"VISITING" WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

HUELL HOWSER : GOOD MORNING, I'M HUELL HOWSER, IT'S ABOUT 11:15 ON A TUESDAY MORNING, AND I'M STANDING HERE WITH DOUG LOFTUS IN FRONT OF AN ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR FOUNTAIN, AND DOUG, EXPLAIN TO EVERYONE EXACTLY WHERE WE'RE STANDING RIGHT NOW.

DOUG : WELL, WE'RE AT PIERCE BROTHERS VALHALLA MEMORIAL PARK IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD.

WE ARE ONE OF THE ORIGINAL CEMETERIES IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.

HUELL : SO, IT'S BEEN HERE SINCE... DOUG : WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 1924.

HUELL : LOOKING OUT OVER THE CEMETERY IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THIS WAS, FROM ITS VERY INCEPTION, ONE OF THE CEMETERIES THAT DID NOT USE THE ELEVATED MARKERS.

DOUG : THAT'S CORRECT, WE WERE ONE OF THE FIRST CEMETERIES IN THE AREA THAT MAINTAINED THE MEMORIAL PARK CONCEPT.

HUELL : AND THE FOUNTAIN DATES FROM... DOUG : THE FOUNTAIN WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT IN 1925 AND WE HAVE LOVINGLY RESTORED IT ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO, AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF IT.

WE RESTORED IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL GRANDEUR.

HUELL : IT IS REALLY A SPECTACULAR FOUNTAIN.

WOULD THIS HAVE BEEN THE KIND OF THING THAT CEMETERIES DID BACK IN THOSE DAYS?

DOUG : MOST CERTAINLY, YES, BECAUSE BACK IN THOSE DAYS THESE CEMETERIES WENT IN FOR THE NICE BEAUTIFUL THINGS, SUCH AS THIS.

WITH OUR NAME BEING VALHALLA, THE WATER DEFINITELY HAS AN ATTACHMENT OR AN ASSOCIATION TO IT.

HUELL : WELL, AS BEAUTIFUL AS THIS FOUNTAIN IS, YOU KNOW THAT THE FOUNTAIN IS NOT WHY WE ARE VISITING HERE TODAY.

DOUG : THAT'S RIGHT.

HUELL : SO, WHERE WE'RE GOING IS ABOUT, WHAT?

ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD?

DOUG : IT'S ABOUT A QUARTER MILE DOWN THIS ROAD, YES.

HUELL : SO, WE'RE GOING TO SAY GOODBYE TO YOU RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE'S SOMEBODY WAITING FOR US DOWN THERE.

DOUG : YES, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

HUELL : THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE DOWN THE ROAD.

AND HERE IS OUR DESTINATION, THIS ABSOLUTELY SPECTACULAR BUILDING CALLED THE PORTAL OF THE FOLDED WINGS.

IT IS TUCKED AWAY HERE, RIGHT AT THE CORNER OF THE CEMETERY.

I'M HERE WITH GIACINTA BRADLEY KOUNTZ.

GIA : CORRECT, YOU MAY CALL ME GIA.

HUELL : GIA, YOU ARE THE DIRECTOR OF THIS.

GIA : YES, I AM.

HUELL : SO, WE'RE JUST GOING TO START FROM SCRATCH, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW VERY MUCH ABOUT THIS.

I DOUBT MANY OF OUR VIEWERS DO, BECAUSE IT'S KIND OF AN OBSCURE PLACE; ISN'T IT?

GIA : I THINK IT'S THE BEST KEPT SECRET OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, I REALLY DO.

IT'S NOW CALLED THE PORTAL OF THE FOLDED WINGS SHRINE TO AVIATION, OFFICIALLY, AND NOW IT ALSO HAS A LITTLE MUSEUM AND I'D LOVE TO SHOW IT TO YOU.

HUELL : NOW, WHEN WAS THIS BUILT?

GIA : THIS WAS ACTUALLY BUILT AS THE ENTRANCE TO THE CEMETERY BACK IN 1924.

IT WAS CALLED THE ROTUNDA BUILDING THEN.

THEY HIRED ARCHITECT, KENNETH MCDONALD, TO BUILD IT.

HE HAD SOME EXPERIENCE IN OTHER PLACES, I'M SURE YOU'VE SEEN THE PAN AMERICAN BUILDINGS IN SAN DIEGO AND SAN FRANCISCO.

HE HIRED A SCULPTOR, AN ITALIAN NAMED, FREDERICO GIORGI.

THE BUILDING ITSELF IS COMPASS SQUARE, IN OTHER WORDS, NORTH, EAST, SOUTH, WEST.

THE WAY HE DESIGNED IT WAS, IT'S EXACTLY THE SAME ON ALL FOUR SIDES.

HUELL : UH HUH.

NOW, THIS IS A SPECTACULAR BUILDING.

LET'S GET TO THE STORY AS TO-- WAIT A MINUTE HERE COMES A PLANE, BUT THAT'S PART OF IT BECAUSE IT TIES IN DIRECTLY WITH WHAT THIS BECAME.

GIA : YES, YES, AND WE GET DROWNED OUT.

THEY ACTUALLY, SOMETIMES, FLY 200 FEET OVER THIS PLACE.

FOR THE FIRST 10 OR 15 YEARS IT WAS BASICALLY JUST USED AS THE ENTRANCE.

THEY ACTUALLY PUT IN REST ROOMS, WHICH WERE NEVER USED, AND TWO OTHER ROOMS.

IN ABOUT 1937, THERE WAS MAN NAMED GILLETTE, JAMES GILLETTE, WHO HAD THE IDEA THAT THERE WERE SOME EARLY BIRDS-- THE EARLY BIRDS WERE A GROUP OF PILOTS WHO HAD SOLOED-- TO QUALIFY TO BE AN EARLY BIRD YOU HAD TO HAVE SOLOED BEFORE 1917.

AND THEY WERE STILL ALIVE, I MEAN, THEY WERE BORN IN THE LATE 1800'S, BUT THESE PEOPLE IN THEIR "HEY DAY" WHEN THEY WERE IN THEIR 20'S AND WERE FAMOUS AS PILOTS, THEY WERE DOING THEIR THING BETWEEN 1910 AND 1925, AROUND THERE.

SO, YOU CAN IMAGINE IN THE 1930'S, '40S, '50S, '60S, THEY REALLY WERE, NOT FAMOUS ANY LONGER, BUT THEY HAD JOINED THIS EARLY BIRDS GROUP, AND THEY MET, AND WHEN THEY WERE GETTING OLDER THEY DECIDED AROUND THE 1950'S, THAT IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE BURIED TOGETHER.

MR. GILLETTE WAS AN AVIATION ENTHUSIAST AND SO WAS THE GENTLEMAN NAMED JOHN CARRUTHERS WHO WAS A MINISTER AND AN AIR FORCE CHAPLIN.

SINCE 1930 WHEN THE BURBANK AIRPORT-- THIS WAS REALLY WHERE AVIATION WAS IN THE VALLEY.

HUELL : RIGHT.

GIA : THIS WAS REALLY IT.

I MEAN, NOT JUST FOR CALIFORNIA, BUT FOR THE UNITED STATES.

SO, THEY SAID, THIS IS PERFECT.

THE PLANES ARE GOING OVER, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE BURIED SOMEWHERE, WHY NOT HAVE PLANES GO OVER OUR HEAD ALL THE TIME?

IT WAS ALREADY BUILT AND IT WAS ALREADY A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, BUT THEN THEY DECIDED TO CALL IT THE SHRINE TO AVIATION.

THE CEMETERY WAS VERY OBLIGING, BECAUSE MR. GILLETTE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

AND BY THE WAY, MR. GILLETTE IS BURIED RIGHT HERE.

HUELL : UH HUH.

GIA : HE'S FACING HIS BUILDING, AND THE PORTAL SCULPTURE, THE MAN WHO DESIGNED THESE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN, THE LADY AT THE TOP, AND MOSES, AND THE LADY OF PEACE.

MR. GIORGI IS BURIED RIGHT THERE.

HIS GRAVE STONE SIMPLY SAYS, FREDERICO AUGUSTINO GIORGI, PORTAL SCULPTOR, IT'S SO CHARMING.

BUT IN THE '50S THEY REALLY DEDICATED IT.

THE CHAPLIN DID A DEDICATION HERE.

RIGHT EXACTLY, AS WE'RE WALKING THROUGH IT, EXACTLY LIKE THIS.

THEY BURIED THEIR VERY FIRST HONORED PERSON HERE, MR. WALTER R. BROOKINS, WHO WAS THE INSTRUCTOR FOR THE WRIGHT BROTHERS.

HUELL : REALLY?

GIA : YES, HE WAS.

HUELL : SO, WE'RE GETTING READY TO VISIT THE GRAVES OF SOME, LITERALLY, OF SOME OF THE TRUE AVIATION PIONEERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

GIA : I CAN TELL YOU, I'VE SPOKEN WITH DR. TOM CROUCH, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM.

HE HAS BEEN PROBABLY EVERYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH AVIATION, HE TOLD ME WHEN I INVITED HIM HERE FOR MEMORIAL DAY TO BE OUR SPEAKER THAT THIS IS UNIQUE IN UNITED STATES, AND HE THINKS, IN THE WORLD.

HUELL : CAN WE GO THROUGH THESE NAMES BECAUSE, YOU SEE, THIS IS WHAT I FIND INTERESTING.

I DON'T RECOGNIZE ANY OF THESE NAMES.

GIA : SURE.

HUELL : IS THAT UNUSUAL OR SHOULD I BE EMBARRASSED THAT I DON'T RECOGNIZE THE NAMES.

GIA : NO, AS SOON AS I TELL YOU WHO THEY ARE YOU'LL DO AN "UH HUH, OH, YEAH, THEM."

BUT YOU WON'T KNOW THE NAME AS A HOUSEHOLD WORD, BUT I'M WORKING AT THAT.

OKAY, THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE WHO INTIMATELY WORKED FOR AND KNEW THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, AS YOU KNOW IN 1903 AT KITTY HAWK THEY MADE THE FIRST CONTROLLED FLIGHT AND MADE HISTORY DOING THAT.

THEIR MECHANIC IN THEIR BICYCLE SHOP WAS NAMED, CHARLES TAYLOR.

HE WENT WITH THEM TO KITTY HAWK AND IN SIX WEEKS, ON A BENCH WITH JUST RUDIMENTARY TOOLS, THIS IS CHARLES TAYLOR, HUELL : WOW!

GIA : HE BUILT THE WRIGHT BROTHERS' ENGINE.

HUELL : SO, THIS IS THE MECHANIC FOR THE WRIGHT BROTHERS?

GIA : YES, COLONEL EATON WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO DO A RADIO CONTROLLED GROUND TO AIR COMMUNICATION.

ELIZABETH LIPPINCOTT MC QUEEN WAS THE FOUNDER OF THE WOMEN'S INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AERONAUTICS, AND SHE WAS ALSO THE FIRST HONORARY AVIATION POLICEMEN OF THE CITY OF BEVERLY HILLS.

JOHN CARRUTHERS WAS, IN FACT, THE CHAPLIN I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW IF HE WAS A PILOT, BUT HE CERTAINLY DEDICATED HIS LIFE TO AVIATION, AND HIS BOOKS ARE-- HE HAS A HUGE COLLECTION AT THE HARVEY MUDD COLLEGE.

NOW, WALTER BROOKINS, AS I TOLD YOU, WAS THE FIRST INSTRUCTOR FOR THE WRIGHT BROTHERS.

HE STUCK WITH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

HUELL : SO, WE HAVE CHARLES TAYLOR AND WALTER BROOKINS, BOTH CONNECTED WITH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS.

GIA : OH, YES, AND DON'T FORGET, MOST OF THESE PEOPLE KNEW EACH OTHER.

EVEN THOUGH WE THINK OF THE UNITED STATES AS BEING DIFFICULT TO GET BACK AND FORTH ACROSS IN THOSE DAYS.

THESE PEOPLE ALL WENT TO THE SAME AIR MEETS, THEY ALL WERE PALS.

ROY KNABENSHUE WHICH WE'LL GET TO LATER BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT ABOUT ROY KNABENSHUE HERE.

HE WAS ALSO A MANAGER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS FOR THE WRIGHT BROTHERS, EVEN THOUGH HE'S MORE FAMOUS FOR BEING THE FIRST DIRIGIBLE PILOT IN THE UNITED STATES.

MARK MITCHELL CAMPBELL WAS A WING WALKER AND A STUNT PILOT, AND HE WORKED AT LOCKHEED.

BERTRAND BLANCHARD ACOSTA WAS ADMIRAL BYRD'S COPILOT WHEN HE FLEW FROM NEW YORK TO PARIS.

HUELL : REALLY?

GIA : YES, HE WAS.

HUELL : NOW, HOW DID YOU FIND OUT ALL OF THESE STORIES?

BECAUSE YOU HAVE ALL THE STORIES BEHIND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE.

GIA : WELL, SOME OF THE STORIES I HEARD FROM-- THIS MAN'S DAUGHTER IS STILL ALIVE, BURT KINNER IS BURIED HERE, AND HE BUILT ENGINES AND AIRPLANES RIGHT HERE IN DOWNEY AND BURBANK.

HIS DAUGHTER DONNA LIVES IN SAN LUIS OBISPO.

SOME OF THE STORIES I HEARD FROM ORAL HISTORY, BUT ALSO I'M A GOOD RESEARCHER.

YOU CAN FIND THESE IN THE SMITHSONIAN PUBLISHER'S BOOKS AND AVIATION HISTORY BOOKS, BUT YOU HAVE TO REALLY--THESE ARE NOT THE LINDBERGHS AND THE AMELIA EARHARTS THAT CAME LATER.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE LONG BEFORE.

THESE PEOPLE WERE HERE 20 YEARS BEFORE.

HUELL : WELL, THESE ARE TRUE PIONEERS.

GIA : ABSOLUTELY.

HUELL : NOW, HE'S A FELLOW WHO HAS JOINED US BECAUSE-- YOU'RE GOING TO GO WITH YOU INSIDE THE MUSEUM, RIGHT?

HUELL HOWSER.

MARK KNABENSHUE : HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY?

MARK KNABENSHUE.

HUELL : OKAY, NOW, THE STORY... GIA : OF MARK KNABENSHUE IS, HE IS ROY KNABENSHUE'S GRANDSON.

HE WAS A REAL FIND.

HE LIVES RIGHT NEAR ME IN WOODLAND HILLS, CALIFORNIA, RIGHT HERE IN THE VALLEY.

HE HAD A LOT OF HIS FATHER'S AND GRANDFATHER'S PERSONAL COLLECTION OF PICTURES.

HE LOANED THEM TO ME AND I BLEW THEM UP AND PUT THEM IN THE MUSEUM.

HUELL : LET'S GO TAKE A LOOK IN HERE.

YOU'RE PROBABLY DELIGHTED TO HAVE A PLACE TO PUT ALL OF THIS STUFF.

MARK : OH, YOU BET, DEFINITELY.

HUELL : NOW, SHOW US WHAT'S IN HERE.

THIS WAS YOUR GRANDFATHER?

MARK : THIS IS MY GRANDFATHER, THIS WAS BY HIS ORIGINAL AIRSHIP, BY THE STRUCTURE OF THE AIRSHIP ITSELF.

HUELL : WOW.

MARK : THAT WAS TAKEN QUITE A FEW YEARS AGO.

HUELL : DIDN'T YOU HAVE A CUP IN HERE THAT YOU-- MARK : YES, THAT WAS FROM A VERY EARLY AVIATION MEET IN ST. LOUIS.

IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST.

HE RECEIVED MANY, MANY TROPHIES OVER THE YEARS AND THIS WAS ONE OF THEM.

IT'S GOING TO THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE RIGHT AFTER YOU SEE IT.

GIA : YOU CAN SEE THE DIRIGIBLE HERE INSCRIBED.

IT'S A PICTURE OF HIS AIRSHIP.

HUELL : SO, HE WAS ONE OF THE EARLY AIRSHIP PILOTS IN AMERICA.

GIA : THE FIRST, ACTUALLY.

HUELL : WOW.

GIA : YES.

MARK : THOSE ARE TWO OF HIS VERY EARLY AIRSHIPS, AND THEY WERE TAKEN PROBABLY OVER THE PASADENA AND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY AREA, WHICH IS WHERE HE FLEW IN THE VERY EARLY 1900'S.

GIA : 1910.

HUELL : AND THIS WHOLE ROOM IS FILLED WITH THE PICTURES OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN TELLING ME.

GIA : YES, ANYTHING IN THIS ROOM HAS SOME THING, EITHER DIRECTLY OR REMOTELY TO DO WITH THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BURIED THERE.

I CALL THIS MY GALLERY, MY PORTRAIT GALLERY BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY, ACTUALLY, A PHOTOGRAPH OF EVERYONE IN HERE.

HUELL : YOU SEE, THESE NAMES ARE ALL SO, WELL, I HATE TO SAY OBSCURE, BUT YET THEY'RE SO IMPORTANT.

GIA : VERY, OH, IT JUST BREAKS MY HEART THAT WHEN YOU ASK ANYONE ON THE STREET, WHO DO YOU KNOW THAT'S FAMOUS IN AVIATION, AND ALL THEY CAN THINK OF IS LINDBERGH OR AMELIA EARHART.

MY GOODNESS, THESE PEOPLE WERE BEFORE AND THEY WERE CERTAINLY BRAVE AND EXPERIMENTAL, AND THEY WERE OUR PIONEERS.

HUELL : THANKS TO YOU, YOU HAVE, KIND OF, HEIGHTENED ALL OF OUR AWARENESS THAT THESE MEN AND WOMEN ARE HERE AND THE ROLE THEY PLAYED IN EARLY AVIATION, RIGHT HERE IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, IN BURBANK, IN GLENDALE, WHERE ALL OF THE EARLY AVIATION TOOK PLACE-- GIA : A LOT OF IT DID.

HUELL : AND THIS WONDERFUL PORTAL IS NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

GIA : YES.

HUELL : THE MUSEUM IS OPEN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOONS.

GIA : 12:00 TO 4:00.

HUELL : 12:00 TO 4:00, PEOPLE CAN COME TO LISTEN TO THE PLANES FLYING OVER (LOUD PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD).

GIA : AND THE TRAINS.

HUELL : AND GET THE FULL EFFECT OF THESE EARLY AVIATION PIONEERS WHO ARE BURIED HERE AND EVEN THOUGH THEIR NAMES ARE RATHER OBSCURE TO MOST OF US THEY ARE CERTAINLY NOT FORGOTTEN.

GIA : NO.

HUELL : THEY ARE REMEMBERED NOW, AND THEY ARE BACK BEING GIVEN THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE IN AVIATION HISTORY.

GIA : I HOPE SO, THAT'S MY GOAL.

HUELL : THANK YOU, VERY MUCH.

GIA : IT WAS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU HERE.

HUELL : THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

MARK : THANK YOU FOR COMING.

HUELL : THIS HAS BEEN A VERY EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE, AND THIS IS TRULY A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.

HUELL HOWSER : NOW, CONTINUING OUR TOUR OF VERY INTERESTING HISTORIC BUT, I THINK, RATHER OBSCURE PLACES.

WE ARE NOW IN GLENDALE, I'M STANDING HERE WITH JILL CONNOR, AND YOU ARE THE LIBRARIAN HERE AT THE BRAND LIBRARY.

NOW, THE BRAND LIBRARY IS ONE OF THOSE PLACES THAT I HAVE SEEN IN PICTURES FOR YEARS.

BUT I HAVE LIVED IN L.A. FOR ALMOST 17 YEARS NOW AND THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO ACTUALLY VISIT THIS PLACE.

JILL : WELL, WE'RE GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE EVERY DAY WHO WALK IN AND SAY I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO COME HERE, AT LAST, TELL ME ABOUT THE LIBRARY.

WE DO HAVE QUITE A FEW VISITORS.

HUELL : WELL, THAT'S WHAT I'M ASKING YOU RIGHT NOW, TELL ME ABOUT THE LIBRARY BECAUSE IT HAS GOT A VERY INTERESTING ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY TO IT.

JILL : RIGHT, IT'S A VERY SPECIAL PLACE, NOT ONLY THE WAY IT LOOKS, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO WORK HERE FEEL VERY SPECIAL BECAUSE IT WAS LEFT TO THE CITY, AND IT'S NOW A DIVISION OF THE CITY OF GLENDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM BY L.C.

BRAND WHO WAS A DEVELOPER IN THIS AREA.

AND HE STARTED THE FIRST ELECTRIC COMPANY, THE WATER COMPANY, THE COUNTRY CLUB, HE WAS VERY PROMINENT IN GLENDALE.

HE AND HIS WIFE HAD NO CHILDREN SO THEY LEFT THE LIBRARY AND THE PARK TO THE CITY WITH THE STIPULATION THAT IT WOULD BE A LIBRARY.

HUELL : YEAH, BECAUSE IT WASN'T A LIBRARY ORIGINALLY.

JILL : IT WAS THEIR HOME.

HUELL : NOW, THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO GET TO.

TELL US ABOUT THE HOUSE ITSELF.

JILL : MR. AND MRS.

BRAND WENT TO THE 1893 COLUMBIA EXPOSITION IN CHICAGO.

AND THEY FELL IN LOVE WITH THE EAST INDIA PAVILION, AND THIS ARCHITECTURE IS BASED ON THAT PAVILION.

MR.

BRAND SENT HIS BROTHER-IN-LAW TO INDIA TO STUDY SARACENIC ARCHITECTURE.

HUELL : WAIT A MINUTE, WHAT KIND?

JILL : SARASIDIC.

HUELL : SARASIDIC?

JILL : YEAH.

HUELL : WHICH MEANS, INDIAN.

JILL : WELL, YEAH.

HUELL : OR MOROCCAN OR-- JILL : IT'S NOT REALLY MOROCCAN.

IT IS INDIAN, SPECIFICALLY, EAST INDIAN.

AT LEAST THIS FRONT OF THE BUILDING.

SO, THEY HAD THEIR HOME BUILT IN THIS STYLE.

HUELL : BACK IN?

JILL : IN 1904.

HUELL : AND I'VE SEEN PICTURES.

WHEN IT WAS BUILT HERE IN 1904 THERE WAS NOTHING HERE.

JILL : YEAH.

HUELL : GLENDALE WAS NOT GLENDALE.

JILL : LIKE A THOUSAND ACRES OR SOMETHING OF GRASSLAND.

HUELL : AND THEY CALLED IT--WHAT DID THEY CALL THE NAME?

JILL : THEY CALLED IT EL MIRADERO, WHICH MEANS A VIEW FROM A HIGH PLACE.

HUELL : WOW.

JILL : AND IT'S INSCRIBED ON THE BUILDING, HERE.

HUELL : NOW, WHEN THEY BUILT IT DID IT CAUSE A STIR BECAUSE OF THE ARCHITECTURE?

JILL : NO, I THINK MR.

BRAND WAS SO WELL-LIKED AND RESPECTED, THERE WAS NEVER REALLY A STIR.

HUELL : WHATEVER HE BUILT WOULD HAVE BEEN ACCEPTABLE TO THE COMMUNITY.

JILL : RIGHT, HE HAD THE FIRST CAR IN THE COMMUNITY.

HE WAS SO PROMINENT AND HE GAVE SO MUCH TO THE CITY.

I THINK PEOPLE WERE JUST HAPPY FOR HIM HERE.

HUELL : OKAY, WE'RE GOING INSIDE BECAUSE THAT'S-- IT'S A FUNCTIONING LIBRARY TODAY.

JILL : RIGHT.

HUELL : AND YOU'VE GOT SOME PLACES INSIDE YOU WANT TO TAKE ME.

JILL : OH, I'D LOVE TO.

I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT THE LIBRARY AND WHY WE HAVE, NOT ONLY, VISITORS, BUT WHY WE HAVE SO MANY REGULARS HERE.

HUELL : WE'RE GOING IN THE DOOR OF THE OLD HOUSE, NOW THE LIBRARY.

JILL : RIGHT.

HUELL : WELL, NOW, I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF THAT FIREPLACE.

JILL : RIGHT, THIS IS THE ENTRY WAY TO THE ORIGINAL HOME.

ALL OF THE ROOMS OPENED OUT INTO A SOLARIUM WHERE WE WILL SEE IN A FEW MINUTES.

HUELL : AND WHAT'S IN HERE?

THIS WAS WHAT?

LIKE THE DINING ROOM, OR THE-- JILL : THIS WAS A RELAXATION ROOM.

THE INTERESTING POINT IN HERE IS IT DOES HAVE THE ORIGINAL WALLPAPER.

IT HAS ITALIAN CRAFTED WOOD.

ALL THE GLASS IS TIFFANY THAT WAS BROUGHT AROUND THE CAPE.

THIS LAMP--MR.

BRAND PREPARED FOR ANYTHING, IT'S BOTH ELECTRIC AND GAS.

SO, HE WAS READY TO GO EITHER DIRECTION.

HUELL : OKAY, AND WE GO BACK THROUGH HERE, AND ALL OF THIS IS THE ORIGINAL STUFF.

JILL : RIGHT.

THIS IS ALL, EUROPEAN CRAFTSMEN WERE BROUGHT HERE TO DO ALL OF THE WOODWORKING ON THE INSIDE IN THIS ORIGINAL SECTION OF THE BUILDING.

HUELL : SO, THIS IS ALL BRAND HOUSE.

JILL : YES.

THIS WAS THE DINING ROOM WITH THE WHEEL OF LIFE, TIFFANY WINDOW.

HUELL : OH, WOW.

AND... JILL : THIS WAS THE SOLARIUM.

HUELL : THE SOLARIUM.

OH, WOW.

JILL : AND ALL OF THE ROOMS OPENED OUT INTO THIS AREA.

THERE WERE PLANTS AND IT WAS KIND OF A SITTING ROOM.

VERY AIRY, VERY PRETTY.

HUELL : WELL, YOU'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING IT, KIND OF, THE WAY IT WAS, BUT TURNING IT INTO A LIBRARY.

JILL : RIGHT, IT'S INTERESTING.

IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO FIND THINGS HERE BECAUSE IT WAS A HOUSE.

SOMETIMES WE HAVE BOOKS IN CLOSETS OR OTHER UNLIKELY PLACES.

HUELL : AND YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU WANT TO SHOW US BACK HERE IN THE NEW PART OF THE LIBRARY.

JILL : RIGHT, THIS IS ALL AN ART AND MUSIC LIBRARY, EXCLUSIVELY.

WE'VE JUST COME THROUGH THE ART SECTION.

THIS IS THE MUSIC SECTION.

ONE OF OUR STAR ATTRACTIONS IS A CD COLLECTION, COMPACT DISCS, WE HAVE ABOUT 12,000.

IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE THE LARGEST CIRCULATING COLLECTION WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

HUELL : REALLY?

JILL : SO, THIS IS ONE OF OUR BIG CIRCULATING ITEMS.

IT'S ONE OF THE FEW PLACES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PEOPLE CAN COME AND CHECK OUT ALL SORTS OF MUSIC.

HUELL : WELL, YOU'VE GOT ALL OF THE ALBUMS OVER HERE.

JILL : RIGHT, WE HAVE ABOUT 30,000 ALBUMS.

HUELL : REALLY?

JILL : YEAH.

HUELL : AND THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE BACK HERE.

SHE'S PROUD OF THE LIBRARY.

JILL : WELL, IT'S VERY SPECIAL TO WORK HERE.

IT'S NOT JUST A BUILDING, IT'S NOT JUST A JOB.

IT'S LIKE AN HEIRLOOM THAT YOU'RE DEALING WITH.

HUELL : YEAH, NOW, THIS IS ALL NEW?

JILL : THIS IS ALL PART OF THE GALLERY SECTION.

THIS IS CALLED OUR ATRIUM GALLERY.

WE'RE MOVING INTO OUR SKYLIGHT GALLERY.

ANYONE WHO HAS BEEN HERE IS JUST GENERALLY DAZZLED BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE BEST GALLERY SPACES IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

HUELL : WOW.

JILL : WE FEATURE EMERGING SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ARTISTS HERE.

HUELL : WELL, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPACE AND WHAT YOU HAVE DONE WITH THE KIND OF MOORISH LOOK AROUND THE TOP, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NEW, YOU'VE KEPT THE BRAND ARCHITECTURAL STYLE HERE.

JILL : YES, THERE IS A RENOVATION PLAN IN ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

WE HOPE TO EXPAND.

WE'VE NEEDED THAT FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S REALLY ON THE BOOKS TO HAPPEN NOW.

HUELL : OKAY, WE HAVE SEEN THE INSIDE OF THE LIBRARY, IT IS A FUNCTIONING LIBRARY.

YOU WELCOME ALL COMERS.

JILL : ANYONE WITH A CALIFORNIA DRIVER'S LICENSE CAN GET A LIBRARY CARD HERE.

HUELL : AND NOW, WE'RE GOING OUTSIDE TO MEET SOMEONE CONNECTED WITH THE BRAND FAMILY AND TO SEE SOMETHING-- NOW, YOU SEE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I'VE BEEN THE LIBRARY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE YOU'VE NEVER BEEN.

NOW, WE'VE COME OUTSIDE OF THE LIBRARY AND I'M STANDING HERE WITH?

: ORVILLE POMEROY.

HUELL : MR. POMEROY, AND THIS IS YOUR WIFE.

: ELEANOR POMEROY.

HUELL : AND YOUR SISTER-- : MARGARET POMEROY-BACON.

HUELL : AND-- : CORA POMEROY.

HUELL : THE DAUGHTER.

: THE DAUGHTER.

HUELL : AND HERE'S JILL, AGAIN.

WE'RE HERE BECAUSE YOU KNEW THE BRAND FAMILY.

ORVILLE : VERY WELL, RIGHT.

HUELL : TELL US ABOUT YOUR ASSOCIATION WITH THEM.

ORVILLE : WELL, SOME OF THE EARLIEST MEMORIES I HAVE IS WHEN WE WERE CHILDREN, MR. AND MRS.

BRAND WOULD INVITE US DOWN TO THE BIG HOUSE FOR CHRISTMAS EVE AND THEY PRESENTED US WITH LOVELY PRESENTS, OF COURSE.

THEY HAD NO CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN, SO MY FIVE SISTERS AND I WERE THEIR FAMILY IN THAT PERSPECTIVE.

HUELL : AND YOU CALL THIS THE BIG HOUSE.

ORVILLE : THE BIG HOUSE, YEAH, THIS IS THE BIG HOUSE.

HUELL : NOW, YOU LIVED ON THE PLACE WITH YOUR FATHER WHO WAS THE BRAND'S CHAUFFEUR.

ORVILLE : RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT.

HE WENT TO WORK FOR MR.

BRAND IN ABOUT 1907 AND MY PARENTS WERE MARRIED THE YEAR AFTER IN 1908 AND THEY LIVED ON THE PROPERTY HERE UNTIL 1940.

HUELL : REALLY?

ORVILLE : I WAS BORN IN THE HOUSE.

I WAS THE ONLY ONE OF MY SIBLINGS THAT WAS BORN-- HUELL : RIGHT HERE ON THE PLACE.

ORVILLE : ON THE PROPERTY.

HUELL : NOW, THE PLANES, BECAUSE THAT'S ANOTHER WHOLE PART OF THE STORY HERE, TOO.

ORVILLE : OH, IT'S A BIG PART OF THE STORY, YES.

MR.

BRAND BOUGHT 160 ACRES UP IN THE HIGH SIERRAS NEAR LEE VINING TO GET UP THERE IN THE EARLY DAYS--IT WAS A TWO-DAY TRIP.

HUELL : FROM HERE TO LEVINING?

ORVILLE : YOU BET, YES, AND DIRT ROADS ALL THE WAY IN THE BEGINNING.

SO, ANYWAY, BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCE AND THE TIME IT TAKES TO GET THERE IN THOSE DAYS, HE GOT INTERESTED IN AVIATION.

THAT'S WHEN HE ESTABLISHED AN AVIATION FIELD RIGHT OUTSIDE THE GATE HERE AND HELD THE FIRST, PROBABLY, THE FIRST FLY-IN THAT WAS EVER HELD IN APRIL OF 1921.

HUELL : RIGHT OUT HERE?

ORVILLE : RIGHT OUT THERE, RIGHT.

HUELL : WE'VE GOT A PICTURE OF HIM OUT HERE.

THAT'S WAS THE HANGAR THAT, KIND OF, FOLLOWED THE SAME ARCHITECTURE AS THE HOUSE.

ORVILLE : YES, EXACTLY, RIGHT.

HUELL : AND THAT'S MR.

BRAND OUT THERE MOWING, WHAT IS THAT?

MOWING THE RUNWAY?

ORVILLE : THAT'S RIGHT, MOWING THE RUNWAY, RIGHT.

HE ALSO HAD A PUTTING COURSE OUT THERE.

HE WAS A GOLF FAN.

HE HAD TWO PUTTING GREENS, ONE ON EACH END OF THE FIELD, AND HE GET OUT THERE AND DO THAT, BUT WHAT HE'S ACTUALLY DOING THERE IS MOWING THE RUNWAY.

HUELL : NOW, YOU KNOW HOW WE LIKE TO NOSE AROUND WHEN WE GO SOMEWHERE.

SO, NEXT WE ALL PILED INTO TWO CARS AND HEADED TO THE BACK OF THE PROPERTY.

ABOUT A MILE DOWN A LITTLE-USED ROAD.

WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO SEE A PLACE, A CHAPTER OUT OF THE BRAND FAMILY HISTORY BOOK FEW PEOPLE EVEN KNOW EXIST.

I'M WITH THE FELLOW HERE, YOU'RE FROM PARKS AND RECREATION HERE IN GLENDALE.

: YES, I AM.

HUELL : AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE'RE GOING.

THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT WE SAW IN THAT PICTURE EARLIER.

AND HERE'S THE CEMETERY.

: BRAND CEMETERY WHERE ALL OF THE BRAND RELATIVES HAVE BEEN BURIED.

AS I'M AWARE RIGHT NOW, THERE'S PROBABLY ONLY ONE, MAYBE TWO LIVING THAT STILL COME UP HERE ABOUT ONCE A YEAR TO VISIT.

HUELL : WHO CONTROLS THE CEMETERY?

IS IT STILL IN THE FAMILY OR WAS IT DEEDED OVER TO GLENDALE?

: I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS DEEDED OR NOT, BUT THE PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TAKES CARE OF IT.

WE DO ALL OF THE MAINTENANCE ON THIS.

HUELL : OKAY, SO EVERYBODY COME ON IN.

HERE WE GO, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING AND VERY OBSCURE.

ORVILLE, DO YOU REMEMBER THIS?

ORVILLE : I SURE DO.

I REMEMBER IT VERY WELL.

I WAS HERE WHEN THE CASKET WAS BROUGHT UP TO THE LOCATION THAT YOU SAW IN THE PICTURE AND THEN CARRIED ON UP HERE TO THE BURIAL SITE.

WHILE THE CASKET WAS MOVING UP THE CANYON, WHY, THERE WAS AN AIRPLANE FLYING LOW OVERHEAD DROPPING ROSES.

HUELL : REALLY?

ORVILLE : YEAH, ONE OF MR.

BRAND'S AIRPLANES WAS FLYING LOW OVER THE CANYON AND DROPPING ROSES AS IT FLEW OVER BACK AND FORTH.

HUELL : NOW, THIS IS WHAT I FIND FASCINATING.

ORVILLE : WELL, IT IS, THAT'S A FANCY HEADSTONE, ISN'T IT?

HUELL : WHY DID HE HAVE A HEADSTONE SHAPED LIKE A PYRAMID?

ORVILLE : WELL, THE MOST FAMOUS BURIAL SITES IN THE WORLD ARE SHAPED LIKE A PYRAMID, DOWN IN EGYPT, AS YOU KNOW, OF COURSE.

SO, I THOUGHT HE MIGHT HAVE TAKEN IT WITH THAT IN MIND.

IT'S A VERY CLASSIC SHAPE.

HUELL : NOW, WAS THIS HERE WHEN HE WAS BURIED OR WAS THIS BUILT LATER?

ORVILLE : NO, THIS WAS BUILT AFTERWARDS.

HUELL : SO, HE CHOSE THIS SECLUDED PLACE ON HIS PROPERTY TO BE BURIED.

ORVILLE : YES, RIGHT.

HUELL : WELL, IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE.

ORVILLE : IT REALLY IS, VERY IMPRESSIVE.

I AM SURPRISED IT'S IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE.

YOU KNOW, OVER THE YEARS THAT THING COULD HAVE SEPARATED AND FALLEN APART.

SO, IT INDICATES IT WAS WELL-MADE.

HUELL : YEAH.

ORVILLE : IT TOOK SOME REAL MASONS TO PUT THAT TOGETHER AND TO SHAPE THE STONE AND ALL TO MAKE SUCH PERFECT EDGES.

THAT SHOWS A LOT OF SKILL.

I WONDER IF ANYBODY COULD DO IT TODAY.

HUELL : WELL, IT'S THE RESTING PLACE OF A TRUE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PIONEER.

ORVILLE : YOU BET IT IS.

HUELL : THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR SHARING THESE STORIES WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR SHOWING US THE LIBRARY.

: I BROUGHT THE WATER UP HERE TO PLANT THAT TREE WHEN IT WAS-- HUELL : THIS ONE?

: WELL, YEAH, THERE WAS ANOTHER HERE, BUT-- HUELL : REALLY?

: MY SISTER AND I USE TO COME UP HERE.

HUELL : WELL, THESE STORIES ARE GOING TO KEEP ON GOING, BUT WE'VE ONLY GOT A 30 MINUTE PROGRAM.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS FULL OF HISTORY AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF IT TODAY, SEEN A LOT OF IT TODAY.

IT'S OBSCURE, BUT IT'S VERY MUCH A PART OF WHO WE WERE, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHO WE ARE TODAY.