1983: Spring Valley Artist Helps Create 84-foot King Kong Replica

According to the Spring Valley Bulletin, here's what was happening this week  in 1983

–It was reported at a city council meeting that a weed eater was stolen from the front yard of the Lemon Grove City Hall. The city’s “majestic” weed eater was taken after a member of the maintenance crew left the piece of equipment out while he went to clean up another area.

A city employee reported seeing a man jump out of his pickup truck in front of City Hall, grab the weed eater and flee the scene. The maintenance worker who left the weed eater unattended jumped in his truck and gave chase but could not catch the thief. The embarrassed maintenance workers attended the meeting and asked the Councilmembers for $300 to buy another weed eater. The Councilmembers agreed.

–A group of male elementary students in Lemon Grove and Spring Valley played soccer on a team that won the California Youth Soccer Association State Championship. The 9-year-old boys played for the El Cajon Hotspurs and were coached by George Hall. Hiroshi Hall, Darrick Isham, Brian Riesenberg, Donnie Stablein and Keith Vann boasted an overall record of 39 wins, 8 losses and 1 tie, including the playoffs.

The State Championship took place in Chino Prado Regional Park where the boys didn’t give up a single goal. Coach Hall said the team was one of the finest he had ever assembled.

–Spring Valley artist Robbie Cooper made a big statement in New York with her artwork. The artist oversaw the production and painting of an 84-foot inflatable replica of King Kong that was going to be affixed to the top of the Empire State Building in New York. Though the gigantic gorilla failed to inflate at the first attempt because of supporting cables getting entangled with the arms and legs of the replica, a second attempt was scheduled.

The life size replica was built by Robert Keith and Co., a San Diego firm that specialized in inflatable advertising displays. Cooper worked with a team of artists to hand paint and airbrush each delicate feature of the monstrous creature. Cooper worked as a freelance artist for eight years before meeting co-founder of Robert Keith and Co., Robert Vicino. And she said she owed much of her happiness and love for her work to him.

–The Spring Valley Historical Society held a rummage and bake sale to support the membership fund, in the courtyard next to the Bancroft Ranch House. All proceeds from the sale went to benefit the membership fund of the society to support and preserve the grounds and buildings.