Women's History Month
Kickin' It - AYSO Girl Power History of Women's Soccer
What: History of Women's Soccer - Guest Speaker Jan Smisek
Date: Sunday, March 19th, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Where: Torrance Historical Society & Museum - 1345 Post Avenue, (at Cravens), Old Torrance
Parking: Free on-street parking is available
Cost: Free Event - Donations accepted
Note: "Side-line soccer refreshments" will be served.
Additional Info / Questions: Call the Museum 310.328.5392 or visit
torrancehistoricalsociety.org
In celebration of Women's History Month, the Torrance Historical
Society is hosting an event entitled: Kickin' It - AYSO Girl Power
- History of Women's Soccer.
Jan Smisek, who was on the first all-girl AYSO team (see attached photo),
on the first Varsity Team at West High School, started club soccer
at UCSB, and spearheaded the growth of Women's Soccer in the USA,
and more, is the guest speaker.
Born-and-raised in Torrance, Smisek grew-up in West Torrance where
AYSO was founded in 1964 - starting with only nine (all boy) teams
lead by a handful of soccer enthusiasts who wanted American kids to
have the opportunity to learn, and love, the game of soccer. However,
it wasn’t until 1971, that a girls' team was finally formed.
Though knowing nothing about the game of soccer, Smisek's parents
didn't just stand on the sidelines. Her dad, Dick, was recruited as
Head Referee (he may have not known the "rules," but he knew people
and could get Referees). Her mom, Ann, was one of the first Team Moms,
and promoted the idea of healthy snacks - hence the tradition of sliced
orange wedges at half-time. Together, her parents were instrumental in
getting girls' soccer as a legitimate sport in Torrance TUSD. This was
the beginning of Women's Soccer History in Torrance, and the USA.
At West High School (WHS) (1972-1975), Smisek participated in Soccer,
Softball and Track earning Varsity Letters in all three - Soccer (2),
Softball (2), Track (1).
These were lean years for girls' sports, opportunities grew with the
advent of Title IX in 1972, but not without a struggle. At the time,
WHS only offered girls interscholastic Volleyball, Gymnastics and Tennis.
Soccer and Softball were added in 1974 and Track in 1975. Up to that
point, all other girls' sports opportunities were through the Girls
Athletic Association Club.
Smisek, who now lives in Washington, was named as one of the Top 50 Soccer
Citizens by Washington Youth Soccer as part of their 50th Anniversary
Celebration in 2016. She was also named a "Soccer Legend" by the Reign
FC, (now known as OLReign) an American professional women's soccer team
based in Seattle, Washington, in 2019.
Stumped?! - Photo Challenge
Do you remember the White Front store, the oil derricks that used to dot the land where the Del Amo Fashion Center now stands, the turkey farm, strawberry fields, milk dairies . . . ?
Test your knowledge of what's what and what was where as our photo historians -
LeRoy Jackson, Paul Wisman, and Mike Maiuri - try and STUMP you with old photos from the archives.
- View images from the Museum's extensive archives
- Identify photos
- Be STUMPED, or not
- Join others in a FUN & informational afternoon
Date: Sunday, February 19, 2023
Time: 2:00 PM
Where: Torrance Historical Society - 1345 Post Ave., Torrance 90501
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Tea at 4:00 for You, Me & More
The afternoon will include . . .
- Sampling a variety of CHADO's 10 freshly steeped loose-leaf teas
- Sumptuous tea sandwiches
- Freshly baked scones with CHADO's famous cream
- Assorted delicious desserts
- Opportunity to win fabulous gift baskets
- Time to visit and chat with all the other teetotalers
When: Saturday, February 18th, 2023
Time: 4:00 PM, (doors open at 3:50 PM)
Where: CHADO Tea Room - 1303 El Prado Avenue, Old Torrance
Parking: Free on-street parking is available
RSVP: Reserve your seat today or ASAP -Call the museum at 310.328.5392 - no later than Thursday, February 9th
Don't delay - Each year, this is a SOLD OUT event!
Cost: $45 per person -- seating is limited, so reservations are required and will be taken on a first come/first served basis.
Checks (made payable to the "Torrance Historical Society") are to be mailed to:
Torrance Historical Society, 1345 Post Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501.
Payment must be received within 48 hours of reservation in order to hold your spot.
Note:
In order to reserve a table, it will need to be paid in full at the
time of reservation - please include first and last names, emails,
and phone numbers for those in your group, (even if it's just two in
your "group") with whom you'd like to sit.
Attire: Tea attire -- hats and gloves, optional
Questions or additional Info: Call the museum 310.328.5392 or see our
Contact Us page:
http://www.torrancehistoricalsociety.org/contact/
Proceeds from this fund-raiser directly benefit the Museum -
archiving activities, historical discoveries, research projects, special programs, its operation and exhibits.
Stories & Conversations
You're invited to join us for an afternoon of lively stories and conversations.
Everybody has a favorite Torrance story - whether it be the marriage of the malls, the crack of the wood oil derricks breaking
and running over there to saw them up for firewood, or the remembrance of the Foremost Milk Truck that went
neighborhood-to-neighborhood to take family photos . . . come share yours!
- Stories - share one, or join in
- Conversations - listen & enjoy
Moderators for the afternoon will be Janet Payne - Torrance Historical Society VP,
and LeRoy Jackson - former City Manager.
When: Sunday, January 29, 2023
Where: Torrance Historical Society & Museum - 1345 Post Ave., Torrance 90501
Time: 2:00 PM
Cost: This event is FREE and open to the public. Donations are accepted.
Notes: No reservations are required. Light refreshments will be served.
Questions or additional Info: Call the museum at 310.328.5392 or use the
contact us page on the website
http://www.torrancehistoricalsociety.org/contact
Past Events
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