LAST Historic Van Nuys Walking Tour for 2016

The development entity known as The Syndicate began the process in 1910, but William Paul Whitsett saw it through to the end. Originally a barley field, Van Nuys became a prosperous center of City Government, agriculture and industry. 



Come explore what remains to be appreciated: original 1911 buildings hidden beneath modern facades, first churches, a civic center with many special revelations, one of the main hubs of social and official activity, the Women's Club building, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monuments #201, #202, and #911, and National Register of Historic Places Monument #2509. 

Learn about the origin of the Daily News and the company which was a nationwide maker of silent movie theatre organs. Who were Hobart Johnstone Whitley, Wayne E. Bechtelheimer and Whitley Van Nuys Huffaker? Relive "Wednesday Nights on Van Nuys Boulevard." We will have historic photographs and stories to share as we wander this surprisingly historic San Fernando Valley treasure. 


Sunday, October 16 2016 
2:00 PM to 3:30 PM

RSVP: 1-818-347-9665 or email at events@TheMuseumSFV.org

Cost: $10 per person.
Attendees can pay in advance on Eventbrite: http://vannuystour2016.eventbrite.com/

Parking: Free Lot on Vesper Ave & Sylvan St. Meter and Street parking also available.


For more information visit: http://vannuystour2016.eventbrite.com/

Bobby Chacon, "the pride of Pacoima" former world boxing champion, dies at 64

Bobby Chacon, "the pride of Pacoima" former boxing champion, dies at 64.

                                                       Photo credit: Ring Magazine / Getty

The former world champion boxer passed away on September 7th. 

He maintained a great attitude and will always be known for incredible boxing matches at the Sports Arena and Olympic Arena, amongst others.

He was a warrior in the ring and and ample challenges in life with the loss of his wife, son and bouts with drugs and alcohol.

His boxing record consisted of:
Total fights - 67
Wins - 59
Wins by KO - 47
Losses - 7
Draws - 1
No contests - 0

His victories include some incredible fights against the likes of Tury Pineda, Irish Frankie Crawford, Chucho Castillo, "Little Red" Lopez, Venezuela's Alfredo Marcano and Jesus "Papelero" Estrada. 

He was called "Schoolboy," more for his youthful appearance than for attending classes at California State University at Northridge.

To learn more, please click HERE to read a recent Long Beach Press-Telegram article by Robert Morales.

Post by Michael Stevens

Macy's NoHo store to close - tell us about your experiences at older department stores

With the sad news that the Macy's store in North Hollywood will be closing down in October, The Museum would like to capture your thoughts about any experience you had at this store.

On 9/22/16, the Los Angeles Planning Commission backed a proposal for NoHo West, a residential and commercial development planned on the site of the old Laurel Plaza shopping center and soon-to-be-shuttered Macy’s in North Hollywood.

If approved by the city, NoHo West will bring 642 rental housing units, 256,000 square feet of office and retail use, and 316,000 square feet of new commercial development, including a cinema, to the 25-acre site.

In addition, I could not help but reach back in time and look at images of older department stores. What is your first thought about viewing these stores?  Did you ever shop there? Your mother? Your grandmother?

                                                              JCPenney store - SFV 1950s

                                   The Broadway in Panorama City - turned into the WalMart.

What do you think about those cars in the parking lot!  

                                            The May Co. store at Topanga Plaza 1960s

Ohrbach's - SFV 1964

The VW Bug and Corvair! Pretty cool.

Again, please comment below on any experiences you or your family had with any of these stores.

For The Museum's archives, if you have any photos, postcards, flyers, etc. from the 1950s, 1960s or 1970s you would like to donate, please contact Gary Fredburg at The Museum at 818-347-9665 or gary.fredburg@TheMuseumSFV.org.

Post by Michael Stevens

David Nazarian CSUN College of Business and Economics 50th Anniversary Gala

Kudos to CSUN (formerly San Fernando Valley State College) on its College of Business growth over the last 50 years.

Tonight, there is the David Nazarian College of Business and Economics 50th Anniversary Gala at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel.

Fifty years ago, a still-new California State University campus in Northridge launched a School of Business and Economics.

It's opening enrollment was 438 and has grown to more than 7,800 students today. The David Nazarian College of Business and Economics has grown to become one of the 10 largest accredited business schools in the nation, consistently ranking among the top programs in the state - pretty impressive.

People in photo: Members of the college’s founding faculty, from left, Al Leininger, Maurice Dance, Rodney Luther, Dorothea Extence, Donald Raun, Reuben Krolick and Seymour S. Phillips. Photo courtesy of CSUN’s archives.

Post by Michael Stevens

Wonderful Sunday Afternoon Walking Tour - 2pm in North Hollywood

NORTH HOLLYWOOD "NOHO"

HISTORIC WALKING TOUR

Learn about real cowboys, pioneer families, movie television and recording stars, the Spanish conquest, Mexican ranchos, great steam trains, vast ranches and orchards, land barons, wars, architecture, and much more! 

North Hollywood Pacific Electric Car Station, 1919

TOUR INCLUDES:

Amelia Earhart Statue

Amelia Earhart Library (1928)

St. Paul’s First Lutheran Church 

NoHo Fire Station #60

So. Pacific Railroad Depot (1896) 

Weddington Family 

Air raid siren

El Portal Theatre (1926)

NoHo Arts District

Lankershim Arts Center (1939) (S. Charles Lee, architect) 

North Hollywood Masonic Temple Lodge 542

Lankershim Elementary School (Marilyn Monroe attended)

DATE: Sunday, September 18, 2016

TIME: 2:00pm - 4:30pm

RSVP: 1-818-347-9665 or email at events@theMuseumSFV.org. Please leave name, email address and phone number

COST: $10 per person donation. 

Prepay on Eventbrite: http://nohotour2016.eventbrite.com/

PARKING: Street and metered parking in area

Tour meets at Amelia Earhart Statue; NW corner of Tujunga St. & Magnolia Blvd. (at corner of Library)

Please visit us on the web at www.theMuseumSFV.org

Thank you to our sponsor Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.