NEW OLD IMAGES OF THE MISSION SAN FERNANDO

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                       2013

The Mission San Fernando Rey de España has many reasons for being viewed as a major treasure in our community. Founded as a bastion of empire of Spain, the mission brought Catholic Christianity to our region of Southern California, was secularized by the government of an independent Mexico, was scouted by Kit Carson, allowed to fall into ruin by Andreas Pico as an adjunct to his rancho, provided an overnight retreat  for the leader of the world's Catholics Pope John Paul II, and continues to this day in both historic and modern roles. 

Cemetery of the Mission San Fernando Rey c. 1895 - historic postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

This "Santo Campo," seen here in a neglected state, continues its original function today as Mission Cemetery. Very near this ancient burial site, the beloved performer Bob Hope and Dolores Hope are buried.

 Travelers in covered wagons at the Mission San Fernando c. 1895.  Excerpted from a booklet entitled the Fabulous San Fernando Valley published by Western Federal Savings - date unknown.  Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it - and view section of the photograph below.)

"The only known existing photograph of a San Fernando Mission Indian Woman"  Fabulous San Fernando Valley published by Western Federal Savings - date unknown.  Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

BUTTONS AND BOWS WAS A SMASH MUSICAL HIT

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY            2012

Still sung today, "Buttons and Bows" was a smash musical hit from the Paramount Picture, The Paleface. The film starred two of America's favorite performers of the era, Jane Russell and Bob Hope. Jane was a graduate of Van Nuys High School, and Bob Hope resided in Toluca Lake over his lifetime. 

Musical score for Buttons and Bows - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

Abby Marie

Comedy Associate 

Valley Notables Committee

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230

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THE ROAD TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY      2012

Among America's best loved comedy films of the 1940s and 50s were the famous "Road" movies of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. All three blockbuster performers and supporters of the U.S.O. lived in Toluca Lake / North Hollywood.

 Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope - San Fernando Valley residents in 1940

 Hamming it up in a Road Movie were Hope, Lamour and Crosby (click on images to enlarge them)

The Life of Bob Hope, "They Got Me Covered" - 1941 first edition - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012. 

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Library of San Fernando Valley Entertainment Industry History.

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 . . . . “

JERRY COLONNA WAS ONCE ONE OF THE MOST RECOGNIZED COMIC VOICES IN THE USA

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

 Most older San Fernando Valley residents know that Bob and Dolores Hope lived in Toluca Lake and are buried in the San Fernando Mission, but are less aware of Jerry Colonna's life among us.  Jerry, his wife and son lived in Encino. His son Bob graduated from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks.

The much loved Bob Hope with his longtime radio and motion picture side-kick Jerry Colonna rehearsing their NBC radio show. Photograph gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

Jerry Colonna and Bob Hope worked hard to keep up the morale of American service personnel during World War II in their highly popular USO shows, and continued to entertain GIs in later years as well. Bob Colona played in many films, and had one of the most recognized radio voices in America. He died after a lengthy illness in the Motion Picture Hospital in Woodland Hills.

THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY'S STAR BOB HOPE

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

One of the greatest entertainers in San Fernando Valley history was the great Bob Hope. This beloved comedian brought his USO shows to American and Allied service personnel around the world. Hope, who lived in Toluca Lake and worked out of the Valley, was a mega-star of stage, radio, television and motion pictures. He is buried at the edge of the Mission San Fernando in Mission Hills.

 comedians Betty Hutton and Bob Hope in the 1943 spoof on life in the military entitled "Let's Face It."  A Paramount Picture. Still photo - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011. (click on image to enlarge) - Photograph 2862

 In his "song and dance" costume, Bob Hope points to his name on a dressing room door. Photo, gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011.  Photo 2863

Cartoonists had a field day with Bob Hope's nose. Refer to photo number 2864.

2011 - HIGH TIME FOR SAN FERNANDO VALLEY TOURISM

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  - 2011

 

TOURISM IN THE VALLEY

      As the New Year began its long journey into the decade, the Daily News noted on Jan. 7^th, that More Visitors Come to L.A. – Spend Cash”. Anyone who cares about the economic well being of our vast city has to take encouragement from the article.

      This exciting news story goes on to state that “tourism rebounded last year (2010) with 25.7 million overnight visitors, an 8 percent jump from the year earlier.” (source LA Inc.) Over $13 billion was spent by these tourists – a 10.4% percent increase from 2010.  A huge portion of the city’s visitors came from overseas (5.5 million) which represented a whopping 20,7 % increase from last year. Tourist spending represents significant earnings for business, including souvenirs, hotel stays and visits to expected tourist attractions.

      Dozens of studies have been made and published about the economic impact cultural institutions have on tourism. No doubt the thousands of expected visitors to his new museum on Grand Street   has not been lost on the genius of the developer and philanthropist Eli Broad.

      The leadership of the fledgling Museum of the San Fernando Valley believes that a very significant portion of the dollars (or Euros) spent by visiting tourists can be secured for businesses and cultural organization in the San Fernando Valley, provided compelling reasons are presented to foreign and out-of-state American visitors to our city. 

      Bob Hope, San Fernando Valley resident - historic postcard - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift to The Museum from Gary Fredburg - 2011

      In 2009, The Museum began historic walking tours in North Hollywood and the Van Nuys civic core. It added a completely subscribed historic bus tour of Northridge and adjacent communities in 2010. The Museum also began its Speakers in Historic Places series last year. It co-sponsored with the Studio City Neighborhood Council, the 75^th Anniversary of Republic Pictures, which on the hottest day of the year brought out over 2,500 visitors.

      So many notables in entertainment, sports and industry have lived and continue to work and dwell in the Valley, that The Museum’s Notables Calendar has a major personality’s birthday for every day of the year. And, the celebrity project, based on the theme of the Valley Economic Alliance “Valley of the Stars”, has just begun. The Museum’s board believes that when this motto is fully developed people will come from far and wide to see the place that rightfully can call itself, the Center of the Creative Capital of the World.

      The Museum of the San Fernando Valley invites leaders from the business community, Chambers of Commerce, Neighborhood Councils, cultural organizations and civic-minded women and men to join in the effort to help build the vital “sense of place”. For the Valley, it makes dollars and sense. 

BUTTONS AND BOWS- MUSIC FROM THE VALLEY OF THE STARS

Sheet Music for "Buttons and Bows" - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg - 2010
When Paramount at Christmastime in 1948 released its popular film, The Paleface, the studio probably wasn’t thinking about making San Fernando Valley history. But, it did. The movie’s two big stars, Bob Hope and Jane Russell were among the many reasons why we called the San Fernando Valley, the heart of the creative capital of the world.
Jane Russell did her first serious acting while she attended Van Nuys High School. She was considered the sexiest woman in American, that is until her crown was stolen by another Van Nuys High School girl, Marilyn Monroe.
Bob Hope, when he wasn’t on the road doing performances and USO shows lived in the privacy of Toluca Lake. Appropriately, Bob Hope is buried in the San Fernando Valley in the Catholic cemetery in Mission Hills.

Your Museum is working on an annual calendar of San Fernando Valley notables. If you know of a celebrity in history, sports, science, film, radio, animation, or politics - let us know. We want to know about folks who have worked, had their residence, gone to school, been born or died in our amazing Valley.
Call: 1 (818) 347-9667