HOLLYWOOD DURING WWII - 1942

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

When Catherine Olson took these docile photographs of Hollywood landmarks, the world was a long way from peace. 

The west coast headquarters of NBC radio was located on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, when this photo was taken on June 4, 1942. The image was developed the same day the United States Navy was engaged with the ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Battle of Midway. Photo 3876

Taken also at the time of the Battle of Midway, this photograph shows the facade of the very famous Earl Carroll Theatre on Sunset Boulevard. A note on the back of the photo indicates that the iconic neon lighted sign was the image of Beryl Wallace.  Catherine Olson noted that the address was 6230 Sunset Boulevard.  June 4, 1942   -  Photo number 3877

Ciro's Nightclub, July 2, 1942.  Photo donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from the estate of Catherine Olson 2011, by her daughter Mary Olson Friedman.  (click on images to enlarge) Photo number 3875

At the time this photograph was taken, and processed at the Campus Camera Shop in Westwood, the Battle of El Alamein was going on in North Africa. I am not sure, but I think automobiles were no longer being manufactured in America by this time.

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.