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

DOROTHY LAMOUR AND SATAN THE TIGER WERE SAN FERNANDOD VALLEY MEGASTARS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY     2011

Dorothy Lamour, who lived in Toluca Lake, was one of America's most famous film stars of the 1940s. The great "Road" films of the era, with stars like Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, were wildly popular. Here the beautiful Lamour poses with the wild animal star Satan the Tiger, promoting the film "The Road to Zanzibar" in 1941. 

Dorothy Lamour and Satan the Tiger in "The Road to Zanzibar"  1941  - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jean Putney 2011. Satan the Tiger lived at Bird Wonderland in Van Nuys. Refer to photo 4035 - click on image to enlarge.

Dorothy Lamour helped fund the construction of Saint Charles Catholic church in North Hollywood. Her funeral was held in the landmark church.  

Publicity statement with this photograph:  "Wild Animals I Have Known - proof in pictures by Dorothy Lamour 7.  Satan isn't the first tiger I've ever known, either.  There was King, the huge Bengal tiger which stalked through my first picture, "The Jungle Princess".  Supposedly, I was raised by the tiger from childhood in the story.  So I had to romp with him.  My teeth chattered at the prospects but I soon learned that King was your friend for life if you scratched his ears. He love that and would purr like a kitten ... only the purring was so loud it reminded you of an airplane motor.".

ACTOR ALAN LADD in 1944

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  2011

Alan Ladd - Photograph 1944 - Gift to the Museum from Gary Fredburg 2011. (click on image to enlarge) Library of San Fernando Valley Entertainment Industry History.

This wrinkled, but otherwise good image of the North Hollywood actor, Alan Ladd was a gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg at the Centennial of Van Nuys festival this last Friday. This publicity photograph was taken for Paramount Pictures in 1944. Awaiting archival preparation, the picture was not subjected to pressure, resulting in the light colors across the image.