Wagons in vintage Street scenes

(1953)*^^^ - San Fernando J.C. Penney Grand Opening, located at 1140 San Fernando Road. People are seen waiting in line to see the new store. A 1953 Buick Skylark convertible is parked in front.


Historical Notes

The store closed its doors in July 2012 despite having historical significance to the San Fernando community. J.C. Penney has had a store open in San Fernando since 1920.*^^^

http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

 

(ca. 1950)^^^* - View looking north on Reseda Boulevard toward Sherman Way.



http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

 

(ca. 1954)^ - Reseda Boulevard looking north, one block south of Sherman Way, circa 1954. California Bank building is on southwest corner of Reseda Boulevard and Sherman Way and is still standing today. American flag on right is above Reseda Post Office. Gas pumps in lower right belong to Atlantic Richfield gas station.



http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

 

(1955)##^ – View looking east on Sherman Way from Reseda Boulevard with Sav-On Drug Store seen at center-left and the Reseda Theater at left.


Historical Notes

The Reseda Theatre carries the original design of famed architect S. Charles Lee, 1948. The upper facade was a picture frame, a design element found in a couple of Lee’s post-WW II designs. In lieu of a marquee, the Reseda carried a sign board, placed for reading by passing cars. Lee’s works included the Los Angeles & Tower Theatres in downtown LA, the Inglewood Academy Theatre, the Beverly Hills Fox Wilshire Theatre (today, Saban Theatre) and the stunningly beautiful San Luis Obispo Fremont.

Lee’s born name was Simeon Charles Levi. Levi/Lee’s parents bought a furniture store from a Mr. Lee. Rather than change the store’s name, the family changed their name. - Shel Weisbach, author of Pathways of the San Fernando Valley


http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

 

(1940s)^x^ – View showing Fallbrook Market located at 5947 Fallbrook Avenue in Woodland Hills. Note: Fallbrook Avenue is still a dirt road.


Historical Notes

Fallbrook Market was initially built and opened by the Lookabaugh Family in 1946, when Fallbrook Avenue was nothing but a rough-hewn dirt road, and the area was home to more nuts than people. It is one of the oldest businesses and certainly the longest continuously running market in the West San Fernando Valley.

 

(1960s)^x^ – View showing the parking lot and front of Jim’s Fallbrook Market in the early 60's. Click HERE to see contemporary view.


Historical Notes

After Jim McQuaid retired in 1978, sons Mike and Pat took over the store, splitting the meat-cutting/grocery duties. Pat retired in 2010 and Mike’s son, Cory, would soon join the operation.

Jim’s Fallbrook Market, with over 50 years of a McQuaid at the helm, is the longest continuously running market in the West San Fernando Valley. ^x^

 

(1960s)^x^ - View showing Sears, one of the two anchor stores at the Fallbrook Mall. It was located at the southeast corner of the mall, near Victory and Fallbrook.


Historical Notes

The Fallbrook Square Sears, at 330,000 square feet, was said to be the largest store in the Chicago-based chain when it was built.

The Sears, which had re-opened at the nearby Westfield Topanga in 1996, was divided between Big Kmart (upper level) and Burlington Coat Factory (lower level). These opened in 1997. The Big Kmart closed and re-opened, as a Wal-Mart (currently branded as Walmart), in January 2004. *^

 

(1950s)^^ - View looking west of street construction on Ventura Boulevard in Woodland Hills (near where the Ventura Freeway crosses Ventura Boulevard today). Cranes and other construction equipment sit along the left side of the street, while to its right sits the single-story Woodland Realty office. A sign to the right of the building advertises "Woodland Realty - Real Estate Service - 22233 Ventura Blvd - Drive in - Homes - Lots – Acreage." Another street (possibly Shoup), lined by parked automobiles, intersects the main street in the upper portion of the image.



http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

 

(ca. 1950s)##* - View looking northeast showing sheep crossing Roscoe Boulevard in Canoga Park* while a 1951 Nash Rambler Station Wagon waits.


Historical Notes

*In the late 1920s, residents and business leaders suggested that their town's name revert back to Canoga, complaining that Owensmouth suggested a location hundreds of miles away in the Owens Valley. Concerns about the community's image may have inspired the campaign, too; the older suburbs of East Los Angeles and Sherman had recently changed their names to Lincoln Heights and West Hollywood, respectively.

In 1931, Owensmouth became Canoga Park. (The Post Office insisted on adding "Park" to avoid confusion with Canoga, New York.)**^^

http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

 

(1959)* - Photograph caption dated September 2, 1959 reads, "Policeman diverts cars from Tuxford street entrance to Sunland boulevard at Glenoaks boulevard as second traffic jam in two days snarls traffic with closing of Sunland boulevard route from Sun Valley to Sunland to permit widening of thoroughfare. Cars are being rerouted over Sheldon-Wentworth street route just opened last Friday. Sunland boulevard will be closed for next nine months."



http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

 

(1956)* - Photo caption dated July 26, 1956 reads, "Thriving shopping center - Autos line busy Reseda Boulevard shopping center of Northridge. Despite motorized majority, some Northridgers still ride to town on horseback. Town expects to encounter parking problem when diagonal parking is prohibited this fall and parallel parking required by city. Business area still retains friendly, small town flavor."



http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html

*I don't see any hitching posts for Roy and Gene...

 

(1965)#^*^ – View looking east on Chatsworth Street from Zelzah Avenue during the holidays.




http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_Views_of_the_San_Fernando_Valley_Page_4.html