Van Nuys 1976 in 2026

[TC-14]

Apologies if this has already been discussed, but I've just happened across this lil' gem:

My yearning for 1970s Star Wars nostalgia often brings me to the search for anything on 6842 Valjean Avenue in Van Nuys, California- the humble beginnings of ILM.

Here, a group of fans have recreated the model room from that valley warehouse in amazing detail:

 

[TC-14]

…and some fascinating 8mm footage shot in 1976 at the Van Nuys warehouse:

 

[TC-14]

…Dykstra, Edlund et al reminiscing at 6842 in May 2026, 50 years on:

 

[TC-14]

Mondays are my regular days off from cutting hair and sculpting beards…

I really should be tackling the household chores before beginning my working week once again tomorrow, but I've found myself deep diving in to interviews on YouTube with the ground breaking model makers at the fledgling Industrial Light and Magic in Van Nuys from 1975 onwards…

I've convinced myself that this is time well spent.

Firstly, I've ordered this mighty tome from Amazon (Prime benefits: it'll be delivered tonight between 5pm to 10pm, I can't bloody wait!!!):

https://amzn.eu/d/0esdJv9B

…and secondly, this is a sublime conversation with Lorne Peterson from 'Adam Savage's Tested' channel from two years ago. Such a personable, engaging chap… recounting the times when he introduced the fast acting Japanese industrial super glue to the already assembled model makers at ILM (they were previously hanging around waiting 5 minutes for mixed epoxy resin glue to cure on each part… making assembly of numerous X Wings and TIE Fighters a laborious task). So many great stories from this titan of cinematic model making… reminiscing about constructing the trench of the Death Star in the parking lot of the Valjean Av. warehouse, to kit bashing model kits (Airfix and the rest) in order to make various scale models of the Millennium Falcon for filming… when you get a spare hour, I suggest you grab a cuppa (or a beer), sit back and revel in this man's master craftsmanship:

 

[TC-14]

My last entry for today on this thread, haha! I've had a nostalgia-fuelled day off from work, delving in to the beginnings of ILM in the most industrial part of the valley in Los Angeles, and it's now clear that I need to make up time to catch up on the chores here at home!

I'll leave you with one last link, this from the official Industrial Light & Magic site from May 2025:

https://share.google/y4L9zDvpNgtkgBXyr