KIWANIS CLUB MEETING IN SAN FERNANDO ELKS TEMPLE

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY   2012

Today, I was the guest speaker on behalf of The Museum Community at the San Fernando (city) Kiwanis Club. The food was homemade and terrific, and the hospitality warm and friendly. I discussed how great museums, like the Olympic Games demonstrate a region or city's power, and the ability to accomplish great things.

The Elks Temple of San Fernando was established in 1927, and built this structure in 1931. The historic facility is located at 804 Pico Street in San Fernando.

 The Kiwanis Club of San Fernando prepares for its weekly meeting in the Elks Temple facility.

Detail of large wall tapestry in the Elks Temple in San Fernando. The great American character actor Andy Divine was once the 16th Exalted Ruler of the San Fernando Elks.

1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games memorabilia among the treasures of the San Fernando Elks Temple. In the center is one of the relay torches that carried the flame across America.

Ceramic souvenirs bearing symbols of the Elks Lodge.

 

Entrance Hall of the San Fernando Elks Temple.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF VAN NUYS WITH THE GREAT ANDY DIVINE

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY        2011                     100 years of Van Nuys history

Have you ever heard of the Crystal Plunge?  Once the mid-Valley's favorite swimming pool, the Plunge is said to have been the idea of the great old time character actor and Van Nuys resident Andy Divine. This year, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley salutes the 100th birthday of Van Nuys, and will be collecting artifacts from this important part of the Valley, all year.
This year too,  your Museum's blog is noting our 1,700th entry. We'd like to add more images of Andy Divine and add some of the once famous Crystal Plunge.  Think Van Nuys Heritage in 2011 - we are!

 Andy Divine October 7, 1905 to February 13, 1977.

Andy Divine, America's favorite cowboy "side kick" of the 1940s and 50s. Postcard gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011. (click on image to enlarge)
The artist of this painting was Mildred Wheeler of Kingman, Arizona. It hangs in the Mohave Museum of History and Art in Kingman.

THE GREAT ANDY DIVINE

Home of actor Andy Divine in Van Nuys,- historic postcard gift from Gary Fredburg 1008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

To the hundreds of kids who found relief from the summer heat of the San Fernando Valley in an era with few swimming pools, the Crystal Plunge in Van Nuys was a favorite hangout. It was build by the film and television actor Andy Divine who lived across the street on Kester Avenue.
Andy, who starred in the hit television production of the Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok as Guy Madison's sidekick "Jingles', built the Crystal Plunge so that classmates of his sons on the Van Nuys High School Swim Team would have a place to practice. For elementary school students, Halloween meant the chance to take as many pennies as they could pick up in one hand. If the child was very little, Andy would take one of his enormous hands and help the little one out.
Once a professional football player, Andy Divine got his first big career boost in the 1931 football film The Spirit of Notre Dame. In the next four decades, his raspy voice was one of the most recognizable in America. Andy was a strong supporter of the San Fernando Valley, and was made the honorary mayor of Van Nuys in the early 1970s. He died in 1977.


Andy Divine world famous film and television actor

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