ENCINO'S ALVINO REY AND HIS ORCHESTRA

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY        2013

 

      Typical of big band leaders of the 1930s and 40s, Alvino Rey began his career by playing in other bands. He worked with Freddy Martin and Russ Morgan, and for seven years (1932-1939) played in the Horace Heidt's Musical Knights. (Horace Heidt lived and worked from Sherman Oaks.)
      He married Luise King (one of the King Sisters.)

Alvino Rey - Alvin McBurney    1908 - 2004

 Autographed photograph - Loaned to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Ralph F. Muzzillo Jr. 2013 -   (click on images to enlarge them.)

"To Ralph and Eve - two real swell people. I hope we can continue working together many years. With Best Wishes, Alvino Rey."

      Alvino Rey was fascinated by electronics, developing musical instruments and working with amateur radio. He helped develop the first electronic guitar for the Gibson Corporation.  In 1939 Alvino Rey became the musical director for radio KHJ in Los Angeles. That same year he created the Alvino Rey orchestra.Rey lived at 5001 Woodley Avenue in Encino.

      During World War II Rey worked for the Lockheed Aircraft Company in Burbank. In 1944, he joined the US Navy. Rey's 1940, pre-war song "My Buddy" was one of the most important sons during the war.

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Larceny With Music 1943  Universal Pictures film -  Ralph Muzzillo collection

Jeff Pirtle of NBS - Universal reminds The Museum Community that Leo Carrillo, a direct descendent of Jose' Antonio Carrillo was also in this movies. Jose' played a major role in the Treaty of Cahuenga signed in the San Fernando Valley.

Alvino Rey and his orchestra, play themselves in the Universal film, Larceny With Music 1943.
Photo courtesy of Ralph F. Muzzillo Jr. 2013. Ralph Muzzillo Sr. was a trumpeter in this orchestra. 

WHAT KIND OF MUSEUM DO YOU WANT?

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY        2013

The Museum Community is challenged with creating the most effective teaching institution possible, utilizing the history, arts and culture of the San Fernando Valley. Which tools should we be cultivating and what should be our priorities.

Here's something to consider:

According to an article on Culture - Parenting in the August 19th edition of Time Magazine subtitled

"Should your kids avoid tech - or embrace it?" the following was stated:

"... On average, according to research cited by MIT, students can remember only 10% of what they read, 20% of what they hear and 50% of what they see demonstrated. But, when they're actually doing something themselves - in the virtual worlds on iPads or laptops -- that retention rate skyrocketed to 90%."

Pacific Airmotive Corporation's new Aircraft and Engineering Center - Postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013.  (click on image to enlarge it.)

"Pacific Airmotive Corporation's new Aircraft and Engineering Center covers 25 acres on the west side of Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, California.  The multi-million dollar facility is a fully intregrated, one stop service center for commercial and business aircraft.

WORLD WAR II FROM A LOCKHEED PERSPECTIVE

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY         2012

Putting together the puzzle pieces of history is not easy, but it's lots of fun.  Just before Christmas of 1943, The Lockheed Star newsletter carried stories that were just such parts of the history of America's role in World War II. 

1700 workers at Burbank's Lockheed Aircraft Company were fed each work day in 1943. When we consider the war effort, it is important to consider things like the amount of food to feed workers on a daily basis. (click on image to enlarge it).

"Lt. John Hurst, former Lockheedian and now a veteran of the Sicilian and Italian campaigns in the AAF (Army Air Force) talks to some of his former working partners in the Drop Hammer section during a recent visit to Lockheed." Left to right: Lt. Hurst, Larry Utterback, Mike Schneider and Steve Petrula.  (Note:  one man's name is missing here.)
Since February of 1942, Lt. Hurst was in the Army Air Corps. "He participated not only in the bombing of Rome but the strafing of Foggia, on the 8th Army front..."

Kristine Keller     Aerospace Exhibit

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230 
Museum messages for Kristine Keller

1 (818) 347-9665 PST

LOCKEED FIRE DEPARTMENT DURING WORLD WAR II

2010 -- The Year of Valley Adventures
Lockeed Aircraft Fire Department 1942, Station Number 2 - Photograph gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jim Rowe, Cincinnati, Ohio 2010.(click on images to enlarge)
Note the camouflage netting above the fire station, and the aircraft being built in the hanger at the far right. Jim Rowe’s father, Chief Earl Rowe was a member of the Lockheed Fire Department (Chief Rowe is the 3rd.fireman from the left).
Photograph gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jim Rowe, Cincinnati, Ohio 2010. Jim Rowe with his dad’s Fire Chief Car. The boy Jim was born in North Hollywood.

Note: These two photographs were shared by Jim Rowe by email transmission. They were sent as a test to check on the process of scanning images and sending them by the Internet. Thanks Jim, you've added to The Museum's visual knowledge of the Valley during World War II, and both fire protection services and automotive history.

MUSEUM LIBRARIAN FRED BERK CREATES POSTCARD EXHIBIT

2009 The Year of Valley History
Lockheed "Army Chapel" Burbank, California - gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

During The Museum's meeting last evening, Fred Berk announced that he is nearly ready for an exhibit of The Museum's historic postcards for several Los Angeles Public Library locations in the mid San Fernando Valley.

The "Army Chapel" of Lockheed Aircraft Factory School, in Burbank, California was mailed on the 23rd of February, 1945. It is addressed to Mrs. Tina B. Ranger of 775 North Towne Avenue in Pomona, California. It is from P.F.C. Justin O. Ranger
BA (?)1-72 (?) 18127377
3715.AAFBU(class 30 -45)
Lockheed Factory School, Burbank, California
"This may get home Saturday evening before I do, or I found a quicker way to send it off. Today, I feel much up to par, have pretty well snaped (sp) out my cold. I had a haircut tonight and waited out a line for an hour. I'll be home later because I won't get through school and calestents (sp) till five and will leave post about six or after. It was warmer this morning. Love Justin."
No postage stamp was required - it is marked "free".

HUDSON BOMBER LOCKEED -

Historic Hudson Bomber - Lockeed Aircraft Company c 1939 - Postcard donated by Gary Fredburg 2009 to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. (click on image to enlarge)

2009 - The Year of Valley History - Special thanks to those who attended the Board Meeting of The Museum on Jan. 28th at the Economic Alliance. Bringing about a great Museum for the greater San Fernando Valley is lots of work. Aren't we lucky to have such dedicated and productive leaders.

A year after Mussolini's invasion of Ethiopia, Lockheed Air Craft Company began the production of a bomber for the England's and Canada's Royal Air Force. It was christened the Hudson.
About 2500 of the airplanes were built. By the end of World War II this historic bomber was mostly out of service.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley collects, archives and presents San Fernando Valley Aviation History.

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