JOHN HAWKINS WAS A MEGA TV WRITER AND PRODUCER

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

John Hawkins began his career in Oregon as a successful writer of magazine stories. He moved to the San Fernando Valley where he wrote for film and television and made it big as a writer for the tv series Bonanza. In 1974 he became the producer of one of the most successful television series in America, Little House on the Prairie.

 John Hawkins  1910 to 1978

Photo of John Hawkins (left) at the Western Writers Guild with Steve McNeil - Loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Heather Preimesberger 2014 - Photo by Arthur Knight Petaluma -

John Hawkins and his grand daughter on an old lumber mill set - Photograph loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Heather Preimesberger 2014. (click on images to enlarge them.)

John Hawkins on location- Photograph loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Heather Preimesberger 2014. (click on images to enlarge them.)

 Little House on the Prairie - Call Sheet - 25 June 1976 - NBC TV Productions - Loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Heather Preimesberger 2014.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY DIVERSE POLITICAL VIEWS

 

In 1964, California still had many "liberal" Republicans, influenced by political leaders such as Earl Warren. The growing influence of Conservative Senator Barry Goldwater and very Liberal New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller, San Fernando Valley moderate Republicans worked to draft Governor William Scranton for the presidency. 

 

Four years later "liberal" Democrats in the Valley supported the challenge of Senator Eugene McCarthy to President Lyndon Johnson, as the "peace candidate.

As in other parts of the United States, the San Fernando Valley has long been a place of divergent political opinion. This is exemplified in the political memorabilia donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley since our creation in 2005. For example, materials reflecting support for the moderate governor William Scranton of Pennsylvania reveals a desire for a presidential candidate somewhere between conservative Barry Goldwater from Arizona and New York governor Nelson Rockefeller in the 1964 election. 

 

Two years later, Democrats in the Valley were divided between supporting the reelection of President Lydon B. Johnson and the "peace" candidate Eugene McCarthy. In 1976, Democratic Senator John Tunney was defeated for reelection by colorful S.I. Hayakawa. 

 

Help your Museum build our San Fernando Valley Political Archives

Donate tax-deductible videos, photographs, records and other artifacts to your Museum today.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

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

THE MUSEUM’S TELEPHONE
1 (818) 347-9665

THE MUSEUM'S EMAILS
gerald.fecht@TheMuseumSFV.org
info@TheMuseumSFV.org

THE MUSEUM’S BLOG

www.museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com

THE MUSEUM’S WEBSITE

www.TheMuseumSFV.org

CHATSWORTH'S WONDERFUL STONEY POINT

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

The impressive stoney outcroppings of Stoney Point in Chatsworth were, in the 1930s and '40s a national symbol of the American West. Cowboy and adventure movies were often filmed among these huge boulders.

Stoney Point Chatsworth - vintage postcard - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

" Famous landmark on Santa Susana Pass in the San Fernando Valley. This impressive rugged rock formation, offering a challenge to mountain climbers, it Los Angeles Historic Monument Nop. 132. Card is printed as a Bicentennial project of the Chatsworth Historical Society."

Note: The Bicentennial of the City of Los Angeles was in 1981. The American Bicentennial was in 1976. 

MUSEUM MEETING ON WEDNESDAY EVENING

L.A. Federal Building during the Bicentennial of the United States 1976 - Historic postcard gift to The Museum from Gary Fredburg 2010.

Don't forget The Museum's Boards meet this Wednesday evening.

JOLICOEUR DONATION TO MUSEUM LIBRARY

Leather bound copy of The San Fernando Valley by Dr. Jackson Mayers - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by James Jolicoeur December 2009.
In 1956, a new Hughes Market had just opened on the corner of Balboa and Devonshire in Granda Hills. Hughes #4 was considered one of the most efficient and beautiful grocery stores in the United States. A buddy of mine from the Naval Reserve in North Hollywood, Fred Balen (I may have misspelled his name), was not only a football star at Van Nuys High School, but the head-box boy at the market. Fred knew that I was working for work to pay off my Chevy, and helped me get a job there.
The manager was Fred Vodt (again I may have the spelling wrong) and he worked us hard, but fairly.
One of the box boys was a great young fellow by the name of Lee Jolicour. We used to joke about his name meaning Happy Hearted.
Years later, when I was teaching at Moorpark College, I encountered a student by the name of James Jolicoeur, who turned out to be the grandson of Fred Vodt and the son of Lee Jolicoeur. No one is better named than the happy-hearted James Jolicoeur.
One of my favorite memories of Europe is of James Jolicoeur looking down on a running track in the ancient Temple of Apollo at Delphi in Greece. He quickly organized his fellow students, boys and girls, to secure sticks and run a relay race at the sacred stadium.
Today, your Museum received a beautiful copy of Dr. Jackson Mayers, 1976 book called The San Fernando Valley. It is a gift of the happy hearted James Jolicoeur in Claremont, California. Thanks James from all of us working to bring about a great Museum of history and culture for the Valley.

MUSEUM MEETS JULY 22

2009 - The Year of Valley History

Clydesdales at Busch Gardens 1976 - Photograph and news release gift from Gary Fredburg to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009

The next meeting of the combined Boards of Directors and Advisors of The Museum will be on July 22, 2009. Location: The 2nd floor Board Room - Economic Alliance 5121 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
6 to 8 pm. Parties interested in being part of The Museum's agenda should telephone: 1 (818) 347-9665

The famous Anheuser - Busch Clydesdale horses were exhibited in the "Old Saint Louis" section of Busch Gardens on August 14th and 15th, 1976.

The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the world, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.