Reflecting on

Canoga Parks
Past through the
Los Angeles
Public Librarys
Photo Collection.

Photograph caption dated July 5, 1965 reads "Deemed by the judges of Saturday's Freedom Season Parade in Woodland Hills as the float best depicting the theme of the parade was
this entry submitted by the Independence Bank of Canoga Park. Sporting two soldiers of the Revolution, an eagle, a beautiful girl and a Liberty Bell that actually rang out, by means of
a tape recorder and four large speakers, the float was Independence Day all the way." Photo by Steve Young/Valley Times Collection.

Presentation Content
Bio & Blog

Early Years: 1900 - 1950

Boom Years: 1950 - 1980

Transition Years: 1980 to Present

Photograph caption dated May 11, 1961 reads, "Joining in groundbreaking ceremonies for new 73-acre industrial track at Roscoe
boulevard and Canoga avenue, Canoga Park, are, from left foreground, Bill Bailey, representing the Canoga Park Chamber of
Commerce; Dan L. Duggan, Coldwell, Banker & Company, and John D. Roche, Roscoe-Canoga Industrial Park Company. From left, rear,
are Jack Reeves, Southern Pacific Railroad; William E. McCann, representing Mayor Poulson, and Ernest Labelle, of the Los Angeles
Chamber of Commerce. Tract will offer industrial concerns sites ranging from two-thirds of an acre to 10 acres in size." Photo by
George Brich/Valley Times Collection.

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http://sanfernandovalleyblog.blogspot.com/2015/11/my-presentation-to-canoga-owensmouth.html

Los Angeles Public Librarys Photo Collection

As of March 8, 2016

Early Years:
1900 - 1950

A crowd fills
the Greek
arcade (aka
Greek Theatre)
on the campus
of Owensmouth
High School
(later renamed
Canoga Park
High School).
Photo dated
1918. Photo by
Security Pacific
National Bank
Collection.

Exterior view of
Canoga Park High
School. The school
was practically
destroyed by fire,
with a loss of more
than $250,000. The
students, numbering
between 300 and
350, marched from
the building at the
first alarm, and not
one was injured or
burned. Photo
dated: June 12,
1929. Photo by
Hearld-Examiner
Collection.

Sherman Way, divided

by railroad tracks, in
"downtown
Owensmouth?" in the
early 1920's. Photo by
Los Angeles Public
Libray.

View of the
intersection of
Owensmouth and
Sherman Way in
Owensmouth (later
renamed Canoga
Park). The
numerous people
and automobiles
suggest that a
community event is
taking place. Photo
by Security Pacific
National Bank
Collection.

Exterior view of
Johnston Organ &
Piano Mfg. Co. on
Owensmouth, in
Canoga Park. Photo
dated 1914. Photo
by Security Pacific
National Bank
Collection.

Workers plucking
chickens at Weeks
Poultry Ranch, also
known as the Charles
Weeks Poultry
Communities, located at
21228 Sherman Way.
Dated July 14, 1927.
Photo by Security Pacific
National Bank
Collection.

Boom Years:
1950 - 1980

Photograph caption dated

March 1, 1960 reads, "Nearly
10,000 cars fill lots at
Rocketdyne's Canoga Park
facility which provides
engines to be tested by field
laboratory in Santa Susana
Mountains, visible in
background." Photo by Valley
Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

November 4, 1963 reads,
"North American Aviation
officials move a huge 33-footin-diameter thrust ring for a
rocket engine test stand
through the Valley early today
en route from Los Angeles
International Airport to the
Rocketdyne test site in the
Santa Susana Mountains. The
30-ton ring, in the shape of a
gigantic saucer with the
middle out, is several feet
wider than the average house.
The truck hauled the ring
through Sepulveda Blvd. in
the Santa Monica Mountains
to the Valley. From there it
was a seven-hour trip to the
test site north of Canoga
park." Photo by George
Birch/Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption
dated June 13, 1963
reads, "Film crew moves
up on a Rocketdyne
static test - Canoga Park
aerospace firm has
produced 500 motion
pictures." Photo by
George Birch/Valley
Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

September 7, 1960 reads,
"Pilot's eye view west above
Canoga Park shows
hundreds of new homes
pushing up against
mountains in 1,133-acre
Platt Ranch area. To right of
picture is Vanowen Street.
Near center of picture is
Welby Way Elementary
School." Photo by Jon
Woods/Valley Times
Collection.

Photograph caption dated July 8, 1965

reads, "This is the illegal driveway as it
remains today at the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Dan Monaco of 23321 Cohasset St.,
Canoga Park. Note the steep incline into
the garage adjacent to home." Photo by
Jeff Goldwater/Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

February 19, 1965 reads, "Open
House - The Vassar House in
Canoga Park is one of three new
apartment complexes by Janro
Corporation which will hold open
house over the weekend. Units are
located at 7043 Vassar Street."
Photo by Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

March 16, 1965 reads
"Entrance to Lederer home
announces Spanish theme.
Paintings and other art
objects date back to 15th
and 16th Century." Photo
by George Brich/Valley
Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

April 1, 1964 reads, "David
Brockmann, left, and John
Naftzger climb hill from new
Canoga Mission Community
Art Center in Canoga Park.
Pair plans museum in
building modeled after San
Luis Rey Mission, donated by
actor Francis Lederer." Photo
by George Brich/Valley Times
Collection.

Photograph article dated February 25, 1965 reads, "Dig That

Money - In a most appropriate gesture, one of the fist men to
turn a shovel of dirt on the site of the new Lytton Savings
and Loan Association yesterday at ground-breaking
ceremonies in Canoga Park was Bart Lytton, left, board
chairman of the association. Helping Lytton were Francis
Lederer, center, honorary mayor of Canoga Park, and Warren
M. Dorn, Los Angeles County Supervisor." Photo by Valley
Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

September 7, 1960 reads,
"Sign amidst sunflowers
at Vanowen street and
Topanga Canyon
boulevard, Canoga Park,
will be replaced with new
May Co., Sears stores and
other shops. Center will
provide parking for 7,200
cars. It will be part of a
planned community."
Photo by George
Brich/Valley Times
Collection.

Topanga Plaza, located

at 6600 Topanga
Canyon Boulevard in
Canoga Park, shown
on its opening day,
August 24, 1964.
Photo by Steve
Young/Valley Times
Collection.

Photograph caption dated July 21, 1965

reads "'Policeman' Joseph Bebetu
prepares to nab the suspicious-looking
slinky dance hall girl, Sheri Draiman, as
the two get in the mood for the Topanga
Plaza Old Fashioned Days sale." Photo by
Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

October 27, 1964 reads "The
architecture of the Canoga new
Chrysler-Plymouth facility
gives the agency building an
imposing appearance." Photo
by Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated September

16, 1964 reads, "The Pep Boys Manny, Moe and Jack - have set the
grand opening of their newest store
at 7020 Topanga Canyon Blvd.,
Canoga Park, for 9 a.m. tomorrow. A
sale continues through Saturday."
Photo by Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated March

12,1965 reads, "Set for their grand
opening this weekend are Pappy's
Restaurant and The Country Squire
Motel, 7625 Topanga Canyon Blvd.,
Canoga Park. A three-day celebration
will herald the introduction of the West
Valley link of the national chain of
Pappy's and 52 room motel which
includes swimming pool and putting
green." Photo by Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated February 23, 1961

reads "An open house sale of $250,000 worth
of merchandise will be one of the highlights of
today's opening of the new $500,000 Canoga
Carpets store, 20924 Sherman Way, Canoga
Park. Owner Jim Huth said the store will be
open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through
Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays."
Photo by Jon Woods/Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

September 28, 1962 reads
"Radio wave opens doors of
Zodys in Canoga Park - Crowd
surges at Zodys discount store
at Topanga Canyon and Roscoe
Blvds., in Canoga Park as doors
swing open Thursday morning
by means of a radio wave
bounced off Mt. Wilson by a
helicopter. Another Zodys in
West Covina was opened
simultaneously by the radio
wave. The stores opened
Thursday mark the fifth and
sixth stores in the chain. A
seventh Zodys will be opened
in Burbank in December."
Photo by Bob Martin/Valley
Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated April 13,

1964 reads, "Theater executives pose
outside the remodeled Valley West
Theater, which reopens Wednesday.
Left to right are Donald Sayles,
managing director of the theater, Alex
[sic] Cooperman, and Shan V. Sayles,
both executives of Continental Theaters,
Inc." The article partially reads, "The
remodeled Valley West Theater in
Canoga Park will be reopened
Wednesday by Continental Theatres
[sic], Inc. The theater is located two
blocks from the area's largest shopping
center, the three million dollar Valley
Plaza development at Topanga and
Vanowen boulevards. More than
$50,000 has been spent in expanding
and remodeling the Topanga boulevard
house...The Valley West theater building
is part of a neighborhood shopping
center and is constructed of stone,
stucco, glass and tile. Dominating the
theater front is a new marquee, 30 feet
in length, custom built for the Valley
West by Inter-City Neon and Plastic
Corporation of Northridge." Photo by
Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated May 1,

1963 reads "The usherettes at
Canoga Park's Holiday Theater are
all dolled up in muu muus today
for the opening of 'Diamond Head,'
the drama of modern-day
plantation life in Hawaii. For a
listing of other Valley theaters and
drive-ins where the film is playing,
see 'Film Openings.' Photo by Bob
Martin/Valley Times Collection.

Photograph
caption dated July
28, 1962 reads
"First Methodist
Church, Canoga
Park, is one of
numerous
churches
expanding its
present facilities.
Photo by George
Brich/Valley Times
Collection.

Photograph caption dated

April 27, 1965 reads,
"What's that? - Pre-school
youngsters from Co-op
Nursery School at Reseda
Park, Victory and Reseda
Boulevards, on a field trip to
Giacopuzzi Dairy, 19801
Vanowen St., Canoga Park.
Mothers of children take
turns helping them learn
and play each day. Mrs.
Bonnie
Goldsmith
is
teacher-director
of
the
outdoors school which
convenes four days a week,
Monday through Thursday.
Photo
by
Gordon
Dean/Valley
Times
Collection.

Photograph caption dated September 30, 1963 reads,

"Two Canoga Park boys, Steven Wall, 8, left, and his
brother, Mark, 6, of 23907 Highlander Rd., look over the
site of a 2 1/2-acre park donated to the city. The
$100,000 park site, located on Highlander Rd. just west
of Platt Ave., was given by real estate developer Lou
Boyar, who also donated $50,000 for its development.
Preliminary plans have been prepared by the Los
Angeles Recreation and Parks Department." This site
later became Mae Boyar Park in what is now the
community of West Hills. Photo by Bob Martin/Valley
Times Collection.

Image courtesy Doreen Ward

Opening day at the Canoga

Park Branch Library on 7260
Owensmouth Avenue. View
1: group photo of library
officials posed for the ribbon
cutting ceremony. From left
to right: unidentified;
Barbara Moore, Librarian;
Harold L. Hamill, City
Librarian; and Commissioner
Owen. Photo by Security
Pacific National Bank
Collection.

Photograph caption dated May 11, 1964 reads "Chaminade

Dinner-Dance - The Mothers' and Dads' Club of Chaminade
Preparatory School, 7500 Chaminade Ave., Canoga Park, are
planning a Spring Dinner-Dance for the benefit of the school
building program. The event will begin with a social hour at
7 p.m. in the school library. Looking at a model of the
proposed school are, from left, the Rev. William O'Connor
and Brother Hugh Hoganson, of Chaminade; Mrs. A. H.
Clarke, president, mothers' club, and Mrs. Robert Shadduck.
A buffet supper and dancing to the music of Karl Kapin's
orchestra are planned. reservations may be made by
telephoning the school office at DIamond 7-8300." Photo by
George Brich/Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated

December 22, 1962 reads,
"Canoga Park: lights sparkle
along Sherman Way business
district." Visible signs include
Hardware, Style Shop, 5 and 10,
Jewelers, Green Thumb
Hardware Garden Center,
United California Bank,
Pharmacy, Safeway, Bank of
America. Photo by George
Birch/Valley Times Collection

Photograph caption dated November 18, 1964 reads, "Oat Mountain and mountains
above Chatsworth and Granada Hills were covered with a blanket of snow this
morning following yesterday's storm which brought up to six inches of the white
fluffy stuff down to the 1,000-foot level. This photo was taken from Woodland Hills
aimed across the Topanga Plaza Shopping Center." Photo by Valley Times Collection.

Photograph caption dated March 25,

1965 reads, "Valley residents, who
have for several years been
wondering just where the proposed
Whitnall Freeway route was actually
going to be, finally got an answer
yesterday when a map was shown
by slide to a Canoga Park Chamber
of Commerce meeting, allowing the
Valley Times to get this exclusive
picture. The map shows three
potential routes in the Panorama
City, West Van Nuys and Sepulveda
areas, before making a turn toward
the sea." Photo by George
Brich/Valley Times Collection

Transition Years:
1980 to Present

Photograph dated
circa 1983 shows
people participating
in the Space Invaders
Competition, a video
game tournament, in
the Topanga Plaza in
Canoga Park,
California. Photo by
Mike Mullen/HeraldExaminer Collection

Photograph dated August 6, 1985 reads, "A moviegoer could pay $6 in

Westwood, for the same first-run movie that could cost only 99 cents
in Canoga Park." Photo by Paul Chinn/ Hearld-Examiner Collection.

Neighborhood enthusiasts, (from left to right) Rita

Seashore, Marcy Perron, and Margery Fligg display
a new West Hills sign which will identify boundary
of new community, formerly a section of Canoga
Park. Photograph dated February 18, 1987. Photo
by Paul Chinn/Hearld-Examiner Collection.

Extra

Photograph caption dated

October 1, 1963 reads
"Because of the lack of an
adequate showroom at
the present time, Canoga
Chrysler in Canoga Park
had their new car
showing in a circus tent.
It wasn't just a circus tent
but the most dazzling red
and white striped canvas
showroom ever seen in
the West Valley. Shown
standing in front of the
newest Chrysler products
are new car sales
manager Dick Powels and
owner Fred Tremiti. The
red and white tent made
a very interesting
spectacle as it stood over
three stories high and
could be seen for blocks.
Photo by Jeff
Robbins/Valley Times
Collection.

Photograph caption reads,

"Rocketdyne moved to
Canoga Park in 1955.
Today its payroll of $1.5
million a week is divided
by about 10,000
employees." Photo by Jon
Woods/Valley Times
Collection.

Photograph caption dated March 27, 1963 reads,

"Seventh Sleep E-Z Mattress Shop is open for
business in Canoga Park, 21815 [sic] Sherman
Way. Participants in grand opening celebration
were Sharron Wolcott, Miss Canoga Park,
surrounded by Jules Blatt, president and owner;
Francis Lederer, Canoga Park's honorary mayor;
Max Chaplik, store manager, and Clem Ruh,
Canoga Park Chamber of Commerce president,
from left. Interior and architectural design of
sleep shop was created by John Magaldi." Photo
by Bob Martin/Valley Times Collection.

Photograph article dated December 30, 1963 partially reads,

"'It's all over now,' said sales manager Lou Weintraub, 26, as
he strolled among some 35 idle presses at the Mission Card
Co., Canoga Park. The big room echoed with his footsteps, as
he explained that less than a month ago, these presses and
some 100 workers bustled with activity. Now only
management personnel and a skeleton crew of about 10
show up for work at the modern plant at 20235 Bahama St.
This situation takes place every year at Mission - a company
which deals in Christmas cards." Christmas card sales
manager Lou Weintraub. Photo y George Brich/Valley Times
Collection.