VALLEY OF THE PUMA

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY     2012

With all of the Mountain Lions in our news, I thought it might be interesting to blog an image of one of Birdland's resident pumas from the 1940s. Birdland trained animals to be movie stars from their headquarters in what is now Encino on Ventura Boulevard.

 Puma and trainer - Jane Putney Birdland Collection -  The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2012
(click on images to enlarge them)

LUCILLE BALL - THE VALLEY OWN MEGA STAR

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY    2012

In 1941, the great Lucille Ball starred in "Three Girls and a Gob", a Harold Lloyd production.

The film costarred Edmond O"Brien.  Frank Pangborn played the role of a pet shop owner holding a

bird stand. The bird atop the stand is one of the many actors provided to motion pictures by Bird Wonderland of Van Nuys (now, Encino). Lucille Ball and the creatures of Bird Wonderland were just a few movie actors from the San Fernando Valley

Photograph Gift by Joan Putney 2009 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

VENTURA BLVD MAGAZINE SPRING 2012 FEATURES BIRD WUNDERLAND

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY      2012

Ventura Blvd Magazine always has great articles about our Valley's rich heritage. This month's Spring edition features (pages 22-23) a story entitled: "Lions Tigers and Bears ... Nearby." The photos are from The Museum's Jean Putney Collection of movieland's historic Bird Wunderland. 

You'll like the magazine's other great stories as well. 

VENTURA BLVD MAGAZINE  SPRING 2012

RICHARD DENNING AND HELEN GILBERT SHARED STARDOM WITH JACKIE THE LION

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

Richard Denning was one of the big "hunk" stars of the 1940s. Here he poses with the Paramount starlette Helen Gilbert in the Dorothy Lamour film, "Malaya"  Jackie the Lion (famous as the Metro Goldwyn Mayer logo star) lived and was trained for the movies in Bird Wonderland in what is now Encino, California.

Helen Gilbert, Jackie the Lion and Richard Denning - 1942 - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (Click on images to enlarge)  Image 4276 - P15

 Image 4276 - P15   Helen Gilbert was a cellist prior to entering films.

Richard Denning - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (Click on images to enlarge)  Image 4276 - P15  All of the birds and animals used in this Paramount film were provided by Bird Wonderland in Encino, California.  (click on image to enlarge) Image 4275-P 14

Richard Denning wrestles Jackie the Lion in the film Malaya.  Image number 4277-P16

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM YOUR MUSEUM DEC 2011

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY    2011

"Cockie" the Cockatoo Actor - c 1930s - Photograph Number 4272 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Joan Putney Nov. 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

This white bird was at one time one of the most successful working actors in Hollywood. Cockie, owned by Bird Wonderland in Encino, lived to be over 75 years old and starred in nearly all of the animal-related films of his era.

STAR OF FILM AND TELEVISION - DINAH SHORE LIVED IN ENCINO

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY      2011

In 1943, the beloved American singer Dinah Shore moved to Encino with her new husband, the actor George Montgomery. Dinah was much impressed with the beautiful birds of the historic Bird Wonderland Collection not far from her new home. In 1944, one of the first songs presented on The Dinah Shore Show on radio was "The San Fernando Valley."

Dinah Shore with friends from Bird Wonderland in Encino.  Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jean Putney 2011.  (click on the image to enlarge it. Refer to photo number 4028)

JACKIE THE LION WHEN HE BECAME A MEGASTAR FOR MGM

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY     2011

You'll probably recognize one of the San Fernando Valley's biggest movie stars. He's Jackie, the lion from Bird Wonderland in Encino (then Van Nuys).  I wonder how many in this 1930s crowd recognized how quickly Jackie could have done one of them in.

Jackie the MGM lion c. 1930s  Bird Wonderland - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jean Putney 2011 (click on image to enlarge - photo number 4128)

JOAN DAVIS WAS CALLED "THE QUEEN OF COMEDY" IN 1940s RADIO

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY     2011

With Kay Kyser and Mischa Auer, the great radio comic Joan Davis starred in RKO's film "Around the World" in 1943.  Comedy was exceedingly important to an America at war, and Joan Davis was much loved.

Joan Davis, radio and film star, 1943. "Around The World" - Photograph in the Putney Collection - Bird Wonderland Archive - The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2011. The wonderful cockatoo, "Cockie" was a film star in his own right. He was part of the Bird Wonderland collection, and lived to be 75 years old.
Kay Kyser, a big band leader of his time, was called "The Old Professor of Swing."

BIRD WONDERLAND ON VENTURA BOULEVARD

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY     2011

Several of you have asked if there is a photograph in the Putney Collection of Birdland itself. Here it is. The date of the photograph is unknown, but it is likely from the late 1940s to early 1950s. This successful business was owned by Coulson and Lucile Glick and lasted until around 1954.

Bird Wonderland c 1948 -   Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

BIRD WONDERLAND and SATAN THE WRESTLING MOVIE TIGER

2009 - The Year of Valley History

Satan, the Wrestling Movie Tiger - historic postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg - 2008 - presented here without caption.

Mr. Barry Balin of Woodland Hills, an important collector of historic paper goods and expert on vintage postcards, has asked his Museum to share information about Bird Wonderland of Van Nuys. He is interested in knowing more about Jackie the Wrestling Lion who was once part of Bird Wonderland of Encino/Van Nuys.
We don't have any images of Jackie, but we can share our image of "Satan" the Wrestling Movie Tiger. Jackie, by the way, may be the introduction lion image still used on Metro-Goldwin-Mayer films.

Here's your Museum's record
Bird Wonderland – Van Nuys
Satan, The Movie Wrestling Tiger (historic postcard)
artifact number: 1009-001-1138
condition: good in protective plastic sleeve
donor: Gary Fredburg 2008
scanned: COMMUNITIES, Van Nuys, Bird Wonderland
used on blog October 2009
Notes: Front caption reads: “Satan” is a 3 year old, full grown Sumatran Tiger raised in captivity. Satan has appeared in many pictures including Bengal Tiger, Jan of the Jungle etc. Photo shows Mr. Glick of the Bird Wonderland, Van Nuys, California, in a playful mood with Satan."
The Bird Wonderland was located at 15640 Ventura Boulevard, Van Nuys, California.

If you have information about Bird Wonderland, that existed in the 1930s, please contact your Museum at 1 (818) 347-9665.