FARLEY GRANGER GOT HIS START IN FILM WHILE LIVING IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

The Granger family moved to the San Fernando Valley for a second start, after the father lost his job and their home in San Jose.  Finding work in the North Hollywood branch of the California Department of Unemployment, the father was able to secure a small home in Studio City. 

With some experience in stage acting and dance, Farley Granger was placed in an entertainment unit during his service in the Second World War. His exposure to USO performers encouraged his to seek his successful career in film. He became one of Alfred Hitchcock's favorite actors.

Farley Granger   1925 to 2011    Actor

"fan card" photograph - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2014.

 

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The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

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ORAL HISTORIES of the SFV at RANCHO CORDILLERA DEL NORTE

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

The following article appeared in the recent edition of the SFV West Valley News.

Notable American architects Dion Neutra (standing) and Eric Lloyd Wright (sitting), who is the grandson of the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, with Willard Simms (holding certificate), Board member and director of education of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.  (click on image to enlarge)

 There couldn't be a better backdrop for the staging of the initial phase of Narrating Lives - Oral Histories of the San Fernando Valley - presented by The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - than Rancho Cordillera del Norte, the original home of a valley pioneer family, Elizabeth Waldo, a composer, violinist, producer, whose late husband Carl Dentzel developed and named Northridge (Northridge is English translation of Cordillera del Norte), still lives within the expansive ranch. She has her own New Mission Theatre where she holds plays the reflect the Valley's history.

On Sunday, August 14, 2011, nearly 140 guests answered the call to attend a special reception to highlight and showcase the first phase of video vignettes from interviews of pioneering San Fernando Valley residents. It was a beautiful summer afternoon, hot and humid, typical of an August day in the Valley. The lush beautiful gardens welcomed the guests who gathered around to meet and greet while a Spanish troubadour walked around playing his guitar and quietluy singing. Some guests chatted under the Spanish tile patio cover of the New Mission Theatre, others sat around tables arranged near the Spanish rancho style outdoor cantina a few yards away. In the spirit of historic diversity of the Valley, a multi-cultural buffet and refreshments catered by Sabroso Mexican Restaurant of Winnetka, was served.

Event organizers patiently waited until all guests had enough to eat to start the afternoon program. The Museum of the San Fernando Valley Board member, Richard Hilton was the m.c. for the event, Among the special guests were former Councilman Greig Smith, Porky Johjnson and Montie Montana Jr.

"It was very exciting having the two architects Eric Lloyd Write and Dion Neutra, with their impeccable bloodlines there, lots of people were talking about that afterwards," commended Willard Simms, who apprears in a photo above.

The Museum has some fascinating architectural events planned for the Fall. Contact Gerald Fecht, President for more information at 818-347-9665. Or, visit www.theMuseumSFV.irg

VAN NUYS 100th PHOTOS BY ART JACOBS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

Thanks to Art Jacobs for these shots of the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Van Nuys.  

Tommy Gelinas greets some of his many Valley Relics fans. Tommy's  intensive  collecting of San Fernando Valley memorabilia and his exciting Valley Relics blog site, have stimulated a renewed interest in Valley history and culture.

 Antique car at the Taste of Van Nuys centennial event.

 Birmingham High School band performs near The Museum of the San Fernando Valley booth.

 The great Birmingham High School marching band.

MUSEUM PARTICIPATES IN NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  2011

      Richard Hilton, Gary Fredburg, Wendy Fredburg (Gary’s wife) and Jerry Fecht worked a booth for The Museum of the San Fernando Valley and Campos de Cahuenga at the North Hollywood Park for the 28^th National Night Out.

    Citizens, law enforcement officers, area businesses, neighborhood associations, and political leaders participated in the event. 

Jerry Fecht - left (The Museum's president), Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, and Richard Hilton (Director of The Museum's Tours and Adventures program) at National Night Out in North Hollywood Park.

The world famous Bird Lady of North Hollywood visits with The Museum's Richard Hilton on National Night Out. Richard enjoys a sno-cone, one of many treats given free to event visitors. If Richard offered one of the cockateels a bit of sno-cone isn't known

Museum Board leaders, Gary Fredburg (seated) and Richard Hilton sign up National Night Out visitors for The Museum's tours and special lectures program. They handed out Museum and Campo de Cahuenga brochures and children's coloring maps of the San Fernando Valley.

GREIG SMITH's LAST DAYS IN OFFICE

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

One of the hardest working committees within The Museum, chaired by Scott Sterling of Northridge, is our "Narrating Lives, Oral Histories of the San Fernando Valley". Mr. Scott's committee has overseen over two dozen precious video and audio histories of women and men whose lives represent major elements of Valley history. With a limited budget and an all volunteer staff, the committee is faced regularly with interview nominations people whose lives truly deserve to be recorded. Fortunately, the committee makes important decisions that often "capture" an historical moment, as well as stories that tell of the Valley over the years.

One such historical moment came recently when The Museum had the opportunity to interview Los Angeles City Councilman Greig Smith in his last weeks in office. Councilman Smith's interview is now part of the history of the San Fernando Valley, his former Northridge/Porter Ranch constituency and Los Angeles history as well.

 12th Los Angeles City Council District's outgoing Councilman, Greig Smith during his final week in office. Photo for the archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht 2011. (click on image to enlarge.)

Greig Smith's insider's view of Los Angeles City politics. Many great stories for us today, and for future generations.

LA DODGERS GREATS MAKE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY HISTORY

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY              2011                   Northridge100

 Legendary pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1949 - 1951) (1954 - 1958) Don Newcomb arrives at the Northridge "Filed of Dreams" event - February 2011 - (click on image to enlarge) Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.

 Fernando Valenzuela and Sweet Lou Johnson prepare for the dedication of the Northridge "Field of Dreams". "Sweet Lou played for the Dodger from 1965 to 1967.

Because I'm out and about so much working on making The Museum of the San Fernando Valley a reality for today and future generations, I often make my appointments do "double duty" by setting aside time after my meetings to explore more of the Valley. Last week Scott Sterling, who is working on The Museum's Narrating Lives, Oral Histories of the San Fernando Valley and I met with leaders of CSUN faculty about public art for the greater Northridge community.
As I drove Scott to his office, he mentioned that there was a dedication of a LA Dodgers Field of Dreams going on in Northridge Park. While I didn't have time to stary for the whole event, here are a couple of photos that I snapped of the history-making event. (Who wants to bet that the children there will remember seeing Dodgers stars for years to come.)

 Fernando Valenzuela, number 34, is one of the most loved of Dodger alumni. He pitched for LA from 1980 to 1990. Today is a radio commentator for the Dodgers Spanish language broadcasts.

 It was hard to distinguish who was more excited about seeing the Dodgers, their parents or the kids.

Councilman Greig Smith, who is in his last days on the Los Angeles City Council with Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela 2011.