1942 A MISSOURI BOY FIRST ENCOUNTERS THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Photographs often tell more than viewers realize.

Family snapshots often tell more history than meets a casual glance. Here are three photographs that were among my brother James Fecht's effects, when he died last year. In three short years he went from a high school altar boy to a United States Marine in combat in the South Pacific. 

Altar servers at Saint Brendan Catholic Church in Mexico, Missouri - 1940.  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo 2853 - l to r: James Fecht, Joe Enslen, Jim Torrance, Don McLaughlin and Bob Phillips.

 In 1941, James Fecht was a recent high school graduate. anxious to make his mark in the world. This photograph was taken in Mexico, Missouri shortly before the outbreak of World War II. His hands were still swollen from an amateur boxing match earlier in the week. He boxed as a Marine recruit at Camp Pendleton the next year.  (photo 2854)

1942 on Elmer Avenue in North Hollywood, California.  (photo 2855) 

On his first leave after boot camp, Jim Fecht and his Marine buddy Webb McKelvey went to Los Angeles, where Webb introduced Jim to his cousin Joye Barnes from North Hollywood. Jim met Joye and several of her friends from Corvallis High School in Studio City, at the USO Cantina in Hollywood. Jim was dazzled. After the war, Jim and Joye were married and made the San Fernando Valley their home.

HERE COME THE MARINES!

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

I guess being envious is a useful thing when it comes for me getting things done for our Museum. Aside from geographic locator programs, there is a facial recognition program available out there in cyberspace as well.  Here's a priceless photograph taken of rough and ready Marines, sometime between World War I and the Second World War. Wouldn't it be great to use facial recognition to find our who these heroes were.

I used photo processing to figure out that they were members of the United States Marine Corps. Maybe one of you clever people can figure out what unit would have worn a star with an Indian chief in it?

US Marines - date unknown - Photograph gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011  (click on image to enlarge)  Refer to photo 2852

VETERANS DAY 2010

Brendan Patrick Fecht took this picture today in Herald Square in New York City. He was greatly moved, and so are we all. Below is a United State Marine Corps recruit graduation photograph taken at Camp Pendleton, California in 1942. In the picture was Brendan's, now deceased Uncle Jimmy just before being shipped to the South Pacific.

REPUBLIC PICTURES STAR HUGH O'BRIAN

2010   THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Hugh O'Brian Sept. 25, 2010 

Photo by Phyllis Hansen for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Many great stars from the golden years of Republic Pictures attended the 75th Anniversary event sponsored by the Studio City Neighborhood Council and The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. Among the most recognized by visitors was the great Hugh O'Brian.

         Most television fans will remember Hugh O'Brian as the star of the hit series, "The Life and Legends of Wyatt Earp." Hugh, by the way, was the youngest drill instructor in the history of the United States Marine Corps.

        If you share The Museum of the San Fernando Valley's passion and commitment to preserve the history of the Entertainment Industry, contact us today. 1-(818) 347-9665

A VIETNAM CHRISTMAS DINNER

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

There's a German word, popular in World War Ii movies, called "ersatz".  To my understanding, the word means a synthetic that just doesn't measure up to the real thing. I suppose that half the problem with a synthetic is the promise that it will taste or smell like fresh strawberries when it's closer to "mystery meat."

25 December 1967 - Christmas Dinner menu and holiday message to American Marines in Vietnam.
 Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Jerry Berns 2010.

 Less sensitive to religious diversity than modern military officials, the leadership of the US Marine Corps during the Vietnam War made the above assumption that their enlisted men and women shared their preferences.

 (click on this menu to read Jerry Berns' notes on the menu he saved from his service as a Marine during the Vietnam War.)
Tomato Juice Cocktail - none
Shrimp Cocktail, Saltines - none left
Scotch Broth - Didn't have it.
Roasted Turkey - canned, overcooked - dry
Cornbread Dressing - Didn't have it.
Baked Ham - Canned - Not bad.