The authors of Growing Up in Burbank, Wes Clark and Mike McDaniel, hold an author event at the Buena Vista Library on Thursday evening, November 30, to celebrate the recent publication of their tome on life in Burbank in the 1960s and 70s.
“Burbank is at once a typical Southern California city and at the same time unique and different (Disney, Lockheed, Warner Brothers),” said Clark. “It was a great place to grow up in because everybody was talking about ‘Beautiful Downtown Burbank’ – nationwide! The place became hip – after a fashion.”
“I think it was the natural follow up to our first book Lost Burbank where we discussed the history and lore of Burbank,” added McDaniel. “This book follows with the history of our growing up years here in Burbank mixed with other people we have talked with and grew up with.”
Interior of Burcal Department Store located at San Fernando and Palm.(Photo Courtesy of Burbank Historical Society)
Clark and McDaniel will present a slide show and play some videos and the room at the Buena Vista branch of the Burbank Public Library will be decorated with photos of bygone days.
“We will also have pictures of Burbank people and places from the boomer generation on the walls and some portraits from history that will be seen in public for the first time from Burbank’s history,” explained McDaniel.
“What I think is important about this new book, Growing Up in Burbank, is that it is a social history of the town during the ‘boomer’ years, the story of how life was experienced in this town, told through recollections of the stores, the restaurants, the schools, the material culture and the recreational activities—organized and off-the-grid,” said Librarian Hubert Kozak.
Burbank school classroom scene, 1960s. (Photo Courtesy of Burbank Historical Society)
“People have often remarked about the unique sense of community in Burbank, something that has existed historically and is still felt today. It doesn’t seem to be a part of the experience of those who have grown up in surrounding communities in this area. I think Wes and Mike’s book, and their enthusiasm for collecting and preserving the history of the town where they grew up, explains something about that.”
“Growing Up in Burbank during these times seems to have been an experience that people look back upon with some fondness, the experience and sense of community here defined the notion of the ‘good life’ for a whole generation of people who grew up in this town, and the recollection of that experience, the kind of historical retrospective that has become Wes and Mike’s passion, is a part of what keeps that spirit and the values it expressed alive in this community today,” Kozak added. “You can just see and feel it when all their local history followers get together for an event like this.”
Mike McDaniel is tee-peed, 1979. (Photo Courtesy Mike McDaniel)
Clark and McDaniel operate the Burbankia website and McDaniels also writes the “Flashback Friday” column for myBurbank.com.
“It is not lost on me that this is a pretty unique thing, and I think the city is pretty lucky to have these two guys who know and value the local history here,” Kozak continued.
“I think of other communities and towns in the surrounding area, and it is rare they have people dedicated like Wes and Mike are to chronicling the local cultural and social history of their communities. That history is just lost forever. But not in Burbank. I think of these two as local history heroes in this town.”
“Burbank was a charmed place then and we felt safe to enjoy all that Burbank offered us as youth,” McDaniel also said. “It was a source of pride to say I am from ‘Beautiful Downtown Burbank’ when people asked where you lived. Our generation will always identify with Burbank as their home town.”
“Mike and I enjoyed growing up in Burbank, especially in the 1960s and 1970s,” commented Clark. “They seemed like eras suited for the young. The youth culture was just beginning, and we felt important.”
The authors mention a love for The Wonder Years television show in their press materials. Not only because the show takes place in Burbank, but also because in the episode set during the 1972 Presidential Election, the protagonist, Kevin, is described as being sixteen, the same age as Clark and McDaniel at that time. The Wonder Years “serves as a narrative metaphor for our own lives,” said the authors.
Growing Up in Burbank at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 30, at the Buena Vista branch of the Burbank Public Library. The authors will sign books, which are available for purchase, at the event. Plenty of free parking is available on site.
The post “Growing Up In Burbank” Authors Present Slide Show, Share Stories appeared first on myBurbank.com.
Before we get to Hero (Michael Thomas Grant) and the Captain (Clayton Snyder), let me tell you about the play. A Funny Thing takes place Ancient Rome and tells the story of forbidden love. Hero, is the son of wealthy parents, Senex (Kevin Symons) and Domina (Candi Milo), and he is love with a Courtesan in the house next to his that is run by Lycus (E.K. Dagenfield). Only thing is that she has been sold to a Captain who is coming to pick her up the next day. Thankfully, Hero’s slave, Pseudolus (Joey McIntyre), wants his freedom and will do anything to get it. Therefore, he comes up with a plan to get Hero and the virgin, Philia (Nicole Kaplan) together. What happens next is a comedy of errors which brilliantly comes together at the end. The whole show will leave you laughing and smiling for hours afterwards. So much so, you will want to buy a ticket when the curtain goes down to see it again.
I saw A Funny Thing with McIntyre as the lead and he plays the role with such the right stuff, it should forever change how the part should be played. In the past, Zero Mostel, Phil Silvers and Nathan Lane, have played the part and let’s be honest they can be over the top. Something that the New Kid on the Block does not do. He plays it with just the right amount of comedy without you being exhausted by his performance. In addition, you can tell that he has Broadway experience. He will be with the show until December 10th. Paul C. Vogt takes over the following week.
Grant reminds me of the living version of Prince Philip from Sleeping Beauty with a voice that will sends you to sleep happy. When he sings, you listen to ever word he says. I could be saying that because in one song, he only sings one word. Anyways, he also knows how to make a funny moment even funnier with his facial expressions. This is his Garry Marshall debut and I do not think this is the last time we will see him.
Snyder plays Captain Miles Gloriosus and he reminds me of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast and Tangled’s Flynn. The rough and tumble guy with the potential of being a bad boy. When he finally makes his entrance, you will not be able to take your eyes off him because he commands the stage. There is just something so manly about him that everyone will be attracted to him.
Then, there are Hero’s parents who remind Fred of Wilma Flintstone, which of course is based on The Honeymooners. Together, they are in love, apart they get into trouble. The onstage couple bring a level of comedic timing that will make you chuckle whenever they are in front of you.
Finally, there is Vanessa Nichole, Shamicka Benn and Liz Bustle, who play several roles throughout the show. Each woman is beyond talented with every singing, dancing and number they are involved in. Nichole uses her acrobatic ability to work the pole, so much so even strippers will be jealous of her for it. I should mention, the other two women are not to shabby with their moves either.
Note: All suspects arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty by a court of law. Arrests made by Burbank Police Dept. unless otherwise indicated. The following are Official PUBLIC Records being redistributed by myBurbank.com Inc. and is protected by constitutional, publishing, and other legal rights. These Official Records were collected in 2017 The person(s) named in these listings has only been arrested on suspicion of the crime indicated and are presumed innocent.
