This is the beginning of a series, not unlike the serials of the old movie theater double feature. Back in the day – like the early to mid-20th century – when you went to the movies on Saturday, you saw a newsreel, cartoons, and two feature movies. There was also an ongoing adventure with a new chapter every week to keep you coming back.
There won't be any hoof-pounding Western adventures in this series, but there will be interesting history, intriguing facts, and fascinating trivia about the communities of the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and the Westside of Los Angeles. Whether you are a native or newcomer, we hope you'll enjoy the journey.
First on the tour is Encino. It is truly hard to go anywhere in the Los Angeles area without finding a connection to the movie industry. Homes of the stars and hangouts of the famous are everywhere. Even a well-known Realtor® chose Encino for his home base. Here in Encino, though, not only the people are stars; the district itself has played a role in film and literature.
Like much of this area, Encino was once mission land owned by the Spanish government. When the missions were abandoned in the early 1800's, about seven square miles was given to three Grabielino Indians and became known as Rancho Los Encinos (Ranch of the Oaks.) By the middle of the 19th century the land had been a cattle ranch, grown wheat and barley, and had become a stop on the stage line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. According to the Encino Chamber of Commerce, some of the buildings from those days are still seen in the Los Encinos State Park.
Through all this, a massive California Live Oak tree stood on what became Ventura Boulevard, and watched over more than a thousand years of human history before falling during an El Niño storm in 1998.
Encino is now home to more than 40,000 people who live in the area bordered on the west by Tarzana, on the north by the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, on the east by Sherman Oaks, and on the south by the Encino Reservoir.
And now for the connections to film and literature we promised: (with thanks to Wikipedia)
• In the glory days of filmmaking, Encino was also the site of RKO Studios "Encino Ranch" and the site of such iconic movies as It's a Wonderful Life and The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
• It is the setting of the 1992 comedy, Encino Man.
• Encino is mentioned in Frank Zappa's 1982 hit song, "Valley Girl."
• "The Point" from Fast Times at Ridgemont High was located in Encino (Encino Little League Field).
• Encino was where Ali's family lived (Elisabeth Shue) in the movie The Karate Kid. Their country club was Encino Oaks and they lived on Alonzo Avenue.
• Encino is where specials on the popular cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants take place.
• Encino is the setting of the first half of Chilean author Alberto Fuguet's novel "Las Películas de mi Vida (The Movies Of My Life)"
• According to a recurring on-air gag of the 1970's show Match Game, panelist Brett Somers would take host Gene Rayburn to a nice hotel in Encino after the show if she were "feeling frisky."
• Encino has been home to many of Hollywood's stars, including Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable, John Wayne, Michael Landon, and Phil Hartman.
Rich in history, Encino is one of the San Fernando Valley's treasures. That's the end of today's tour. Please join us again next time for…Tarzana!
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