Tinsel Time Capsule

Taken on November 30, 1962, this photo captures Santa Claus showing members some of the children’s gifts at the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce women’s luncheon. Two of the women are identified as they often were back in those days: by their husband’s names. The caption reads, “Mmes. Richard Roe, treasurer; Marshall Ingram and Val Trefz, president.”

The image is part of an exhibit that will be on display at council member Tom LaBonge’s Sherman Oaks field office from December 13 through June. The public is welcome to drop in and see it during normal business hours. The vintage photos are from the Los Angeles Public Library’s Valley Times Newspaper Collection. 

The Valley Times was published in North Hollywood from 1946 to 1970 and highlighted communities throughout the San Fernando Valley. The library received the image archive from the Security Pacific National Bank in 1981 as part of a donation of historic images, which the bank had collected for more than six decades. 

The LA Public Library Photo Collection along with the nonprofit support group Photo Friends have launched a fundraising campaign to augment existing professional resources in order to digitize all Valley Times photos. To date, $160,000 has been raised through grants and private donations, and more than 8,100 Valley Times images are now accessible through the library’s website. 

For additional information or to purchase an image, visit valleytimes.org.