ED DAVIS WAS LA POLICE CHIEF FROM 1969 TO 1978

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

With the exception of the San Fernando Valley's independent cities (San Fernando city, Glendale, Burbank, Calabasas and Hidden Hills,  Edward Davis was our region of Southern California's police chief for nine long years. Very much a product of his post World War II ear, chief Davis to keep the City and the Valley "protected" (from his point of view) by enforcing procedures viewed unacceptable today. 

Fearful of anti-Vietnam War activists, Davis used undercover police to pose as students at LA Valley, Pierce College and newly created California State University Northridge. Under his orders, gays and lesbians lived in great fear, especially since Davis utilized entrapment as a major tool. Gay night clubs in the North Hollywood and Studio City areas, were regularly raided for news-worthy arrests. 

Ed Davis nurtured his "tough cop" image, and became world famous during his department's investigation of the Valley-based murders of the Charles Manson cult.

After his retirement, Ed Davis served in the California State Legislature, where he supported the community colleges, and the emerging rights of lesbians and gays.

I was doing an art project at Los Angeles International Airport, when I ran into Chief Davis. We had met when I was a graduate student at USC. I asked him for his autograph and he agreed. 27 April 1978. It was shortly after his retirement.

Ed Davis 1916 - 2005

Gifts to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gerald Fecht 2014.

JOHN HAWKINS WAS A MEGA TV WRITER AND PRODUCER

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

John Hawkins began his career in Oregon as a successful writer of magazine stories. He moved to the San Fernando Valley where he wrote for film and television and made it big as a writer for the tv series Bonanza. In 1974 he became the producer of one of the most successful television series in America, Little House on the Prairie.

 John Hawkins  1910 to 1978

Photo of John Hawkins (left) at the Western Writers Guild with Steve McNeil - Loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Heather Preimesberger 2014 - Photo by Arthur Knight Petaluma -

John Hawkins and his grand daughter on an old lumber mill set - Photograph loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Heather Preimesberger 2014. (click on images to enlarge them.)

John Hawkins on location- Photograph loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Heather Preimesberger 2014. (click on images to enlarge them.)

 Little House on the Prairie - Call Sheet - 25 June 1976 - NBC TV Productions - Loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Heather Preimesberger 2014.

CAMPO DE CAHUENGA IN 1978

2009 - The Year of Valley History

Campo de Cahuenga - Newsletter clipping 1978 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Dave High - July 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

No date appears on this image clipped from a likely Rotary Club newsletter from 1978 or 1979. An item on the back of this picture reads "Hollywood Youth Program: A letter from George Buzza, President of Hollywood Rotary Club, invites our President...."
George Buzza was the President of the Hollywood Rotary in 1978-1979
Refer to HC-9 artifact number: 0709-050-957



The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.