La Cañada History: La Cañada-based Sport Chalet named ‘Most Desirable Retailer’

Ten Years Ago

The independent research firm Kanbay Research Institute rated Sport Chalet, headquartered in La Cañada Flintridge, the No. 1 “Most Desirable Retailer” in the nation. The sporting goods firm founded by Norbert Olberz was selected for the honor over competitors such as Hasbro Inc., Kohl’s Corp., the Men’s Wearhouse Inc. and Netflix Inc. “We are obviously thrilled beyond belief,” said Craig Levra, then chairman and chief executive of the company.

Twenty Years Ago

The Descanso Gardens Guild announced it would co-sponsor the outdoor presentation of the Dramatis Personae enacting “The Tempest” as part of its new “Shakespeare Under the Oaks” program. The troop’s stylized version of the play would be presented on 23 weeknights between Sept. 3 and Oct. 3, 1996.

Thirty Years Ago

Shutting their victims in a walk-in refrigerator, two cigarette-smoking, armed robbers made off with nearly $500 in cash, plus a briefcase, a wallet and a purse after holding up La Cañada Florist on Foothill Boulevard. Forced to lie down, the shop owners, a married couple, waited a few minutes after the suspects left before stepping out of the unlocked refrigerator and calling the local sheriff’s station to report the crime. A witness said he saw two men leave the store by its back door, get into a car and take off.

Forty Years Ago

An 18-year-old La Cañadan was freed from jail after a murder charge against him was dismissed at his preliminary hearing. The young man had been arrested after it was determined a woman living across the street from him on Lamour Drive had been strangled to death and her home set on fire, presumably to cover the crime, on July 14, 1976. The judge who dismissed the case said there was insufficient evidence against the teen.

Fifty Years Ago

California gubernatorial candidate Ronald Reagan and his wife, Nancy, were the guests of honor at a $100-a-plate cocktails and buffet dinner held at a private Flintridge residence.

Sixty Years Ago

La Cañada resident Ann Johnston drew the interest of news media outlets after she gave birth to her 11th child, a daughter, at Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles. It was not so much the total number of children she and her husband, Louis, had welcomed into the world thus far that attracted newshounds, but that the arrival of her latest baby coincided with birth of her sister’s 11th child, in the same hospital, on the same day. The Johnstons had been visiting the Manhattan Beach home of her sister, Patricia Dietz, when both women were rushed to the hospital’s maternity ward. The sisters reportedly shared a room during their stays there.

Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci