San Fernando Valley History
North Hollywood/Universal City

Twenty-two years later, in 1869, newcomer Isaac Lankershim recognized that the fertile lands lying just over the Cahuenga Pass from the city of Los Angeles would support many crops. He and his friend, I.N. Van Nuys, purchased the entire southern half of the San Fernando Valley, about 59,500 acres, for $115,000, and planted wheat. Thus was sown the Valley's bountiful agricultural industry.

A general store and a hotel in 1888 signaled the beginning of our town site's commercial development. In another two years, Wilson C. Weddington moved his family to Toluca/Lankershim, and with ten other families, established the town of Lankershim. By 1896, a post office, rail depot, school, and blacksmith had been added to our farming and fruit orchard community.

Water was always a key issue. Mulholland Aqueduct opened in 1913; until then the only two legal wells were Varney's on Cumpston and Gregg's on the southwest corner of Lankershim and Riverside Drive.

Carl Laemmle's Universal Film Manufacturing Company was among the first film production businesses to open in Southern California. The area's mild climate and dramatic scenery made for the perfect environment for that era's popular westerns. By 1915, Laemmle opened Universal City, a 230-acre ranch and filmdom's first, self-contained unincorporated community dedicated to making movies. Curley Stecker's wild animals that were part of the company, serenaded the townspeople in 1916 nightly.

At the close of World War I, Victory Boulevard was named in honor of those who had served in the Great War. Making kerosene lamps a thing of the past, the first natural gas line ran from Burbank to Lankershim, servicing 62 customers. Amidst a surging population, it finally became necessary to identify homes and buildings with numbers.

North Hollywood High School opened with 800 students, graduating its first class in 1928. For the first time, students did not have to travel by Red Car to either Hollywood or Van Nuys. The Board of Education was asked to employ teachers who were residents of North Hollywood. The first telephone exchange was established, with 169 subscribers.

The business community included Blue Bird Cafe, Rathbun's Department store, Pollard-Ho Chevrolet Company and Security National Bank, which replaced the Bank of Lankershim. The community received a new fire station and 335 new fire hydrants. The '20s saw the Kiwanis, Rotary and Optimists clubs established. Fox West Coast Theatres came to town with the El Portal. The theme of the '20s was "Lankershim is Progressive and Impressive."

Population climbed to about 20,000 by the time of the 1929 Stock Market Crash and Great Depression. Every element of the area was touched. Carl Laemmle and his son had to sell their studio to pay off debts.

In 1936 a new post office was dedicated and our first traffic signal was installed at Lankershim and Magnolia Blvds.  We became the fastest-growing community in the Valley, and pushed for the opening of a Cahuenga Pass thoroughfare. We supported the construction of Hansen Dam and the purchase of a junior high school site and its development in 1939.

During World War II, we were the Civil Defense Headquarters for the San Fernando Valley.

By now our community had moved from cattle and sheep to wheat fields and fruit orchards. Bonner Fruit and Cannery Co., located on Chandler near Lankershim, produced and shipped tons of canned fruit throughout the United States. Our town was known as the "home of the peach." We later became a poultry oasis, earning the name "home of the hen." Next came post-war suburbia and major growth. The town would never be the same again. "A peach of a place to have a home" was our new moniker. The area's rapid growth caused a housing shortage, but demand for housing soon led to a construction boom that transformed the Valley from a predominantly agricultural area into a sprawling suburban community.

In 1950, Universal City added 140 acres and thus became the largest film factory in the world. By the close of the 1950s, population reached 152,000, and there was a drive to help save Pacific Electric's Red Cars, get the trucks off of and resurface Lankershim Blvd., and widen Vineland Avenue. Valley Plaza became a reality in 1952 as the Sears store was dedicated.  May Co. opened its doors in 1955.  Valley Plaza and Laurel Plaza together were reported to be the largest suburban shopping center west of the Mississippi.

Information from the Universal City/North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Website.

Universal Studios - Universal City  (San Fernando Valley, CA)




Warner Bros. Studios - Burbank  (San Fernando Valley, CA)



Walt Diisney Studios - Burbank  (San Fernando Valley, CA)

NBC Studios  -  Burbank  (Sam Fermamdp Valley, CA)

Photos from the Various Studios Websites

Return to Burbank Real Estate