O.K., Richard, I have a bit of trivia for you!! A song was written about the San Fernando Valley and hit No. 1 on the Billboard chart on April 29, 1944. It was sung by Roy Rogers (you've heard of him?!) in the 1943 movie, "San Fernando Valley." Here are the lyrics for you:
"Oh I'm packin' my grip and I'm leavin' today,
cause I'm taking a trip California way
I'm gonna settle down and never more roam,
and make the San Fernando Valley my home.
I'll forget my sins, I'll be makin' new friends,
where the West begins and the sunset ends
Cause I've decided where yours truly should be
and it's the San Fernando Valley for me.
I think that I'm safe in statin',
she will be waitin' when my lonely journey is done
And kindly old Rev'rend Thomas made us a promise,
he will make the two of us one
So I'm hittin' the trail to the cow country,
you can forward my mail care of R.F.D.,
I'm gonna settle down and never more roam
and make the San Fernando Valley my home."
And here's the website for more info about the lovely place where I grew up!
http://www.americassuburb.com/home.html
Originally, orange groves were everywhere. As more veterans from the Korean War and WWII got married and moved their families here, the groves became more sparse as more housing tracts were built. There is still the occasional grove here and there, and many homes still have at least one or two orange trees. I've lived here my whole life and love it.
Oh, one more thing. The movie, "Chinatown" with Jack Nicholson was loosely based on the bringing of water to the Valley. Here's another quote from the website:
"Nothing altered the Valley's future like the opening on Nov. 5, 1913 of an aqueduct between the Eastern Sierra's Owens Valley and a reservoir west of San Fernando. The waterway designed by William Mulholland transformed a parched region into an irrigated greenbelt."
Perhaps you remember the name of John Huston's character: Mulwray.... coincidence? I think not.
Also, one last interesting tidbit:
The Beatles first performance in Los Angeles caused a frenzy that ran for several days. Fearing wild fans, officials barred the band from using Burbank Airport. The Fab Four stayed in a private home since no hotel could stand the onslaught of fans.
Hours before their first sold-out concert at Hollywood Bowl the evening of August 23, 1964, Beatlemania hit Studio City. The Beatles dropped in on for a "secret" press conference at the Cinnamon Cinder, a nightclub for teenagers at 11345 Ventura Boulevard.
The Cinder belonged to Bob Eubanks, the KRLA disc jockey (now TV personality) who also presented the Beatles concert. He thought the club would be a quiet place to let writers interview the band. He was wrong.
At about 7 p.m., the Beatles tried to sneak in. Word got out, however, and Ventura Boulevard was mobbed. "More than 400 teenagers staged a mass attack," the now-defunct Valley Times reported. One 15-year-old girl threw herself in front of the Beatles' limousine, but was unhurt.
Fans who didn't get to see the Beatles at the Cinder or the Bowl always had the drive-in. That week, "A Hard’s Day Night" was screening at the Sepulveda Drive-in."
Did I mention that I grew up in Studio City?! Verrry interesting place!
[ April 17, 2005, 01:16: Message edited by: Sheryl ]