MUSEUM PRODUCES NORTH HOLLYWOOD WALKING TOUR BOOKLET

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Written by Museum Board Member Richard Hilton, "A Historic Walking Tour of North Hollywood 'Home of the Peach'" has just been produced by The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. What began as a small souvenir for those who participate in the bi-monthly walking tour of the NoHo, has evolved into a handsome 20-page booklet with many delightful photographs and stories of the Valley city once known as "the Home of the Peach."

(click on image to enlarge)

With photographs generously loaned by Guy Weddington McCreary and images from the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley and from the collection of the author Richard Hilton, the booklet features images that haven't been seen for nearly a century.

Edited in part by Museum Board Member Phyllis Hansen, the work was also edited and produced by Michel Stevens. Graphic design, creative and layout services were provided by Graphic Elements. The brochure was funded by the Mid-town North Hollywood Neighborhood Council and in part by The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

For the last two years, The Museum's historic walking tours have been graciously sponsored by the Universal City North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

In 2012, The Museum plans on producing two more tour booklets; one for the Van Nuys historic walking tour and a self-guided automobile tour of the Northridge, Porter Ranch and Granada Hills areas of the San Fernando Valley.

RICHARD DENNING AND HELEN GILBERT SHARED STARDOM WITH JACKIE THE LION

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

Richard Denning was one of the big "hunk" stars of the 1940s. Here he poses with the Paramount starlette Helen Gilbert in the Dorothy Lamour film, "Malaya"  Jackie the Lion (famous as the Metro Goldwyn Mayer logo star) lived and was trained for the movies in Bird Wonderland in what is now Encino, California.

Helen Gilbert, Jackie the Lion and Richard Denning - 1942 - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (Click on images to enlarge)  Image 4276 - P15

 Image 4276 - P15   Helen Gilbert was a cellist prior to entering films.

Richard Denning - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (Click on images to enlarge)  Image 4276 - P15  All of the birds and animals used in this Paramount film were provided by Bird Wonderland in Encino, California.  (click on image to enlarge) Image 4275-P 14

Richard Denning wrestles Jackie the Lion in the film Malaya.  Image number 4277-P16

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM YOUR MUSEUM DEC 2011

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

"Cockie" the Cockatoo Actor - c 1930s - Photograph Number 4272 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

This white bird was at one time one of the most successful working actors in Hollywood. Cockie, owned by Bird Wonderland in Encino, lived to be over 75 years old and starred in nearly all of the animal-related films of his era.

SIGN FROM LONG GONE McKINLEY HOME FOR BOYS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  2011

Bob Peppermuller is at it again, working to save San Fernando Valley "Redcar" history. Here he shares a sign indicating the location of the McKinley Home for Boys in Van Nuys (later Sherman Oaks. The McKinley Home opened at its location on Riverside Drive in 1923. It served abused and neglected children there until 1960, when it moved to its present location in San Dimas.

(Click on the image to enlarge the sign.)

“This sign is from the Pacific Electric passenger stop in the middle of Chandler Blvd. at Woodman Ave. The McKinley Home was south on Woodman at Riverside Drive. 

Typically the sign would be about 15 feet up on a pole holding the trolley wires. After the San Fernando line was abandoned, at 3pm on December 29, 1952 when power was cut, all the track material was removed down to about three blocks north of Santa Monica Blvd. on Highland Ave in Hollywood. This sign ended up in the Southern Pacific railroad yard in San Bernardino where the back was painted with a "No Parking" sign. It was saved from the being scrapped and ended up in a railroad swap meet where I purchased it.”   

Bob Peppermuller 2011 - North Hollywood

BOB HOPE'S PROPERTY IN TOLUCA LAKE - 1951

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY      2011

Mr. Glenn E. Mueller of Diamond Bar shares this insight into the famous Bob and Dolores Hope home in Toluca Lake.

“My folks & I lived at 4348 Ledge Ave. in what's now Toluca Lake, during 1941 to 1951, it was North Hollywood . . .

My dad had an aerial photo taken in 1944 which includes Bob Hope's house on the left. The street running up the top of the picture is Woodbridge and Bloomfield runs "into our driveway." 

(Click on photograph to enlarge it.)

Future Home for Bob and Dolores Hope

I graduated both North Hollywood Jr. High and the North Hollywood High School  S-54 class . . My sister, Marilyn, was a graduate of both but S-56 from North Hollywood High School

The 2nd attachment is when "we" sold the house. Bob Hope bought it to live in while his mansion was renovated. Then he subdivided the three acres we had and sold off the lots. Hope brought his residence property line up to the driveway and behind the four car garage (not 3 as mentioned in the LA Times) which increased his golfing area.

That $70,000 sale price is now going for $2,500,000.00 and that's just for the driveway up behind the house and down the south side of the house to Ledge.  The pool was built in 1946 . . . . “

VAN WOLF SCULPTURE OF LINCOLN IN MEDITATION IN BURBANK LIBRARY

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

In 1962, San Fernando Valley sculptor Henry Van Wolf completed the long admired bust of President Abraham Lincoln in Meditation. I haven't had the opportunity to read its dedication plaque but have the strong suspicion that it was a donation of the long established Pomeroy family in that community (A Pomeroy married into the Burbank family about the same time the town was founded).

Pomeroy family members with the Henry Van Wolf bust of Abraham Lincoln on September 19th, 1975. Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joseph Van Wolf November 2011.  (click on image to enlarge) Refer to Museum photo 1011-129-4089

Inscription on back of photo reads:

"Central Library Burbank Sept. 19, 1975.

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Pomeroy, Helen Pomeroy Sullivan (Mrs. Davis) Frances Muir Pomeroy, girl Margaret Pomeroy, Mrs. Charles Pomeroy, son Vance, Mr. and Mrs. (Doris) H. Greenam, Charles Pomeroy and May Fox Pomeroy."

MUSEUM HOSTS READING OF MEDIEVAL MYSTERY PLAY

ANDY DIVINE FILES REVEAL MORE VALLEY CELEBRITIES

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

So many important actors have lived and worked in the San Fernando Valley, that publicity photographs of one will often include other famous residents. These photographs given to The Museum by Gary Fredburg in November of 2011, were part of an effort to build our files on the Van Nuys actor Andy Divine, but his celebrity neighbors quickly add to the history of the entertainment industry in the Valley.

 Character actor Andy Divine lived with his family in Van Nuys, very near Van Nuys High School.

Andy Divine and Roy Rogers in :The Far Frontier" - Republic Picture.  Roy Rogers and Dale Evans lived on a ranch between Chatsworth and Canoga Park. The film was made in the San Fernando Valley in 1948.

 Andy Divine and Roy Rogers costarred with the singer Jane Frazee and Mexican actor Tito Guizar in the Republic Pictures production of "On the Old Spanish Trail"  1947

 Roy Rogers, Andy Divine and Tito Guizar in tehj Republic Pictures production of "On the Old Spanish Trail"  1947