SAINT CHRISTOPHER AT LA CANA

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  2011

For a relentless student of history and symbolism, the ancient world is seldom far away. Today, while I walked through the historic La Cana Cantina (aka - The Idle Hour Cafe), a small quarter-sized object caught my attention in an exterior doorway. I picked it up and discovered it is a Saint Christopher medal. And, it is inscribed on the back.

The inscription on this silver medal reads "Saint Christopher Be My Guide."  At one time, St. Christopher was one of the most popular saints in the Catholic church, but objects like this were considered good luck charms by many outside of the religion. Look closely and you will make out a giant of a man with a staff in the shape of a cross, bearing the child Jesus on his broad shoulder. Talismans like this were often given to those undertaking a long journey, perhaps going off to North Hollywood to make it big in the movies.

Saint Christopher is one of those Christian saints without Papal canonization. These sacred beings were designated as holy or sanctified by common people outside of official church recognition. Most of the early Christian saints fall into this category. Herein, as Shakespeare might say lies the rub.  Popular, or unofficial saints were often amalgamations of local heroes and even Pagan gods.  Christopher's story has attributes of the demigod Atlas, who carries the world or god on his shoulders. Atlas, as the name implies was the God of travelers... we still carry an Atlas when we travel. Because this is awkward for religious purists, the Catholic church has more or less downgraded Christopher to a pious legend.

 The reverse of the Saint Christopher medal has an engraved notation:  Lou or Lott or Low Moseley.

 Someone cared enough about the traveler to whom this was given, to have it personalized.

OLD VAN AT LA CANA - IDLE HOUR CAFE

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Parked behind the old La Cana flamenco bar in the historic NoHo was this great old van this morning. I wonder if it was included in the purchasing bid today?

 We know that this antique van is older than 1972. The original license is still attached.

 Van at La Cana cantina. 4 flat tires.

Interior of La Cana van. Photos for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht - July 30, 2011   (click on image to enlarge)

WHY VETERANS' INTERVIEWS ARE A PRIORITY FOR YOUR MUSEUM

2010 -- THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES --Northirdge100

Soldier of the 96th Infantry Division, U.S. Army, World War II - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010.

I have seldom seen any group of individuals working harder than the Board of Directors and Advisers to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Just about the time when it looks like we can coast for awhile, something new and often urgent arises. Securing the histories of our World War II and Korean War veterans takes real precedence in The Museum's efforts. Yesterday's interview with 91 year old Paul Cohen, who served in the United States Army in the Philippines and in the battle for Okinawa, is a significant example.

Some of the other things the Museum has going:

On Saturday May 1st, The Museum presents to the LA Heritage Alliance (meeting at the Pierce College Farm Center) our plans for a Greater Los Angeles Fall Cleaning Garage Sale for dozens of LA historical groups. It should be one of the biggest events of the year and raise money for historical organizations all over our vast city.

On Sunday May2nd, your Museum will be part of the BIG FAMILY DAY at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) downtown LA. (It's a giant family centered day with the arts at the MOCA museum info: 1 (213) 621-1745. We'll have coloring maps of the San Fernando Valley for kids to enjoy..... and, learn more about our fabulous Valley.

And, on Saturday May 8th, we'll be taking Valley residents and visitors on a special guided walking tour of historic Van Nuys.

BUT.................. an Interview with VALLEY HERO, PAUL COHEN went to the top of our list of things to accomplish.

In The Museum's last Board meeting, we agreed to partner with the young and accomplished blogger and photographer, Andy Hurvitz to seek support for a joint effort to acquire the photos and stories of the San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Jewish American War Veterans. In the process, The Museum is developing an interview process applicable to interviewing of all veterans and other Valley notables. The interview with Paul Cohen gave us the opportunity to try out our questioning techniques, photography skills and because our recording device failed, our ability to record Paul's history by hand.

WANT TO HELP? Call Jerry Fecht (fate) at 1 (818) 347-9665 and ask about one of the above projects, or our upcoming work on the 75th Anniversary of Republic Studios, our efforts to make the 100th Anniversary of Northridge (Northridge100) a grand success, our Speakers in Historic Places talks, the preservation and appropriate use of the historic Idle Hour Cafe in the NoHo, securing the history of Our Lady of Corvallis High School in Studio City and many other efforts.

THE SPIRIT OF DOLORES FERNANDEZ DANCES ON IN THE HEARTS OF THOSE PRESERVING THE IDLE HOUR CAFE

2010 - The Year of Valley History
Detail of exterior mural of the old Iliad Bookstore in North Hollywood - Dolores Fernandez - Photo for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Dolores Fernandez closed the doors of her Cana cantina in historic North Hollywood in the mid 1980s. Today only the distant echos of pounding shoes and clapping hands of flaminco dance remain. Your Museum Community has joined with Chris Nichols and others in the heroic struggle to preserved the great old barrel building, once the Idle Hour Cafe.
Chris recently told The Museum's Sheilah Kodimer and Jerry Fecht, that Dolores looked at the fading mural of where once the Iliad bookstore stood, and said to him "That's me!"

Want to make sure the Idle Hour "barrel" cafe survives? Call The Museum of the San Fernando Valley today, and tell us to COUNT ME IN! 1 (818) 347-9665

IDLE HOUR CAFE MOVES FORWARD TO CULTURAL MONUMENT STATUS

2010 The Year of Valley Adventures
The Idle Hour Cafe on its opening day - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley Archives from Chris Nichols 2010 (click on image to enlarge)
Isabel and Michael Connolly at the opening of the Idle Hour Cafe. Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley Archives from Chris Nichols 2010 (click on image to enlarge)

Working on behalf of the preservation of history and protection of historic artifacts is a little bit like working in the emergency room of a hospital. A crisis can happen at any time. In the blinking of an eye The Museum’s Chairman for Historic Preservation, Richard Hilton, saw the oldest home in Van Nuys destroyed contemptuously during a single night. The loss to future generations can happen without warning and often with callous disregard in a matter of hours.
It is great news for the San Fernando Valley that the group to save the precious old Idle Hour Cafe, led by Chris Nichols, has brought the landmark building one step closer to the protections of being designated a “cultural landmark.” THE WHOLE VALLEY OWES CHRIS AND HIS FOLKS A DEBT OF GRATITUDE!
The fearful “doomsday clock” and ticking ruin for the Idle Hour has been pushed significantly back.
Once there were as many as a dozen barrel-shaped buildings in our area of California. Today, in all of greater Los Angeles there remains only one, the Idle Hour Cafe at4824 Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood. Once, also there were wonderful “programmatic” structures shaped like oranges, hot dogs, giant donuts etc. all over Southern California. Today in LA, there are only 10 such buildings remaining (and, some like the Tail of the Pup and the Brown Derby, are languishing in some forgotten warehouse or another.)
border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5432023934414147890" /> Interior Bar (still in the Idle Hour Cafe)

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley calls on our friends and neighbors to speak out on behalf of the Idle Hour Cafe – not for some gutted facade or placating bronze plaque. The Idle Hour is a true “anchor building” to the exciting new NoHo Arts District. We have a chance of seeing it restored to its once rightful position of a key nightspot in historic North Hollywood.
Besides! It’s the right and fun thing to do!
Interested parties should contact The Museum’s Chair for the Preservation of the Idle Hour Cafe, Sheila Kodimer at our telephone number:
1 (818) 347-9665
Leave your name, telephone number and email address, and Sheila will get back to you soon.

MUSEUM BEGINS ITS FOCUS ON THE HISTORIC IDLE HOUR CAFE

2010 - The Year of Valley History
Most recently called La Cana, the original Idle Hour Cafe is an important San Fernando Valley landmark. Photos for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht November 2009.
For sometime, we at The Museum of the San Fernando Valley have been worrying about the historic Idle Hour Cafe on Vineland Avenue in North Hollywood. As you can see from these snapshots, that I took the Saturday after Thanksgiving, the building is in pretty bad shape. Like all such structures; a fire, vandalism or wrecking ball can't be far away.
As more and more of you join The Museum Community, we are able to add important issues such as preserving and restoring the Idle Hour to our list of interests and activities.
To our good fortune, Sheilah Kodimer of North Hollywood has stepped forward to discover and report to The Museum about the status of the Cafe, the efforts of the Los Angeles Conservancy and historical preservation possibilities for the structure.

If you have information about the Idle Hour (photos, documents etc) and are interested in providing Sheilah with information, contact your Museum today. 1 (818) 347-9665

YOUR MUSEUM - STARTING WORK TO PRESERVE THE IDLE HOUR CAFE.

Bet you, like me, have driven by the Big Barrel building on Vineland in North Hollywood for years. The Idle Hour Cafe, as the barrel was once called, is a major San Fernando Valley treasure, and an architectural landmark in Southern California. Thank goodness the Los Angeles Conservancy has taken a strong interest in the preservation, and possibly, restoration of the historic structure.
Your Museum Community , though stretched thin in our efforts to secure office and exhibition spaces, fully recognizes the importance of the immediate need for conservation of buildings like the Idle Hour Cafe. Sooooooooo, here's a call for volunteers to support the efforts of The Museum's newly forming Idle Hour Cafe Committee.

Interested? Call your Museum today. 1 (818) 347-9665. If you leave a message, tell us or spell for us, your name and leave your telephone number.

Looking forward to seeing you on tomorrow;s historic walking tour of the NoHo. We meet at 10 am at the Amelia Earhart statue in North Hollywood park - Magnolia and Tujunga.