Events
Events & Activities
Friday November 4, 2011
California’s Second Gold Rush: The Rise of the Citrus Industry
Local resident Joe Feeney presented an illustrated lecture highlighting the advent of the citrus industry in California, also known as the Second Gold Rush. The citrus industry generated billions of dollars of commerce. At one time LA County was the biggest agricultural producer (in dollar value) in the United States. It was the citrus industry that established the infrastructure that allowed for the expansion of the population in Southern California after WWII.
Saturday October 15, 2011
The Way We Were: An Historic Adventure with Costumes.
What was Victoria's secret? Was it hidden in her bustle or tucked into those petticoats?
On Saturday, October 15, 2011, costume designer Shon Le Blanc of Valentino's Costumes presented textiles, clothing and accessories Sierra Madre style. Having furnished costumes for many plays, movies and television shows, as well as the Sierra Madre Rose Float in 2008, Le Blanc narrated the show's different eras, as he described costume details.
Based on the photographs from our award-winning book, "Southern California Story: Seeking the Better Life in Sierra Madre", this historical fashion revue revealed how Sierra Madreans dressed through the ages. Tableaus of models were accompanied by a slide show of historic images taken from the book and the archival files.
To complement this unique show, the Society served a sumptuous tea consisting of finger sandwiches, hearty appetizers, scones, including a special orange marmalade cake as one of the desserts.
The event was in celebration of the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society's 80th Anniversary. Founded in 1931, the Society continues to participate in community activities, promoting and preserving the history of Sierra Madre, including the stewardship of the Sierra Madre Historical Archives and the City’s two museums: Lizzie’s Trail Inn and the Richardson House.
Saturday March 19, 2011
Sierra Madre School Japanese Garden 80 Years of Goodwill
The Japanese Garden at Sierra Madre School is a great source of pride for Sierra Madre School students, staff, parents, and the community. This program explored the creation, restoration and expansion of the garden as well as current plans for maintaining this 80 year-old treasure of Sierra Madre. Landscape artist Lew Watanabe, teacher Helen Pontarelli, school parents and students shared their experiences in restoring and tending the garden.
Annual Program Meeting
Dan Richter is best known as Moonwatcher the man-ape in the opening sequence of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey which he also choreographed. Dan has had a long career as a mime, choreographer, actor, director, producer, memoirist, and for two decades a Hollywood executive. Dan was the guest speaker at the SMHPS Annual Program meeting on February 17 at Hartzel Hall at Sierra Madre United Methodist Church.
Dan's talk Why I Love the Mt. Wilson Trail! was the main program and explored his battle with cancer and the part walking the trail daily played in his recovery. This was an engaging program by a warm, humorous man.
Dan currently lives in Sierra Madre, where he volunteers on weekends doing trail maintenance and has been leading Sierra Club mountaineering trips since 1991 and teaches courses on rock climbing and mountaineering.
pam.kelly2@gmail.com