(from left) Winston Gieseke, Steve Fry

The Culver City Historical Society (CCHS) will feature the history, music, songs and stories from MGM’s Broadway Melody musical movies produced between 1929 and 1944 at its general meeting on Wednesday, April 18, 2012, at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Building’s Multipurpose Room, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, 90230

The program, presented by tenor Winston Gieseke and pianist Stephen Fry, the latter a member of the CCHS Board, will offer a musical and narrative review of original songs from the immensely popular series of Broadway Melody film productions made in the “Heart of Screenland.” Mostly composed by Arthur Freed and Nacio Herb Brown, the tunes will include the popular hits, “You Were Meant for Me,” “The Wedding of the Painted Doll,” “All I Do is Dream of You,” “Temptation,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and many more. Song sheets will be provided for several of the pieces for a sing-along.

The Broadway Melody of 1929 was the first sound film to win an Academy Award for Best Picture. It was one of the first musicals to feature a Technicolor sequence, which sparked the trend of color used in a flurry of musicals that were made in subsequent years. It was the first musical released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayor, and the first all-talking musical.

Winston Gieseke has studied music theory and filmmaking, which serves him well in his various careers as a writer, performer, and aspiring circus freak. He has written for television shows like Hollywood Off-Ramp and Wildfire and penned the made-for-cable movie Romantic Comedy 101, which starred Tom Arnold and Joey Lawrence. He has also performed the National Anthem at several L.A. Dodgers games, and last year enjoyed a sold-out, two-night gig at M Bar in Hollywood. He has served as Managing Editor of The Advocate, a national LGBT news magazine, and recently finished a two-year stint as museum chair at the Culver City Historical Society. His passions include history, criminology, the musicals of Stephen Sondheim, and just about anything Italian. He counts Henry Rollins and Patty Hearst among his many influences. Winston’s debut album, On the Edge, will be released later this year by LML Music.

Stephen M. Fry, former VP for Programs, has lived in Culver City with his wife Frances Talbott-White since 1975. He retired several years ago after a 30-year academic career at UCLA, but continues to write for academic journals. An avid coin and stamp collector, he recently completed the definitive article on music topical stamps issued by the U.S. Postal Service for the multi-volumed Grove Dictionary of American Music, 2nd ed. For more than a decade he contributed a weekly newspaper column, called “Music To My Ears” to the Culver City News, and has just completed a book on the country dances published in The Gentleman’s Magazine from 1744-1757. He is a pianist who performs popular music, jazz and sometimes country dance music in many local clubs, hotels and casual venues. He directs the Westside Jazz Ensemble, an exciting big band established in Culver City in the late 1970s, and Razzmatazz, a jazz and pop music combo. He joined the Historical Society a few years ago, after presenting a program at their general meeting on the history of music in Culver City.

All members of the CCHS and the public are welcome to enjoy this free program and students are encouraged to attend. The entrance to the Multipurpose Room is through the back of the building near the parking lot, and through the ARC space.

For more information, please call the Society at (310) 253-6941 or inquire by e-mail.

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. – by invitation
passed appetizers & cocktails hosted by City Tavern

7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. – open to public
full dinenr, drinks, music & mingling

10:00 p.m. to close – under 10 after 10 party
$9 craft cocktails after 10:00 p.m. with music by DJ Anthony

Click here to RSVP for the private invite-only party! – 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Call (310) 838-9739 to make a dinner reservation – 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Mehaul O'Leary

The 32nd Annual Mayor’s Luncheon will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, at 6161 Centinela Blvd. in Culver City.

Outgoing Mayor Mehaul O’Leary will give the State of the City address and you will learn about the accomplishments of Culver City over the last year.

If you would like to attend and sit with Culver City Historical Society members at our tables, please send a check of $25 to Culver City Historical Society, Box 3428, Culver City CA, 90231-3428 by March 18.

Seats must be reserved in advance as no last-minute walk-ins will be accommodated. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. at the hotel, and will be followed by a buffet lunch at 12 noon.

Please join us!

For more information, click here.

This will be the Installation of President-Elect Louise Coffey-Webb and her Board as well as a thank you to outgoing President Stu Freeman.

The Installing Officer will be our special guest, Dr. Janet R. Fireman, Editor, California History, and immediate past president of the Pacific Coast Branch of the American Historical Association. The Installation Co-Chairs will be Tami Eskridge and Steve Rose. Seating is limited and reservations are a must for the buffet dinner.

Tickets are $40 each. Please join us by mailing in the reservation insert from our recent newsletter (which you can download here) or making your reservation in person during the ARC’s open hours, this Saturday, 1/7, between 1:00 and 3:00. The RSVP deadline has been extended. All reservations and payments must be received by Friday, 1/13.

You may also call the Society at (310) 253-6941 or email us.

See you there!

Veterans Memorial Building in the 1950s when the Tower Restaurant was in operation

The Culver City Historical Society (CCHS) will designate the Veterans Memorial Building as Historic Site #13 at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 10, 2011.

The building, located at Culver Boulevard and Overland Avenue, (4117 Overland Avenue) one of the most often-used structures in the city, has had a vibrant history, which is noted on the bronze plaque that will be unveiled that morning in the front of the building and reads as follows:

Historic Site No. 13:
Veterans Memorial Building (VMB)

Culver City purchased a major portion of this land, known as Exposition Park, in 1938. It was officially designated as Veterans Memorial Park on August 8, 1949. Bond financing of $550,000 guaranteed the construction of the Veterans Memorial Building on the corner. The original plans promised a “recreational building with a stage, restaurant, film museum, playroom, and a large gymnasium.” The “tourist tower” was designed to view “back lot” movie sets at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios across the street. The cornerstone was laid on April 15, 1950. The VMB was dedicated on March 9, 1951, with Goodwin Knight, Lt. Governor at the time, in attendance. The Gold Star Mothers were guests of honor. This structure, designed to serve the entire community, once included a “Tower Restaurant.” The entry proudly exhibits a growing number of markers, placed to honor and remember veterans who served our country, and who fought for our freedom in many wars.

Native Americans traversed this land before it was claimed as a portion of Rancho La Ballona in 1819. The Spanish Period yielded to Mexican control, followed by California Statehood in 1850. This site was part of the original land acquired to incorporate as Culver City in 1917.

The Culver City Historical Society, Fall 2011

The VMB was renovated in 1980. At that time, a number of changes occurred, including the rounding of the Garden Room (formerly the Tower Restaurant) wall for a mural and installation of glass to view the adjacent patio. Most notable from the outside was the placement of a sculpture on the Overland/Culver corner, a stainless steel work by artist Natalie Krol, “Filmstrip USA” dedicated in 1981. Rooms within have been renamed to honor our sister cities.

City dignitaries, city staff, Culver City residents, Historical Society members, Veterans, students and the public are invited to attend this ceremony.

For more information, please call the Society at (310) 253-6941 or inquire by email.

The Culver City Police Department when it was located in the 1928 Culver City Hall at Culver Boulevard and Duquesne Avenue. (Photo circa 1950)

The Culver City Police Department’s (CCPD) Public Information Officer, Lieutenant Ronald Iizuka is the featured speaker at the Culver City Historical Society’s general meeting on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, at 7 p.m. in the Veterans Memorial Building’s Multipurpose Room, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City, 90230.

Lt. Iizuka will give a history of the department with a PowerPoint presentation and descriptions of the evolution of the CCPD from Culver City’s founding days to the present. Over the years, highlights of the department included a Mounted Reserve Posse established in 1948, and the creation of the reality police show, “Nightwatch,” which later became a television program. Lt. Iizuka will also reveal stories about some of the more interesting and important exploits of the CCPD’s officers as they provide the highest level of police service to Culver City.

The meeting will also include a report from the Culver City Historical Society’s 2011 Nominating Committee which will announce its new officers and board members.

The public is invited to enjoy this free program and students are encouraged to attend. The CCHS Archives & Resource Center (ARC) will be open following the meeting. Entrance to the meeting is through the back parking lot of the Veterans Memorial Building.

For more information, please call the Society at (310) 253-6941 or inquire by e-mail.

Courtesy The Freeman Collection

In 1925, Dr. Foster Hull, the city’s second health officer (after Dr. W.S. Mortensen), built Culver City’s first hospital. The Hull Building, where it was located, still stands at 9543 Culver Boulevard, where it meets Watseka Avenue in downtown Culver City.

Louis Freeman, the owner of nearby Freeman’s Grocery Store bought the Hull Building in the 1930s, and today it is home to Akasha Restaurant.

The Hull Building was designated ‘Historic Site No. 2’ by the Culver City Historical Society in 1991.

For more information about the Hull building or Culver City’s rich history, check out Images of America: Culver City by city historian Julie Lugo Cerra.

Below: The Hull Building today, courtesy of the Culver City Times.

Photo by Justin Scupine

Check back for more information.

Louise Coffey-Webb

More than 80 people, many dressed to the nines in 1920s finery, filled the lobby of the Culver Hotel to celebrate Culver City’s 94th anniversary at the Culver City Historical Society’s Doozy of a Do fundraising event on Sunday, September 18.

Setting the mood with sentimental tunes, Doozy, a band playing sounds of the 1920s and 1930s kept guests entertained with dancing and listening tunes while waiters traversed the room with bountiful trays of appetizers.

One of the highlights of the event was the raffle and auction conducted by former mayors Jozelle Smith and Andy Weissman who performed their duties mimicking characters from Glee. A Tom and Jerry cartoon cel created by Martha Sigall and an original speaker from the Studio Drive-In were just two of the many items that brought a rally of bids to help benefit the CCHS.

Among the guests were Mayor Micheal O’Leary; Vice Mayor Scott Malsin; Councilmen Jeffrey Cooper; and Andy Weissman; City Manager John Nachbar; former mayors Gary Silbiger, Jozelle Smith, Paul Jacobs and Steve Rose; and City Attorney Carol Schwab.

Douglas Newton, general manger of the Culver Hotel, who also serves as vice president of ways and means for the CCHS, recently renovated the hotel with Art Deco furnishings, creating an ambiance that made guests feel as if Jay Gatsby would walk through the door at any minute!

Martha Sigall shows off her cel

(l to r) Vice Mayor Scott Malsin, Goran Eriksson and Steve Rose

(l to r) Renato Romano, Carol Schwab in 1920s garb and Stu Freeman

Julie Lugo Cerra signs books

Jozelle Smith & Mayor Micheal O'Leary get the crowd's attention

All proceeds from this event will benefit the CCHS Archive and Resource Center (ARC) and support its mission in the community. There is no admission charge for visitors to the ARC, which is located at the back of the Veterans Memorial Building at 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City and open on the first and third Saturday of each month from 1-3 p.m.

Culver City City Hall is located at 9770 Culver Boulevard and parking and dining are available in Downtown Culver City.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was directed by Victor Fleming and also stars Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner. The film was based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale of a 19th century scientist’s investigation into the nature of good and evil. This 1941 film version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was set in London but filmed entirely in Culver City at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. This year marks the 70th Anniversary of the film’s release and the 94th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Culver City. Special permission for the screening has been provided by Warner Bros. Classics.

Made in Culver City celebrates the golden classics that were produced in “The Heart of Screenland”. The City of Culver City has a unique film legacy and has been the home to Thomas H. Ince Studios, Hal Roach Studios, DeMille Studios, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Selznick International Studios, RKO Pictures, Pathe, Desilu and, currently, The Culver Studios and Sony Pictures Studios. Made in Culver City is sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment with participation by the UCLA Film & Television Archive and the Culver City Historical Society.

No reservations are required for this event. For more information, please visit www.culvercity.org or call the Culver City Cultural Affairs Hotline at (310) 253-5716