This portion of El Canon Avenue was renamed Valmar Road in August 1930 by city ordinance. (The City of Los Angeles, that is. Calabasas wasn’t yet incorporated.) Why the change? I don’t know. And I’m not sure of the meaning of “Valmar” either. My best guess is that it’s a portmanteau of valle and mar – Spanish for “valley” and “sea” – although I doubt you can see the Pacific from here. Some city employee probably just thought it sounded nice. For what it’s worth, Harry Valmar Slamova, who went by his middle name professionally, was a pianist and interior designer working in L.A. at the time, but I wouldn’t bet on him as namesake.
Find it on the map:
