National Environmental Policy Act Comes To The San Fernando Valley

Forty years ago, the Congress of the United States of America passed the National Environmental Policy Act. Signed into law by the President, this statute requires that an environmental impact statement is completed, and needed proposed alternatives be examined before any project that might impact the environment is executed.
This federal requirement changed the way properties have been developed since that time in the San Fernando Valley.



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

GENE AUTRY - TRUE NOTABLE OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Home Gene Autry - Historic postcard collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift of Gary Fredburg 2008 (click on image to enlarge)

When Gene Autry died in his Studio City home on October 2, 1998, he was 91 years old. His phenomenal legacy in American arts and culture still shapes our society today. Gene was "discovered" at the age of 22 by the great humorist Will Rodger. He had been featured on local radio in Tulsa as "Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy." Rodgers helped the young singer win his first recording contract.
In 1934, Gene Autry added motion pictures to his resume. By the 1950s, he had made the singing cowboy hero, a major genre of American film. Over a 100 million copies of his recordings were sold during his lifetime, and his Christmas recordings are still seasonal standard to this day.
Gene Autry could have easily used his popularity and fame to avoid combat service during World War II, but instead joined the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the Air Force) as a pilot. Gene and other courageous men transported weapons, fuel and ammunition over the Himalayan Mountains from India, across Burma and into China. When the fighting ended, Gene accepted a post war assignment to accompany a USO troupe in the South Pacific.
Using his "Melody Ranch" radio broadcasting experience, Gene Autry became one of the first great stars of the newly popular media called television. He not only produced his own show, but became the executive producer of other hit TV shows as well. Gene's instincts to do things the right way took him into the ownership of radio and television stations. By the early '60s he was into professional baseball, land investments and many other ventures.
In the 1980s, Gene Autry's vision of preserving America's western history began to take shape. By the end of the decade the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum became a reality in Los Angeles' Griffith Park. Today an expanded Autry National Center protects, preserves and exhibits treasures of the Southwest Museum of the American Indian, the Institute for the study of the American West and the Museum of the American West.
Oklahoma's Yodeling Cowboy became a man whose is a living legacy for generations to come.

WHEN JOHNNY COMES MARCHING HOME AGAIN ...

Old 7th - Spanish-American War photo - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - Gift of Gary Fredburg (click on image to enlarge)

Marching off to war! Photo taken at 8th and Spring Street, downtown Los Angeles. The excitement of what Thedore Roosevelt called a "Bully Little War" brought out big crowds in 1898.

The history of American military veterans is a priority for The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. The history of wars goes much farther than medals and battle stories. Lives are not only at stake on the battlefields, but for decades after veterans return to civilian life.

"There are more than 50.000 Homeless Veterans in California and more than 21,000 of these veterans reside in Los Angeles"
April 2008 - Rand Corporation Study.

Your Museum needs volunteers to research and prepare our mobile exhibit (working title) Veterans Built The Modern San Fernando Valley. Call (818) 347-9665 2009 - The Year of Valley History

ENACTMENT OF ARTICLES OFCAPITULATION” AT CAMPO DE CAHUENGA

ENACTMENT OF THE SIGNING OF THE ARTICLES OF
CAPITULATION” AT CAMPO DE CAHUENGA


SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009 AT 1:00 P.M.

Guy Weddington McCreary, Chairman of the Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association announces the Re-Enactment of the Signing of the Articles of Capitulation/

Sunday, January 11, 2009 beginning at 1:00 p.m. A host of events will mark the celebration at the site of the Original Campo de Cahuenga, 3919 Lankershim Blvd., Universal City, CA.

An afternoon of fiesta dancers, the firing of the Howitzer cannon, a tour of the archeological dig, the placing of the Memorial Wreath, presentation of the twelve flags over California, refreshments and fun at Original Campo de Cahuenga as we support the efforts of the Campo de Cahuenga Memorial Historical Association to preserve the history and create a home for the artifacts unearthed during the excavation of the Original Campo de Cahuenga.
Presented by Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association and the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.
Campo de Cahuenga, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the site of the Signing of the Articles of Capitulation, ending the Mexican-American War in California. The Campo de Cahuenga, is located at 3919 Lankershim Blvd., across from Universal City Studio’s and next door to the Universal City-Campo de Cahuenga MTA Subway Station, with free parking at the MTA Station site.

Attendees are encouraged to review the archaeological finds of the old adobe of 1800.
WHAT: “Re-Enactment of the Signing of the Articles of Capitulation”
WHEN: Sunday, January 11, 2009 at 1:00 P.M.
WHERE: Campo de Cahuenga Historical Site
3919 Lankershim Blvd., Universal City/Studio City, CA. The site is across the street from Universal City Studio’s and next door to the Universal City-Campo de Cahuenga MTA Subway Station
CONTACT: For more information regarding the event,
call Diane McCreary, at 818.762.399

ROBERT TAYLOR FILES BEGIN MUSEUM'S SAN FERNANDO VALLEY NOTABLES PROJECT

Robert Taylor and Greta Garbo in 1937 film Camille - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht - 2008 (click on image to enlarge)

Directed by George Cukor, the 1937 block buster film Camille helped to launch the career of a young Robert Taylor. He played the role of a handsome Frenchman, Armand along side of one of most famous women in movie history, Greta Garbo.
Robert Taylor had a ranch home in Northridge. The actress Barbara Stanwick sold her nearby ranch property to the film star Jack Oakie, when she married Robert Taylor and moved into his home.

One of the most exciting projects scheduled by The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, beginning in 2009, is our list of Valley Notables. We will be identifying the places where famous San Fernando Valley residents have lived, but collecting their biographies, photos and memorabilia about their lives and careers.
If you would like to nominate someone like Robert Taylor to the Valley Notables list, drop us an email at
jerry@anchoreducation.com
Tell us your nominee, and leave your address and telephone number at which you can be reached.

2009 - The Year of Valley History