The Conejo Valley Days Parade has deep roots in area history
By Steve Holt Steve@theacorn.com

The parade that's associated with Conejo Valley Days is older than CVD itself, which is celebrating its 52nd anniversary this year. Both events can trace their roots to the Sat., Aug. 2, 1947 edition of the Oak Post, the area's first newspaper, which featured a front page story announcing a community circus.

That inaugural event was held on Aug. 30, 1947 and was jointly sponsored by the Businessman's Association, the Chamber of Commerce, Amvets (American Veterans) and the Parent Teacher Association.

Alan Ladd's daughter was the first Conejo Valley queen in 1947.

Thousand Oaks had become known in 1947 as a home for jungle animals that were used in Hollywood movies and circuses. The Jungleland site, now occupied by the Civic Arts Plaza, had different names at different times, according to Miriam Sprankling of the Conejo Valley Historical Society. What finally became known as Jungleland was also called Goebel's Lion Farm and the World Jungle Compound, said Sprankling, who's also historian of Stagecoach Inn and Museum in Newbury Park. Sprankling also mentioned that different sources sometimes provide conflicting information.

On Aug. 26, 1949, the event adopted a Western theme and became known as Circus Days. That's the first year a parade was part of the festivities. The parade went down Ventura Boulevard, which later became Thousand Oaks Boulevard, and ended at the Jungleland parking lot.

In 1950, the name changed to Stagecoach Days.

The event always featured an old West flavor and by 1957 it was called Conejo Valley Days, but it also included an Honorary Mayor Day. Mabel Stark was the first honorary mayor.

Community activist Donna Fargo stimulated interest in both CVD and the parade, according to Sprankling.

It appears that the parade took a hiatus for a few years because in 1957, a group of friends and neighbors formed the Community Activist Committee, which reinstated the parade. The event also featured a barbecue and show at Jungleland, according to Sprankling.

The year 1957 must have been a watershed event for CVD because that year also featured a kickoff picnic and a race for grand marshal, two of the mainstays that exist to this day. A Western dance was also part of the festivities.

In 1958, the parade was bigger with 91 entries. Ward Bond was the honorary mayor. Bond was an actor who starred in the hit TV series "Wagon Train," which had a eight-year run that began on Sept. 18, 1957. Joe Russell was parade's grand marshal in 1958. Russell was active in local events because his family owned Russell Ranch, much of which later became Westlake Village.

By 1959, the parade was considered a major event for CVD. The parade that year included 150 entries and 1,200 participants. Thirty bails of hay were donated for spectator seating. It was also the first year of a rodeo at the CVD site, which that year was at the Janss Mall. The CVD carnival has used five different locations, including what we know as the Auto Mall.

The year 1960 "had a record number of parade entrants" but Sprankling's write-up didn't specify the exact number. A year later, the parade had 30 floats and 123 entrants.

In 1962, the parade featured bands, marching units, colorful floats, equestrian units, and for the first time, native American dancers. The parade included entries from the newcomers and square dance clubs. The Teen Canteen won a trophy for the youth division. One float said it was the 90th anniversary of Newbury Park. The Camarillo High School Band had a float, which is interesting because Thousand Oaks High School opened that same year.

In 1963, the parade had 167 entries.

Leo the Lion of MGM fame was grand marshal of the 1965 parade, which had 159 entries, including the Police Band, the Lancer Band, the Sweet Adelines, Cal Lutheran College, Miss Conejo Valley, the Conejo Music Center, the Chamber of Commerce and T.O. Mayor David Betts.

The longest parade on record was in 1967, which featured 220 entries and lasted for three hours.

In different years, actor Joel McCrea and the Budweiser Clydesdales were also grand marshals.

The parade and Conejo Valley Days have always emphasized the heritage of the Old West.

The biggest difference over the years? The parade is now alcohol free. "It was more of a hassle when drinking was involved," said Senior Dep. Rick Godfrey of the sheriff's department. Godfrey has for years been the law enforcement liaison for the parade.

It's much more a family oriented community event these days, he said. In the old days, it was geared more for ranchers, cowboys and partygoers, Godfrey said.

In addition to Sprankling's help, a VHS video "Conejo Valley Days" provided information for this article. It's available at the Thousand Oaks Library and was produced in 1987 by Creative Video Services of Newbury Park with photos by Frank Lussier. Information was also gathered from photographs and captions from Knights Photography and Nick Olson.