Monthly Archives: November 2011

Found on EBay – Bullock’s Wilshire

Posted on November 30, 2011 by

This rather remarkable pair of vintage shoes from the Collegienne department at Bullock’s Wilshire has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99. About these ads

About these ads
Posted in Fashion, Found on EBay | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 30, 2011 by

Here’s another mystery photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb! [Update: This is Natalie Thompson, who appeared in "The Vanishing Virginian." ]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

How to Wear a Newsboy Cap – Marc Chevalier Edition

Posted on November 30, 2011 by

Regular reader Marc Chevalier sends along his version of the proper way to wear a newsboy cap. He says it helps to have an authentic period cap: “The caps made in the ’20s and ’30s have a somewhat different shape … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Dying Man Found on Main Street

Posted on November 30, 2011 by

Nov. 30, 1941:President Roosevelt says the U.S. may be at war in a year – actually, it was a week later. Bartender Eddie Watton was closing up at the Theatre Cafe, 324 S. Main St., and wanted the man at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition

Posted on November 29, 2011 by

Photo: Jack Huston in “Boardwalk Empire.” Credit: Macall Polay HBO via the Los Angeles Times. I was watching “Emperor of the North” and thought a post on newsboy caps might be a good follow-up on How to Wear a Hat … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, 1973, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory: A Loving Valentine to Silent Film in ‘The Artist’

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

Photo: A movie premiere in “The Artist.” Who says that a black and white silent film can’t still be a hit 82 years after the start of the sound era? The French feature film THE ARTIST, released in a limited … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, Architecture, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on November 28, 2011 by

   Photo: Postcard for J.D. Naftzinger, funeral director and embalmer, listed on EBay, as Buy It Now for $150. Queen of the Dead—dateline November 28, 2011 •  I am going to get “More, More, More (How Do You Like It?),” … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Hollywood Celebrates Christmas With a Parade

Posted on November 27, 2011 by

Photo: Santa Claus Lane, shown in a postcard on EBay, listed as Buy It Now for $8.50. On Sunday night, Hollywood residents will see the 80th Hollywood Christmas Parade, called the Hollywood Santa Parade, telecast live on the Hallmark Channel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Streetcar Companies Ask Council to End Bus Ban in Downtown L.A.

Posted on November 27, 2011 by

Nov. 27, 1941: The Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railways ask the City Council to repeal a ban against buses operating in downtown Los Angeles. Pacific Electric officials said the ban prevented them from routing the line from Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Streetcars, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Man Takes Fight Over Dog License to U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on November 26, 2011 by

Photo: The 1200 block of Innes Avenue, home of the George F. Harrington/Kitty HQ, via Google Street View. Nov. 26, 1941: Kitty may not be a typical name for a dog – but then George F. Harrington is an unusual … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Animals, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photos – Special Edition [Updated]

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

[Update: I thought it might be helpful if I enlarged the faces of our mystery gents. My hunch is that the fellow on the right is Laurence Olivier. [I have also received three more photos and I now suspect that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1952, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Politics | Tagged , | 23 Comments

From the Stacks: James Richardson’s ‘Spring Street’

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

Photo: James Richardson, city editor of the Los Angeles Examiner.  Credit: Cover of “For the Life of Me.” I incurred the wrath of Fibber some time ago with my post about James Richardson and “For the Life of Me.” Fibber … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Found on EBay, From the Stacks | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 24, 2011 by

Here’s a mystery couple!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

An 1890s Thanksgiving in the Kitchen

Posted on November 24, 2011 by

Here’s a traditional roast turkey recipe from the “Every-Day Cook-Book and Family Compendium,” written about 1890 by Miss E. Neill. Be sure your fire is bright and clear and watch out for the gall-bag.

Posted in 1890, Food and Drink, From the Stacks | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

On the Frontiers of Science – The Virgin Rabbit

Posted on November 23, 2011 by

Nov. 23, 1941: Dr. Herbert Shapiro of the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia has discovered that if you place a bag of ice cubs on the side of a rabbit for 90 minutes, the rabbit may become pregnant. “The ice … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Animals, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Medicine | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

From the Stacks – ‘Death Valley the Facts’

Posted on November 23, 2011 by

Is it wrong to buy a book on the basis of one map? I suppose it is, but I couldn’t resist. I found this copy of W.A. Chalfant’s “Death Valley the Facts” the other evening at the Last Bookstore and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Art & Artists, From the Stacks, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

Here’s today’s mystery chap, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Times on Spinelli Execution: ‘Good Riddance’

Posted on November 22, 2011 by

 Nov. 22, 1941: Here is Times reporter Tom Cameron’s description of the execution of Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli: Eight cyanide “eggs” under the chair dropped into a bucket of sulfuric acid and distilled water. Nothing happened. The Duchess, her back … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Found on EBay – San Quentin

Posted on November 21, 2011 by

In keeping with the theme of the 1941 execution of Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli, here’s a souvenir brick from San Quentin that has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $49.95.

Posted in 1852, 1980, Crime and Courts, Found on EBay | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Duchess Spinelli, Doomed to Gas Chamber: ‘No Christian Will Kill!’

Posted on November 21, 2011 by

Nov. 21, 1941: Juanita “The Duchess” Spinelli arrives at San Quentin to be executed in the gas chamber – the first woman legally executed in California’s history. “No one who is a Christian will kill!” the 52-year-old mother of three … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Religion | Tagged , | Leave a comment