THE GREAT GILDERSLEEVE - WILLARD WATERMAN

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Willard Waterman was one of the great radio, stage and film performers of his era. Radio lovers know his talent as the "Great Gildersleeve" from a spin off of the Fibber McGee and Mollie radio show. Waterman's character, Throckmorton P. Gildersleeve, the self-important and stuffy politician was beloved by Americans for at least three decades.
Waterman lived and worked in the San Fernando Valley with his wife Maryanne and two daughters.
In August of 1965, Willard Waterman played in "A Funny Thing Happened To Me On The Way To The Forum" at the Valley Music Theater.

 

Willard Waterman - Program "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley's Entertainment Industry Library.

Can you identify the actress with Willard Waterman in How To Succeed? Use the comment box at the end of this entry.

Help your Museum build our San Library of Valley Entertainment Industry History.

Donate tax-deductible videos, photographs, records and other artifacts to your Museum today.

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley

Acquisitions Committee
21031 Ventura Blvd., Suite 419
Woodland Hills, CA 91364-2230

THE MUSEUM’S TELEPHONE
1 (818) 347-9665

THE MUSEUM'S EMAILS
gerald.fecht@TheMuseumSFV.org
info@TheMuseumSFV.org

 

THE MUSEUM’S BLOG

www.museumsanfernandovalley.blogspot.com

 

THE MUSEUM’S WEBSITE

www.TheMuseumSFV.org

CASSIUS CLAY VRS SONNY LISTON

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY          2012

On November 16th, 1964, Valley boxing enthusiasts were able to experience some of the excitement of the live heavyweight championship fight between the champion Cassius Clay and the challenger Sonny Liston. The Valley Music Theatre in Woodland Hills enabled pre-pay for view television audiences the opportunity to see world class events broadcast across America.

Boxing flyer 1964 -  Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2012.

The day after his victory over Liston, Cassius Clay changed his name to Cassius X. A week later he became the sports immortal Mohammed Ali.

"WONDERFUL TOWN" 1964 AT VALLEY MUSIC THEATRE STARRING EVE ARDEN

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

Often, people who are growing older, like me, make wistful comments about how younger generations really missed something by not seeing an actor and radio personality like Eve Arden perform. Actually, the process of missing out on great performances is a two-way street... if you don't believe me just check out the brilliant young singers in this season's American Idol. Fortunately, for us The Museum of the San Fernando Valley supports the preservation of history and the fostering of contemporary culture as well.

Radio can rightfully claim to be the first media to bring live performances into American households. And, the great Eve Arden, through her weekly show called "Our Miss Brooks" brought her  theatrical talent to people from Vermont to Van Nuys. She was one of the best loved actors of her time.

 Wonderful Town program from the Valley Music Theatre  October 1964 - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011  (click on image to enlarge)

JEHOVAH'S WITTNESS ASSEMBLY HALL REPLACED THE VALLEY MUSIC CENTER

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Once the Valley Music Theatre stood just above Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills. It brought great pride to residents in the West San Fernando Valley. The structure was sold to the Jehovah's Witnesses and later resold for apartment development. The Music Theater / Assembly Hall of Jehovah's Witness was destroyed and lies under great swaths of plastic today.

Jehovah's Witnesses Assembly Hall - Postcard given to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg 2010 - artifact 1600

“Unique and beautiful in design, the California Valley Circuits Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses is located on a 8 1/3 acre site 2 block south of Ventura Freeway at 20600 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, California, 91364.
The dome-shaped auditorium has circular/sloped seating for over 2800 persons arouind a large central stage.”

Interior of Jehovah's Witnesses Assembly Hall - Postcard given to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg 2010 - artifact 1602

"A 35-foot crown, representing the everlasting Kingship of Almighty God Jehovah is suspended above the stage as a centerpiece in the circular auditorium of the California Valley Circuits Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses located between Winnetka and DeSoto offramps of the Ventura Freeway at 20600 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, California, 91364."


Jehovah's Witnesses Assembly Hall - Postcard given to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg 2010 - artifact 1601

"Wide ramps lead from 2 parking lots to this dome-shaped, floor to ceiling glass fronted entrance and lobby of the California Valley Circuits Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 20600 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, California, 91364."

WILL THE WEDDINGTON HOUSE BE NEXT TO DISAPPEAR?

Valley Music Center - Now Demolished - Postcard in the collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift of Gary Fredburg - 2008

Don't you just love it, when the media announces that priceless artifacts or art from the American West has been transferred to the Smithsonian or a New York museum? If you are like most of us, in this era of carbon footprints, getting back east may be at best a very rare occasion!
Well meaning people often remark about how there is no culture in the San Fernando Valley. Could it be that's because its been shipped away - or worse yet simply demolished. As a youth, I saw the great Dame Judith Anderson perform Media in the Valley Music Center, but the great performances there have been silenced forever.

Now, a move is afoot to move the historic Weddington House, out of the community that the Weddington familly founded, across our city. Some are saying that this expensive move will occur in a matter of weeks. For children studying local history in Valley schools, the mother house of North Hollywood might as well be moved to Mars.
Historical buildings belong in the communities where their impact was made! How many historic Valley buildings are within a mile or two of your home?
We need every inch of open parkland we can manage to keep in Los Angeles, but in the San Fernando Valley we desperately need our few remaining historic structures available to the public - especially teachers and students.
It is not good enough to sigh, after the fact, and say "oh well, at least the Weddington House didn't get destroyed." Inaccessibility might as well mean destruction.
Our political representatives need to step up to this matter. Ask them to consider the possibilities for the Valley communities they represent.
Help KEEP THE WEDDINGTON HOUSE IN THE VALLEY WHERE IT BELONGS.
Contact your city council person right away!