NELL SHIPMAN FEMINIST FILM MAKER OF THE EARLY 20th CENTURY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                2013

Nell Shipman's conservative Canadian parents worried about their "head strong" daughter. Nell's history was to prove them correct. As the British Empire struggled in the first World War, Nell decided to come to Hollywood. If the family rented a traditional home in Glendale, they believed they had a chance to influence their daughter's ambitions. They failed.

From 1917 to 1920 the Shipman family rented Nell what was to be the historic Doctor's House now in Brand Park in Glendale.

From the "little white house" on Wilson street, Nell launched an amazing life. She would become a silent screen actress, a writer, produced and director of avant guard motion pictures.

 Nell Shipman - 1892 to 1970

 Nell found herself liberated from family influences when the great influenza epidemic took the life of her mother and a stroke felled her father. By 1920 Nell was rid of her unwanted husband, a great scandal in those days. She used a modest inheritance to hire a staff and dive into film making. Nell Shipman demanded the fair treatment of women and children, and was a champion for early 20th century animal rights.

A CHARLIE CHAPLIN CLIPPING - 1917 - HIGHEST SALARY IN THE WORLD?

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Tucked away in an old scrapbook at Porky Johnson's home in North Hollywood, is this little clipping about Charlie Chaplin. Can you imagine why someone in 1917 was amazed enough to cut this out?

ROBERT MORTON ORGAN CO. VAN NUYS

2010 -- THE YEAR OF VALLEY HISTORY
1959 newspaper photograph - Morton Organ Company - Article in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift of Beth Perrin 2010

In 1913, E.S. Johnson purchased the Los Angeles based Murray Harris Organ Company. Johnson moved the organ plant to Van Nuys and resold it to the California Organ Company in 1915. In 1917. the plant was sold yet again to Robert Morton. In three years, the Morton Organ Company was the second largest producer of theater and home organs in the United States. In 1933, the Robert Morton Organ Company closed its door permanently.

What would have caused the collapse of the Robert Morton Organ Company? Did this occur with the spread of home record players and "talkie" films?

Join your Museum on Saturday May 8th at 10:am, on our first historic walking tour of Van Nuys. Led by Richard Hilton, Chair of The Museum's Tour Programs, it will be a big adventure. $10 suggested donation - call 1 (818) 347-9665 for details and reservations.

MORE ABOUT FAITH BIBLE CHURCH IN NORTHRIDGE

2010 -- The Year of Valley Adventures -- Northridge100
Faith Bible Church - Northridge - Photo by Gerald Fecht 2010 for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click to enlarge)



Richard Hilton wrote: "in 1910, when the original Hawk Ranch was sold to the Valley Farms Co., who began to subdivide the land, several Norwegian immigrant families came to this area and began to farm the land. They formed a Lutheran congregation in 1910 and their first pastor was O.J.H. Preus until 1916 when S.T. Sorenson took over."

FAITH BIBLE CHURCH - A NORTHRIDGE LANDMARK

2010 -- The Year of Valley Adventures -- Northridge100
In-tourists on the Northridge Centennial bus tour - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - by Gerald Fecht (click on images to enlarge)
Encouraging residents of the San Fernando Valley to get out and see the seemingly endless treasures of our communities, is a major objective of your Museum.
Stained glass window of Faith Bible Church in Northridge.
My photographs of the exterior of old Faith Bible Church in Northridge were awful, so I'm depending on one of you folks to supply me with one for the blog. In the meanwhile, here are two interior images of this 1917 Protestant Church.
Founded by Norwegians, the building was called originally the Norsk Evangelisk Luther's Kirke, it was constructed in what has become known as the American Dakotas' Gothic Revival style. One only has to climb the steep front stairs of the church to realize that its builders were likely expecting a deep snow.
The original altar is gone, but would have been made of carved wood, similar to the original altar seen on The Museum's walking tour of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in North Hollywood.
Faith Bible Church at 18531 Gresham Street in Northridge, is Los Angeles Cultural Monument # 152.

HOTEL ELIZABETH BURBANK CALIFORNIA 1917

The Hotel Elizabeth 1917 - Gift to The Museum of the Sn Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg - 2008 (click on image to enlarge)
The Hotel Elizabeth Burbank, California - Cafe in Connection - On Main Highway between Los Angeles and San Francisco

" November 29, 1917 - Dearest. Well here we are on our way to Los. It got dark so we staid here though it only 10 miles to Los. Was glad to hear from you at Frisco. Thanks for the check. It should have come to Fresno. We will in each Sat. afternoon, also on Sun. (unreadable Igue) I'll write you from S?? o Love Frances."
Postmarked Nov. 30 1917 from Burbank, Cal. to Miss Eva Chase, Yreka, Cal