Talk:California Military Academy

Pre-Existing California Military Academy 1906-1964

California Military Academy, Los Angeles: 1906-1964

The name "California Military Academy" has been used by several organizations over the years. In the 19th and early 20th century a military school in Oakland California used the name. The state of California also used the name for its National Guard Military Academy. This article however is about a Military Academy for boys located in Los Angeles California from 1906-1964.

California Military Academy (CMA) was one of several private boys’ military schools in the Los Angeles area from the early to the middle part of the 20th century. CMA was a military school for boys grades Kindergarten through 9th. The school was founded in 1906 by investors and Nicholas W. Brick an educator and Canadian immigrant. The first of four locations for the school was the former Arcadia Hotel built in 1886 located in Santa Monica, which was leased for four years. Major E. H. Baker was the first Superintendent. Early in 1908 the school experienced some financial problems and almost closed, but new investors helped to save the school. Later in 1910 the school moved to 1948 Lovelace Avenue, two miles south of downtown Los Angeles. The third location in 1915 was a purpose built facility located at 4001 West 16th Street (now Venice Blvd). This location served the school until 1937. Nicholas Brick continued to lead the school until his retirement in 1930. He passed away in February 1934. His son Frank J. Brick took over leadership of the school, a role he would continue until 1946. In 1926 Albert P. Ebright an officer in the California National Guard was hired as commandant for the school. He would marry Frank’s sister Helen in 1928. In 1935 the fourth and final location for the academy was started at 5300 Angeles Vista Blvd, and completed in 1937. This new facility was state of the art at the time, and designed by the famous architect Richard Neutra (1892-1970). Besides the administration building and mess hall, the academy also featured modern classrooms and dormitories. The 8 acre location featured a full Football field which doubled for Baseball and as a parade ground with viewing bleachers. There was also a tiled Swimming Pool, Basketball Courts and a complete stable for riding horses. All students were taught to handle a horse. The school flourished at the new location with enrollments of 150-220 each year.

California Military Academy, like other military schools in Los Angeles, attracted many sons of people in the entertainment industry, business and politics. All of J.C. Agajanian’s sons, Nicky Charisse, son of Cyd Charisse, Antonio Aleman, son of the President of Mexico, members of the Kardashian family, Noel Blanc, son of Mel Blanc, LAPD Detective Mark Furhman, and many others attended the school. For holiday and graduation dances, girls from the Westlake School for Girls would be invited to the Academy. In 1940 and 1941 Shirley Temple attended these events.

In 1940, then Major Albert Ebright Army Reserve, was activated for service for the upcoming war. Promoted to Colonel, he spent most of his service in Spain. He returned as commandant in 1945. In late 1946 Colonel Ebright took over leadership of the academy, as Frank Brick left to run Cheviot Hills Military Academy in Culver City. Helen Ebright maintained ownership of the school. California Military Academy would finally close in June 1964. Both Frank Brick and Albert Ebright passed away in 1991. The Angeles Vista Blvd. site of the academy is now the home of The Foundation for the Junior Blind. None of the Academy’s buildings still exist as they were torn down in the 1990’s.

Col. Ebright owned a small ranch on Triunfo Canyon Road, near Lobo Canyon in Agoura Hills. He called it Ranchito Grande. In May of each year he would invite the senior class and their families to the ranch for a picnic.

From the early 1950’s to the closing of the school in 1964 the team sports program at CMA featured games with other local military academies. These included St. John’s, Black Foxe, Ramey’s and Southern California. In the 1940’s CMA played against an ever changing list of schools and organizations. Besides the a fore mentioned schools the schedule included other local schools, church teams, Boy’s Clubs and the Boy Scouts. In 1955 CMA’s the ‘C’ Football team played the ‘C’ team from St. John’s Military Academy during the half-time of the L.A. Rams and Cleveland Browns game on December 26, 1955. It was a 10 minute game, which ended in a 6 to 6 tie.

Uniforms:

Uniforms for the students evolved over the years. In the beginning the students wore uniforms similar to the WW1 U.S. Army's style of the early 20th century. By the late 1930's the uniforms made their final move to the style that would last until the school closed in 1964. The daily uniform was khaki colored. The cap was a garrison style. Students wore a bow tie and brown shoes. In 1957 a switch to black shoes and bow tie was made. The dress uniform was worn each Friday, and was similar to the U.S. Army uniform of the era in style and color, a medium green. A Sam Browne Belt was used with the dress uniform until the late 1940's. The brown bill of the cap was changed to black in 1957. The cadet officers started wearing a regular black tie in 1957, while the rest of the students continued to wear the bow tie.

Daily Schedule:

In the mid 1950's the school was attended by 250-275 boys on average each year. Approximately 75 were resident students, the rest were day students. Classes were held Monday through Friday, beginning in September and ending in June. Some students stayed at the school year-round. The rest had the summer off. The day started at 8:30 AM with the morning formation and flag salute. Classes were held until 12 Noon. All students again gathered in formation and then to march to the auditorium / mess hall for lunch. After lunch was military drill time, and study time. At 3:00 PM students participated in various sports, practicing for games with the other military schools in the area. These games were usually held on Friday afternoons, both at home and away. — Preceding unsigned comment added by WWilson17 (talk • contribs) 21:02, 24 December 2017 (UTC)

Awards:

Military Ratings- The junior grades (K-6th) could reach the rank of junior Corporal or Sargent. 7th through 8th grade students would attain senior ranks from Private to Master Sergeant. 9th grade students could reach officer ranks from 2nd Lt. to Major. In 1947 the Academy joined the California Cadet Corps as the 131st Battalion. The Cadet Corps was a junior version of the California State National Guard. 1st and 2nd Lt.’s were assigned as Platoon Leaders, Captains were Company Commanders and a Cadet Major was the Battalion Commander. In June of 1957 8th Grade Cadets attended the 2 week California Cadet Corps summer camp held at Camp San Luis Obispo for the first time. Ribbon bars for Basic Leadership and Summer Camp Attendance were presented.

School Awards- The academy issued awards for academic excellence, military drill, attendance, good conduct, music/band, sports (Football, Baseball, Basketball, Track, Swimming, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Boxing and Horseback Riding). During World War II the students raised homing pigeons for use by the armed forces. Students were given a small medal pin which identified the accomplishment. The first award was Bronze, the second award was Silver and third Gold. For a fourth award or beyond, a larger Gold Medal was awarded and bars for the fifth through tenth award could be attached to it. Starting in 1943, and once a year, at graduation, a student would be awarded the Honor Cadet Medal. In December 1952 the Academy was accepted as a chapter member (Chapter 808) of the Junior Honor Society of Secondary Schools. Academically High achieving students began receiving award certificates and pins. In the 1940’s students were awarded American Legion School Awards Medals for essays which praised the American ideals. Also approved for wearing were medals from the Junior Division of the National Rifle Association as authorized by the California Cadet Corps. Awards from the California School Bands & Orchestra Association were also approved.

Throughout the 20th century hundreds of boys military schools existed in the United States. Most of the military schools were owned and operated by families as was CMA. The schools either closed or merged with others as family members died. In the 1960’s with the Vietnam War raging, anti-war protests and with ever changing social priorities, many of the schools around the country closed. Today only a few schools still exist.

Other Military Schools in the Los Angeles area during the 20th century:

Pacific Military Academy: 1929- 1941? Located in Culver City at Cardiff and Cattaraugus Avenues. Founded by Harry H. Culver. He created the academy to honor his father, General Joshua H. Culver, U.S. Army. The school closed during WW2, and the site was used by the military.

Cheviot Hills Military Academy: 1946-1952 located at the site of the closed Pacific Military Academy. Run by Frank J. Brick formally associated with the California Military Academy. Nothing remains of the school site.

St. John’s Military Academy: 1919-1968 located on Washington Blvd. The school moved from its Washington Blvd. location to Chatsworth in 1962 before closing. The Chatsworth site is now used by the Chaminade College Prep School. The Washington Blvd site no longer exists.

Black-Foxe Military Institute: 1928-1968 located near the Wilshire Country Club at 632 North Wilcox Ave. The site was formerly used by Urban Military Academy. Nothing remains of the site.

Elsinore Naval and Military School: 1933-1977 was located in Lake Elsinore, Riverside County, California. Founded by Glenn Conklin, who had previously had been employed at the Pacific Military Academy in Culver City, CA. The site still exists, though run down and abandoned.

Southern California Military Academy: 1924-1987 located in the corner of Cherry Avenue and 21st Street in the Signal Hill area of Long Beach had an association with Brown Military Academy. Nothing remains of the school site. Page Military Academy: 1908-2016. Still in operation and now known as Page Private School. Founded by Robert and Della Page Gibbs. Originally located on West Adams, and then 1201 Cochran Ave, from 1915 to 1958. They now have four locations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.

Urban Military Academy and then Brentwood Academy: 1903-1972 located at 800 South Alvarado Street, 900 Beacon St., Melrose Ave., 155 South Layton Dr., 632 North Wilcox Ave., and finally 11600 Beverly Blvd., before it too closed. The school site no longer exists.

Southwestern Military Academy: Founded in 1924 by Maurice Veronda. Located at 2800 Monterey Road in San Marino California. Now known as Southwestern Academy. Originally a boy’s military school, it is now a private school for boys and girls grades 6-12. Still in business as of 2017.

Ramsey Military Academy: Located in Santa Monica from 1932-1961.

Brown Military Academy: Opened in 1958 and closed in 1968. Located on Sierra Madre Blvd. in Glendora California. Some of the buildings still exist and are used by the Azusa-Pacific University.

Harding Military Academy: Founded in 1934 and closed in 1972. The campus was located at 770 North Glendora Ave., Glendora, CA. The school site has been redeveloped.

Army and Navy Academy: Founded in 1910 in San Diego and moved to Carlsbad California in 1936 is still in Operation.

St. Catherine’s Military Academy: Founded in 1889, and located at 215 North Harbor Blvd. in Anaheim California. It became a military school in 1921. The name was changed in 2010 to St. Catherine’s Academy. It is still in operation as of 2017.

Ridgewood Military Academy: Located on Ventura Blvd. in Woodland Hills, CA. Opened in 1942, closed in 1981.

Northridge Military Academy: Located at 16617 Parthenia St. Northridge, CA. Founded by Michael O. Blankenship. Closed in the 1970’s. The original buildings still exist and is now the home of the Holy Martyrs Armenian School.

Burbank Military Academy: Originally located at 1901 Winona Ave. The surviving building is located at 2113 Parish Pl. in Burbank. The school opened in the early 1930's and closed sometime in the 1940's. Very little information on the internet. The school was run by Mrs. Lu G. De Monbrum. The yearbook was called "The Buzzer". The remaining school building exists as an apartment building.

Mount Lowe Military Academy: Located in Altadena, CA at West Palm St. and Lincoln Ave. Opened in 1937 by Major John Hayden Dargin. The school closed in 1973. The former site of the school is now the Alta Loma County Park.

Sepulveda Military Academy: Located at the corner of Sepulveda Blvd. and Plummer St. in North Hills, CA. Closed in 1970-71. All the original buildings are gone and the site is now the Sepulveda Middle School.

Harvard Military School: Founded in 1900 and originally located at what is now the corner of Western Ave. and Venice Blvd. In 1937 the school moved to the old Hollywood Country Club site on Coldwater Canyon. The military tradition of the school was phased out in the late 1960’s. In October 1989 the Boards of Trustees of Harvard School and Westlake School for Girls agreed to merge, creating the Harvard-Westlake School. It continues to operate as of 2017.

Johanpierce (talk) 08:13, 8 January 2017 (UTC)

CMA mid 50's

I attended CMA in the year fall of 1957 until 1960 when I graduated and went on to A N A, Carlsbad, California. It was a very large campus, the edge was bordered by mature eucalyptus trees and my good friend was the life guard at the school pool during the summers. The flag pole on the front entry we raised the flag every morning, there was a bugler and I was one of two that raised the flag.

I played all the sports and letter in all of them, still have may blue letterman's sweater. The first year I was in the ranks, by the second I had attained first sergeant of the battalion my last year was A company captain.

Was on the team that played the half time game at the coliseum. Col Ebright was the head there and Col Hall boys dean.

Latin took three years, teacher was a Miss Mack, and English was Capt. Waters also had a Canadian English teacher.  

The Commandant then was Rear Admiral Simma. They had an Navy chief that taught PE, hand to hand and boxing. I both commuted and also was a resident student. When I graduated we went out to the Malibu ranch for the event.

I remember the Agajanian’s and the son of the President of Mexico think they were a class or two behind. Also gun maker Stoner's son went to CMA. One of my friends he and step brother went to CMA, their father was a major land developer in Phoenix. 73.118.211.38 (talk) 01:43, 17 February 2024 (UTC)