MUSEUM PREPARES 100 YEARS OF VAN NUYS HIGH SCHOOL EXHIBIT

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Van Nuys High School, The Museum Community is preparing a special commemoration exhibit about this famous school and its students. We are seeking donations of the following to support this special exhibit:  photographs of students and related events, sports memorabilia (such as football programs), theatrical and graduation programs, recordings,year books and class memorabilia, items related to on-campus and off-campus clubs report cards, pins, trophies, medals, family photographs and scrapbooks. 
If you can volunteer to help on this projects, or to donate artifacts or financial help, contact:

Jerry Fecht - The Van Nuys High School Exhibit

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 

Plaza De La Cordillera

18860 Nordhoff Street 

2nd Floor 

Northridge, CA 91324

(818) 347-9665

Remember, the artifacts and financial support given to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley are tax deductible.
Here are a couple of examples donated for the Van Nuys High School exhibit thus far:

 "Vanettes" letter - Van Nuys High School Music Department - 1959 - Courtesy of Janne Fecht

 Van Nuys High School Girls Athletic Association letter - 1959 - courtesy of Janne Fecht

 

 Pins on the pocket of a Van Nuys High School Girls Athletic Association sweater 1959.  The middle row has Girl Scouts and "Brownies" pins." Courtesy of Janne Fecht - Sweater pins were considered a measure of a girl's popularity.

1944 Van Nuys High School class sweater that delonged to Daisy Lee Moseley. Made by Criterion Mills. Donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Ellen Carpenter 2014.

 1939 Van Nuys High School class sweater

 Spring 1958 "D'Artagnans" Van Nuys High School class sweater. Courtesy of Janne Fecht 2014.

THE LITTLE BROWN CHURCH WAS OPENED IN 1939

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

The Little Brown Church Studio City - 1939 - historic postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2014.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

Three years before the San Fernando Valley found itself part of the Second World War, a tiny Protestant chapel was established in Studio City. Today, the historic structure is primarily a wedding site but still houses a small and devoted congregation. The wedding place of President Ronald Regan and his wife Nancy, the modest chapel has been host to many celebrity marriages.

VAN NUYS DIPLOMAS WERE 1930s MILESTONES FOR ROBERT MARCH

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY              2013

The decade in which Robert March earned these educational milestones was difficult in the San Fernando Valley. The Great Depression dominated the economics of America from 1929 until the onset of World War Two. Let's peek at Robert's progress from 1930 until his graduation from Van Nuys High School in 1939. 

Progress report from Van Nuys Elementary School  January 1930 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.)

Progress report from Van Nuys Elementary School  January 1932 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.)

Graduation diploma of Robert March, June 1936 - Van Nuys Junior High School - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.) Note: The junior high school and high school diplomas were signed by the same woman, Donna H. Hubbard.

Graduation diploma of Robert March, June 1939 - Van Nuys High School - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain, Littleton, Colorado 2013  (click on image to enlarge it.)

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY          2013

         Rufe Davis is one of those great old time performers whose name and talent is in the process of being forgotten. Rufe (that’s short for Rufus) got his start in show business as a jazz guitarist. One of his first big breaks was in 1937 with the band of the drummer – big band leader Gene Krupa’s orchestra. Rufe was famous for his comic imitations of animals and musical instruments.

         In his film and television career, Rufe was often featured as the comic sidekick for the lead actor. For much of his career he lived and worked in the San Fernando Valley.

         In 1939 Rufe Davis signed with Republic Pictures in Studio City. He was cast as “Lullaby”, the Republic series “The Three Mesquiteers”  from 1940 to 1942.  Davis was in 14 of this series. From 1963 to 1968, he starred as the railroad brakeman / conductor on the CBS 

television series “Green Acres” and Petticoat Junction.”  

 He became friends with Ralph Muzzillo, Sr. when Ralph worked for Gene Krupa as a trumpeter.

         Rufe Davis is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills overlooking Burbank.

         Rufe Davis  - Rufus Davidson

         1908 to 1974 

Note: This autographed photo of Rufe Davis, in the collection of Ralph Muzzillo Sr, courtesy of Ralph Muzzillo Jr, has a note superimposed by a publicity photograph likely released by Paramount Pictures. Printed on the picture, it reads:  "Best Wishes Rufe Davis" Written in pen over the printed message is" "To Ralph - Paramount Remember - Rufe Davis." (Click on this image to enlarge it.)

Gene Krupa – drummer – actor – big band era band leader.

1909 – 1973

            Gene Krupa and Ralph Muzzillo Sr. when they played in the Benny Goodman band.  His drum solos were the first ever to be featured American popular music records. He’s the drummer in Benny Goodman’s “Sing, Sing, Sing.”  Gene Krupa became the whipping boy for fundamentalist religious groups who found drum music as a tool to seduce and corrupt youth. Swing music and jazz dancing were also attacked by Hitler and other fascists as undermining the purity of the white race. Krupa was watched constantly by police and eventually arrested for possession of two marijuana cigarettes and given three months in prison.

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.

c

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. 

CANOGA PARK HIGH SCHOOL PROM Jan 19, 1939

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY             2013

Since this Junior Senior Prom program was among artifacts that belonged to the Chatsworth realtor Fred Schlepler, it is safe to assume that the initials in pencil at the program's top F.H.S. was likely a distribution code. This program was printed on handmade paper. The cover was made from a wood block pressing.

Leonard Reightly               Blaine Hayward           Westley Buhl
C E De Groth                     Pat McManning           Nelson
Allen Gastren                    Arnold Zumwalt           Charles Leigh ??
Blanche Wadleigh             Andy Reth-- ling ??      Andrew Saneaster ??
AM                                    Ed Stoner                      Walter Brown
Robert Cogner ??              Bellington

When The Museum gets our headquarters space, we'll have a volunteer check on our Canoga Park High School records to cross reference the above names.

Canoga Park High School Junior-Senior Prom program - January 1939. Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (Click on images to enlarge them.)

Your comments, additions or corrections to this entry are encouraged - especially if you recognize one of the autograph names.

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The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Acquisitions Committee
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230

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ANDY DEVINE'S VAN NUYS HOME IN 1939

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                2013

The Director of Tours and Adventures for The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is the accomplished actor and fine art photographer Richard Hilton. For some time now, Richard has been searching for information about the home of the western film actor Andy Devine, who lived off of Kester Avenue where Richard is planning a second Van Nuys walking tour. 

Associate of The Museum, Art Jacobs sends us a clipping taken from a 1939 "movie magazine" that answers many of Richard Hilton's questions. Art's addition to our area's history demonstrates how little-by-little the story of San Fernando Valley notables is coming together. 

 1939 Magazine article - Home of the actor Andy Devine

 Magazine article reveals the name of the architect L.G. Scherer

Interior of the home of Andy Devine in Van Nuys.

THE HOUSE ON SHERMAN WAY 1939

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY          2013

Earlier on this blog, I featured a series of snow-photographs taken in 1950 in Van Nuys.  Here are some more images of the dwelling and possibly a barn or stable taken in 1939. They are a gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Arlene Bernholtz in May 2013.  (click on images to enlarge them.)

 "This Thrifymart print finished Mar. 27 1939 guaranteed by Thrifty Drug Stores."  17251 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, California.

TEMPLE SINAI GLENDALE 1939

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                           2012

Sinai Community Center  October 10, 1939  - enlargement of letterhead of letter below - 11 years after founding - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg 2012

Sinai Community Center letter  Oct. 10, 1939 Glendale

    

Temple Sinai in Glendale, California was incorporated on June 22, 1928, as the Sinai Community Center.

At that time, the congregation consisted of fewer than a dozen Jewish families and met in the Masonic Hall located above the Ralph's Grocery Store at the corner of Orange and Broadway. In 1939, the congregation found its first permanent home at 425 West Windsor Road. Ten years later, the congregation constructed the first segment of its current home at 1212 North Pacific Avenue.

In 2012,  the congregation has 300 member families There are 240 students in the combined Religious and Hebrew Schools.

CELEBRATING EDGAR RICE BURROUGHS - Your Museum Collects Tarzan and John Carter

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY         2012

In The Museum's on-going effort to document the life and times of the world famous Edgar Rice Burroughs, we added this week a copy of the original Tarzan motion picture of 1918, a dramatic Spanish language poster of Johnny Weissmuller as Tarzan made for distribution in Mexico and the three interesting still photographs included in this blog posting.

 John Matthew Sheffield-Cassan - Bomba the Jungle Boy - photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

Johnny Sheffield began his film career in 1939 playing "Boy", the adopted son of Tarzan and Jane (Johnny Weissmuller and Maurine O'Sullivan. When he grew into a young man, Sheffield played the role of Bomba The Jungle Boy from 1949 to 1955.

 John Matthew Sheffield-Cassan - Bomba the Jungle Boy - photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

How people of differing cultures are depicted in the media shapes opinions. Images such as this from Bomba the Jungle Boy provide important clues to social scientists, as well as documenting San Fernando Valley culture.

 Jai, the Elephant Boy, is awakened by Gajendra his pet elephant.

Tarzan Goes to India - 1962 MGM film - Photo Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012.

"The world's favorite hero Tarzan returns to the screen in MGM's exciting jungle adventure, Tarzan Goes to India." Jock Mahoney played Tarzan.

Interested in helping build The Museum's Burroughs' collection?

Willard Simms - Chairman of The Edgar Rice Burroughs Project 

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230 
Museum messages for Willard Simms              1 (818) 347-9665

FAMOUS ACTRESS LORETTA YOUNG LIVED IN TOLUCA LAKE

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY      2012

The beautiful and world famous Loretta Young lived and worked in the San Fernando Valley. When she made the film "Eternally Yours", she worked with the leading man David Niven. Ms. Young was among the entertainers who lived in Toluca Lake, Studio City and North Hollywood who helped to finance the building of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in North Hollywood.  

Loretta Young and David Niven in 1939 film "Eternally Yours" an United Artists film.

Jane Putney Collection -  Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley  2010

FABULOUS COLLECTION GIVEN TO THE MUSEUM - OLYMPE BRADNA

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY      2011

A major collection of San Fernando Valley-related motion picture and animal training photographs has been donated to The Museum. To be known as the Putney Collection, the materials are a significant addition to The Museum's emerging San Fernando Valley Entertainment Industry History Library. Here's an example of two rare photographs in this exciting collection.

Olympe Bradna - actress 1939 - photo gift to The Museum from J. Putney 2011.

"A STAR AT HOME - It's fun to work in pictures, but it is also fun to stay at home when one has a San Fernando Valley ranch similar to Branda's. Paramount's French star, who recently completed "The Night of Nights," relaxes happily in the thought that the landscaping and gardening of her home was done with only the help of her father."

      The film, The Night of Nights was completed in 1939.

 Olympe Bradna - actress 1939 - photo gift to The Museum from J. Putney 2011.

"COLLEGE DAYS   --  It was no so many weeks ago that an unnamed student at the University of Kentucky presented Olympe Bradna with his class cap. The occasion was the University of Georgia football game at Louisville where the Paramount star was making a personal appearance in advance of her newest film, "The Night of Nights." Now in her San Fernando Valley home, Olympe answers her admirer's letters."

 

PHOTOS FROM A RESEDA CARPENTER'S TIME IN HAWAII IN 1939

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY

When Raymond Estavillo died on the 15th of May in 2011, most of the friends and neighbors of the 94 year old man simply knew of him as a retired master carpenter. In actuality Mr. Estavillo, who was born in 1917, had served his nation at a time of great peril. As a youth, Raymond joined the United States Army just before the dark days of World War II. He shared a Christmas dinner at Schofield Barracks in the Territory of Hawaii just two years before the Japanese attack on that base and the port of Pearl Harbor in 1941. The photographs taken and saved by Army Air Corpsman Raymond Estavillo are today are an important part of American history, and because he was our neighbor in Reseda - now, part of San Fernando Valley history as well.

United States Army Air Corpsmen on Parade at Schofield Barracks c. 1939 .   Photo in collection of Raymond Estavillo - courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011 -  Photo E7  (click on image to enlarge)

 United States Army Transport Ship Entering Pearl Harbor c. 1940 -   Photo in collection of Raymond Estavillo - courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011 -  Photo E8  (click on image to enlarge)

 Attack Plane on Exhibit c. 1940    Photo in collection of Raymond Estavillo - courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011 -  Photo E9  (click on image to enlarge)

 General's Airplane   Photo in collection of Raymond Estavillo - courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011 -  Photo E10  (click on image to enlarge)

 Attack Plane in Hanger - Hawaii c. 1940    Photo in collection of Raymond Estavillo - courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011 -  Photo E11  (click on image to enlarge)

Pursuit Plane -   Photo in collection of Raymond Estavillo - courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011 -  Photo E12  (click on image to enlarge)

JUST BEFORE THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Raymond Estavillo was a young soldier attached to the US Army Air Corps in 1938, when he was assigned to Schofield Barracks in the Territory of Hawaii. Soldiers were regularly trained in artillery gunnery there. Raymond was assigned to the 19^th Infantry Company L.  He returned to the mainland of the United States just prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. These are some of the photographs from his Hawaii album.

 Freighter in Pearl Harbor c. 1939 - collection of Raymond Estavillo - Photo courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo E-1

 Canon on display  - collection of Raymond Estavillo - Photo courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo E-2

 Military review parade - Schofield Barracks Hawaii - c. 1940  - collection of Raymond Estavillo - Photo courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo E-3

 Attack aircraft c. 1939 - Schofield Barracks Hawaii  - collection of Raymond Estavillo - Photo courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo E-4

American attack planes lined up on US Army Air Corps field - Schofield Barracks Hawaii - c. 1940  - collection of Raymond Estavillo - Photo courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo E-5

Military Review Parade Band - Schofield Barracks Hawaii - c. 1940  - collection of Raymond Estavillo - Photo courtesy of Paul Estavillo 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo E-6

BOXERS AT SCHOFIELD BARRACKS HAWII - 1938 - 1939

 DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

Important parts of American history, not directly related to the San Fernando Valley, are often discovered among artifacts donated to The Museum. It is your Museum's responsibility to preserve and share such discoveries for our constituents and for future generations. 

The photo album, created by the late Raymond Estavillo during his Army Air Corps service in Hawaii just before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, is an important example of such an unexpected treasure. These boxing photos taken at Schofield Barracks, just prior to World War II, are a great example such a discovery.  

Boxing was a major activity in the United States armed forces prior to World War II. Private Raymond Estavillo was very proud of the ring athletes in his Company and kept  images of them in the photograph album.

 

Private P. Barnes - Photo October 5, 1938 in Raymond Estavillo’s Hawaii photo collection -  Contributed by Paul Estavillo in 2011.  (click on images to enlarge) 

 A boxer by the name of Kelly in Raymond Estavillo’s Hawaii photo collection 1938 – 1940 -  Contributed by Paul Estavillo in 2011.  (click on images to enlarge) 

 Unknown soldier athlete c. 1939 -  Raymond Estavillo’s Hawaii photo collection 1938 – 1940 -  Contributed by Paul Estavillo in 2011.  (click on images to enlarge) 

 Soldier Boxer by the name of Merrill -  Raymond Estavillo’s Hawaii photo collection 1938 – 1940 -  Contributed by Paul Estavillo in 2011.  (click on images to enlarge) 

Boxer named Musto in  Raymond Estavillo’s Hawaii photo collection 1938 – 1940 -  Contributed by Paul Estavillo in 2011.  (click on images to enlarge)