Browse Items (1540 total)

The Topanga String Quartet

14_46.jpg
The Topanga String Quartet: Toni Marcus, Jeanne Mitchell, Hugh Neely, Miles Tackett.

Fran Roberts-Stehelin and her students at a recital

14_45.jpg
Piano and voice teacher Fran Roberts-Stehelin with her students at a recital. Megan Yednock, Sebastian Harris, Nadia Kent, Morgan McGee, Samantha Johnson, Fran Roberts-Stehelin, Suzanne Duket, Laurel Anderson, John Anderson.

Flutist Gretel "G.G." Shanley

14_43.jpg
Flutist Gretel "G.G." Shanley, co-founder of the Topanga Symphony

Joseph Reilich and Aaron Copeland

14_40.jpg
Joseph Reilich and Aaron Copeland at the Ojai Music Festival. Reilich played violin with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini for 10 years, before moving to Topanga in 1945.

The Donovan House on Waveview Drive

14_37B.jpg
The Donovan House on Waveview Drive, designed by architect Bob Bates.

House designed by Earl Wear on Sischo Drive

14_36.jpg
Architect Earl Wear designed this home on Sischo Drive to be "of" the land, not just "on" it. It was built for Bud and Joan Ware.

Topanga Arts Council at Earthworks studio

14_31.jpg
Topanga Arts Council members in front of Earthworks, Esther and Bud Bruder's studio. Standing: Esther Bruder Raucher aka Esther Terrestrial, Sue Weber aka Sky and Wonder Woman, Helena LeBrun, three unknown, Myra Schegloff, Kathy Kaminsky, unknown.…

Linda Bolhuis painting, "Mulholland Afternoon," c. 2000

14_28.jpg
"Mulholland Afternoon" by Linda Bolhuis, a painting made with dye on silk. Linda helped set up the Topanga Canyon Gallery in Pine Tree Circle in 2000.

Casa Pequeña gate

14_25.jpg
Tomas Braverman and his wife Kiyo spent many years crafting their home at 1135 Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Today the house is called Rosewood.

"Commons" by Jim and Sue Sullivan

14_22.jpg
"Commons" by ceramicists Jim and Sue Sullivan is an intricate mosaic table.

Mural by Arnold Schifrin

14_20.jpg
A mural painted by Arnold Schifrin on the Old Post Office restaurant depicted a cast of Topanga characters. It was destroyed in a fire in the 1970s.

Barbara, Jack, and Aran Rice

14_14 (2).jpg
Jack Rice was a stonemason.

Jean Stehelin and Jon Raymond

14_12 ps.jpg
Furniture craftsman Jean Stehelin and sculptor Jon Raymond wear berets outside the Topanga Post Office and General Store, at Pine Tree Circle.

Sculpture by Cyril C. Wood (1960s)

14_10 (2).jpg
Sculpture by Cyril C. Wood (1960s), made of cast metal.

"Sybil" by Vera T. Wood (1998)

14_9 (2).jpg
"Sybil" by Vera T. Wood (1998), a painted tile.

The Job, a cafe and art studio

14_5 (2).jpg
The Job was Bob DeWitt's cafe and art studio, located at 1855 N. Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Pictured here, wife Doi and Bob are surprised by a rare snow.

Bob DeWitt

14_4 (2) crop.jpg
Bob DeWitt shows his ceramics, made from Topanga clay that he mixed with his bare feet.

William Fitch Wray painting, "Untitled," 1930s-40s

14_3 (2) crop.jpg
"Untitled (Topanga Scene)," a painting by British émigré William Fitch Wray.

Painter George Henry Melcher

14_2 (2).jpg
George Henry Melcher paints at his Topanga ranch.

George Henry Melcher painting, "Luse Ranch Home," 1935

14_1 (2) ps.jpg
"Luse Ranch Home," a painting by George Henry Melcher (1935). Alwyn Luse Sr.'s ranch was destroyed by fire on Easter Sunday, 1938.

The Fernwood Inn

13_22.jpg
The Fernwood Inn was the favorite place of the firemen who worked in the forestry station under the trees at right. It drew a lot of horse traffic.

Hidden Treasures clothing store

13_67.jpg
Hidden Treasures is an antique, vintage, and used clothing store. Darrell Hazen opened it at the site of the old Discovery Inn in 1993. It first opened across the street in Rainbow Village in 1989.

Cali-Camp, a summer day camp

13_66.jpg
Cali-Camp, a summer day camp in Old Topanga Canyon, opened in 1964.

Elysium Fields nudist camp

13_65A.jpg
Elysium Fields, the nudist camp of the Elysium Institute, opened in 1968 on 7.2 acres of the former Dutton Ranch on Robinson Road. It closed in 2001.

Elysium Fields nudist camp ad

13_64B.jpg
Elysium Fields, the nudist camp of the Elysium Institute, opened in 1968 on 7.2 acres of the former Dutton Ranch on Robinson Road. It closed in 2001.

Ed Lange (center) at Elysium Fields

13_64A.jpg
Ed Lange (center) at Elysium Fields. The nudist camp of the Elysium Institute opened in 1968 on 7.2 acres of the former Dutton Ranch on Robinson Road. It closed in 2001.

Betty Lee Morales

13_61.jpg
Betty Lee Morales established a national food supplement operation out of Eden Ranch, the former Barton School property in Old Topanga Canyon.

Topanga Daffodil and Iris Gardens

13_59.jpg
Carlos Jr. and Jim Baker hold sign for Jean Baker's gardens.

Walter "Buck" Buchanan

13_58.jpg
Walter "Buck" Buchanan, a businessman and minister, ran for 14 major political offices from 1934-1984, including President of the United States. He never won.

Jay Fernandez and Dick Sherman

13_56.jpg
Contractor Jay Fernandez and "Septic King" Dick Sherman cleared damaged roads and slides caused by heavy rains.

Coast and Canyon Realtors Halloween ad

13_54.jpg
Halloween ad for Coast and Canyon Realtors, a real estate company. Teresa Penner, Barbara Campbell, Karen Dannenbaum, Chryssa Lightheart, Sheri Hagemeister, Sarah Sutton. (Tracy Corbett behind the pumpkin.)

Bob DeWitt real estate sign

13_53 crop.jpg
Bob DeWitt hand-painted his real estate signs.

Bob DeWitt in his art gallery

13_52.jpg
Bob DeWitt in his art gallery. He was a realtor, artist, and club owner. He famously greeted his real estate clients barefoot.

Colin Penno retired in Oregon

13_49 crop.jpg
Messenger editor Colin Penno retired in Oregon

Merrick Davidson

13_48 crop.jpg
Publisher Merrick Davidson was the inspiration behind the Messenger, established in 1976.

Topanga Journal, September 30, 1954 issue

13_47 crop lo.jpg
Headline: "Malibu Citizens Committee Asks 10 Questions on Water District Annexation."

Nancy Walkey and daughter Cory Walkey

13_43A crop.jpg
Nancy Walkey and daughter Cory Walkey at the Open House of Mill Creek Equestrian Center. The office was built early in the century and rebuilt by the Hiltbrandt family in 1935.

Standard gas station at Topanga Forks

13_42 crop.jpg
George Ortiz's Standard gas station at Topanga Forks, aka Pine Tree Circle.

Topanga Drug Store

13_39 crop.jpg
Topanga Drug Store, Henry Wilson's "biggest little drug store in California."

Wally High and Pat Burke

13_36B crop.jpg
Wally High and Pat Burke at Pat's Topanga Grill in Coulson Center soon after it opened.

Ken's Pleasant Inn

13_30 crop.jpg
Ken's Pleasant Inn. Whitey Marjenhoff, Ray McClure, owner Pleasant Buerge, unknown, owner Ken Buerge, Harry Long, Bob Ballentine, Chuck Russell, Jack Davis, Frank Romero. (Seated: Dewey Kemp.)

Ken's Pleasant Inn

13_29 crop.jpg
Grace Gaiser plays the accordion at Ken's Pleasant Inn.

King's Charcoal Bar-B-Q restaurant

13_25 crop.jpg
King's Charcoal Bar-B-Q restaurant on a rare snow day at Topanga Summit.

Topanga Summit

13_24.jpg
Topanga Summit became a popular viewing spot after the road opened to cars in 1915.

Mohn Springs restaurant

13_20.jpg
Mina Mohn's restaurant Mohn Springs in present-day Glenview.

Fernwood Market, 1949

13_11 crop.jpg
Fernwood Market, 1949. Evelyn Russell, Paul Gripp, Joe Baker, Bill Smith, Mr. Crawford, Paula Crawford, Jim Lucas, and Mike Evans.

Topanga Shopping Center, 1966

13_6 crop.jpg
Topanga Shopping Center featured the Best Food Center and Topanga Cleaners.

The Outside Inn

13_5A crop.jpg
After the Hansens bought Jim Fletcher's Outside Inn store, they added a restaurant and it became a local favorite.

Alyn Ranson, Rosagua Trujillo, Eddie Gripp, and Pat Rasbury

13_4B crop.jpg
Alyn Ranson, Rosagua Trujillo (Rose Wiley), Eddie Gripp, and Pat Rasbury at Lee's Hitching Post in Fred Solomon's shopping center, a hangout for teenagers.

Fred Solomon

13_4A.jpg
Fred Solomon built the first real shopping center in Topanga in 1946, using Quonset huts left over from World War II.

Topanga General Store and Post Office

13_2 crop.jpg
Topanga General Store owner Irvin "Smitty" Smith chats with customers on the porch.

Topanga General Store and Post Office

13_1.jpg
Topanga General Store and Post Office operated out of a pioneer's frame house, where Pine Tree Circle is today.

Topanga Creek floods, 1992

12_38.jpg
The creek behind the market at flood stage in 1992. Due to tenants' demands, a wall was built to hold back flood waters.

S-Turns Closed for Many Months

12_37.jpg
The S-Turns were open only to pedestrians and bike traffic for many months after 1980's "storm of the century" and flood.

Car crosses 1980 Floodwaters

12_35.jpg
This sports car's owner was actually lucky; many cars were lost to the creek in 1980.

Home of Ral Curren suffers flood damage

12_34 crop.jpg
Ral Curren, owner of The Corral, lost precious rock n' roll memorabilia when the creek scoured his home in the flood.

Landslide at Topanga Summit, 1927

12_28.jpg
A landslide at Topanga Summit caused by rains in 1922 continued to obstruct Highway 27 in 1927. Men are shown drilling holes for dynamite, to blow off the projection.

Bomber drops fire retardant

12_26.jpg
Bomber drops fire retardant, 1993 fire.

Fireman sets a backfire, 1993

12_23.jpg
A fireman sets a backfire to save Old Topanga Canyon homes on the first day of the 1993 "Old Topanga Canyon Incident" fire.

Flames engulf home, 1977

12_21A.jpg
Flames engulf home in the Sylvia Park area, May 14, 1977.

Flames Cross Topanga Canyon Boulevard, 1973

12_20 ps.jpg
Flames cross Topanga Canyon Boulevard in the Twin Poles area on October 31, 1973

Arson Fire of 1961

12_19A.jpg
On November 6, 1961, folks gather near Pine Tree Circle watching smoke from an arson fire curl in the distance.

Forestry Crew Prepares to Reseed Hills, 1958 Fire

12_17.jpg
In the aftermath of the 1958 fire, a Los Angeles Fire Department forestry crew prepares to take off in a helicopter from the Speer Ranch to reseed the hills.

Hugh Harlan's Home Lost to New Year's Eve Fire, 1958

12_15.jpg
The gracious Hugh Harlan home, built by William T. Gibbon on School Road, burned overnight in the New Year's Eve Fire of 1958. The new school nearby was spared.

Mr and Mrs. James Merrin Lose Home, 1948 Fire

12_14C crop.jpg
Mr and Mrs. James Merrin and son Joel at the site of their Sylvia Park home lost in the fire of 1948. Merrin taught English at UCLA.

Oscar E. Hiltbrand surveys wreckage from the Fire of 1943

12_14B crop.jpg
Oscar E. Hiltbrand surveys wreckage from the Fire of 1943 at Earl Garber's house in the Bonnell Tract.

Evelyn McGovern Surveys Fire Damage, 1958

12_13A.jpg
Evelyn McGovern, her son Michael and daughter Patricia survey the ruins of their home after the fire of 1958.

New Year's Eve Fire, 1958

12_12.jpg
The New Year's Eve Fire approaches the home of Evelyn McGovern on Saddle Peak in 1958.

Mrs. Leona Soderstrom Homeless after The Fire of 1943

12_9.jpg
Homeless, Mrs. Leona Soderstrom and baby son Starr sit among what little was left after flames of the 1943 fire.

The Fire of 1943 Burns Home

12_8.jpg
Flames devour a home in Old Topanga Canyon during the Fire of 1943.

Fire of 1943, Old Topanga Canyon

12_6 crop.jpg
Flames in the 1943 fire were halted 100 yards from the Defense Headquarters, situated at the junction of Old and New Topanga Canyons.

Topanga Journal 1943 Fire Coverage

12_5.jpg
The Fire of November, 1943 pictured from the Post Office Tract looking west. Circles mark homes lost. Arrow points to dwellings on Valley View Drive behind the Fire Station.

Firefighters

12_4.jpg
Firemen fighting flames in Old Topanga Canyon, during the Fire of 1943.

Oka Stewart, Camp Wildwood Owner, Ham Radio Operator

12_2.jpg
Camp Wildwood owner Oka Stewart sits at his ham radio, used by local journalist Hugh Harlan during the 1938 fire to issue national reports covering the incident.

Smoke from fire, 1940s

12_1B.jpg
Smoke plumes over Topanga in the 1940s.

Topanga Fire, 1993

12_1A.jpg
"The Old Topanga Incident" was the name of this fire in 1993.

"Mose" Cheney inaugurates the first electrical pole

11_34.jpg
Columbus Callan "Mose" Cheney turns symbolic shovel of dirt while children sing, commemorating the installation of the first electrical pole at junction of Old Topanga and Topanga Roads in 1928, which finally brought electricity to the Canyon.

Dean Perry, Judge John Merrick, Greg Venturi

11_33.jpg
Judge John Merrick, with Chamber officers Dean Perry (left) and Greg Venturi chaired a committee in the 1970s charged with developing solutions to the water crisis.

Art Marshburn and family

11_32B.jpg
Art Marshburn, an Old Topanga Canyon leader involved in the water controversy, with his family in the 1950s.
From left back row: Robert, David, Arthur, Carol.
Front row: Jean, Tom.

Topanga Permanent Water Committee

11_32A.jpg
The Topanga Permanent Water Committee was formed by the Chamber to push for a reliable water supply. Elected in 1956, from left: Sherman Haeggquist, Dan McGovern, Tom McDougall, Peter Stimac, and Virgil Just.

6 cartoons lambasting the Water Committee

11_26 (1).jpg
6 cartoons lambasting the foibles of the Water Committee, in the Topanga Businessmen's Association pamphlet.

Lee Conger, Bill Sloan, and Jerry Harold

11_25B.jpg
Lee Conger, Bill Sloan, and Jerry Harold lay water line in the 1940s near the junction of Old Topanga Canyon.

Jon Swenson in bathtub sink

11_24 crop.jpg
Shown here in the early 1950s, Jon Swenson was bigger than his bathtub.

Outhouse on Robinson Road

11_23B crop.jpg
Due primarily to lack of water, outhouses were common through the 1940s, such as this one listing to its side on Robinson Road.

Owl Falls

11_22C.jpg
Water flows abundantly at Owl Falls waterfall.

Topanga firemen in front of Forestry Station

10_17.jpg
Topanga firemen in front of Forestry Station. SEATED: Jack Albright, Albert Carroll, Bill Santa Maria, Jack Connors, Bud Currier, Floyd Cunningham, Slim Pressler, Bob Butler. STANDING: Al Weinart, Cecil Gehr, Art Bishop, Freddy Stevenson, Jack…

Milkman stopped by flood

11_17 crop.jpg
Arden Milkman stopped by flood on Topanga Canyon Boulevard.

Fernwood Pacific Drive

11_16.jpg
Fernwood Pacific Drive was built to encourage 1920s development. Considered strategic, it was widened during World War II.

Topanga Highway descends into San Fernando Valley

11_15.jpg
Topanga Highway descends into San Fernando Valley. The marker near the sign for Girard (later Woodland Hills) is the LA city boundary.

Bridge near the old Post Office

11_12A.jpg
This 1920 bridge near the old Post Office was replaced when the road was realigned 10 years later.

Topanga Highway in the S-Turns

11_11A.jpg
Topanga Highway in the S-Turns. Cars took over after the road was rebuilt in 1915.

Sentinel Rock

11_10.jpg
Road-building undermined Sentinel Rock in the S-Turns. It was later blasted away.

Stage and mail driver Joe Robison

11_6.jpg
Stage and Post Office mail driver Joe Robison with passengers near the "robber's hut" stone house at Topanga Forks.

Lucy Cheney at the bottom of the S-Turns

11_4.jpg
Lucy Cheney at the bottom of the S-Turns. She was the first to take a wagon down the rough road to Topanga Beach.