Notable Alumni by Discipline

Al Jarvis (Alex Yahwis) (S'26) Radio Personality & Disc Jockey. Hosted California's most popular radio program in 30's/40's Made the "Make Believe Ballroom" nationally famous

 

Julius Shulman (S'28) Photographer Shot world famous architectural and interior photographs

 

Paul Jarrico (Isadore Shapiro) (S'32) Screen writer award winning writer, blacklisted in the "McCarthy Era"

 

Kenneth Spencer (W'30) Singer. Noted African-American classical basso of the 1930's

 

Bob Parrish (W'35)' Singer. Won Major Bowes radio contest as amateur singer

 

(Israel) Irwin Parnes (S'35) Impresario' Founder International Folk Dance Festival Promoted concerts for Jose Iturbi Leopold Stokowski, Mischa Elman, Max Reinhardt, Richard Tucker

 

Irene Benaron (S'37) Public Arts Commissioner. Los Angeles County Music & Performing Arts Commission

 

(Irene Berkowitz)

 

Andy Russell (Andres Rabago)(S'38) Drummer/Singer/Radio Host. Performed with Stan Kenton, Alvino Rey and other bands

 

Succeeded Frank Sinatra as radio host of famed "Lucky Strike Hit Parade" Original hits

 

"Besame Mucho", "Amor", "What a Difference a Day Makes". Recorded Spanish Language hit songs in Mexico in 1940's through 1970's

 

Victor Millan (Joe Moreno) (W'39) Actor/Teacher Won Emmy Award for playing role of the judge in "The Law".

 

Professor, Theatre Arts at Santa Monica City College

 

Allan Haskin (W'39) Actor, first player of "Farina" in "Our Gang"

 

Gene Arcudi (S'39) Singer. Long time performer with Joey Bishop, singing in seven languages

 

Hy Averback (S'38) Producer/Director. Produced numerous popular television shows

 

Betty Robinson (S'4'1) Violinist. Concert mistress for All-City Orchestra in the early 1940's

 

Lucy Andonian (S'42) Singer. Performed on three radio shows on stations KGER, KFWB and KFUD as teen

 

Lou Adler (W'53) Producer/Director/Executive. Record Company owner and producer for Herb Alpert Tijuana Brass, Mamas and Papas and many other top selling recording artists

 

Produced & Directed "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Brewster McCloud" Owner of the famed Roxy Night Club in Hollywood.

 

Chico Sesma () Disc Jockey & Promoter. Credited with introducing Mambo to West Coast on Radio KOWL in 1940-60's Promoted Latin Jazz concerts at Palladium Ballroom in 1950's & 1960's.

 

Shirley Firestone (S'42) Artist (Shirley Levitt)

 

Lane Nakano (S'43) Actor. Starred in World War II Epic film "Go For Broke" with Van Johnson

 

Dan Kuramoto (S’63) Co-Founder of "Hiroshima" Jazz group. the first department chairman of Asian-American studies at Cal State University at Long Beach.

 

Richard Aguilar (S’75) Noted Artist and community activist.

 

Valente Benavides (S’66) Noted Mualist. Has painted murals of Gen Kjimmy Doolittle, Chuck Yeager & Neil Armstrong at the Lancaster Air Museum.

 

Michael Andreas (Hurwitz) (S’62) Saxophonist/Composer. Played with Tower of power, and various Jazz groups.

 

Ignacio Gomez (’59) Notionally Noted artist & Muralist.