 Glendale Tower to Pan American Trip 7, Wind East 7, altimeter setting 29.92, you're clear to land on runway number 2. Pan American Trip 7 to Glendale Tower, Wilco. The controls of an airplane are elementary. When you push the stick forward, the nose drops. When you pull the stick back, the nose comes out. How can you attend? Cut it out. Wings for defense, wings for commerce. The symbol of our world of today, September 7, 1941. It's a pathetically contradictory world of streamlined speed and heartbreaking strife, of achievement and destructive war. But the symbol for both war and achievement is the airplane. And the airplane is also a symbol for the great modern city of Glendale, California. One of the aviation centers for the globe-circling airlines, for training flyers for the Army and Navy, for Canada and the RAF. Yet only a hundred years ago, this great area of factories and homes was undreamed of. Where flintridge, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Occidental College, Garvanzer now lie, the lofty mountain stood silent sentinel over vast solitudes of waving grain fields and pasturelands. It was the Rancho San Rafael. Let's go back through the years and relive the romance of the Ranchos. The title insurance and trust company of Los Angeles presents the romance of the Ranchos, dramatizing the romance and adventure connected with the growth of this great state. Each week at this time our wandering Vecchero Frank Graham uncovers another fascinating story of events and people who built the land we know today as Southern California. And here is our wandering Vecchero Frank Graham Buenos noches señoras y señores. Our story tonight is one I know you will enjoy selected from the vast files of the title insurance and trust company of Los Angeles. You see it's the business of this company to know the history of our Southland. Yes the vast historical files of this company of necessity contain detailed records available nowhere else in such accessible form of California's glamorous past back to the earliest Spanish land grants one of the first of which was Rancho San Rafael. Each week for your enjoyment we recreate from these records a true story replete with the drama gayity and tragedy romance and hatred triumph and disaster that so filled the colorful transition period from the days of the Dones and the gold rushes to the present time. Our story tonight is a fascinating one set in the fertile section of Southern California which became one of the first of the great ranchos Rancho San Rafael. Years drop away as we go back searching 1930 1920 1910 19 five. Wait. Let us stop here just a moment. Nineteen four. Nineteen four was a big year for the landale even though the town had not become a city as yet for it was that year. Here it comes now here comes the first car. That's right. It's round in the bin and just think man that car will take us in on us Angeles in less than an hour. Yes and it takes three at least in the spring wagons. Well I guess it's time to start proceedings. Ladies and gentlemen. Folks folks I'm going to ask the man who was chiefly responsible for this great event to drive the last spike in the rails. So step up here. Mr. L. C. Brand. Thank you. Thank you folks. This is a great day for Glendale and no one will be any happier than I will to see that car roll up here. Here you are sir. Now pounder in. All right boys. Stand back. Well there it is. You can give the car the signal now. All right boys bring her in. The Pacific Electric is here. Dr. James. Yes what is the door. Come quickly it's father. He's dying. You mean the Google. Yes yes of course I'll come hurry hurry. As the people of Glendale welcome the future the past was slipping away from him for on his deathbed lay tailed all the do go respected citizen one of the last of the dorms and with him time wrote the final chapter in the story of the great rancher San Rafael and anything done. I'm sorry my dear. My child. I leave you the good name of your do go if I left you nothing else you would be rich. Keep it high. Well it has always been. And this land. Rancher San Rafael. Even though it belongs to others now. Do what you can to make it a fine place for people to live. That is what my grandfather don't say would have wished. You love the rancher San Rafael. As I. Have a seat though. Yes Teotoro where do you go love the rancher San Rafael has had his father and his grandfather before him it was from that love of the land that burned in the heart of Jose Maria where do you go that the rancher San Rafael was first formed. But we must go back farther through the years to find that story. It was on one lovely sun filled day in the 1770s that corporal Jose Maria where do you go in the service of his Majesty the King of Spain rode over the land across which ran the old road to Monterey a portion of which is still called Monterey road with him was another young soldier and they were returning to the mission San Gabriel where they were stationed. Well Jose now maybe you don't like being a soldier so much how do I not call us sending us out into this wilderness this desert what are we going to do it isn't so bad at the mission we are busy keeping the Indians in order and we have adventure but why do we have to live Sunday ago think of the times we could have had there the fiestas and the senior eat this. The senior eat this and no senior eat this and San Gabriel what you should do is get married and settle down see if I'm chance I have here to the you should get married and settle down. Oh not me I'm a soldier and I like it I stay a soldier but one of these days a lovely senior eat then you'll be tired of this life never but I tell you college if I ever did decide to settle down somewhere and get married I do not think I could find a better spot than right here stop a minute look out here. Oh just look at the view the mountains in the green valley and the tree it's very pretty very pretty it's beautiful. What's this was a party of travelers coming down the road that's good land to Carlos would make a very fine ranch or seeing any mountains or streams they will be fish in there over there you could raise corn and grapes and pumpkins for food and there in the distance is past your land for cattle for say look there's a senior eat the senior eat. See riding with the party look see so it is accompanied by two gentlemen and a partner. She is my friend me or she is beautiful. When was this senior eat that when I see a senior cover all may we be of service no thank you and your journey is almost over I'm quite safe thank you. Where is this when is this our lovely face and such a smile she gave me I thought that this song had just come up. Perhaps this desert does have at least one oasis in it that was a she was you noticed it too and then I know she was truly beautiful I wonder. What could her name. Oh I say you old soldier so you could never be charmed by a senior eat that well my friend perhaps you were wrong perhaps that look in your eyes love no perhaps the great Jose Maria for do go has been struck at last. And Jose Maria but you go was struck at last you would and one for his bride the beautiful young daughter of the national office Maria Dela and they were married the San Gabriel mission and now Jose had definite ideas about his future one day as he returned from his duties his wife Maria called a writer about the message for you and this is for me to see and it's from the governor don't pay no part of the governor or then it's come it's here it is news I've been waiting for to give it to me no I say that will go before another minute you must tell me what you have to do with the governor you've been keeping something from me to you worry I have but it's just because I wanted to surprise you my little dog come here there now what would you like best to have you know no no no no I mean besides my ugly face perhaps a little one and a home of our own see that is it I do want a home for you and the little ones that will soon be and so I have laid my plans plan what plan do you remember the day you first saw me riding on El Camino Viejo I was with the father and you would call us and do you remember the land the beautiful valley which we could see from there that is where I want our home to be say it would be would be paradise oh see paradise and so I've asked the governor to let me keep some cattle on that land if he says yes then I can say my brother to build a house and start your rancher and then later when it is established the governor cannot help but allow us to make our home there it will be ours so you see already our home is started but I'll say suppose the governor refused oh no he could not do it I don't think he could give me the life I'd better open it I will open it read it what does it say I concede to the petitioner the permission he solicits to keep his cattle and horses and Maria do you hear it says I concede to the petitioner the permission he solicits it's ours Maria it's ours and so in 1784 the rancher San Rafael was started even though it still belonged to the king of Spain but Jose vertigo had his heart set on owning the rancher and so 15 years later in 1799 he took his second step I'm coming as fast as I can see how do you feel copyright not very well senior my back it aches and the drop so you know of course how I suffer from the drops I know you haven't written out on any patrols for a long time copyright I cannot ride that is well known suffer terribly on your horse but I keep busy around the mission senior I am not useless you understand perhaps not vertigo but you have petitioned the governor to be released to see so that I may retire to my rancher San Rafael well Corporal vertigo I'm pleased to tell you that the governor has granted your petition you're free to go to live on your ranch for any time what senior you you mean that it's wonderful news wonderful I must go and tell Maria I must go and tell her what are you doing as a horse you're climbing on but you can't ride anymore you have drops here but senior come back as my horse you're riding off with and so 157 years ago was established the beginning of the first valid title to Rancho San Rafael at that point start the records of the title insurance and trust company each time Rancho San Rafael or any part of it changed hands one or more legal recordings were filed similar mountains of documents loom in the background of every piece of land bought or sold in California today the reason title company records must go back to the very beginning and include every transaction up to the present day is that land titles are like a chain they're only as strong as their weakest link if any title is defective all subsequent ones may be faulty too it is the task of the title insurance company to seek out each of these records established beyond reasonable doubt its authenticity assemble them where they're always available to the end that when you buy property you will really become its owner and to ensure your interest in the land against another's claim based on some undetected forgery forgotten mortgage loan undisclosed heirs or other ghosts from the past early California years rolled on Jose grew old and his sons and daughters grew up on Rancho San Rafael 36,000 acres of fertile plain rolling woodland and magnificent mountains this was his domain the Rancho San Rafael he built its houses farmed its lands dammed its streams raised its cattle turned it into the paradise he dreamed of and then suddenly one day while Jose was riding he came upon a scene that struck his heart with horror the name what is this what has happened these Indians are invading a rancho they've already built huts and corrals but will you you're burning them see of course we're chasing them off our land back across the railroad but you must not do that they might be hurt stop the carousel stop it is I don't know say stop this is once but papa they do not belong here this is our land we thought it was our land but that is no reason for killing and destroying we do not chase them off they might take all our land piece by piece others would try and I would rather give them the land all the land I own and have this happen fully or I am disappointed distressed that you ever do go should do such a thing and I'm sorry for bio only thought I was doing the right thing that we should show them that this is ours we mean business my son the boundaries have never been very clear and we cannot even be sure that this is our land if these Indians are from San Gabriel the new Padre told them to settle here and we must go to the party and apologize no these are any gay Indians from the hills who rob us and they mission to even show Julio we must defend what is ours peacefully we must hold our neighbors respect and not his hatred the law will take care of us my boy law there is no law except I shall go to the governor he has always been my friend he would uphold our claims and when he does no one shall ever again try to trespass an orange or San Rafael when the governor of California upheld Jose's petition and ordered the Padres off the land the very ago claimed to the rancher San Rafael is clear and a few years later when the old soldier Jose Maria Verdugo passed on to his other paradise the great rancher was left to his son Julio his daughter Catalina life was rich and peaceful at San Rafael but soon the fate reverberations of great events penetrated the solitude armies were on the march the American armies of Commodore Stockton and Captain Framont's marched through the ranch lands from the mountains to the sea battles were fought and the Americans swept on finally the defenders knew that cause was lost in 1847 Stockton occupied Los Angles in the south Framont's forces were closing in from the north the last little band of Caballeros under the command of Andres Pico made their camp in the shadows of the Verdugos on rancher San Rafael they were well aware that Framont's forces had reached Cahuenga pass and were prepared to do battle within the next day but that night a prisoner was marched in and placed before general Buenos dias in the Alcario not ready to use here's a speaker you are the prisoner I am not the prisoner I came here of my own free will tell his man to release me release him you might go come in there are men here would be glad to see you I shall be glad to see them after you gracias in real it shows my brother see you brother deliver himself up he has realized his mistake at last it is not I who have made the mistake it is you I have a you should learn ladies and there are times no have to say I am not the prisoner on the field for the prisoners you are surrounded your men deserted you cannot fight any longer we should I fight see see a noble sentiment general Carillo was so useless there is no need to die there's been enough of that already Senores your cause is hopeless what he says is all too true Senores forget that I am what you call a traitor remember that I love this land as much as you that is why I can ask you now give up surrender that is all very well but then what happens to us so that is what I have been sent to tell you nothing nothing you call Stockton's terms nothing I care nothing about Stockton's terms I bring terms from Fremont remove what are they simply that you surrender give up fighting you are fighting the idea after that we can all return to our homes everything will be as before you mean none of us would be arrested our lands confiscated no no nothing you can go home just as before I swear it why should they want to trick us they need our help in building this great country they need us as much as we need them we need them oh see see we have been backward here the world has moved on ahead of us the Americanos go with it they even lead it they can make California a great part of the world instead of a backward corner if you love your country then you will welcome the Americanos I believe he's right I'm sorry I should not have spoken but you must my friend this is for all of us to decide well I'm not fighting with you but I love California just as much as my father Jose did just as you do and I believe we ought to this land to make it a great country it can be besides strife and bitterness never build anything they only tear down we must keep ourselves respectable and honorable we cannot do that by violence there is much wisdom there see then you will send men to Kawenga past to talk to Fremont see I think so Cario use and your alvearo and I will go and perhaps perhaps this will be the beginning and not the end of California and so California became a part of the United States once again all of the Southland was as peaceful as the Rancho San Rafael Don Julio's title to the land is recognized by the United States but there were new problems for the Rancho San Rafael 36,000 acres of ranch land to fertile of acreage to inviting the close to the growing metropolis its days were numbered one day Julio Virdugo received a visitor see come in then you put you go see come in you are I'm the sheriff see I know won't you sit down may I get a glass of wine no thanks gracious I'd rather get this over with of course senior you borrowed money mortgage this place see I I have for $3445 but that was a long time ago almost nine years ago to be exact you agreed to pay 3% interest a month long ago the interest was foreclosed and the judgment returned against you for almost $16,000 that is still unpaid I know I am sorry but do you realize how much you owe now with that interest rate it is much isn't it almost $59,000 but I I can hardly think of so much money I'm sorry I'm afraid there's nothing left to do but show you this thank you senior what is it it's my order to put up for public sale your Rancho San Rafael the first of the great ranchos the land that Jose Maria Virdugo saw and loved the beautiful domain that dazzled the travelers I was no more on the sheriff's auction block its acres were chopped into a hundred parcels and the way was clear for the growth of towns and villages of factories and homes taking shape or Glendale Highland Park Eagle Rock Garvanza and Flintridge business sprang up overnight the boom was on the Pacific Electric connected Glendale with Los Angeles and the population grew 1910 2700 1920 13,500 1930 62,700 1940 81,700 Glendale the fastest growing city in the United States Glendale driving the Trafalos Aviation Center hub of activity for the surrounding valley on the spot for today is heard an American trip seven all aboard for Mexico City Canal zone Rio de Janeiro Buenos Aires and Santiago on the spot where Britain's RAF is being trained over all this land where factories hum traffic roars and the business of the streamline modern world is conducted just 100 years ago stood the great rancho San Rafael such is the romance of the ranchos are wandering the caro Frank Graham has narrated another of the fascinating stories of the romance of the ranchos taken from the files of the title insurance and trust company when you sell a lot a home or a ranch or when you borrow money on such property your purchaser or your bank or other financial institution requires the protection of title insurance the purpose of this insurance of course is to protect both you and the buyer or the lender to ensure the validity of the ownership which you are transferring your deed which you execute or receive does not provide such insurance every day in Los Angeles County alone an average of 1500 legal documents are recorded which can affect the validity of titles to real estate these documents include death certificates divorce decrees will file for probate mortgages trust deeds and scores of others forged signatures or signatures by minors or incompetence are among still other risks to land titles to ensure a title your title company must check the files of more than 50 different public offices to locate and examine all these recordings it then ensures the completeness and accuracy of this work so when you pay for a policy of title insurance remember first that it's your protection against loss and second that it represents a great volume of detailed work by experts title insurance can be priced so low only because of the large organization and vast files which the title insurance and trust company has built up through the years well what's the story for next week Frank under the earth lay a great pool of liquid gold oil long before it was discovered this land around Santa Fe Springs was a place of romance and glamour and it has a story packed with drama until next week then this is your wandering bar caro saying I still have Easter saying Aris the thing Aris the romance of the ranchos featuring Frank Graham is the wandering Vakero is brought to you each week at the same time by the title insurance and trust company this is the Columbia broadcasting system