It could only be named for Valley-based screen actress Cleo Moore (c. 1923-1973) although I don’t know the exact reason why. Cleo Una Moore, born outside of Baton Rouge, had a flair for making headlines due to her romantic entanglements: the first occurred in 1942, with a weeks-long marriage to the son of the late Louisiana governor/senator Huey Long. Moore moved to the SFV with her family three years later and began studying acting. With her blonde bombshell looks, she quickly became a local celebrity and was crowned “Miss Van Nuys” in 1947. A Hollywood career followed, but Moore was no Marilyn Monroe and had to settle for semi-fame, usually playing the “bad girl” role in a series of B-movies. She frankly became better known for her active love life and her various publicity stunts. It also seems she couldn’t turn down any offer to appear at conventions, dedications, and so forth: in 1955, when Cleomoore Avenue was named, our subject held the titles of “Miss Air Reservist”, “Miss Sales Appeal”, and “Miss Furniture Week”. Moore retired from acting in 1957, became something of a businesswoman, and married homebuilder Herbert Heftler in 1961. She had one daughter: Debra.
Find it on the map:
