Venice High Centennial Celebration (1911-2011)

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Join the festivities as Venice High School celebrates 100 years!

  

Entrance to Administration Building. [photo credit]

The high school in Venice, CA, with its 52 students and 8 faculty began in 1911 in a rented part of the old Lagoon Bathhouse building on Winward Avenue and Coral Canal (now Main Street).  After a couple years Venice Union Polytechnic School moved to its current 29-acre campus at Walgrove Avenue and Venice Boulevard.

Inspiration. [credit]

In 1922, the head of the art department used three students as models for three statues representing the Mental, Physical and Spiritual.  Collectively known as Inspiration, the trio was placed in front of the school.  The Spiritual model was Myrna Williams, who changed her name to Myrna Loy and would become an immensely famous movie star and voted the "Queen of Hollywood."

Some other famous Venice alumni include Apollo 7 astronaut Walter Cunningham; footballers Larry Atkins, Leon Clarke, J.P. Losman, Dana McLemore; Skater, surfer and director Stacy Peralta; baseballers Jerry Turner and Doug Slaten; actors Beau Bridges, Gary Collins, and Crispin Glover; singer/songwriter, producer Teena Marie; founder of In-N-Out Burgers Harry Snyder.

Venice Union Polytecnic, 1921. [credit]

The 1933 Long Beach earthquake destroyed the original brick buildings and the campus was rebuilt in conjunction with the Works Project Administration (WPA) while classes were held in tents.  The newer Art-Deco buildings and campus were featured prominently in the 1978 film Grease as "Rydell High."  Numerous other productions were filmed at Venice High including American History X, Nightmare on Elm Street 5, Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" and Young MC's "Principle's Office."

Today Venice High School has over 2700 students enrolled, including 500+ in its Foreign Language and International Studies Magnet.  Venice High also contains a Bilingual Business and Finance Academy and a New Media Academy.

New Myrna statue. [credit]

Despite being repaired twice in the 80s, Inspiration was removed in 2000, due to years of vandalism and deterioration.  Only the Spiritual Myrna Loy statue was recreated in bronze and unveiled in front of 2000 spectators in 2010. 

This year, a much larger celebration will take place over four days as Venice High celebrates its centennial.  There will be a  two-day festival featuring food, games, merchants, entertainment and live music.  Festivities also include a screening of Grease on the football field, a car show featuring the Grease Lightning car and a parade from the Venice Beach to the high school.  A time capsule and walk of fame will be unveiled and local skaters will attempt to break a Guinness World Record™ for "largest skateboarding parade." 

Venice High Centennial Celebration, 

Fri 25 – Mon 28 June 2011.

Car from Grease at Petersen. [credit]

Friday – Movie night at Watson Field: Grease (1978) Staring John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John; Come in 50s style: Contests for best 50s garb and Best Grease character!

Saturday – Pancake Breakfast, Festival (food, games, live music, merchants, entertainment), Auto Show, Time Capsule/Walk of Fame unveiling, Jazz Concert.

Sunday – Parade from Pacific Ave/South Venice Bl., led by Grand Marshal Walter Cunningham, Skateboarding World Record Attempt, Festival (food, games, live music, merchants, entertainment), Picnic, Closing Ceremonies.

Monday – 17th Annual Gondo Golf Classic (Robinson Ranch Golf Course)

Venice High School today. [credit]

For a full list of festivities and times, see the Events page.

For more on the skateboarding record, see the info LA blog post.

For volunteer, vendor and sponsor information, see the Opportunities page.

Venice High School

13000 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles 90066 [MAP]
Centennial hotline: (310) 216-9365
Centennial website: http://venicehighcentennial.com/
Centennial social media: facebook • twitter

Parking

There will be limited parking on the Venice High campus. Additional parking at Mark Twain Middle School one block south, enter from Lucille Avenue. [MAP]

Go Metro!

Venice Blvd 33, 733
Santa Monica BBB 2






– R. Nelson  |  Updated 01:13 Wed 1 June 2011

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