The Torrance Historical Society and Providence Little
Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance are hosting the fifth annual
1950s-style family summer event in celebration of Torrance's All-America City
Award -- one of America's original and most prestigious community recognition
awards. The City received this award for "Growth without strain" back in the
1956 when Albert Isen was Mayor of Torrance.
, is open to the public and will be held in front of the Museum
(1345 Post Avenue). Post Avenue will be blocked off from Cravens to Sartori,
so guests can:
The fee is $7.00 for cheeseburger/burger, chips and soda or for grilled
cheese sandwich, chips and soda
Milk shakes (chocolate, vanilla or strawberry) are available at $TBA.
Tickets for either a milk shake or items from the IN-N-OUT burger wagon can be
purchased at the "burger desk" on the Museum lawn during the event. Cash or
personal check, made payable to the Torrance Historical Society will be
accepted. Sorry no credit cards are accepted. Exact change is appreciated.
Burgers and cheese sandwiches will be available until
7:00 p.m. or until sold out.
Milk shakes will be made until sold out. Please arrive early due
limited availability.
The Bartlett Senior (over 50) Center will also be hosting an Open House this
same night -- you can dine on their patio and listen to The South Bay
Strummers (ukulele group)! The Torrance Woman's Club will also have their
1950s Club scrapbook available for viewing. Also, the Torrelles -- a group
of City employees who sing 50s and 60s songs in a cappella, will entertain
guests.
This FREE 1950s-style family event is hosted in partnership with the City of
Torrance, Costco, Torrance Bakery, Old Torrance Neighborhood Association, and is
sponsored by Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center Torrance.
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call
the Museum at (310) 328-5392 or visit www.TorranceHistoricalSociety.org.
The book documents the achievements of Americans of Japanese Ancestry (Nikkei)
who attained leadership roles in United States military service. Currently
there are 42 Nikkei Generals and Admirals (of which, 38 biographies are
included in this publication).
Introductions and a special presentation will be given by Former California
State Assemblyman George Nakano. The authors will be available for questions
and answers after the presentation.
Toyota USA Automobile Museum - 19600 Van Ness Avenue (between Del Amo
Blvd. & 190th in the ProLogis Office Park)
This event is open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Louis Zamperini along with the volunteer team who helped with the "Breakfast
with a Champion" book signing event of "Unbroken" at the Toyota USA Automobile
Museum on Saturday. Olympic swimmer, John Naber (4 golds, 1 silver, 6 world
records) is the tall gentleman in the back.
There were over 400 people in attendance at this event.
Where:
Presentation and book signing is at Toyota Automobile Museum - 19600 Van Ness
Ave., Torrance
Historical Society Museum will be open for touring 09:00am - 12:00 noon.
Directions:
If traveling North on Van Ness:
- pass Del Amo Blvd.
- Turn right into the driveway that is immediately past Prologis Way
(signal).
If you pass Toyota Way you've gone too far north.
Look for the address 19600 at the top of the building. You will see a
Toyota Museum sign on an easel out front.
When:
Saturday, April 9th, 2011
09:30am - Presentation by John Naber, Olympic champion, (five Olympic medals for swimming -
four gold and one silver), network television and radio sports broadcaster will introduce Louis Zamparini.
09:30am - about 11:45am - Book signing by Louis Zamperini
09:00am - 1200 Noon - Historical Society Museum is open for touring
Cost:
Presentation: Free
Tour of Historical Society Museum: Free
Book signing: $10.00 donation per book.
Louis Zamperini will sign books for a suggested $10 donation per book. All signature monies collected will be
donated to Victory Boys Camp for wayward youth where Zamperini taught other juvenile delinquents the
skills to succeed in life. The $10 contribution also includes a pre-printed photograph of Zamperini.
Books to be purchased:
Books may be purchased at Toyota Automobile Museum on April 9th.
Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is $30, including sales tax.
Devil at my Heels by Louis Zamparini is $25, including sales tax.
Signing any book is a suggested $10 donation for Victory Boys Camp.
Attendees may bring their own copies of books for signing or they may
purchase books at the event.
Hosted by: Torrance Historical Society & the Torrance Public Library
Sponsored by: Toyota USA Automobile Museum and Costco
Additional information: Call Torrance Historical Museum at (310) 328-5392 or http://www.torrancehistoricalsociety.org
No reservations required: Seating is limited.
Louis Zamperini - Olympian, WWII POW, and Hometown Hero, will be at the Toyota USA Automobile Museum (19600 Van Ness Avenue, Torrance, CA 90501) on Saturday, April 9, 2011, for a presentation and book signing of Laura Hillenbrand's book, "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption".
The Museum will be open for touring from 9:00 AM - Noon, with the presentation commencing at 9:30 AM. John Naber - Olympic champion (five Olympic medals for swimming - four gold and one silver), network television and radio sports broadcaster, will introduce Zamperini.
Unbroken, the biography of Louis Zamperini's incredible life story, is number one on the Los Angeles Time's Best Seller List, number two on the New York Time's Best Seller List, and number five on Amazon's Top 100 List.
Louis Zamperini - the man, the survivor, the living legend was also known as . . .
- "Lucky Louie"
- "Torrance Tornado"
- "The Green Hornet"
- "Iron Man"
- "Leather Lung"
Zamperini was a juvenile delinquent, a world-class NCAA miler, a 1936 Olympian, a World War II bombardier and graduate of Torrance High School (Winter Class of 1936). The Torrance High School Stadium, a street, and the Torrance Municipal airport all bear his name.
Zamperini survived his Army Air Corps B-24 crashing in the Pacific Ocean in 1943, captivity in Japanese Prisoner of War camps, and starvation. He was subjected to medical experiments, forced into slave labor, and received brutal treatment while in prison. Zamperini endured all this, and returned home to a Hero's welcome. Years later he would overcome terrible dreams, rage and despair, drinking and brawling.
At age 94, Zamperini is still spry, has the twinkle of life in his eyes and the taste of victory on his lips. He lectures audiences around the world on how to overcome adversity, the meaning of the Olympic Spirit and the freedom he found through a personal relationship with God.
Attendees may bring their own copy of Unbroken, and the book will also will be available at the event for $30 ($27 plus sales tax). Zamperini will sign the books for a suggested $10 donation (per book) toward his Victory Boys Camp for wayward youth where he taught other juvenile delinquents the skills to succeed in life. The $10 contribution also includes a pre-printed photograph of Zamperini. Zamperini's autobiography, Devil at my Heels, will also be available for purchase for $25 including sales tax and signing for a suggested $10 donation (per book). .
This event is hosted by the Torrance Historical Society & the Torrance Public Library, and sponsored by the Toyota USA Automobile Museum and COSTCO. Torrance Bakery pastries, fresh fruit from COSTCO and coffee will be served.
Reservations are not required, but seating is limited.
The Torrance Historical Society & Museum is home to a collection of Louis Zamperini Memorabilia, including -- his track shoes, running shorts, USC sweater, death certificate, photos, and more.
Celebrating Women's History Month with Pancho Florence Barnes
March is Women's History Month, and to celebrate, the Torrance Historical
Society is hosting a presentation on "Pancho" Florence Barnes.
Pancho was a high-spirited, headstrong woman who was proud of her successes,
unabashed by her failures, and the architect of her own legend. Living life to
the fullest appears to have been Pancho's primary goal in life! She was
successful in her endeavor.
The award-winning documentary film, Legend of Pancho Barnes and the Happy
Bottom Riding Club, produced and written by Nick Spark and directed by Amanda
Pope will be shown. It features interviews with test pilots Bob Cardenas, Bob
Hoover and Chuck Yeager, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, and biographers Barbara
Schultz and Lauren Kessler.
Jamie Ruth Watson - sponsor of this event, Librarian, history buff, world
traveler, and Torrance Historical Society Advisor, will share the antics of
Pancho as recounted in award-winning author, Lauren Kessler's book,
The Happy Bottom Riding Club.
Pancho Barnes was a force of nature, a person who lived a big, messy,
colorful, unconventional life and who ran through three fortunes, four
marriages, and countless lovers while outsmarting Howard Hughes, out-drinking
the Mexican Army, and out-maneuvering the U.S. government. Living life to the
fullest appears to have been the primary goal in life to Pancho who also
hitchhiked across the United States, trekked through Mexico astride a burro,
cruised South America and then took to the skies in the late 1920's becoming a
barnstormer, a racer, a cross-country flier and a Hollywood stunt pilot.
In Hollywood Pancho was an intimate of movie stars, a script doctor for the
great director Erich von Stroheim, and, later in life, a drinking buddy of the
supersonic jet jockey Chuck Yeager. The next era was running a wild and wildly
successful desert watering hole known as The Happy Bottom Riding Club, the
raucous bar and grill depicted in The Right Stuff.
When: Sunday, March 27th
Where: Torrance Historical Society & Museum (1345 Post Avenue, Torrance)
Time: 2:00 pm
Cost: Free! (Reservatsions are not required, but seating is
limited.)
Refreshments: sponsored by Costco will be served.
Let's Talk Turkey
Retired Torrance turkey farmers, Mel & Betty Vaccaro of Mira Loma Turkey
Ranch, will recount how what began as a family-owned and operated asparagus
farm during World War I in the west Torrance area, grew to become a full-time
turkey ranch after World War II.
The Mira Loma Turkey Ranch provided fresh turkeys to the South Bay for 38
consecutive years before closing their doors in 1986.
Betty will bring along a few of her favorite turkey recipes from her
extensive collection, to share! The couple will open the floor to questions
and answers following the presentation. They welcome questions, and invite
attendees to share their memories of the Turkey Ranch.
Here are the details:
When: Sunday, February 13th
Where: Torrance Historical Society 1345 Post Avenue, Old Torrance
Time: 2:00 PM
Cost: This presentation is free, and open to the public, but seating
is limited, so arrive early!
Info: 310.328.5392 or
www.TorranceHistoricalSociety.org
Sweets, and turkey treats will be served. No reservations are
required.
Hope to see you there!
Past Events
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
