VAN NUYS HIGH SCHOOL 50th REUNION PROGRAM 2008

Van Nuys High School - 50th Reunion Program - Class of 1958 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2008 - gift of Janne Shreves Fecht
Stimulated by the support of San Fernando Valley history by Ray Marin, alumnus of North Hollywood High School, more Valley high school stories are being collected every day by your Museum.
Is your school class having a reunion? Make sure that your Museum gets a copy of the program - and, contact us for supportive materials from our archives.
Go Wolves!

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

COMING OF AGE IN THE VALLEY IN THE 60s

Coming of age in the San Fernando Valley in the late 50s and early 60s was a time fun and innocence - the Viet Nam war was a distant thing.

Getting Ready for Branding Day - Pierce College c 1962 - photo courtesy of Bob Robar - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)
The fellow in the hill-billy hat is none other than Dick Uschyk.

-Pierce College Football Game c, 1961 - photo courtesy of Bob Robar - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)
The dark and handsome fellow with the serious look and the date is Scotty Motto.

- Valley College Sorority Women c. 1959 - photo courtesy of Bob Robar - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

EARTHQUAKES AND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

In case any of us forgot, it's not "if" the big Earthquake is coming to Los Angeles and our nervous Valley - it's "when!"
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley collects images and information concerning earthquakes in Southern California, and when we acquire exhibit space will regularly cover the issue.
In the meanwhile, your Museum supports John Bwarie's efforts to create great Earthquake Awareness and Preparation.

http://www.shakeout.org/


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

SALUTE TO RAY MARIN

Ray Marin - North Hollywood High School Preservationist - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2008 (click on image to enlarge)
SALUTE TO RAY MARIN - THE MUSEUM'S MAN OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER 2008
Thanks to Ray Marin for his willingness to share his treasure trove of North Hollywood High School history, your Museum has a powerful insight into life at his alma mater in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Ray presented the Museum with a great compact disc featuring 8mm films made on the North Hollywood High School campus, along with music and photographs from the era. Your Museum has shared with alumnae women from Providence High School in Burbank, Valley advertisements from 1958 and other items to bring back memories for their 50th reunion.
Ray Marin understands the value of small items to help tell a bigger story. Below is an "Atomic Bomb" children's toy ring. It speaks more than words about the impact of "the bomb" on a far more naive world than our own. ... And, the bomb is made of lead no less.
Atomic Bomb Ring - Image in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2008 -
THANKS RAY - WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP!

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

1932 OLYMPIC GAMES MEDALLION BY HUGO BALLIN

Proposed Medallion for the 1932 Olympic Games - Collection of Phyllis Hansen - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2008 (click on image to enlarge)

Your Museum's electronic archives grow every day. Here, a newspaper clipping from an early Los Angeles newspaper (c. 1931) shows a medallion by the major California artist Hugo Ballin. The caption for the image reads: "Depicting Pallas Athena, diety of the Olympic Games, a seventeen foot medallion b Hugh Ballin A.N.A. will be hung at the entrance of the stadium."
It is assumed that the "stadium" would have been the Los Angeles Coliseum but it may have also been the swimming venue in Exposition Park.
Those who pay attention to the murals in public buildings in the Los Angeles area should be familiar with the splendid works of Hugo Ballin. His images grace the Griffith Park Observatory, the entrance of the historic Edison Building, the Burbank City Hall and the great Wilshire Temple ....and much more. Ballin came to Los Angeles in 1921 at the urging of Louie B. Mayer to work for MGM. He was trained as a classical painter, demonstrated in this medallion image.

For all of the beauty and sophistication of Bellin's works, there is a funny little mistake in this design. Lady Pallas Athena is the Goddess of the city of Athens (Athena). As such Her image would not have been utilized to represent the ancient Olympic Games that were dedicated to Lord Zeus. (The Gods got a bit jealous over these things.)

Just for ducks.... The artist who created the logo for the American Medical Association made a similar "classic" mistake, when he or she used the caduceus wand of Lord Mercury for the good doctors. Unfortunately Lord Aesculapius is the God of Medicine and his symbol is a forked stick with a snake entwined about it. The God Mercury or Hermes is the Deity of Commerce, Cattle Rustlers and Thieves. (Well, maybe the artist got the right image after all?)

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