In the Beginning

In the spring of 1963, Hugo Freed founded the now-prospering Malibu Orchid Society.  Hugo Freed, a well-known orchid hybridizer and lecturer, was the general manager of Arthur Freed's Orchids, operating since 1946 on Bonsall Drive in Malibu.   Hugo's brother, Arthur, was the famous Hollywood producer of musicals.

Orchid societies were relatively rare at that time, and the consensus was that it would be difficult to organize an orchid society in Malibu.  However, the Orchid Society of Southern California had existed for some time and orchids were gaining in popularity.  

Furthermore, when the American Orchid Society held the 4^th World Orchid Conference in Singapore, it decided to award the 5^th World Orchid Conference to Long Beach, California in 1966.  For that event, the Southland Orchid Show Committee was founded, representing all southern California orchid societies.  Much support needed to be in place for the conference, and since Hugo Freed was already involved through attendance at some of these World Orchid Conferences, he was motivated to start the Malibu Orchid Society.   Not long before then, about a dozen people had begun to meet monthly in Hugo Freed's office to discuss orchid culture.  That group became the nucleus of the Malibu Orchid Society.

The charter members were:  Don and Madalene Fobert; Hugo and Ella Freed; Clarence and Gladys Harter, Anthony and Vivian Mikulec; Frank and Maxine Millington; Randolph and Gertrude Moultrie; Revelle and Jean Nelson; Amado and Maria Vasquez; and Dwight and Margaret Wilson.

Amado Vasquez was then the head grower on the Freed Orchid Range. Madalene Fobert, Hugo Freed's secretary, served as the membership secretary for 20 years. Hugo Freed and Revelle Nelson served as the first and third presidents of the MOS, respectively.

After operating informally for six years, the Malibu Orchid Society incorporated in June 27, 1969. The directors named on that document were:  Paul Dorn, Bill Gaylord, Gladis Harter, Patricia McGovern, Anthony Mikulec, Revelle Nelson, Helen Pastution, Gladis Rosenke, Rosemarie Reed, and Dwight Wilson. Board meetings were rotated between private homes, much as we do today.