DOROTHY LAMOUR - THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY'S SUPER STAR

Two of the most important film stars of the 1940s made their homes in the San Fernando Valley. The megastar Dorothy Lamour was viewed as the personification of the exotic woman. Here she is shown with Satan the Tiger - the best known tiger in the world during his lifetime.Dorothy Lamour lived in Toluca Lake and Satan in Bird Wonderland in Encino (then Van Nuys).

Dorothy Lamour and Satan the Tiger in Malaya - Paramount Pictures 1941 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney 2011. (click on the image to enlarge it).

Dorothy Lamour lived into her 80s, still much loved by the movie-going public. Her funeral was held at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic church in North Hollywood. She is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.

RICHARD DENNING AND HELEN GILBERT SHARED STARDOM WITH JACKIE THE LION

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

Richard Denning was one of the big "hunk" stars of the 1940s. Here he poses with the Paramount starlette Helen Gilbert in the Dorothy Lamour film, "Malaya"  Jackie the Lion (famous as the Metro Goldwyn Mayer logo star) lived and was trained for the movies in Bird Wonderland in what is now Encino, California.

Helen Gilbert, Jackie the Lion and Richard Denning - 1942 - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (Click on images to enlarge)  Image 4276 - P15

 Image 4276 - P15   Helen Gilbert was a cellist prior to entering films.

Richard Denning - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (Click on images to enlarge)  Image 4276 - P15  All of the birds and animals used in this Paramount film were provided by Bird Wonderland in Encino, California.  (click on image to enlarge) Image 4275-P 14

Richard Denning wrestles Jackie the Lion in the film Malaya.  Image number 4277-P16