Brief Background

Founded by Tommy Gelinas in a Chatsworth garage, The Valley Relics Museum contains important San Fernando Valley memorabilia from the 1800s and onward. Deciding to start collecting vintage postcards, then photographs, and eventually retro neon signs Tommy stumbled upon the rich history of popular culture local to the San Fernando Valley scene. He then took upon himself the mission of collecting every bit of memorabilia from closed restaurant phone booths, to BMX bikes from the 60s all made in the SF valley. When the collection became too much, Gelinas moved the site to Balboa Blvd. in November of 2018 next to the Van Nuys airport. There the collection resides growing to this today to provide viewers with a vast window into the San Fernando Valley’s cultural past.

Items of Interest

Signs - The collection includes many neon restaurant signs such as Henry’s Tacos, Bob’s Big Boy, Mel’s Diner, and Drexler’s Deli to name a few. The Palomino Club country hangout that was frequented by stars such as Jonny Cash, The Everly Brothers, Neil Young and others is another notable neon sign. The dining affair also includes many retro McDonalds and Dairy Queen signs and drive-thru speakers including an Original Jack menu from when a burger only cost 18 cents.

Bikes - Of the BMX bikes from the 60s and 70s, “Gary Littlejohn was one of the first to make what they call a rigid frame BMX bicycle, in the early 70s. And his factory was located in North Hollywood.” Other brands include Mongoose from Chatsworth, Redline from Northridge, and Champion and Robinson from the Valley.

Letters - One of the oldest items in the collection is a letter from Issac Newton Van Nuys, owner of the San Fernando Valley in 1865. Van Nuys was eventually bought out by Harry Chandler and associates from the LA Times and was named godfather to the city of Van Nuys becoming its namesake.

Today

With the mission to “collect, preserve, interpret, and present the history of the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas in order to share with residents and visitors alike the stories of those who shaped the region and its role in the nations development,” The Valley Relics Museum is a staple for beginning to understanding the cultural impact of the residents, businesses, and developments within the San Fernando Valley. Tommy Gelinas runs media support as well for others with more interest in the growing collection. Via the Museum’s website under the blog section, online visitors can see new discoveries continually updated by Tommy himself as well as links to social media, ticket information, events planned or observed, gift shopping, contact information, and donations to the museum directly.

Sources:

https://valleyrelicsmuseum.org/

https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/step-back-in-time-at-the-valley-relics-museum

https://venturablvd.goldenstate.is/natural-born-collector/

https://www.lifehacksla.com/episode-25/ – podcast interview