Burbank Shorts
Description: In 1927, NBC-operated radio network was called the NBC Blue Network. It would later on become an independent radio (and, eventually, television) network known as the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) in 1943. ABC later joined United Paramount Theatres forming American Broadcasting-Paramount Theatres (later American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.). After its venture into radio and television throughout the 1960s and 1970s and the purchase of ESPN Inc. in 1982, the company would later be acquired/merged with Capital Cities, forming Capital Cities/ABC in 1985. The company ultimately sold to The Walt Disney Company in 1995.
Description: I wrote a primer and mapped the San Fernando Valley, or simply, "The Valley," for "California Fool's Gold" in 2012. This watercolor map, however, dates to 2013 or so (when I experimenting with watercolors). It is primarily a region of the city of Los Angeles but also includes the municipalities of San Fernando and Burbank, as well as the unincorporated community of Universal City. https://ericbrightwell.com/2012/11/05/california-fools-gold-a-san-fernando-valley-primer/
Description: If you've been around the Southern California hot rod scene for a while, you're probably familiar with Rocket Muffler, the Burbank shop that spent several decades doing custom exhaust work for drag, dry lake, and street racers alike. Their business cards advertised "Racket by Rocket" which was probably a hint to the kind of work they did in squeezing out just a little more horsepower out of V8 engines in exchange for a little noise. In addition to sponsoring numerous local SoCal racers in the '50s and '60s, they also kept a sign out front of their shop on West Magnolia Boulevard offering free welding repairs on kid's toys, wagons, and bikes. Talk about community service!
Description: A retro-style emblem featuring a round red background with a cream outline. Inside, the text "Bob's est. 1949" is displayed above a vintage red car. To the right of the car, a young boy with a bib reading "BIG BOY" runs, wearing checkered pants. "BURBANK, CALIFORNIA" is written at the bottom.
