NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IN 1955

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY           2013

Gradually, The Museum of the San Fernando Valley is amassing the grand story of our Valley's sports heritage. These two programs were among the memorabilia saved by Arlene Bernholtz when she was a North Hollywood High School girl, who had friends at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. Among the treasures given to The Museum by Arlene were commencement programs from Van Nuys High School, Notre Dame, as well as from North Hollywood. 

MOVIE STARS AT 1967 MOTION PICTURE HOSPITAL DEDICATION

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY          2013

In 1967 a new building was dedicated at the Motion Picture Country Home and Hospital in Woodland Hills. Holhy Cross Brother Roberto Muller CSC brought the Notre Dame High School band to play for the occasion.


Jane Meadows

Br. Roberto Muller, actress Irene Dunn & television personality and performer Steve Allen.

Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.)

 Brother Roberto Muller and the great Lucile Ball at Hospital dedication 1967.

Beloved film star and television personality Jane Meadows with Roberto Muller CSC.

Jane Meadows lives in Studio City. She was married to the great Steve Allen. Lucile Ball's home was in Chatsworth. The Notre Dame High School marching band has achieved international recognition over the years.

DION O'CONNOR'S BICYCLE PATCH

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY         2012

Small things, like this patch from the San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club, often create sweet little reminders of our friends and neighbors. Here's a memento from the life and times of Dion Jeremiah O'Connor who passed away last year at this time.  Dion was an avid bicyclist and an faithful gym goer. Dion, a 1957 graduate of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, spent his career chiefly at Universal Studios where he did television estimating, studio facility management and worked in television production.

San Fernando Valley Bicycle Club patch - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando by Linda O'Connor 2012.  (Click on the image to enlarge it.)

A FAMILY OUTING AT THE MUSEUM

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY 2012

 

Rowland LoBianco of Palm Springs brought his Aunt Sally by The Museum Space this week, to share stories about their family in the San Fernando Valley, and talk about Roy's experiences at Notre Dame High School and L.A. Valley College.

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL IN SHERMAN OAKS June 1957

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY 2012

Notre Dame High School was celebrating its 10th year in 1957.  This commencement brochure for June 7, 1957 contains the names of each graduate as well as scholarships earned by students.  

1957 Commencement program Notre Dame High School - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gerald Fecht Jan. 2012.(click on image to enlarge it)

The 18 artifacts related to Notre Dame in The Museum's collection, when coupled with a manuscript entitled "The Beginnings of the Brothers of Holy Cross in California" by Brother Richard Daly (1967 Santa Clara University) form an important basis for The Museum's on-going history of this Sherman Oaks high school. 

               

ROOTS IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY KEEPS DICK MLACK REGULARLY IN TOUCH.

I try my best to keep up with old friends, especially those with connections to the San Fernando Valley.  This week a pal, Dick Mlack sent me his photograph in a shirt from his Fraternity days at Pierce College. To my everlasting envy, the shirt still fits!

Dick Mlack's story is not an unusual one for those with roots in our Valley. He was born in Ohio, but moved with his family to the Valley when he was six years old. He attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks and graduated in 1959. In 1962 he was initiated in the Phi Delta Psi Fraternity at Pierce College.  He entered the United States Air Force in 1964, serving in Alaska and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Mlack graduated from the University of Texas in Arlington.  He retired from IBM in 2003, after 30 years.  At present, Dick and his wife Connie reside in Denver, Colorado.

 

1954 YEARBOOK SHOWS GREAT PHOTO OF SHERMAN OAKS FROM THE AIR

(click on image to enlarge)
1954 Notre Dame High School Arches Yearbook - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010.


One would expect to find copies of school papers or commencement programs tucked into old yearbooks, but there are often other interesting things as well. For example, inside the back cover of a 1954 Notre Dame High School, Arches Yearbook, is this great aerial photograph of Sherman Oaks. Notre Dame High School is identified by the large oval playing field (still there in 2010) and the auditorium/gymnasium building. The school is located on the corners of Woodman and Riverside Drive. Woodman runs north and south into the foothills of Sherman Oaks.

NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH TEAM 1955

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Jack Irwin 1956 and Pat Griffin 1955 in "senior jacket"
The Knight Student Newspaper Notre Dame High School - Sherman Oaks - March 11, 1955 - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg 2010.

"Carrollton Clubs Oratorical Trophy Awarded Pat Griffin.
Since the last edition of The Knight, Notre Dame's debating team, under the direction of Brother John Duran C.S.C. (Latin for Congregation of Holy Cross), and the speech students of Brother Dunston C.S.C., have brought new laurels and trophies to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame entered the Carrollton Clubs' speech contest at Cathedral High on February 26. In the contest, Ken McKenzie and Pat Griffin entered the original oratory division; Pete De Grandis, Jerry Farley and John Strahl competed in the oral interpretation event, Jack Irwin, Alex Schoenborn and Leo Whitaker vied in the extempore contest, and Alex Bryant, Pat Boylan and Rodger Culver were participants in the impromptu division. The Notre Dame speakers won recognition in three categories. ...
Notre Dame was a guest school in the NFL Student Congress at Los Angeles City Hall on Feb. 18 and 19, Alex Bryant and Leo Whitaker were representative in House A, Pat Boylan and Mark Villarino were senators Senate B, and Dick Thesing was a representative in House B. ...
Five members of the debate squad took part in the Beverly Hills Individual Events Novice Tournament at Beverly Hills High School last Saturday. The contestants were John Strahl, Dick Thesing, Pat Rossi, Bruce Venneman and George Corfino.
...

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY KIDS AND THEIR CARS

2010 - THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES
Ad in 1956 Van Nuys High School Yearbook - The Crimson and Gray - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010.

Caption of the ad reads: "The new line of 1956 Chevrolet cars and trucks is displayed by P0LLARD-RAVENSCROFT CHEVROLET, 6232 Van NUys Boulevard. Here Fred and Tony admired the beautiful Bel-Air convertible and listened to the friendly salesman as he told them the advantages of owning a Chevrolet. Pollard-Ravenscroft maintains an excellent service departmentfor all cars, old or new."

Student Parking Lot at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks - 1956 Arches Year Book - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010

This student parking lot just north of Riverside Drive at Woodman Avenue is still in use in 2010. At the time this yearbook was published teachers who belonged to the Catholic religious order of the Brothers of Holy Cross resided in the mission-style building at the top of this photograph. The structure is now used for administrative purposes and the few remaining Brothers reside in a nearby home off-campus.


Parking Lot at Burbank Senior High School 1966 - Ceralbus Yearbook - Archive of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010

San Fernando Valley kids have had an unending love affair with cars from the time automobiles became accessible to student wallets. They make up a major part of the Valley's historic "car culture."

1953 NOTRE DAME HS YEAR BOOK TELLS A STORY

Early in 2008, Museum Board member Gary Fredburg acquired a 1953 Notre Dame High School "Arches" yearbook that once belonged to Wilfred Luer Von Der Ahe Jr. The high school senior lived on Oakdale Lane in Studio City. Within the 55 year old book were two "ordination cards" commemorating Bill Von Der Ahe's ordination as a Catholic priest. Checking with Notre Dame High School, we learned that Bill remained a priest until 1968. He pursued agricultural projects until his death in June of 2002. He lived in Maraposa, California.

NOTRE DAME HIGH ALUMNI ARTISTS IN EXHIBIT

Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks has long been noted for its creative alumni. This is an opportunity to experience a decade of recent ND alumni who have gone on to art schools in America.

click to enlarge flyer


The San Fernando Valley deserves a great Museum of history and culture.