GatheringGardiners: 1900 - Glendale History

Glendale 1900 - Today

For pictures of the Glendale West Ward click here

Glendale 1870:

Glendale was originally part of Rancho San Rafael, which was granted by the Spanish governor of California to Corporal Jose Maria Berdugo (later changed to Verdugo) in 1798. Through inheritance, sale, and foreclosure, culminating in the "Great Partition" of 1871, the 36,000-acre rancho was divided among several landowners. Subdivision activity gained momentum in the early 1880s in Glendale, as elsewhere in southern California. Settlement was stimulated by the completion of the transcontinental railroad, its connection to Los Angeles by the Southern Pacific in 1876, and the subsequent link to the Santa Fe system in 1881. With the coming of the railroad, a real estate boom ensued. The 150-acre town of "Glendale" as it became known, was surveyed and recorded in 1887, with the boundaries established at First Street (now Lexington) on the north, Fifth Street (now Harvard) on the south, Central Avenue on the west, and the Childs Tract (the area on the east side of Glendale Avenue and between First [Lexington] and Ninth [Windsor] Streets) on the east.

Concurrent development activities were occurring near and around Glendale Avenue and First Street, development was also occurring at Central Avenue and San Fernando Road. Around the same time the town of Glendale was established, settlers in the southern and southwestern sections of modern-day Glendale (approximately two miles south of the proposed project area) named their small independent community "Tropico," after the name chosen by Southern Pacific for their depot. Prior to its founding as a town in 1887, the area was ranch land used first for grazing cattle and sheep, and later for the cultivation of oranges and strawberries.

In order to promote the town of Glendale, the founders planned a grand hotel in the center of town. Built at a cost of $60,000, the Glendale Hotel was an ornate edifice in the then popular Queen Anne style. However, the boom ended before either the hotel or Glendale could be well established. Growth of the town continued during the 1890s at a very slow pace, culminating in a population of 300 residents at the close of the decade.

Glendale's development began to accelerate after the turn of the 20th century. In 1902, the Glendale Improvement Association was formed. One of its most active members was Edgar D. Goode, who joined forces with Leslie C. Brand to successfully connect the communities of Glendale and Tropico to Los Angeles with a line of the interurban electric railroad. This was to prove a most important stimulus for growth in the area resulting in a population rise to 2,746 in 1910, 13,536 in 1920, and 62,736 by 1930.

The City of Glendale was incorporated in 1906. During this time, the area of the City expanded from 2.32 square miles to 30.6 square miles by means of numerous annexations. One of the most significant of these consolidations was the merging of Glendale and Tropico in 1917. Tropico was initially an independent city incorporated in 1911.

By the early twentieth century, Glendale's commercial center, originally at Glendale Avenue and Wilson, had moved to the intersection of Brand and Broadway and continued to spread in all directions from that intersection. The City's industrial core included health care, pottery, and transportation. Residential buildings encompassed everything from farmhouses to bungalows to the substantial and often architecturally notable homes of the affluent in the foothills north of downtown. With the conclusion of World War II, Glendale experienced the growth of post-war redevelopment. By that time, the City of Glendale was substantially developed.

The Camargo's. Glendale, Ca around late 1880's. Aurelia Acuna came to Rancho San Rafael (which later became Glendale) with her parents in 1859 when she was just 1. They built one of the first homes there. She married Francisco Camargo in 1875 and they had 12 children, 4 more after this photo was taken. Larry's grandmother Josefa is the eldest daughter, standing in the back. Josefa is his mothers mother.

1905: Looking north on Brand Bvd:

Close up of early Glendale:

1910, Several women from the Brand family in the swimming pool at El Miradero.

Glendale, 1912:

1919: Several members of the Glendale Police Department's Motor Division with their Indian motorcycles.

Brand Blvd 1920s:

1918 City Hall:

Brand Blvd early 1920s:

1921, Ramona Verdugo Mendibles with her husband Frank Mendibles in front of El Roble de la Paz, the Verdugo Adobe, at 2211 Bonita Drive in Glendale, May 1921. The adobe is the
last of five built by Teadoro Verdudo in 1860.

Brand Field 1921:

1922:

1923, El Miradero.

1926:

Glendale in the early years of development, 1927:

June 06, 2008|By KATHERINE YAMADA

For many years, the vineyards supplied grapes for a winery on Olvera Street. They were owned by Antonio Pelanconi and his wife, Isabel. After his death, she married Giacoma Tononi.

The property was maintained by her son, Lorenzo A. Pelanconi, but when Isabel Tononi died in 1917, the process of settling the estate began. Development was soon underway and by 1926 the city was laying plans for a park on a triangular piece of land between Glenoaks Boulevard and San Fernando Road.

1928, Maria Antonia Longina Maxima Verdugo. Written on the back of photo, "Mrs. Longina De Charvoya, 106 years old at the time of her death in the year 1928

1933 LDS Church
Now that California had several functioning stakes, auxiliary programs and activities mushroomed. On a dozen different fronts, Church organizations and programs became more active. One example was an active athletic program, with an annual all-Church basketball tournament in Salt Lake City, won by the Glendale Ward in 1933.

Glendale as we know it, started out as an orange grove, 1935:

Early Glendale Brand Blvd

San Fernando and Fletcher 1930's. Notice the Van de Kamps windmill and in the background the original bakery facility:

1936 Accident scene

1938, Flood.

1930s
One of those Six Degrees of Separation Stories:
My sister has been doing some digging in family history. Apparently, my mom had an uncle whose niece was 1930s Hollywood starlet Claire Dodd. Claire married the nephew of Glendale founding father Leslie Brand and she's buried in the family plot somewhere at Brand Park. She quit the business to raise a family. I don't think she got the pyramid headstone...C. W.

1935 Intersection San Fernando and Vine (enlarged for detail)

Same intersection today:

Intersection, West Acacia Avenue and San Fernando Road, Glendale looking South, 1932

San Fernando Rd looking north from Vine St. The first street on the right is Elk, and Colorado is where the next where the Gilmore gas station is. The Freeway would now be where the Midway wrecking garage is:

1940s
1941 Movie: Power Dive

From reviewer: This one's refreshing in being mostly civilian, a great snapshot of prewar Glendale, CA airport, with many Golden Age classic planes all around, and "starring" two really obscure birds, one of which I never knew of before. Pretty obscure is the "Transcontinental Record" ship, which is actually the Phillips "Aeroneer." The idea that one of these (or any plane then extant) could fly coast-to-coast in 7 hours 12 min. is wildly off-the-wall. Truly arcane is the plastic basketweave airplane (I thought it was Hollywood hokum,) which turns out to be the Player CT-6A, real as described. This movie delivers on being interesting without flash, explosions, jerkyjingo or new lows of sappiness. This is a better movie than Top Gu

1946 Tran shot from railroad tracks in industrial area (northwest of downtown Los Angeles, probably along San Fernando Road). Lighted foreground. Train passes through Burbank, possibly Glendale and northwest LA.

Brand Blvd 1940s:

Glendale in the 1940s:

Glendale Bus, 1940s

Alexander's: I remember my mother saying she would never spend more than 25 dollars a week on groceries as we walked out of this market after shopping for food, 1940s:

1941 Glendale Police Dept

1941 or 42 Police Dept Baseball team

1946 Verdugo and Dixon, Glendale,

1944 Double Indemnity, Movie, partly filmed in Glendale, 1944:

1945 Shirley Temple gets her marriage license in Glendale:

Glendale was featured in a film called Crime Wave, filmed in 1952:

Looking south on Brand towards Harvard, with Masonic Temple in backgound.

Looking west on Glendale Blvd. in Atwater Village

The Hyperion Bridge in Atwater Village, looking much the same as it does today.

Looking east on Glendale Blvd in Atwater Village near the Hyperion Bridge.

Crime Wave brings together several elements I enjoy: Glendale, Film Noir and Sterling Hayden. It was made in 1952 in 13 days on a minimal budget, and as a result of the aggressive shooting schedule almost every outdoor shot was filmed on location primarily in Glendale. There are also a several locations in Atwater Village and Toluca Lake. Crime Wave was filmed and 1952 and released in 1954. The movie itself is actually quite good. The heist plot is fairly interesting, the cinematography is excellent, the cast is competent and the running time is a refreshingly brisk 73 minutes.

Early 1900's

1949:

A horse tied to a parking meter on a Glendale business street gets an overtime parking ticket from Officer Roy E. Armstrong. The horse's owner was shopping and later received a warning for tying his horse to the parking meter.1949

1949 Brand Home:

1949 Glendale College:

Glendale High School

1949


. Pic taken at Hoover (1949 Hoover Scroll).

Early photo of Hoover High without snow

1950

The Anheuser Busch Clydesdale team paused in front of Jackson Bowl, 416 South Glendale Avenue, in 1950. The outfit was on a cross-country tour celebrating Anheuser Busch's 50th year in the beer brewing business. (Courtesy of Special Collections, Glendale Public Library / April 23, 2014)

L.A. River drag racing 1950s

Stocker and Central 1952, last stoplight with an arm removed:

1946:

1950s

1960's

1954 Glendale-Burbank PCC car on Brand Blvd. at Broadway Glendale,

Glendale Bus, 1955:

Seeley's today:

Originally built in Spanish Baroque style in 1925 as a bank at the south end of Brand Blvd., George Seeley took over this building in 1931 for his furniture store. It was remodeled in the 40's to have a more Art Deco/Streamline Moderne style to it's architecture.

Seeley's Furniture remained in business for over 60 years. The clock with George Seeley's name on it still works. I'm not sure if it or the sign lights up anymore. This is the landmark gateway to Glendale from Los Angeles.

George's wife, Shirley was the unpaid executive officer of the Glendale Symphony for over 20 years. They held six concerts a year at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion amongst other special events.

Currently, the building is being redeveloped preserving it's look and is offering prime
creative studio and office space for rent.

1959 Brand Blvd.

Shopping Bag grocery store, 1960:

Hoover High School: My high school as it appeared in the 1960s. Hoover had a swiming pool and wood, metal, electric and car shops:

Hoover High School, named after Herbert Hoover, the 31st president of the United States, has proudly existed for over 80 years. It is the only high school that can claim it was named after a current president actually in office in September of 1929. Located on 18.6 acres of west Glendale, the original campus was erected in 1929 and served students until 1966 when, with the exception of the auditorium and physical education facilities, the buildings were demolished and replaced by a new facility completed in 1969.

Hoover High were the Tornadoes:

1941:

3731 San Fernando, just north of Brand

Alex Theater, 1944:

Alex Theater: The Alex theater was in the center of town and considered the nicest theater, 1959:

Alex Theater, 1963:

Undated photos of the Alex:

1962:

1981:

NBC Burbank, 1952, where James Gardiner worked. I remember my dad taking me to see the Art Linkletter's Kids Say the Darndest Things show. Afterwards I sat and watched him work on the video tape machines.

1954 Ford Station Wagon: I learned to drive using the family's green 1954 Ford Station Wagon.

Allred Brothers: In 1960 dad went to Allred Brothers and bought a VW van and then proceeded to drive it for 22 years.

My dad drove that VW bus for 22 years. One time he was on the freeway and heard a rattling outside the car. He pulled over and found all the lug nuts but one rolling around in the hub cap. Yes we used to have hub caps on cars.

Dad then saw his daughter Janice in her nice new 1982 Honda Civic and decided he wanted one too. So be bought one, drove it for the next 24 years and gave it to Kent for $15 a year before his death.

The Honda got almost 40 mpg driving from Arizona to California one weekend in 2009. It normally gets about 35 mpg. Dad like economical cars that lasted. These three cars are good examples.

Baskin - Robbins: Between Priesthood and Sunday School we would sneak down to Baskin Robbins. Baskin Robbins began in Glendale:

2008

Irvine Robbins opened his first ice cream shop in Glendale in 1945. He died yesterday of complications related to old age. More details about the man who, along with his brother-in-law and partner, Burton Baskin, went on to create theBaskin Robbins empire, from Valerie J. Nelson:

When the Dodgers came to Los Angeles in 1958, they were greeted with Baseball Nut, complete with raspberries for the umpires. Lunar Cheesecake was launched the day after man landed on the moon in 1969. At the height of Beatlemania in 1964, a reporter asked Robbins what flavor would salute the Fab Four; Baskin-Robbins had yet to invent one, but Robbins replied, "Uh, Beatle Nut, of course" and had it in stores in five days.

He delighted in inventing new flavors and naming them, including Plum Nuts (plums, vanilla and walnuts), ChaChaCha (cherry chocolate chip), or his personal favorite, Jamoca Almond Fudge. By the time he retired in 1978, the company was selling some 20 million gallons of ice cream a year in more than 2,000 stores around the world.

The son of a dairyman, Robbins grew up scooping cones in his family's Tacoma, Wash., ice cream store for customers who always seemed to be having a good time. He recalled that he often "finished a day's work happy" and wanted that same feeling when he started his own business.

--Veronique de Turenne

Bobs: Hamburger 15 cents:

Bob's Hamburger 45 cents:

I remember this menu from when I was 16 years old: Hamburger 80 cents.

Bob's: As a youth I went here after dances, 1960s:

Imagine, going into a coffee shop, and being greeted by an elegantly attired young hostess, with fine clothing, beautifully applied makeup, and the poise and professionalism which reaches far beyond her mere 20 years. In today's world this would be an almost unheard of event. But in the world of 1962 it was a common place, daily event. The picture that I have posted is of the hostess at Bob's Big Boy, 900 East Colorado Blvd. Glendale. The photo was taken circa. 1962, and gives a tantalizing peek into the Bob's of a long gone time. Notice the boxes of Bob's "Yummy Boy" donuts in the corner, and if you look closely in the glass case, you can see a tray of those wonderful almond cover brownies, and just next to the hostess, you can barely see a can of "Mocha Boy" coffee. Also, there is a Big Boy club sign on the wall, and a stack of comics on the case. Boy, do I miss the Bob's of my childhood!

Brand Blvd, 1950s:

Brand at day:

1947

Brand at night:

Brand Park, 1956

Brand Park, formerly Mr. Brand's home and now a library and behind is his grave:

We use to sneek behind Brand Library and play on this pyramid was actually Brand family grave markers in the foreground:

From KB: Kent, this is absolutely amazing! I grew up in the Garvanza/Highland Park Wards. But as a young adult, my sisters and I attended Glendale Ward. I lived in Glendale for awhile as a young adult. So Brand Blvd. looks very familiar. We also hiked up to the Brand Tombs. As teenagers, and a bit on the wild side, some friends and I took a broken tombstone from a grave up there, and I drove around with it in the trunk of my car for a few years (what were we thinking?!). I still remember the name on the tombstone: Theresa Virginia Dean. I used to go to the Brand library. One night in my car in Glendale, close to the Brand tombs, I saw 3 wolferines tipping over a trash can. At the time, I did not know what they were. I rolled up my car windows and the big one charged my car and I drove off. I remember Gordon Jump in Church. My father used to perform at the Center Theater...he sang and acted. Amazing. Used to shop at Sears. KB (name withheld)

Glendale on Brand Blvd at night during Christmas, 1940s:

San Fernando Road 1950's: Notice the MGTD driving down San Fernando Road. I restored an MGB-GT just like the one lower right in this picture just before I met Suzanne, 1973. The MG was originally made in 1952. Cute eh?

Crawford's: This market was six or seven blocks from our home at 1366 Cleveland Road, 1940s:

Glendale Fed, 1950s:

Tokens: I used tokens like this on the Glendale bus system, 1941:

Later version:

Jr Fire Department:

Glendale Fed: Brent Frost worked here as an adult and as kids we put our money in this Savings and Loan:

Glendale Memorial: Some of my sibblings were born at Glendale Memorial, south Glendale:

1927:

1936, This is the Hoover High School Chemistry Club 1936. My mom and uncle are both in this picture. Frank Barley (second row, second from left) and Margaret Barley Waltman (1st row 3rd from right). Who do you know?

1945:

1947:

1953 Kindergarden:

1955:

Cub Scout pancake breakfast in Verdugo Park, circa 1955

1955:

1957 R.D. White School class

1958:

Cub Scout Pack 1 on the stage in the auditorium of R. D. White Elementary School, about 1956 or 1957 I think. These were the prizes for selling pancake breakfast tickets.

1960
Crestview Ave. gang in northwest Glendale by Brand Park

1962:

1966:

Brand Blvd: The main drag, 1960s:

F.W. Woolworth's and Webb's Department Stores 1960's. For many this was considered the center of town:

The Glendale Theater, 1960.

Flowers:

Local Airport

Grand Central Terminal:

Grand Central Airport was developed from the Glendale Airport which was built in 1923. Grand Central was the first official terminal for the Los Angeles area. Many written accounts and aviation records state "Los Angeles" when they should actually should say Grand Central (Glendale) or United Airport (Burbank) The first business on the field was the Kinner Airplane & Motor Corporation. Burt Kinner sold one of his airplanes (Airster) to a young Amelia Earhart. The first commercial west to east transcontinental flight was flown by Charles Lindbergh from Grand Central's runway.

1931, Amelia Earhart at the Grand Central Air Terminal - June 7, 1931

Grand Central Airport, 1947

I remember as a kid Sonora was closed off during the war so the air strip would be extended close to Western. Apparently a training squadron that flew P-38's was station there. I can member one flying very low over our house with only one engine running. I thought it was going to crash and went running in the house to tell my mom. She assured me that that was only part of their training - to learn to fly with only one engine. I think this picture shows how the air strip was extended. KDF

1940 - 50's

Grand Central Bowl:

Glendale’s Grand Central Airport closed down in the 1950s, and eventually the property was developed as a business park called the Grand Central Industrial Center. One of the new buildings was Grand Central Bowl, a $1-million project at the corner of Sonora Avenue and Flower Street.

The bowling alley, designed by William Rudolph of Pasadena, was developed in mid-1959 by Sports Arenas Inc., according to the Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1959. It included a restaurant and cocktail lounge, coffee shop and children’s

These trucks used to come up and down the street daily delivering bread and baked goods.

Glendale station:

Crawfords:

Helms Bakery:

Hyperion Bridge: We drove over the Hyperion bridge to get to Audrey's and Grandpa Scholls. Here the bridge is under construction, 1928.

Jessup Diary: We drank milk from this dairy. The milk was delivered in bottles to our back steps by an actual milkman:

The Jessup family opened a dairy in Southern California in 1919. One member of the family, Dr. Roger V. Jessup was a prominent veterinarian and a civic activist. The dairy's

headquarters was located at 5431 San Fernando Road in Glendale

I5: This woman really didn't want the I5 coming through Glendale:

Map of the main streets:

Glendale News Press: On my paper route I had a bike with handlebars just like these. We called them goose neck handle bars. Yes, I carried 80 papers at a time on my bike. I have vivid memories of piles of newspapers and rubber bands and of stuffing them all into the newspaper bags:

Glendale News Press: Not me but this picture could have been. I delivered papers just like this young man:

1952 Explosion at my Elementary School: I was six at the time.

I had to dig this paper out of my closet to find out its publication date – December 23 1952. And what a headline, although surely the best part of the story is the fact that school official didn’t think the damage would cost more than $10,000. The blast happened at 1.45am and thankfully there were no deaths or injuries. Interestingly there’s no byline on the story, a strange omission considering its importance.

Unfortunately for Richardson D White students the damage wasn’t bad enough to extend their Christmas holiday. A cute little brief is worth repeating in whole:

HOPE FOR EXTRA VACATION DASHED

The telephone rang in the city room of the News-Press this morning. A 6-year old girl asked:

“Are the kids getting an extra long Christmas vacation because of the explosion?”

A reporter said school authorities hoped to have classes open on schedule[...]

“Oh shoot,” the sweet young thing said. Then she added: “Thanks a lot,” and hung up.

We don’t get many six-year-olds calling the newsroom nowadays. Reading that, I sort of wish we did.

The Kett Residence located in Glendale, California was designed by A. Quincy Jones and completed in 1952.

1953:

The Glendale Float in the 1953 Rose Parade. A floral version of the Puccini opera "Madame Buterfly" won the sweepstakes prize as the most beautiful entry in the parade. Associated Press Wirephoto

Sue Mc Clellan is behind Kathy Noble Allred — with Kathy Noble Allred, Kathy Noble, Jerry VanMeter, Linda Stanchfield, Linda Garvey and Mr. Ken Wilson.

Hoover High through a pinhole camera

Class of 1964

Hoover High auditorium

Hoover High Football, about 1964

Red Cars:

This photo from the 1920's shows the Pacific Electric Red Line running through the Edendale Cut, linking Los Angeles to Glendale. The red car would travel up Glendale Blvd. from L.A., through the Edendale Cut, crossing over Fletcher Drive, and run on a ledge alongside Riverside Drive to the stop outside the old Monte Sano Hospital. Search "Silver Lake Court" on Google Maps and you'll find the remains of the cut. Follow it north and on the north side of Fletcher Dr. you'll see an old stairway and parallel retaining walls that ran alongside the track!

Here is Fletcher just southwest of Riverside Drive looking back towards Glendale. You can see Forest Lawn's hill side. Again there is no Freeway.

1940s:

Someone was talking about the underground restrooms at the end of the trolley line - they were where the little fence is...see photo below

Riverside Drive and Glendale Avenue:

Photo: Mack, Herald Examiner, June 16, 1959. Cranes dismantling the Pacific Electric Red Car Viaduct crossing Riverside Drive at Glendale Blvd. Monte Sano stop was on the left; the LA River, right.

1960:

1960:

1962 - 64, Toll Victory song:

Sears for tools:

Verdugo Pool: This is where I learned to swim.

I worked at the following places. I was a stock boy at Woolworth's for a few months. This used to be a huge chain which did a lot of business.

Restaurants:

In 1964 I worked at Lauten's with Paul and George Lauten:

I worked at Van De Kamps as a cook during the LA riots:

1945

2014

At the end of 1967 after I got home from my mission I went to work at this store stocking shirts. Whenever I walk into a Penny's today I think of the mess people would make trying on shirts in the men's section.

1970s:

1972 Days of Verdugo:

Herbert Hoover High class of 1974

1960s Webbs:

Webbs fire, 1977:

1974, Brand Blvd:

Glendale, 1974

1985

In 1985 Glendale College had its best football season ever. The Vaqueros were ranked 5th in the nation for junior colleges and won the Western State Conference title. The team finished the season 10-1.

That year the Vaqueros played in the 34th annual Potato Bowl at Memorial Stadium in Bakersfield against the 7-1-1 Taft College Cougars. The Vaqueros won 30-24. It was only Glendale's third appearance in the Potato Bowl, winning in 1961 28-14 against Riverside and losing in 1963 to Bakersfield 48-6.