VALLEY IMAGES MAILED TO THE WORLD

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                     2013

Much of the world judges life in the San Fernando Valley from the "Hollywood images" created by the film industry and visiting tourists. Here are some of the post card pictures sent world-wide.

 "The Motion Picture Industry is one of the first four industries in the United States. More than 70% of the pictures shown thjroughout the world are produced in Los Angeles County."
Vintage postcard - Gift to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

 "Republic Pictures Studio, Hollywood, California. One of the many motion picture studios typical of Hollywood."  Vintage postcard - Gift to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.) Note:  Hollywood is used as Republic's location rather than Studio City.

 "Greetings from Burbank, California. Here are located many of the famous moving picture and television studios, like these seen on this picture - Warner Brothers and Walt Disney Studios."
Vintage postcard - Gift to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

"Warner Brothers Studio - Burbank, Califonria.
Vintage postcard - Gift to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

 Sign announcing Universal Studios from Barham Boulevard and the 101 Freeway.
Postcard - Gift to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

 Oversized postcard - Gift to the Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.) Images divided for ease of viewing.
"Sheridan Universal Hotel - Hotel of the Stars - Roof Lounge and poolside Portuguese Lounge. Circus Roof Lounge."

 

Sheridan Universal Hotel 

WAITING IN LINE AT UNIVERSAL

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY          2013

Very soon after its founding, Universal Pictures became an important tourist stop for Los Angeles visitors.

Visitors' entrance to Universal City - historic postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on this image to enlarge it.)

 Not long after the founding of Universal Pictures  in 1912, Carl Laemmle and his partners recognized that they could make additional income by giving tours of the studio. The oldest movie studio in America (and, the fourth oldest in the world, helped to earn the San Fernando Valley the right to call itself "the heart of the entertainment capital of the world."

Universal City is one of the six independent cities, along with suburbs of Los Angeles, served by The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

ENCINO'S ALVINO REY AND HIS ORCHESTRA

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY        2013

 

      Typical of big band leaders of the 1930s and 40s, Alvino Rey began his career by playing in other bands. He worked with Freddy Martin and Russ Morgan, and for seven years (1932-1939) played in the Horace Heidt's Musical Knights. (Horace Heidt lived and worked from Sherman Oaks.)
      He married Luise King (one of the King Sisters.)

Alvino Rey - Alvin McBurney    1908 - 2004

 Autographed photograph - Loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Ralph F. Muzzillo Jr. 2013 -   (click on images to enlarge them.)

"To Ralph and Eve - two real swell people. I hope we can continue working together many years. With Best Wishes, Alvino Rey."

      Alvino Rey was fascinated by electronics, developing musical instruments and working with amateur radio. He helped develop the first electronic guitar for the Gibson Corporation.  In 1939 Alvino Rey became the musical director for radio KHJ in Los Angeles. That same year he created the Alvino Rey orchestra.Rey lived at 5001 Woodley Avenue in Encino.

      During World War II Rey worked for the Lockheed Aircraft Company in Burbank. In 1944, he joined the US Navy. Rey's 1940, pre-war song "My Buddy" was one of the most important sons during the war.

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Larceny With Music 1943  Universal Pictures film -  Ralph Muzzillo collection

Jeff Pirtle of NBS - Universal reminds The Museum Community that Leo Carrillo, a direct descendent of Jose' Antonio Carrillo was also in this movies. Jose' played a major role in the Treaty of Cahuenga signed in the San Fernando Valley.

Alvino Rey and his orchestra, play themselves in the Universal film, Larceny With Music 1943.
Photo courtesy of Ralph F. Muzzillo Jr. 2013. Ralph Muzzillo Sr. was a trumpeter in this orchestra. 

JOAN MARSH STARTED IN MOVIES AT AGE 2

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY        2013

Joan Marsh began her film career at the tender age of two. Her father, who worked as a cinematographer for Universal Pictures secured her role in the Universal film "Hearts Aflame" in 1915. After Hearts, Joan did lots of baby roles. 

As a young adult, she lived off and on in the San Fernando Valley while singing with Bing Crosby in King of Jazz. In 1934, she appeared with W.C. Fields as his daughter inf "You're Telling Me."

Joan Marsh - Dorothy Rosher   1913 - 2000

Autographed photograph in the collection of Ralph F. Muzzillo Sr. (courtesy of Ralphj Muzzillo Jr.

A SPECIAL VIEW OF LANKERSHIM BOULEVARD

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY             2013

Studio City - Postcard - Gift of Gary Fredburg to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley  2013

(click on image to enlarge it.)  "Panoramic view of part of the San Fernando Valley from hills (south) overlooking the Hollywood Freeway at Lankershim Boulevard. Universal City Studios may be seen on the right."

Your $ 25 gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley allows the purchase, documentation and preservation of 5 to 7 vintage postcards for the permanent collections of The Museum. Historic postcards average from $ 10 to $ 25. Donations of postcards, and postcard collections, from Glendale, Burbank, San Fernando, Calabasas and the suburbs of Los Angeles in the Valley are tax deductible.

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

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1 (818) 347-9665

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THE MUSEUM’S WEBSITE

www.TheMuseumSFV.org

DION O'CONNOR'S BICYCLE PATCH

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY         2012

Small things, like this patch from the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club, often create sweet little reminders of our friends and neighbors. Here's a memento from the life and times of Dion Jeremiah O'Connor who passed away last year at this time.  Dion was an avid bicyclist and an faithful gym goer. Dion, a 1957 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, spent his career chiefly at Universal Studios where he did television estimating, studio facility management and worked in television production.

San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club patch - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando by Linda O'Connor 2012.  (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

VINTAGE IMAGES OF UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

From its earliest days in the San Fernando Valley, Universal Studios has played a major role in, not only the history of Valley but in the entire world of popular culture and entertainment. 

 "Street Scene on New York Lot - photographed from Tour Tram" - vintage postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011  (click on image to enlarge)

 Back Lot Ranch Universal Studios  - vintage postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011  (click on image to enlarge)

"30-foot high fall by movie stunt man - stunt amphitheater - Universal Studio Center"- - vintage postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011  (click on image to enlarge)

VALLEY VISITOR JOHN PAUL II IS BEATIFIED IN ROME

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

     In September of 1987, when Pope John Paul 11 visited Los Angeles, he chose to rest from his hectic schedule within the serene confines of the Mission San Fernando Rey de España. Today in Rome, that Pope, once named Karol Wojtyla was officially beatified in an ancient ceremony before a crowd of over a million people. The world celebrates "blessed" John Paul II today as the great religious leader who helped bring down the rule over his native Poland by the Soviet Union. 

     It is fun for those of us who live in the San Fernando Valley to think that not only did the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church rest in our Mission but also joined the world as an energetic tourist at Universal Studios. 

Image of John Paul II in the Parish Office of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Encino. 

Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2011  (click on image to enlarge)

UNIVERSAL CITY AND WARNER BROTHERS AREAL 1969

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES.

Areal photograph of Universal Studios and Warner Brothers area. Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010 (click on image to enlarge)
This photograph, taken in 1969 shows clearly the Los Angeles River as it runs east and west at the left side of Universal Studios. The Cahuenga Pass is readily seen. In the upper left of the photo, the Warner Brothers complex in Burbank can be seen.

CAMPO DE CAHUENGA AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS in 1969

2010 - The Year of Valley Adventures
Detail showing the site of Campo de Cahuenga and the entrance to Universal Studios. (click on images to enlarge)
This photograph, and another taken at a slightly different angle, are a gift to The Museum from our Board Secretary Gary Fredburg. I have enlarged a section of the photo to show the approximate location of Campo de Cahuenga. The pictures were taken in 1969 and are labeled "LA 823"
Where Lankershim Boulevard now passes between the Campo and Universal Studios is of immense historical importance. Here members of the ancient Tonga Tribe camped for countless years, taking advantage of the dense reeds growing along the Los Angeles River. The reeds provided the Tongva with long plant tubes, that acted as simple air mattresses and insulated walls for their huts (warm in the winter, cool in the summer). The reeds also hid Native American hunters, allowing them to creep close to ducks and other water fowl, and as vantage places for fishing.
A natural ford allowed almost year-round crossings of the River at the entrance to Cahuenga Pass. Later Lankershim Boulevard, once called San Fernando Road, passed this location on its way to the Mission of San Fernando Rey de Espana. From the site of Campo de Cahuenga, travelers made their way onto El Camino Real (east and west). Butterfield Stage coaches stopped here, and the last struggle between the United States and the Californiano Rancheros happened at this very site.
Campo de Caheunga, protected by The Friends of Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association and Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, is a treasure belonging to the residents of Los Angeles and all of the people of the United States.

Join Gary Fredburg, and The Museum Community of the San Fernando Valley as we work to preserve, protect and display our amazing history. Call 1 (818) 347-9665 and ask how you can get involved.