DAVID COSCIA BOOK ON THE PACIFIC ELECTRIC AND THE GROWTH OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - FRONT PAGE REVIEW IN TODAY'S DAILY NEWS

MY VALLEY          MY MUSEUM           MY STORY

In honor of today's front page review of David Coscia's new book, The Pacific Electric and the Growth of the San Fernando Valley in the Los Angeles Daily News, here are four new images just received in The Museum's archives.

Pacific Electric Railroad images - Gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012  (click on images to enlarge)   Image number 4608

 Dated March 23, 1947 -  Image number 4611

 Dated June 19, 1955 - Image number 4609

Dated June 19, 1955  -   Image number 4610

HISTORIC WALKING TOUR NOV 25th

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY     2011

Don't forget The Museum's famous "Walk It Off" (after Thanskgiving - Walking Tour of Historic North Hollywood - SATURDAY Nov 25th.  Begins 10am at Amerlia Earhart statue in North Hollywood Park (Magnolia and Tujunga) at 10am.  $10 donation to The Museum.  Bring your Camera!

13th Graduation Program North Hollywood Junior High School - January 30th 1947 - historic program given to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

RADIO KWIK BURBANK CALIFORNIA

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

KWIK ink blotter between 1947 and 1951 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

Radio KWIK 1490 was licenced by the Federal Communication Commission on the 8^th of May, 1947. The station operated on 250 watts of power day and night. But, after two years KWIK was in trouble for “technical violations.”

By 1951, the station which operated from 20 West Burbank Boulevard, couldn’t be saved even by its spiffy blotter advertisements. It lost its license in May of that year, and the “Voice of the San Fernando Valley” went off the air.

SOME RESTAURANT INSIGHTS FROM ART JACOBS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011
 A message from Art Jacobs

I wanted to make sure your readers are aware of the history behind the local diner in my neighborhood. It's pretty much my second home away from home. I'm referring to Corky's on Van Nuys Blvd just South of Magnolia. It's just what a diner should be, the staff is friendly, the prices are reasonable and the food is good. I like going there for breakfast on the weekend, but it's not unusual to find me hanging out at the counter having dinner with some of the regulars. It's a great neighborhood place. 

What your readers may not know is the architect behind Corky's. The restaurant was designed by Armet and Davis a California based architectural firm known for designing many of the California coffee shops inspired by the Space Age and the regions car-culture. The restaurant opened in 1958, under the name of Stanley Burke's. In the 60's and early 70's it was Corky's, then Lamplighter and now back to Corky's.
Even though the name has changed a few times, the "Googie" design has remained the same. In the photos I've included, you will see one of Armet and Davis trademarks. The soaring and exaggerated roof line resembles a flying wing ready to liftoff.
Inside the restaurant, you have a room length dinning counter, large bay windows to watch passerby's on Van Nuys Blvd and cool over sized black and white photo's of Valley landmarks from the 1950's and 1960's. Eldon Davis considered the father of "Googie" diner designs recently passed away in April at the age of 94, but many of his designs still exist in the San Fernando Valley. I've listed two that have survived with little to no change from it's original design.

    Kerry's Coffee Shop (now a Mel's Drive-In) 1947 in Sherman Oaks on Ventura Blvd just East of Kester.

    Twain's Restaurant 1960, in Studio City on the corner of Ventura Blvd and Coldwater Canyon.

Art Jacobs

When I was archiving Art Jacobs photographs just now, I found this image of an old Corker Room postcard. It may have been published on this blog before, - if so, it's worth a second go around. Jerry

   

THE SMOKEHOUSE - CLASSIC RESTAURANT IN BURBANK

2010 The Year of Valley History
The Smokehouse Restaurant Burbank, California - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2010 (click on image to enlarge)
When our great friends Lonnie and Jim, who now live in Portland, Oregon, came to the Valley in time for our big time rainstorms, we decided that they needed an infusion of old time Valley garlic bread at the Smokehouse. Since they were driving back to Portland that night, we treated them to the Smokehouse's massive champaign brunch - enough food to get them home --- and, for most of next week.
The Smokehouse Restaurant Lobby - Burbank, California - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2010 (click on image to enlarge) Appropriately, the lobby of the great old Smokehouse Restaurant is decorated with posters from classic Warner Brothers films. The movie Casablanca's scenes of Paris were done across the street at the WB. The airport scenes in Casablanca were filmed at the Van Nuys Airport.
The Smokehouse Restaurant Lobby - Burbank, California - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2010 (click on image to enlarge)
The Smokehouse was originally located north of its location of 4420 West Lakeside Drive - off of Olive Avenue - at Pass Avenue and Riverside Drive. The doors were opened in 1926, and the move to today's present location done in 1947.
The Smokehouse Restaurant Bar - Burbank, California - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2010 (click on image to enlarge)
No visit to the Smokehouse is complete without three or four loaves of Chef John L. Sullivan's original recipe garlic bread concocted sometime around 1959.
Take a few minutes after dinner to walk a bit in the neighborhood of the grand old Smokehouse. Just south on Olive Avenue is an amazing view of the concrete Los Angeles River. Watch tourists arrive for the Ellen Show and the Super Heroes sign at the WB. Burbank is a great town to explore - it's an essential part of the San Fernando Valley.