

Butterflies float in a jungle of familiar house plants, their beauty enhanced with the ripples of the fountain.

Tarzan, the ape man, swings through a jungle with his mate, the beautiful Jane. (click on image to enlarge)

What a terrific image. I can almost hear this fierce jungle lion roar.

A GREAT NEW MOSAIC FOUNTAIN IN TARZANA

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Photos by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010.
A new fountain has been installed in front of the Whole Foods Market in Tarzana. Using the jungle themes of Edgar Rice Burroughs' adventures of Tarzan, these great mosaics are a true San Fernando Valley treasure.

GEORGE BURNS ENTERTAINMENT ICON

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

George Burns - photo gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2010.

This autographed photograph of the great American comedian George Burns is part of your Museum's San Fernando Valley's Entertainment Heritage Collection. George Burns and his wife and partner Gracie Allan are buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale.

REMEMBER THE SEATTLE WORLD'S FAIR? ENGINEER BILL

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Pierce College students Phil Capka and Jerry Berns bicycle from Southern California to Seattle for the World's Fair.
Bill Stulla was a well known host of an afternoon kids show called Engineer Bill. Remember White Front Stores?

MARC WANAMAKER WOWS REPUBLIC PICTURES BUFFS

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Marc Wanamaker at his Republic Pictures talk in Studio City, Tuesday September 21. Photo by Phyllis Hansen for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

RONALD REAGAN AND SID SIMON

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Ronald Reagan and Sid Simon (click on image to enlarge)

This damaged "still" photograph of Ronald Reagan, future President of the United States, and actor Sid Simon was a gift to the archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2010. We are still hoping to identify the production, and are still in hope that we might before the big 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures this coming Saturday September 25th.
 --------- A blog reader calling herself Aspiring Diva, shared this information"
"This is from the "Wagon Train" series, a 1957 episode titled "Cavalry Charge".
 Thanks Diva   -  Jerry

PLANNING FOR THE BIG REPUBLIC PICTURES 75th ANNIVERSARY THIS SATURDAY

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Planning Committee literally walked the streets of the CBS center in Studio City.


Months of planning, with many meetings going toward the midnight hour, for the 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures will see results this Saturday. Come visit your Museum's KIDS ARTS CORNER and deposit some of your Republic Pictures and San Fernando Valley recollections at our MEMORY BANK.

GLORIA PALL "VOLUPULA" AT THE MARC WANAMAKER REPUBLIC PICTURES TALK

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

The iconic showgirl and fim star Gloria Pall 2010 - Photo by Phyllis Hansen
Gloria was among the many fans of Marc Wanamaker who came to hear his lecture on Republic Pictures in Studio City on September 21st.

US AIRMAN BILL HIEGERT IN VIETNAM

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Corporal William Dean Hiegert USAF - Photo taken in Vietnam - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2010 - click on image to enlarge.

Bill Hiegert was born on the 6th of December, 1944. He was a graduate of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California. While attending Los Angeles Pierce College, Bill was initiated into the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity
Bill was a fun-loving man, who loved American blue-grass music. When he returned home, Hiegert became a farmer and wholesale nursery man. He died young, many believe in large measure, due to problems that he returned with from the war.

Bill Hiegert USAF and Jerry Berns USMC in Vietnam.
The young fellows who shared membership in the Phi Delta Psi took "fraternity" very seriously. Like Jerry Berns and Bill Hiegert, at war in Vietnam, they often traveled great distances to see one another.

MUSEUM FEATURED IN TRUE WEST MAGAZINE

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES


Page 22 of September's True West Magazine features a full page article on the 75th Anniversary of Republic Pictures, sponsored by the Studio City Neighborhood Council and The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

CELEBRATING THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Photo by Phyllis Hansen 2010


Celebrating the Independence of the Republic of Mexico! Happy Freedom Day, September 16th, to our great sister Republic!

Phyllis Hansen took this photograph at La Fogata Mexican Restaurant at 5142 Van Nuys Boulevard, in Sherman Oaks.

1950s BAR MITZVAH IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Jerome Bernstein at his Bar Mitzvah in the San Fernando Valley - year and temple location unknown. Years later, as Jerry Berns, he would become one of the most successful realtors in America.

YOUNG MARINES FROM THE VALLEY IN THE VIETNAM WAR

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Photo gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010 by Jerry Berns.

Pierce College Fraternity brothers, Jerry Berns (left) and Dennis Nolet joined the US Marine Corps early during the Vietnam war. The war devastated students organizations. Berns and Nolet's Fraternity, Phi Delta Psi, had as many as 12 young men serving in Vietnam at the same time. Many other Fraternity brothers were deployed across Europe and the United State.
After the war, one time Van Nuys resident Denny Nolet became a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in Northern California. Jerry Berns created one of the most successful real estate companies in the United States. Jerry Berns is an adviser to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

WAS IT SANTA CLAUS?

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES



As my friend and colleague John Davie used to say, this entry is "just for ducks."
Walking down my driveway in Tarzana, I saw a vapor trail going north over my neighbor's home. Here's the result.

SECOND CLUE

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES



Just think that if Bela could
he'd fly in the night with Ed Wood.
When burial scenes
were beyond Ed's means
Bella worked cheap, cause he felt that
he should.