ELECTRIC CARS 100 YEARS AGO IN VAN NUYS

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                2013

I wonder how many electric cars you'd see the next time you join Richard Hilton in one of his historic walking tours of Van Nuys. I'm not sure if the zillions of car dealerships today on Van Nuys Boulevard even offer vehicles powered by electricity.  

If you looked at one of the properties offered by W.P. Whitsett, you would have been escorted to the sites in real electric engine cars.  (click on this image to enlarge it)

Richard Hilton emailed:
"This photo was taken in 1912.  Probably lead by L.L. Whitson, main sales agent hired by Whitsett.  He would be replaced by Charles Bevis in September, 1913, when he had just arrived with his father in law, went to the sales office and found Whitson packing his belongings after being angry at Whitsett.  Charles Bevis asked if he could take the job and Whitson said yes.  Bevis and LeMay became the sales agents and Whitson founded his own real estate office."

MALGERT H. COHEN TAUGHT IN THE WEST VALLEY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY              2013

Malgert Cohen was a teacher of art at Los Angeles Pierce College and Temple Aliyah in Woodland Hills. Here are four of her charming watercolors. 

Malgert Cohen was the daughter of the folk art sculptor Henry Halpern. Malgert died in 2007. 

                    Watercolor by Malgert Cohen 1959  (click on image to enlarge it.) 

 Self portrait - water color by Malgert Cohen

 Abstraction - mixed media by Malgert Cohen

Africans at Heathrow Airport in London - Water color by Malgert Cohen

ANDY DEVINE'S VAN NUYS HOME IN 1939

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                2013

The Director of Tours and Adventures for The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is the accomplished actor and fine art photographer Richard Hilton. For some time now, Richard has been searching for information about the home of the western film actor Andy Devine, who lived off of Kester Avenue where Richard is planning a second Van Nuys walking tour. 

Associate of The Museum, Art Jacobs sends us a clipping taken from a 1939 "movie magazine" that answers many of Richard Hilton's questions. Art's addition to our area's history demonstrates how little-by-little the story of San Fernando Valley notables is coming together. 

 1939 Magazine article - Home of the actor Andy Devine

 Magazine article reveals the name of the architect L.G. Scherer

Interior of the home of Andy Devine in Van Nuys.

NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE CITY AND THE MUSEUM

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                 2013

Newly elected President of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, Scott Sterling greets incoming  Eric Garcetti the Mayor of Los Angeles.  Sterling was attracted to Museum involvement through an abiding interest in historic architecture and public arts. Much of Mayor Garcetti's youth was spent in the San Fernando Valley. During his campaign Garcetti expressed a strong interest in Valley history and culture.

THE MAGNIFICANT MAGNOLIA HOUSE

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY            2013

The Magnolia House 1982 -  Photographs by Robb Miller - click on image to enlarge them.

At the onset of the 1980s, one of the San Fernando Valley's most successful real estate agents, Jerry Berns, purchased and revitalized the historic Magnolia House in Sherman Oaks. These photographs by Valley architectural photographer Robb Miller show the beautiful old home just after its restoration.

 Entrance drive of the historic Magnolia House 1982 - Photos by Robb Miller

 

 

Living room - Historic Magnolia House - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Robb Miller 2013. 

 Foyer - Historic Magnolia House - Restored in 1989 by Jerry Berns.

 Recreation room - Restored Magnolia House - Photo by Robb Miller

Breakfast nook - Magnolia House 1989 - Home of Jerry Berns

JAYNE MANSFIELD OPENED A SWIMMING POOL COMPANY IN VAN NUYS

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY        2013

 Jayne Mansfield

In 1959 when this photograph appeared in the now defunct Valley Times, the famous actress Jayne Mansfield lent her name to a swimming pool company in Van Nuys. Located on 6120 Sepulveda Boulevard in Van Nuys, the "Jane Mansfield Dream Pool Company" built pools throughout the Valley. The photographer was George Brich.

CHATSWORTH FROM THE AIR IN 1954

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                  2013

In November 1954, photographer Steve Barrett took these great images of Chatsworth overlooking Devonshire and Topanga. The images, gifts to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg in 2013, were among items that once belonged to a Chatsworth realtor F. H. Schepler.

 Looking east on Devonshire Avenue in Chatsworth - November 9, 1954

  Looking north on Devonshire Avenue in Chatsworth - November 9, 1954

  Looking south on Devonshire Avenue in Chatsworth - November 9, 1954

Real estate office of F. H. Schepler in Chatsworth c. 1954

NORTH HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL SWEATER LETTER 1956

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY             2013

As you will note, I've been recording the many interesting objects donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Arlene Bernholtz. Arlene's high school scrapbooks give a wonderful insight into the life and energies of a North Hollywood High School girl.

Each of the objects among Arlene's donation are given an identification number, a description, condition note, whether or not it has been scanned, photographed or used on this blog. The location of the artifact, donor's code, and reference notes will be part of the permanent records of The Museum.

Join your Museum today, and help us save San Fernando Valley history and celebrate our amazing culture. 

Please join with The Museum Community in our commitment to preserve, protect, and exhibit our amazing history.  Our archival expense is $ 275 a month. Can we count on you, your family or company?  

Join The Museum of the San Fernando Valley today.

 

Donate tax-deductible memorabilia to your Museum today.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Acquisitions Committee
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230

THE MUSEUM’S TELEPHONE
1 (818) 347-9665

THE MUSEUM'S EMAILS
gerald.fecht@TheMuseumSFV.org
info@TheMuseumSFV.org

 

THE MUSEUM’S BLOG

www.museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com/

 

THE MUSEUM’S WEBSITE

www.TheMuseumSFV.org

ANOTHER MORE ROMANTIC ERA FOR AIRLINES

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                              2013

In 1956, a young Valley girl took her first airline flight. On her way to a wedding in Chicago, she dressed carefully for the trip. Those were more formal days, and valued customers were treated with respect. The flight was so memorable that she save mementos from the occasion for over 50 years.

 1956 American Airlines Menu - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Arlene Bernholtz 2013.  (click on images to enlarge them.)

American Airline napkin   1957

20 DAYS OF ADVENTURE ON VENTURA BOULEVARD

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                2013

From Encino Avenue to Balboa things became a lot more interesting.

 Wildflowers in the Saint Francis garden at Saint Nicholas Anglican church in Encino.

 Nuestra Senora de Dolores - Shrine at Saint Nicholas Anglican church in Encino.

 Farsi signage in front of Saint Nicholas Anglican church in Encino. Great bronze doors of the church were done by the famous San Fernando Valley artist Henry Van Wolf in 1957.

 Signature of the great artist Henry Van Wolf - 1957

 The Christina Sacrament of Baptism - sculpture by Henry Van Wolf 1957.

 Priest hearing a confession during the Sacrament of Penance, by Henry Van Wolf 1957.

 I normally peel away and put street stickers in my Valley notebooks, but this Indian at the corner of Amestoy and Ventura was too high for me to reach.

 Farm laborer in the San Fernando Valley - mosaic detail at Chase Bank in Encino.

Children's art-quilts in the window of Encino School.

 Exterior art of Chase Bank in Encino. The building was built by Home Federal Savings.

This building was constructed on the site of an ancient Tongva Indian village site. It is on the corner of Balboa Boulevard and Ventura in Encino. A stream from the hills to the right of this picture continue to supply the little pond at Los Encinos Historical Monument just north of the intersection.

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN 1955

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY           2013

Gradually, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is amassing the grand story of our Valley's sports heritage. These two programs were among the memorabilia saved by Arlene Bernholtz when she was a North Hollywood High School girl, who had friends at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. Among the treasures given to The Museum by Arlene were commencement programs from Van Nuys High School, Notre Dame, as well as from North Hollywood. 

AN IMAGE OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY            2013

Admitting my age, when I was a boy there were long lanes of eucalyptus, pepper, deodors and palms throughout the San Fernando Valley. Some stands of those trees still grace our communities today. The dusty country roads have long since disappeared as are most of the root-invasive pepper trees. For friends in the Midwest or relatives in Pennsylvania, pepper trees in the 1920s and 30s would have been incredibly romantic.

Pepper trees - Southern California - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY             2013

On my 19th day of walking Ventura Boulevard, I encountered one of the street's thin spots for interesting things to encourage my walk. 

 

 I found this broken statue of Lady Liberty a bit creepy. Perhaps this sad image at Bucca di Beppo might give us an insight to how the ancient Greeks or Romans would feel if they were to see their damaged sacred images at the Getty Museum in Malibu.

 Statue in garden at Bucca di Beppo restaurant on Ventura Boulevard in Encino.

 All that is left of the great Encino oak is a stump. But, a new healthy tree has been planted in place of the oak that grew here in the days of the Spanish explorers.