Table Of Content<^vmAm
<LAn IllustratedJ{tstory
E.CaswellPerry
$22.95
CRUmfiK
Amid echoes ofa bygone era ofmissions,
ranches, and presidios, the town of Burbank
was born during the 1880s land boom, a time
offurious real estate speculation in Califor-
nia. People came from everywhere to gain a
slice ofthe golden land, as property was
bought, sold, and traded in a game that
would lead some to fortune, others to ruin. It
was during this hectic time that a plat was
filed for Burbank on May 1, 1887, when
many other plats were being filed for many
other towns that would soon be reduced to
fond memories. It was Burbank that had the
determination and the leaders to survive.
Burbank: An IllustratedHistory, written by
E. Caswell Perry, brings to life the events and
personalities that guided the passage ofthe
San Fernando Valley's first city from a small
town into the media center it is today. Here
are the stories of David Burbank, OliverJ.
Stough, Octavia Lesueur, Robert E. Gross,
and others who overcame flood, drought, de-
pression, and seemingly insurmountable ad-
versity to make the city strong, to shape its
unique character, and to ensure its future.
Highlighting the text are more than 200
black and white illustrations, including vin-
tage drawings and photographs, all carefully
selected and captioned by Ellen E. Dibble.
Sixteen pages ofcolorphotography enrich
this handsome volume.
In addition, a special chapter by Robert J.
Kelly, titled "Partners in Progress," chronicles
the businesses and industries that have been
so much a part of Burbank's evolution.
A lasting tribute, Burbank: An Illustrated
Historyis a book to be read and enjoyed for
generations to come.
Jacketdesign by Christina McKibbin
Digitized by the Internet Archive
2010
in
http://www.archive.org/details/burbankillustratOOperr
CRIWBAWK
Picture Research by Ellen Dibble
Partners in Progress by Robert Kelly
J.
Produced in Cooperation with The Burbank Historical Society
Windsor Publications, Inc.
Northridge, California
(^UHBAm
oyfn Illustrated^tstory
R.CaswellPerry
Windsor Publications, Inc.—History Book Division
Publisher; HalSilverman
Editorial Director;Teri DavisGreenberg
Design Director; AlexanderE. D'Anca
StaffforBuibaiik:An IllustratedHiston/
Senior Editor;Susan L.Wells
Editor; LissaSanders
Director, CorporateBiographies; KarenStory
Assistant Director, CorporateBiographies; Phyllis Gray
Editor, CorporateBiographies;Judith L. Hunter
LayoutArtist, CorporateBiographies;MariCatherinePreimes-
bergerSales Representatives, Corporate Biographies;Sandra Is-
rael, Mary Beth West
EditorialAssistants; Brenda Berryhill, Kathy M. Brown, Laura
Cordova, Una FitzSimons, Marilyn Horn, Susan Kanga, Susan
Muhler, Pat Pittman
Designer; Christina McKibbin
Library ofCongressCataloging-in-Publication Data
Perry, E. Caswell (Edward Caswell), 1912-
Burbank, an illustrated history.
Bibliography; p. 138
Includes index.
1. Burbank(LosAngelesCounty, Calif.)—History.
2. Burbank(LosAngelesCounty, Calif.)—Description and travel.
3. Burbank (LosAngelesCounty, Calif.)—Industries.
I. Burbank HistoricalSociety (Burbank, LosAngeles County,
Calif.) II.Title.
F869.B94P47 1987 979.4'93 87-8314
ISBN0-89781-204-2
©1987byWindsorPublications,Inc.Allrights reserved.Pub-
lished 1987Printed in theUnitedStatesofAmerica First Edition
/'«j;i''"'"' K('in//i/;,^'olderdaysofuilnrfiilcoiiiiiicnialart, Ihif,laiviuUir,
advcrliiiii^Lullge'sgeneralstoreon Sati Fcrnundo Road, luni^>today in
anold-timestorescenein theGordonR. HowardMuseum neartheOlive
RecreationalCenter. Courtesy, TheBurbankHistoricalSociety
Pa^iethree:Caivedfrom humblebeginningsoutojan exiiinl rancho
system BurbankbecametheSan feniando Valley'sfirstcityon
May 1, 1887,whentheplatwasfiledandcitylotsandfarmswent up
forsale. Thispaintingbyan unkiummartistdepictsfounderDamd
Burbaiik'sranch house,whichwouldlaterbecomeapartof Warner
Bros.'Studios. Courtesy, TheBurbankHistoricalSonety
Right:TheBiiibaiik Hotel ispuluredin Ihe 192()s, when theVklorii
Tlieiilivwasapartofthebuilding In 1979theoldhotelmadewin/for
thelloliihn/Innparkingsiruclure.Courtesy,ThelUnbanklltshnualSociety
CONTENTS
Introduction
7
CHAPTER
1:
The Beginnings of the Dream
9
CHAPTER
2:
The Birth of Burbank
21
CHAPTER
3:
A New Century Dawns
33
CHAPTER
4:
The Golden Age of Burbank
45
CHAPTER
5:
Hard Times and Bright Promise
55
CHAPTER
6:
The War Years
61
CHAPTER
7:
Burbank on the Rise
69
CHAPTER
8:
The World City in Microcosm
81
CHAPTER
9:
Partners in Progress
103
Bibliogreiphy
138
Index
140
r
Seenheremthe1986BurbankonParadeisthe1913Morelandhosewagon
restoredbytheBurbankFirefightersMusterandHistoricalClubwiththeaid
ofdonationsfrombusinessesandcitizens.ItwasjudgedBestRestoredMotorized
FireEnginein Californiam 1984. Courtesy, Burbankon Parade, Inc.
