Author Archives: Christine Adolph

Back to School

Students rush up steps at Lankershim Elementary School in North Hollywood, <a href=

cialis Sept. 12, 1955. #00031295″ width=”800″ height=”640″ /> Students rush up steps at Lankershim Elementary School in North Hollywood, Sept. 12, 1955. #00031295

The post war population boom in the San Fernando Valley meant that schools were needed to accommodate the growing number of children and teenagers. These are a sample of images recently added to the online collection that show the development of Valley schools and the kids who filled the classrooms.

: Rebuilt administration and library building at John Burroughs High School, 1920 West Clark Avenue, Burbank. Sept. 10, 1955. order #00082821

: Entrance to the new $5,000,000 Reseda High School, located at 18230 Kittridge St., September 13, 1955. order #00031312

: Harry Saunders, assistant director of city school’s educational housing section, shows artist’s drawing of new Valerio Street Elementary School in Van Nuys, 1956. order #00108890

: Osceola Street Elementary School, 14940 Osceola St., Sylmar, designed by architect Victor Gruen and Associates, September 4, 1958. order #00045972

: Some of the first students to enter the new Argyll Academy girls’ private high school (now Campbell Hall), 1956. order #00111923

: Reading lesson at Oso Avenue Elementary School, Woodland Hills with students from new West Valley housing tracts, February 13, 1959. order #00085460

: Myrtle Hinssinger, office clerk with Joan von KleinSmid, principal of new Sharp Avenue Elementary School, 13800 Pierce St., Pacoima, September 24, 1959. order #00084503

: Outdoor lunch at Herrick Avenue School, 13350 Herrick Ave., Sylmar, September 24, 1959. order #00084498

: September 24, 1959 New Parkman Junior High School awaits landscaping, September 24, 1959. order #00084480

: Bus arrives with first load of students for recently completed Justice Street Elementary School just completed at 23350 Justice St., Canoga Park, September 24, 1959. order #00084478

: Flag- raising at new Knollwood Elementary School, 11822 Gerald Ave. Granada Hills, 1960. order #00113637

: Sixth-grade students at Vintage Street School, Sepulveda, study The Valley Times, 1960. order #00093490

: Woodman Avenue Elementary School, at the intersection of Woodman Avenue and Riverside Drive, 1960. order #00092384

: The Taft High School campus, 5461 Winnetka Avenue, Woodland Hills, 1961. Photo by George Brich. order #00032887

: Smokey the Bear, famous mascot of the U. S. Forest Service, visits Riverside Elementary School, 13061 Riverside Dr., 1963. order #00114999

: Third-grade children enter classrooms at the St. Charles School, Moorpark and Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, September 9, 1964. Photo by George Brich. order #00112241

: Site of the future Agoura High School Las Virgenes District, July 1, 1964. Photo by Bob Miller. order #00114153

: First flag raising at new Harding Street Elementary School, Sylmar, September 14, 1964. Photo by Steve Young. order #00109714

California Lutheran College Opens

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Here are some recently digitized photos of California Lutheran College in Thousand Oaks—the first private college to open in the Valley— by staff photographer George Brich. The series from August 21, 1961 shows some features of the new campus before the first students began classes on September 11.

Robert Gronlund, assistant to the president, in front of one of the two apartment-styled student dormitories of the new California Lutheran College's Thousand Oaks campus. Order #00111822

Robert Gronlund, assistant to the president, in front of one of the two apartment-styled student dormitories on the new California Lutheran College’s Thousand Oaks campus. Order #00111822

: Leonore Dahl, 18, daughter of the college’s president, Dr. Orville Dahl, behind the counter in the coffee shop of the college’s temporary student union. She will be one of the college’s 80 sophomores, and holds a beany to be worn by the 220 incoming freshmen. Order # 00111823

: Steven Brandt, Navy chaplain, relaxes by the 60-foot swimming pool. Order # 00111826

: Librarian John Caldwell and cataloguer Ardis Koto stock books. The archives include $200,000 Paramount Movie Theater music library. Order # 00111824

Universal Studios Tour

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“‘May I have your attention please,’ said the musical voice of the tour guide from the front of the tram. ‘My name is Judy Marquette, she said, ‘and we’re going to take you on a tour of Universal City.'”

Tourists on the studio tour tram. Order #00109487

On August 19, 1964, Valley Times staff writer Vic Pollard and staff photographer Steve Young covered the recent promotion of the Universal Studios tram tours, which offered visitors from all over the United States a look at the studio’s back lot. Pollard and Young rode along with 65 tourists in the coral and white, three-car tram to get a behind the scenes view of motion picture and television production.

: Studio visitors in a sound stage where interior movie scenes are made. Order # 00109491

: Antique auto bounces, as if traveling a bumpy road, in front of a moving scenery screen. Order # 00109490

: Barbara Corless, from Silver Springs, Md., gets Hollywood make-up job from Leonard Engelman as part of tour program. Order # 00109489

: Kathy Geelan, 11, left, and her sister Mary Beth, 9, of Tujunga, lift a rubber ‘boulder’ at Universal City’s Visitor’s Center. Order # 00109488

Five guided tours were offered to typically 350 visitors per day. Photography was encouraged. Special sets from popular TV shows were on display, accompanied by signs listing the correct camera settings so guests could be sure to get a good picture. All for the admission price of $2.50 for adults and $1.25 for children!

Valley Women on Display

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The women of the San Fernando Valley are the focus of the current exhibition from the Photo Collection in the Central Library’s History & Genealogy Department. Defining Their Indentity – The Changing Roles of Woman in the Post-War Era as Documented by the Valley Times Newspaper features the diversity of women’s lives in the home, the workplace, and the community during the years of suburban growth and social changes from 1946 -1965.

There is also a exhibition catalog available through Amazon and the Library Book Store. Former Los Angeles City Council member, Joy Picus (the first woman to represent the San Fernando Valley on the City Council) wrote the introduction.

Here’s Joy speaking at the opening reception July 15, 2014.

The exhibition is definitely worth a look and will be up until January 3, 2015.

Christmas in July?

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Today in Valley History… Gags spark neighborhood fun

Order #00108936

This photo by George Brich ran July 29, 1960 with the caption: Coming home to find Christmas lights strung all over the house isn’t unusual for certain Granada Hills neighborhood which thrives on practical jokes. Here, Mrs. Betty Williams, right background, enlists aid of neighbors Mrs. Larry Wallen and Dick Strahm to help her undo latest gag pulled on them in retaliation against gag they pulled in retaliation against gag – et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.

“Christmas in July” was also a popular theme for social and civic events, as seen in this photo from July 16, 1959.

Order #00109580

Mmes. H. J. Matchett, Ray Thelan, Warren Boughton and Harold Hennessy (from left) prepare for the annual “Christimas in July” fundraising activity sponsored by the Encino Republican Women’s Club, which featured booths selling white elephant and Christmas trinkets.

Suburban Summer

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Summer is officially here! Let’s take a look at some images showing how Valleyites beat the heat by taking a dip in the pool.

According to the caption in this photo, in 1961 there were 24,835 pools in the San Fernando Valley, with approximately 4,000 being added each year.

Photograph caption dated September 30, 1961 reads, “Typical of the relaxed outdoor living in the San Fernando Valley is this scene around the backyard swimming pool. Children enjoy the fun under watchful eye of grownups. Thousands of these relaxation spots dot the Valley and more are being built each year.” Order# 00082908

: Photograph caption dated June 9, 1954 reads, “Pianist Liberace stands on the ‘keys’ of his piano shaped swimming pool at his Sherman Oaks home. He loves pianos. Has ’em all sizes around his home and yard, just as a token of appreciation. ” Order #00021873

: Youthful divers prepare for Encino Aquacade – Photograph caption dated September 9, 1960 reads, “From left, Marilyn Taylor, LeOuita Nicholas, Judy Wade, Donna Russell.” Order #00111052

: Photograph by Jon Woods . Caption dated June 29, 1961 reads, “Employes [sic] find swim-fun at swimsuit manufacturing firm. Plant pool at Rose Marie Reid is turned over to employes [sic] for weekend recreation.” Order #00086072

: Photograph caption dated July 20, 1959 reads, ” ‘Around the World’ club stages swim. Members of Around the World Club of Reseda High School gather poolside at recent party honoring new officers and Dr. Mary Harker, co-sponsor of unit, now on global trip.” Order #00083753

: “Pert Miss Shirley Griffin, 16331 Mission Blvd., Granada Hills, dabbles feet in sun-heated pool, first Valley pool with solar heat unit open for inspection. Herbert Quindt, who pioneers solar heating unit for Valley, chats with his lovely guest at Quindt Pools, 8416 Reseda Blvd.”. Photograph dated: April 8, 1959. Order #00082789

: Photograph caption dated May 17, 1960 reads, “Preview pool – North American Aviation employes [sic] Anita Segre, left, and Kathy Ridgway try out 25×60-foot pool, setting stage for summer splashing when Canoga Park facility’s new 15-acre park officially opens May 27.” Order #00108027

: Photograph by George Brich. Caption dated September 7, 1960 reads, “Engineer Warren Gray supervises play of his daughters, Patty, 12, and Debbie, 8, and their friends Dennis, 10, and Jimmy Remmer, 13, and Ann Gardner, 12, in new pool at their home on Criswell street, Canoga Park. Gray works for Lockheed Aircraft Corp. at Burbank facility.” Order #00111703

: Photograph caption dated August 22, 1957 reads, “Members of Eta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi will cool off at splash party on Sunday in Robert Milligan pool. Sampling water temperatures and refreshments are the hostess, Mrs. Milligan, with Mmes. Jack Holt and J. Carl Seibly Jr., from left.” Order #00109220

: Photograph caption dated June 4, 1957 reads, “Little David Allan Siddon, 2 1/2, splashes happily in his plastic wading pool in front of his home, 7461 Capistrano Ave., Canoga Park. While young David was cooling off, temperature soared to highest this year – a scorching 107. More heat is in store for Valley.” Order #00112664

Let’s Go ‘On Location’ in the Valley

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The entertainment section of the Valley Times featured a story on October 30, 1963 covering a tour of the back lot of Universal Pictures where many classic movies like “Psycho”, “All Quiet on the Western Front” and “Sparticus” were filmed. The photos were shot by staff photographer Gordon Dean.

This is an aerial view of the 300 – acre lot bordered by the Los Angeles river, Barham Boulevard and the Hollywood Freeway. The panorama is a composite of four images:

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Here’s a closer look at some of the sets that served as backgrounds for some of Universal’s classic films and television shows.

: The original cathedral used in the 1923 Lon Chaney film, “Hunchback of Notre Dame.” It was also Notre Dame in Universal’s first Academy Award picture, “All Quiet on the Western Front.” #00109483

: One of the four Western sets on the lot, which date back to the days of silent film. Many TV shows such as “Wagon Train” and “The Virginian” were also shot there. #00109482

: On one of lot’s three lakes. The riverboat was built in 1952 for Jimmy Stewart’s “Bend of the River”. At left is “McHale’s Navy” PT boat. #00109484

: A New England street #00109479

: “Egg and I” ranch house used in the “Ma and Pa Kettle” films and the “Wells Fargo” series. #00109480

: P-51 stored near “Tap Roots” mansion. The house also doubled for schools and churches. #00109478

: One of the oldest sets on the 300-acre back lot, the “plantation house” came into being during the silent days. Since then it was used in hundreds of films, including the Sinatra Enterprises Western, “4 For Texas.” #00109481

Behind the Scenes at the Valley Times

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The Valley Times often featured stories about the paper’s operations and staff. Here are some images from a photo essay that ran on July 19, 1960 showing how the Valley Times covered the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles.

Photographer Larry Paulson, Order #00109127

“In the news room – This is a section in the newsroom of the main office of the Valley Times [which was located at 11109 Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood] where convention news was prepared for the day’s editions. Copy arrived in an unending stream from all the sources of this newspaper shown on this page, supplemented by Associated Press, United Press International and City News Service. Executive editor Jackson Berger, standing at left, checks stories with managing editor Almer Isackson, seated. City editor Ade Banks, right, processes stories from staff members, which are handed to John Hoggatt, news editor, second from right, for layout on convention pages.”

Meanwhile at the Los Angeles Sports Arena…

Photographer Gordon Dean, Order #00109129

“Lady Bird ‘sings’ – Valley Times reporter Dave Holland interviews Lady Bird Johnson, wife of Democratic vice presidential nominee, Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson, for personal story of the wife of one of the major contending candidates.”

“Valley Times staff writer Joyce Lambeau takes time out from her duties as convention Golden Girl hostess to buttonhole Sam Rayburn, speaker of the House, and quiz him on his candidate, Texas Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson.”

Photographer Gordon Dean, Order #0010934

“Valley Times reporter Jack Langguth, center, questions colorful Michigan Gov. G. Mennen ‘Soapy’ Williams on his ideas of Democratic convention progress. Photographer George Brich, left, records scene on film. Michigan governor led anti-Lyndon Johnson movement.”

Photographer Jon Woods, Order #00109137

“Gordon Dean, right, chief Valley Times photographer, checks camera with photographer Jon Woods to make sure equipment is ready for fast-breaking story on convention floor.”

Order#00109131

“Political writer John McDonald pounds out analysis of convention news. Besides complete news coverage and colorful sidelights, Valley Times featured interpretations of important events.”

Photographer Jon Woods, Order#00109132

“Marr McGaffin, of the Valley Times convention bureau, makes final check on his story before teletype operator Vonna Bairston transmits story out of bureau at convention headquarters, transmitting news immediately after it broke.”

Photographer Jon Woods, Order#00109136

To view more from this series and the Valley Times, visit the Photo Collection at lapl.org

Valley Times Collection

Making Valley History Available to Everyone

Author Archives: Christine Adolph

Back to School

California Lutheran College Opens

Universal Studios Tour

Valley Women on Display

Christmas in July?

Suburban Summer

Let’s Go ‘On Location’ in the Valley

Behind the Scenes at the Valley Times