A List of SFV People and Places Lost in 2014
With the 2014 year in the history books, below is a list of notable sites and people in the SFV that were lost in the past 365 days (you can review 2012 and 2013). Its possible I missed something, so please share anything that I missed and I will update accordingly. The list below is generally in chronological order but might have one or two out of place.
Sites
1. Loehmanns
Discount retailer, Loehmanns filed for bankruptcy and closed in January 2014. The store originally started in Brooklyn in 1921 and was known for its "back room" deals on designer clothes. The store shown below was located on Victory and Tampa.
2. The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno officially ended on February 6, 2014 after 22 amazing years. In addition to losing Jay Leno, The Tonight Show moved to New York after being filmed in Burbank since 1972 when Johnny Carson was the previous host. Also included below is Jay Leno's heartfelt goodbye. This was a truly difficult loss.
1. Loehmanns
Discount retailer, Loehmanns filed for bankruptcy and closed in January 2014. The store originally started in Brooklyn in 1921 and was known for its "back room" deals on designer clothes. The store shown below was located on Victory and Tampa.
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| Image courtesy KABC TV |
The Tonight Show starring Jay Leno officially ended on February 6, 2014 after 22 amazing years. In addition to losing Jay Leno, The Tonight Show moved to New York after being filmed in Burbank since 1972 when Johnny Carson was the previous host. Also included below is Jay Leno's heartfelt goodbye. This was a truly difficult loss.
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| Image courtesy Entertainment Weekly |
3. Reginald F. Inwood Church
The Reginald F. Inwood church was a uniquely designed mid century modern church in Canoga Park that met its fate by the wrecking ball sometime in February - April 2014. The church was last home to the Filipino International Christian Church. You can read more here.
3. Rocketdyne Canoga Plant
The famous engine that powered Apollo missions to the moon in the 60's and 70's on Canoga Ave near the Topanga Plaza was moved in October 2013 signaling that this plant was definitely going to be closed. After being a staple in the aerospace industry since the 1950s, this site is no longer around which shut down in March 2014 with remaining operations consolidated at the Chatsworth plant. Future plans by owner United Technologies Corporation Development call for this historic location to become a mixed residential and retail center that is pedestrian friendly and conveniently located across from the Orange Line depot.
4. Wilson's Suede & Leather Outlet
Located at 3117 Magnolia Blvd Burbank closed sometime in March/April.
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| Image courtesy Frank Pelletier Facebook |
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| Image courtesy City-Data.com |
5. Brand Bookshop
Located at 231 Brand Blvd Glendale closed sometime in September after remaining in business for more than 30 years providing used books for sale. You can read more at the Glendale News-Press.
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| Image courtesy Yelp |
6. Pierce Farm Center
The popular family farm center has been operating for the past 10 years that always concluded the year with the Halloween and Christmas festivals. The farm was privately held run by the McBroom family who poured considerable amount of time and resources to make the farm center what is today. The farm's last day was on December 26, 2014 which does not impact the college's farming operation. Its not known what will become of this location but putting 2 + 2 together and with the close proximity to the Orange Line makes this location prime real estate. Susposedly there will be no development but lets wait and see. The farm was located at 20800 Victory Blvd Woodland Hills.
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| Image courtesy West SFValley News |
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| Image courtesy Susan Shelley for Assembly |
7. Dimples
The self billed, America's first karoke bar since opening in 1982, Dimples in Burbank is closing its doors. The TV Show, Bar Rescue visited this place in the spring of 2013 to do a makeover but apparently that didnt work as the bar was becoming a "dive." Dimples will become a massive residential development and Whole Foods. Dimples was located at 3413 West Olive Avenue Burbank.
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| Image courtesy Yellowbot |
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| Image courtesy The Achievers Group |
8. Cobalt Cafe
After 23 years of providing a start for the grunge, punk rock, and ska musical scene, Cobalt Cafe is closing its doors. Notable local bands that performed at Cobalt Cafe prior to become successful include locals Linkin Park, Hoobastank, Strung Out, and Incubus. Additionally, Jimmy Eat World, Less than Jake, and AFI also performed here among others. The Cobalt Cafe was founded by Dave Politi in January 1991 located at 22047 Sherman Way Canoga Park. You can read more at Highwire Daze Online and Cobalt Cafe.
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| Image courtesy City-Data.com |
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| Image courtesy The Prophetx.com |
9. Duke of Bourbon
The Duke of Bourbon quietly closed their doors sometime possibly in November located at 20908 Roscoe Blvd and moved to Westlake Village.
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| Image courtesy Google |
10. Kate Mantilini
Kate Mantilini closed its Warner Center restaurant at 5921 Owensmouth Avenue Woodland Hills after being in operation since September 2003 with the Beverly Hills Wilshire location also closing which was open for 27 years.
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| Image courtesy Kate Mantilini |
People
1. Marco Zappia
Marco Zappia was a 50 year Burbank resident and winner of two Emmy awards for post production editing work passed away on December 22, 2013 (missed this for the 2013 list) in Ventura at the age of 76. Zappia's dream castle-like home was listed for sale in February which can be seen here.
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| Image courtesy Burbank Leader |
2. James Avery
Fresh Prince of Bel Air star, James Avery, passed away at the age of 68 on December 31, 2013 (I missed this for the 2013 list) following complications from open heart surgery at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. I dont know if he was living in the SFV but wanted to document it here since he had passed away in Glendale. Avery had quite a lengthy career in acting working since 1980 and playing roles in a number of notable films like The Blues Brothers, Fletch, License to Drive, The Brady Bunch Movie, and also provided the voice of Shredder in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series.
Fresh Prince of Bel Air star, James Avery, passed away at the age of 68 on December 31, 2013 (I missed this for the 2013 list) following complications from open heart surgery at Glendale Adventist Medical Center. I dont know if he was living in the SFV but wanted to document it here since he had passed away in Glendale. Avery had quite a lengthy career in acting working since 1980 and playing roles in a number of notable films like The Blues Brothers, Fletch, License to Drive, The Brady Bunch Movie, and also provided the voice of Shredder in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles television series.
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| Image courtesy Digital Spy |
Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers died on January 3, 2014 at Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank just 16 days before his 75th birthday. The cause of his death was complications from COPD brought on by a lifetime of smoking. The Everly Brothers were American country-influenced rock and roll singers who were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. Everly was a resident of North Hollywood.
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| Image courtesy Everly.net |
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| Images from Iamnotastalker.com |
4. Carmen Zapata
Veteran actress Carmen Zapata performed on TV, movies, and onstage during a 70 year career. Zapata passed away on January 5, 2014 at the age of 86 from heart problems. Zapata is best known for playing roles on Batman: The Animated Series, Married...With Children, Santa Barbara, and Sister Act I & II. Carmen passed away at her home in Valley Glen.
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| Image courtesy Dailynews |
5. Philip Seymor Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman passed away in New York City on February 2, 2014 from a heroin and prescription drug overdose. Hoffman's only connection to the SFV was that he appeared in many of SFV based director Paul Thomas Anderson's films which included Hard Eight, Boogie Nights (filming locations), Magnolia (filming locations), Punch-Drunk Love, and The Master.
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| Image courtesy Daily News |
Longtime Burbank resident and hot rod legend, Tom Medly, creator of the "Stroker McGurk" cartoon series that ran in Hot Rod Magazine died within a month of turning 94 on March 2, 2014.
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| Image courtesy The Burbank Leader |
Dr. A. Richard Grossman was dedicated to treating burn victims that in 1969 he convinced a small hospital in Sherman Oaks to set aside two beds for burn patients. By 1978, he founded the Grossman Burn Center in a free standing building at the Sherman Oaks Medical Center which was later moved to the West Hills Hospital in 2010. Grossman had become a world renowned expert on treating burn victims mostly working with firefighters but also children, adults, and celebrities like Richard Pryor and Frances Fisher. Grossman changed the lives of countless people. He passed away at the age of 81 on March 14, 2014.
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| Image courtesy Daily News |
Paul Salamunovich was a a Grammy nominated chorale conductor who composed music for more than 100 films and TV shows. He passed away at the age of 86 on April 4, 2014 due to complications from the West Nile Virus. His work appeared in the Godfather and was music director of the Los Angeles Master Choral from 1991 to 2001 and chorale music director at St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood for 60 years.
9. Mort Allen
Long time Studio City Realtor and community activist, Mort Allen, passed at the age of 75 in his sleep on April 5, 2014. Allen started the Allen Realty company based in Studio City that has been in operation for more than 5 decades. He was also actively involved in community affairs supporting Studio City.
10. Mickey Rooney
Mickey Rooney was an accomplished actor on film, television, Broadway, radio, and vaudeville who started as a child who literally started performing at the age of 17 months. His career spanned more than 300 films who rose to prominence in the 30's and 40's playing the role of "Andy Hardy". His career had declines and comebacks that lasted up until his death on April 6, 2014 at the age of 93 in his sleep. He was one of the few remaining actors from Hollywood's golden era and was a longtime SFV resident with a home in Encino still standing today as shown in the postcard. At the time of his death, he was living in Westlake Village and passed away at his stepson Mark Rooney's Studio City home.
11. Don Runyan
Don Runyan was a 40 year teacher for Los Angeles Unified who retired in December 2011 and passed away at the age of 67 on May 11, 2014 after a decade long battle with cancer. Runyan was a well respected architecture teacher at Cleveland High School in Reseda who won the National Advisor of the Year by SkillsUSA, a career and technical education organization in 2012. Runyan was also featured in a December 22, 1999 LA Times article titled, A Shop Teacher's Tools for Success. You can read his obituary here and here.
12. Beverly Long
Beverly Long was a long time actress and casting director with her most notable role in the 1955 James Dean film, Rebel Without A Cause. She passed away at the age of 81 in her home of Studio City on May 8, 2014.
13. Elliot Rodger
Elliot Rodger became famous on May 23, 2014 when he killed 6 Santa Barbara college students and himself in an act of rage due to psychological and personal issues. Rodger was from Woodland Hills/West Hills who attended Topanga Elementary, Taft, and Crespi high schools. You can read more here.
15. Bob Hastings
Bob Hastings was best known for playing yes-man "Lt. Elroy Carpenter" on McHale's Navy which ran from 1962 - 1966, Adam-12, All in the Family and a whole host of other movies and TV shows. This post doesnt do any justice so check out his IMDB. Bob resided in Burbank and filmed a lot of his TV shows and movies in the SFV. Hastings passed away at the age of 89 on June 30, 2014 from prostate cancer. You can check out his obituary at the Burbank Leader.
16. Richard "Dick" Percy Jones
Richard Percy Jones is best known for playing the voice of Pinocchio in the 1940's Walt Disney film. He passed away from complications from a fall in his Northridge home on July 7, 2014 at the age of 87.
17. Ken Thorne
Ken Thorne is an Oscar-winning composer who composed the incidental music for the Beatles' 1965 feature film, Help!. His credits also include Superman II and III as well as numerous TV shows. He passed on July 9, 2014 at the age of 90 in West Hills which was his home. You can read a Daily News obituary here.
18. James Mathers
James Mathers was an accomplished actor with credits going back to 1979 with credits in Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and LA Law to name a few. He also started the Studio City based, Writers Group, in 1990 which allows creative individuals to meet and review each other's works every Wednesday at 7 PM at Two Roads Theatre. Mathers passed on July 11, 2014 at the age of 77 from cancer. You can read his obituary at Studio City Patch.
19. Feliciano Valdez Gil
Feliciano Valdez Gil was known as the Junk Mail King who you could thank for all of the political campaign fliers and ads rubber banded to the doorknobs. He was also known for his philanthropy providing Christmas dinners to the homeless of skid row near his LA offices. Gil was a longtime SFV resident living in Sun Valley and then later Sherman Oaks. He passed away on July 21, 2014 from causes due to a lifetime of smoking. You can read his obituary at the Daily News.
21. Oliver Logacz
Oliver Logacz was a well respected mailman who walked the same postal route for 30 years who was regarded as a local hero for going out of his way to help the community especially near his home in Granada Hills (although property records show he lived in Van Nuys). Logacz passed away on August 3, 2014 at the age of 66. You can view his obituary at LA Daily News.
23. Bob Deyan
Bob Deyan along with his wife, Debra, started the audio books bushiness in 1990 to handle requests from the large publishing companies which became one of the largest independent producers based in Tarzana. Deyan won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Audio Publisher's Association in 2013. He passed away on August 19, 2014 from complications of ALS. You can read more at SFVBJ.
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| Image courtesy Daily News |
Long time Studio City Realtor and community activist, Mort Allen, passed at the age of 75 in his sleep on April 5, 2014. Allen started the Allen Realty company based in Studio City that has been in operation for more than 5 decades. He was also actively involved in community affairs supporting Studio City.
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| Image courtesy LA Daily News |
Mickey Rooney was an accomplished actor on film, television, Broadway, radio, and vaudeville who started as a child who literally started performing at the age of 17 months. His career spanned more than 300 films who rose to prominence in the 30's and 40's playing the role of "Andy Hardy". His career had declines and comebacks that lasted up until his death on April 6, 2014 at the age of 93 in his sleep. He was one of the few remaining actors from Hollywood's golden era and was a longtime SFV resident with a home in Encino still standing today as shown in the postcard. At the time of his death, he was living in Westlake Village and passed away at his stepson Mark Rooney's Studio City home.
Don Runyan was a 40 year teacher for Los Angeles Unified who retired in December 2011 and passed away at the age of 67 on May 11, 2014 after a decade long battle with cancer. Runyan was a well respected architecture teacher at Cleveland High School in Reseda who won the National Advisor of the Year by SkillsUSA, a career and technical education organization in 2012. Runyan was also featured in a December 22, 1999 LA Times article titled, A Shop Teacher's Tools for Success. You can read his obituary here and here.
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| Image courtesy galatzangazeete.com |
Beverly Long was a long time actress and casting director with her most notable role in the 1955 James Dean film, Rebel Without A Cause. She passed away at the age of 81 in her home of Studio City on May 8, 2014.
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| Image courtesy Diana Bonsignore via Studio City Patch |
Elliot Rodger became famous on May 23, 2014 when he killed 6 Santa Barbara college students and himself in an act of rage due to psychological and personal issues. Rodger was from Woodland Hills/West Hills who attended Topanga Elementary, Taft, and Crespi high schools. You can read more here.
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| Elliot Rodger on vacation in London in 2011. Image courtesy Daily Mail UK. |
14. Paul Mazursky
Paul Mazursky is a writer, director, and actor best known for his dramatic comedies that deal with modern social issues in films like Unmarried Woman (1978), Bob & Carl & Ted & Alice (1969), and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). For SFV fans, he portrayed "Teddy Peppers" in the cult-classic, 2 Days in the Valley. Mazursky passed away on June 30, 2014 at the age of 84 from pulmonary cardiac arrest. You can read an LA Times obituary here.  |
Image courtesy Petr Novak, Wikipedia
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Bob Hastings was best known for playing yes-man "Lt. Elroy Carpenter" on McHale's Navy which ran from 1962 - 1966, Adam-12, All in the Family and a whole host of other movies and TV shows. This post doesnt do any justice so check out his IMDB. Bob resided in Burbank and filmed a lot of his TV shows and movies in the SFV. Hastings passed away at the age of 89 on June 30, 2014 from prostate cancer. You can check out his obituary at the Burbank Leader.
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Image courtesy Burbank Leader
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Richard Percy Jones is best known for playing the voice of Pinocchio in the 1940's Walt Disney film. He passed away from complications from a fall in his Northridge home on July 7, 2014 at the age of 87.
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| Image courtesy Times Update |
Ken Thorne is an Oscar-winning composer who composed the incidental music for the Beatles' 1965 feature film, Help!. His credits also include Superman II and III as well as numerous TV shows. He passed on July 9, 2014 at the age of 90 in West Hills which was his home. You can read a Daily News obituary here.
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Image courtesy Ultimate Classic Rock
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James Mathers was an accomplished actor with credits going back to 1979 with credits in Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place, and LA Law to name a few. He also started the Studio City based, Writers Group, in 1990 which allows creative individuals to meet and review each other's works every Wednesday at 7 PM at Two Roads Theatre. Mathers passed on July 11, 2014 at the age of 77 from cancer. You can read his obituary at Studio City Patch.
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| Image courtesy IMDB |
Feliciano Valdez Gil was known as the Junk Mail King who you could thank for all of the political campaign fliers and ads rubber banded to the doorknobs. He was also known for his philanthropy providing Christmas dinners to the homeless of skid row near his LA offices. Gil was a longtime SFV resident living in Sun Valley and then later Sherman Oaks. He passed away on July 21, 2014 from causes due to a lifetime of smoking. You can read his obituary at the Daily News.
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| Image courtesy LA Daily News |
20. Paula Kent Meehan
Paula Kent Meehan was the co-founder of Redken which was the biggest seller of beauty care products primarily Shampoos sold exclusively in salons. She was a Beverly Hills resident but made her fortune in the SFV starting off in Van Nuys and then Canoga Park. She revolutionized the industry and was well respected by her employees and peers. She passed away at the age of 82 in Beverly Hills on July 23, 2014 from a lenghthy battle with lung infections. You can read a more extensive BTTF series post on Meehan and Redken here. |
| Image courtesy Redken Facebook. |
Oliver Logacz was a well respected mailman who walked the same postal route for 30 years who was regarded as a local hero for going out of his way to help the community especially near his home in Granada Hills (although property records show he lived in Van Nuys). Logacz passed away on August 3, 2014 at the age of 66. You can view his obituary at LA Daily News.
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| Image courtesy LA Daily News |
22. Jack Wright Jr.
Jack Wright Jr was co-founder of L.A. Animal Rescue, personal trainer at Powerhouse Gym in Chatsworth, stuntman in films, animal trainer for movies, and on occasion, wrestled bears. He was a longtime SFV resident born in Van Nuys, attended Kennedy High School and Pierce College, and maintained a ranch in Chatsworth. Wright passed away on August 11, 2014 at the age of 57 after a brief battle with a rare form of brain cancer. You can read his obiturary at the Daily News. |
| Image courtesy Daily News |
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| Image courtesy Bobdeyan.com |
24. Dan Goossen
Dan Goossen was a boxing promoter which started in his family's empty SFV field transforming world boxing champions. He has worked with the likes of Michael Nunn, Terry Norris, and James Toney who packed the Reseda Country Club. He was also a close friend of Pete Rose and managed Mr. T during the height of his career. Goossen passed away at the age of 64 from complications of liver cancer on September 29, 2014. The Ten Goose boxing club where his family trains boxers is located in Van Nuys while Dan's last residence was in Northridge where his home is currently for sale (previously it was Valley Village). Also, I wasnt able to find that family empty field. You can read his obituary at the LA Times.
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| Image courtesy MSFV |
25. Lou Kennedy
Lou Kennedy was a WWII veteran who literally greeted anyone he would come into contact with on his motorized scooter in Van Nuys. Lou passed on September 30, 2014 stemming from injuries that occurred when a motorist hit his wheelchair at the age of 91. You can read more at the LA Daily News.
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| Image courtesy LA Daily News |
26. Michael "Trigz" Pebley
Michael Pebly best known as "Trigz" was a well known body piercing and tattoo artist based at Sin City Tattoo in Pacoima. In addition to tattooing, he was also a well known graffiti artist tagging Burbank, North Hollywood, and Sherman Oaks and also was a model and actor. Trigz died after a fight turned physical and was shout outside the Tattoo and Body Piercing shop in North Hollywood on October 9, 2014 at the age of 40. You can read more at the LA Daily News.
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Marty Mcfly
Anything and everything about the San Fernando Valley. This blog will take you back in time when the valley was covered with dirt and orange groves to a leader in the space race to its current status as America's suburb. Come along and join me on this adventure, I guarantee you have been influenced/impacted by the San Fernando Valley in one form or another even if you have never visited or heard of the SFV.
Why bother publicizing #13? Aren't we just feeding into the sick psychotic mindset by memorializing him on your blog? Everyone else contributed to society in some sort of positive way.. he doesn't deserve to be on the list or even given a second though.
ReplyDeleteWhy on earth would you include Elliott Rogers on this list??
ReplyDelete# 25, Lou Kennedy, broke my heart. Killed by an 18-year-old talking on her cell phone. Broke literally almost every bone in his body. The news article says they weren't sure if criminal charges would be filed against his killer. Put her in prison, please!
ReplyDelete