THE ROAD TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY      2012

Among America's best loved comedy films of the 1940s and 50s were the famous "Road" movies of Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. All three blockbuster performers and supporters of the U.S.O. lived in Toluca Lake / North Hollywood.

 Dorothy Lamour, Bing Crosby and Bob Hope - San Fernando Valley residents in 1940

 Hamming it up in a Road Movie were Hope, Lamour and Crosby (click on images to enlarge them)

The Life of Bob Hope, "They Got Me Covered" - 1941 first edition - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012. 

SUPPORT YOUR MUSEUM

Library of San Fernando Valley Entertainment Industry History.

DOROTHY LAMOUR - THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY'S SUPER STAR

Two of the most important film stars of the 1940s made their homes in the San Fernando Valley. The megastar Dorothy Lamour was viewed as the personification of the exotic woman. Here she is shown with Satan the Tiger - the best known tiger in the world during his lifetime.Dorothy Lamour lived in Toluca Lake and Satan in Bird Wonderland in Encino (then Van Nuys).

Dorothy Lamour and Satan the Tiger in Malaya - Paramount Pictures 1941 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Joan Putney 2011. (click on the image to enlarge it).

Dorothy Lamour lived into her 80s, still much loved by the movie-going public. Her funeral was held at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic church in North Hollywood. She is buried in Forest Lawn cemetery in the Hollywood Hills.

DOROTHY LAMOUR AND SATAN THE TIGER WERE SAN FERNANDOD VALLEY MEGASTARS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY     2011

Dorothy Lamour, who lived in Toluca Lake, was one of America's most famous film stars of the 1940s. The great "Road" films of the era, with stars like Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour, were wildly popular. Here the beautiful Lamour poses with the wild animal star Satan the Tiger, promoting the film "The Road to Zanzibar" in 1941. 

Dorothy Lamour and Satan the Tiger in "The Road to Zanzibar"  1941  - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jean Putney 2011. Satan the Tiger lived at Bird Wonderland in Van Nuys. Refer to photo 4035 - click on image to enlarge.

Dorothy Lamour helped fund the construction of Saint Charles Catholic church in North Hollywood. Her funeral was held in the landmark church.  

Publicity statement with this photograph:  "Wild Animals I Have Known - proof in pictures by Dorothy Lamour 7.  Satan isn't the first tiger I've ever known, either.  There was King, the huge Bengal tiger which stalked through my first picture, "The Jungle Princess".  Supposedly, I was raised by the tiger from childhood in the story.  So I had to romp with him.  My teeth chattered at the prospects but I soon learned that King was your friend for life if you scratched his ears. He love that and would purr like a kitten ... only the purring was so loud it reminded you of an airplane motor.".