If you have enjoyed visiting The Museum in 2016, attended any of the many exhibits, art speaker events, participated in a historic walking tour or enjoy learning about the history, art and culture of the valley, please support YOUR Museum by donating or becoming a member.
Please click on this Donate link or the button to the right. The Museum would appreciate memberships at the $50, $100 and $250 or more levels too.
One day left before the end of the year - make your tax deductible donation today!
Thank you very much.
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley team
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Debbie Reynolds passes one day after daughter Carrie Fisher; valley ties
What a year, week or few days of so many celebrities passing.
First Carrie Fisher and then iconic movie, stage and television star Debbie Reynolds joins her daughter only one day later.
Debbie Reynolds had strong ties to the San Fernando Valley.
Pegge Forrest, El Portal’s co-manager, stated, "Debbie Reynolds rode her bike from Burbank to North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood when she was 8 years old."
She won a Miss Burbank contest at age 16, then went on to be cast in the star-making role opposite Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor in “Singin’ in the Rain,” at age 19. She was not a trained dancer, had a few months of training and kept up with her co-stars in the movie. One of the most famous dances in movie history over the last 64 years is worth watching again.
Debbie Reynolds was fond of North Hollywood and the El Portal Theatre. When El Portal became a live performance theater, Reynolds performed on its stage 46 times, more than anyone.
Today, the theatre’s marquee read: “Debbie Reynolds, we love you. El Portal’s brightest star.”
She starred in several other famous movies including, The Catered Affair (1956), Tammy and the Bachelor (1957) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964).
Stage credits included: Irene (1973), Debbie (1976), Annie Get Your Gun (1977) and Woman of the Year (1981).
She was also busy with television appearances such as on Will & Grace, Rugrats, Touched by an Angel, Modern Family and had her own show for one year.
Most people know about her marriage to Eddie Fisher in 1955 and the divorce in 1959 and his marriage to Elizabeth Taylor the same day! Two children, Todd and Carrie Fisher came out of her first marriage.
To read the entire article by Daily News reporter Susan Abram and with support from staff writer Brenda Gazzar and City News Service, please click HERE.
If you enjoy posts such as this one, support YOUR Museum by donating or becoming a member. Click on the Donate button to the right.
One day left before the end of the year - make your tax deductible donation today!
Thank you.
Posted by Mike Stevens
First Carrie Fisher and then iconic movie, stage and television star Debbie Reynolds joins her daughter only one day later.
Debbie Reynolds had strong ties to the San Fernando Valley.
Pegge Forrest, El Portal’s co-manager, stated, "Debbie Reynolds rode her bike from Burbank to North Hollywood’s El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood when she was 8 years old."
She won a Miss Burbank contest at age 16, then went on to be cast in the star-making role opposite Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor in “Singin’ in the Rain,” at age 19. She was not a trained dancer, had a few months of training and kept up with her co-stars in the movie. One of the most famous dances in movie history over the last 64 years is worth watching again.
Debbie Reynolds was fond of North Hollywood and the El Portal Theatre. When El Portal became a live performance theater, Reynolds performed on its stage 46 times, more than anyone.
Today, the theatre’s marquee read: “Debbie Reynolds, we love you. El Portal’s brightest star.”
She starred in several other famous movies including, The Catered Affair (1956), Tammy and the Bachelor (1957) and The Unsinkable Molly Brown (1964).
Stage credits included: Irene (1973), Debbie (1976), Annie Get Your Gun (1977) and Woman of the Year (1981).
She was also busy with television appearances such as on Will & Grace, Rugrats, Touched by an Angel, Modern Family and had her own show for one year.
Most people know about her marriage to Eddie Fisher in 1955 and the divorce in 1959 and his marriage to Elizabeth Taylor the same day! Two children, Todd and Carrie Fisher came out of her first marriage.
To read the entire article by Daily News reporter Susan Abram and with support from staff writer Brenda Gazzar and City News Service, please click HERE.
If you enjoy posts such as this one, support YOUR Museum by donating or becoming a member. Click on the Donate button to the right.
One day left before the end of the year - make your tax deductible donation today!
Thank you.
Posted by Mike Stevens
Saturday, December 10, 2016
Closed All Saturdays in December
Hello fellow Museum supporters and friends,
The Museum will not be open on Saturdays in December due to a shortage of volunteers and the holidays.
Please visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1-6pm.
The Museum will not be open on Saturdays in December due to a shortage of volunteers and the holidays.
Please visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1-6pm.
Friday, December 9, 2016
John Glenn, Jr. - Astronaut - Senator - Statesman - dead at age 95 - True American Hero
America has lost a true American hero.
John Glenn passed away yesterday at the age of 95. What a life!
Were you old enough to witness or remember his flight and orbit into outer space in 1962? How did it make you feel as an American?
Did you know that the Atlas rockets for this mission were created by Rocketdyne? That the testing of these rockets was performed in Santa Susana Field Labs? Read a nice article in the Daily News article by Greg Wilcox on John Glenn, Jr. and Rocketdyne team members, Ed Monteath, a former Rocketdyne vice president, now 98 and Engine test engineer Lee Solid who recall their work and interactions with Glenn HERE.
The engineering might of Rocketdyne has to be placed in perspective. The Space Race that occurred in the 1960s placed a tremendous amount of pressure from Washington down to Canoga Park. All of these brilliant minds coming together to drive America to the finish line, in first place,, by placing men in space and ultimately to the moon and safely back to Earth in the same decade. What an achievement!
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., pilot of the Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6) spaceflight, poses for a photo with the Mercury "Friendship 7" spacecraft during preflight activities. On Feb. 20, 1962, Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 "Friendship 7" spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United States. Launched from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., he completed a successful three-orbit mission around the earth, reaching a maximum altitude (apogee) of approximately 162 statute miles and an orbital velocity of approximately 17,500 miles per hour. Glenn's "Friendship 7" Mercury spacecraft landed approximately 800 miles southeast of KSC in the vicinity of Grand Turk Island. Mission duration from launch to impact was 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 23 seconds.
Souce: NASA
The launch and life of Col.John Glenn, Jr.
Source: PBS News Hour
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., NASA flight surgeon William Douglas and equipment specialist Joseph W. Schmidt leave crew quarters prior to the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Glenn is in his pressure suit and is carrying the portable ventilation unit.
Souce: NASA
Have you ever been to a science museum and looked into one of these older space capsules? Can you say "Guts of Steel?" With no guarantee of a successful flight and return, he splashed down a hero.
At age 77, he did it again by hopping a ride and offering himself up to research on October 29, 1998 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.
The Museum loves to salute the accomplishments of the aerospace and aviation industries from the San Fernando Valley. A lot of folks are quick to talk about the history and current state of entertainment and music, but the achievements in these fields are easily, if not ahead of these other fields. It is truly mind-boggling on the advancements in technology during this decade.
And, for today, Rocketdyne continues to devise and bring to reality the rockets for missions to Mars and beyond.
Posted by Mike Stevens
John Glenn passed away yesterday at the age of 95. What a life!
Were you old enough to witness or remember his flight and orbit into outer space in 1962? How did it make you feel as an American?
Did you know that the Atlas rockets for this mission were created by Rocketdyne? That the testing of these rockets was performed in Santa Susana Field Labs? Read a nice article in the Daily News article by Greg Wilcox on John Glenn, Jr. and Rocketdyne team members, Ed Monteath, a former Rocketdyne vice president, now 98 and Engine test engineer Lee Solid who recall their work and interactions with Glenn HERE.
The engineering might of Rocketdyne has to be placed in perspective. The Space Race that occurred in the 1960s placed a tremendous amount of pressure from Washington down to Canoga Park. All of these brilliant minds coming together to drive America to the finish line, in first place,, by placing men in space and ultimately to the moon and safely back to Earth in the same decade. What an achievement!
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., pilot of the Mercury Atlas 6 (MA-6) spaceflight, poses for a photo with the Mercury "Friendship 7" spacecraft during preflight activities. On Feb. 20, 1962, Glenn piloted the Mercury-Atlas 6 "Friendship 7" spacecraft on the first manned orbital mission of the United States. Launched from Kennedy Space Center, Fla., he completed a successful three-orbit mission around the earth, reaching a maximum altitude (apogee) of approximately 162 statute miles and an orbital velocity of approximately 17,500 miles per hour. Glenn's "Friendship 7" Mercury spacecraft landed approximately 800 miles southeast of KSC in the vicinity of Grand Turk Island. Mission duration from launch to impact was 4 hours, 55 minutes, and 23 seconds.
Souce: NASA
The launch and life of Col.John Glenn, Jr.
Source: PBS News Hour
Astronaut John H. Glenn Jr., NASA flight surgeon William Douglas and equipment specialist Joseph W. Schmidt leave crew quarters prior to the Mercury-Atlas 6 mission. Glenn is in his pressure suit and is carrying the portable ventilation unit.
Souce: NASA
On Feb. 23, 1962, U.S. President John F. Kennedy pays tribute to astronaut John H. Glenn Jr. for his February 1962 flight aboard Friendship 7. The Mercury-Atlas 6 mission marked the free world's first orbital manned flight. Vice-President Lyndon Baines Johnson (for whom the Manned Spacecraft Center was later to be named), NASA Administrator James Webb and Glenn family members are among others also in the scene.
Have you ever been to a science museum and looked into one of these older space capsules? Can you say "Guts of Steel?" With no guarantee of a successful flight and return, he splashed down a hero.
At age 77, he did it again by hopping a ride and offering himself up to research on October 29, 1998 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery.
The Museum loves to salute the accomplishments of the aerospace and aviation industries from the San Fernando Valley. A lot of folks are quick to talk about the history and current state of entertainment and music, but the achievements in these fields are easily, if not ahead of these other fields. It is truly mind-boggling on the advancements in technology during this decade.
And, for today, Rocketdyne continues to devise and bring to reality the rockets for missions to Mars and beyond.
Posted by Mike Stevens
16th Annual Neighborhood Christmas Open House at the Williams Home 12/18/16
Join us at the 16th Annual Neighborhood Christmas Open House at Chris Williams Home on Sunday, December 18th!
Catered by Rosie's BBQ!
Sunday, December 18th
Anytime between 2-5PM at the William Home 19551 Romar St, Northridge, CA, 91324
For more information acwilliams@aol.com
Chris Williams 818-694-9000
ReMax Olson BRE#00688014
Optional: Bring canned food for a local shelter - Hope of the Valley
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