Riviera Masonic Lodge Celebrates 50 Years

By BILL BRANCH Special to the Palisadian-Post Riviera Masonic Lodge 780 celebrated 50 years in Pacific Palisades with an honest-to-goodness sock hop–poodle skirts and all–at the American Legion Hall last Saturday evening. Partygoers wore their ’50’s attire, danced to tunes on the jukebox, enjoyed a buffet dinner, and later visited the in-house ’31 Flavors’ ice cream bar to enjoy a root beer float, shake or sundae, doused with ‘sparkles.’ In the mid-1950s, Riviera Lodge was born out of the devotion of two dedicated Palisades Brothers, Mark R. Throssel and Alfred W. Stelle. They were convinced that a Masonic Lodge, with its fellowship, brotherhood and many charitable functions should, and could, be established in Pacific Palisades. In early 1956, a group of Pacific Palisades Masons from 15 states began ‘supper club’ meetings, organized as a Square and Compass Club at the Santa Ynez Inn. Chief organizers Throssel and Stelle were counseled by UCLA track coach Elvin Drake, and past Masters Richard Kennedy and Thomas McKimson in Masonic principles, teaching and ritual fundamentals. The counselors emphasized the tenets that individual Masons are expected to work at the duties of citizenship, and making themelves available for service to his community, state and nation. To eliminate controversy from within Lodges, discussion of political issues and candidates, as well as religious issues, are not encouraged. After several meetings, a decision was made to inform the California Grand Lodge, the supreme Masonic authority within the State of California, of the Club’s desire to form the Riviera Masonic Lodge. A primary focus for the Lodge has always been public education, which the Masons consider to be the cornerstone of our freedom and an important community activity. An early example of Riviera Lodge community activity related to public education was the Dedication and Cornerstone Ceremony of Palisades High School on November 19, 1961. Since 1997, the Masons have awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors of Palisades Charter High School and have made substantial grants to all three Palisades elementary schools to fund special projects. On Washington’s birthday in 2003, the Masons provide an introductory ceremony7 and a time capsule installation for the Palisades Branch Library dedication. Four of the 50 original founding members, while unable to attend last Saturday’s event, spoke about the early days of the Lodge in a video that was shown during the celebration. Founders Joe Hulderman of Tucson and Ken Jones of Los Altos were unable to participate on the video due to health reasons, but Bill Fremont of Los Angeles and Bob Strasser of Sun Lakes, Arizona, recalled the founding years. In fact, producer Eric Hatfield, who also served as celebration chairman, and Brendan Davis drove through 118-degree heat to Sun Lakes to interview Strasser. The original founders were also honored in the introductions at the beginning of the evening by charter members or their widows. Palisadian Marcella Jennings, widow of Brother Leo Jennings, was on hand throughout the evening, often ‘twisting’ the night away on the dance floor. Freemasonry began in 1717 in England and was brought to the United States by the early settlers. The first Lodges in California were organized in the late 1840s during the Gold Rush days and multiplied rapidly thereafter. Many world leaders have been Masons, including George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Mark Twain, Irving Berlin, Charles Lindbergh and Henry Ford. Famous members of Riviera Lodge have included Brother Leland M. Ford, Sr., a member of the U.S. House of Representatives; actor Glenn Ford; TV personality Michael Richards; and Emil Sandmeier, an aide and personal friend of the late Will Rogers, who himself was a member of a Claremore, Oklahoma Masonic Lodge.