Monthly Archives: March 2012

Found on EBay – Batchelder Fireplace

Posted on March 31, 2012 by

A (mostly) complete Batchelder fireplace that was salvaged – if that’s the right term – from a Catholic school in Wisconsin has been listed on EBay. The vendor says: “There were a few ornate carved animal 4″x4″ tiles that i … Continue reading →

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Posted in Architecture, Batchelder Tile, Found on EBay, Preservation | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Downtown L.A., 1946

Posted on March 31, 2012 by

View Down to Earth in a larger map After yesterday’s post on the Black Dahlia and downtown Los Angeles at night, I pulled together a map while watching the process shots filmed for “Down to Earth.” Google, unfortunately, wiped out … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on March 30, 2012 by

This will be too easy, but after Geene Courtney, I thought I should pick something everybody will recognize. Yes, everyone recognized this as Janet Gaynor’s feet in “A Star Is Born.” Ed was first, followed by Michael Ryerson, Mary Mallory, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , | 28 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, MIA Edition

Posted on March 30, 2012 by

You might be wondering: Where’s the next post on Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service?” I have been busy with other tasks. I was asked to write a column for The Times and was happy to profile Ed Fuentes. Here’s the story: … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Black Dahlia and Downtown L.A. at Night, 1946

Posted on March 29, 2012 by

Photo: Man with a slate in footage shot for “Down to Earth.” My friends over at the 1947project have found some process footage that was filmed about April 1946 for the Columbia feature “Down to Earth.” It’s unfortunate that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Explosion in Caltech Secret Project Kills 1, Injures 6

Posted on March 28, 2012 by

March 28, 1942: A fiery explosion during a secret experiment at the Kellogg Radiation Laboratory kills Raymond L. Robey and injures six others. Robey was thrown 50 feet by the force of the explosion, which scorched the four-story building, The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Abortion, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Eve Golden and John Gilbert, a Research Odyssey

Posted on March 27, 2012 by

Larry thought that some of you fellow research nerds might be interested in my trip to the Library of Congress to see four John Gilbert films for my upcoming biography. First, I must tell you I could not have picked … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Libraries | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Found on EBay – the Tick Tock

Posted on March 26, 2012 by

The Tick Tock (d. 1988) has gone to the great watchmaker in the sky. It was the kind of Hollywood place where Pee-wee Herman and Charles Phoenix might have had their own booths. But it lives on in this postcard, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1988, Food and Drink, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Magic Castle

Posted on March 26, 2012 by

Sitting gracefully below Yamashiro restaurant just above Franklin Avenue, the Magic Castle stands as a glorious reminder of the beauty and elegance of old Hollywood.  Almost like magic it appeared on the Hollywood horizon, and miraculously it still survives. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on March 26, 2012 by

A photo of a funeral procession in Dragonea, Italy, listed on EBay at $40.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline March 26, 2012 •  I love Little Me, one of the funniest books ever written. Grab it. Now. The photos—period … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Comics, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Suicide, Television | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Next Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Posted on March 24, 2012 by

Coming up next week: In addition Mary Mallory’s Hollywood Heights column and Eve Golden’s Queen of the Dead…. Eve has a special post that I think you’re going to adore: She’s working on a biography of John Gilbert and has … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Queen of the Dead | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on March 24, 2012 by

And here’s a mystery lady from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 20

Posted on March 24, 2012 by

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I’m sure you’re thinking: “Part 20 and you’re still on Pages … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – C.C. Pierce

Posted on March 23, 2012 by

Here’s a fun discovery: A postcard of the Theosophical Institute on Point Loma from the C.C. Pierce studios. As I noted the other day, Charles C. Pierce was one of the more prolific photographers in Southern California and acquired the … Continue reading →

Posted in Found on EBay, Photography, Religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on March 23, 2012 by

Oviatt expert Marc Chevalier passes along this item listed on EBay – a purse and the original box. Bidding starts at $265. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated thoroughly before submitting a bid.

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

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 19

Posted on March 23, 2012 by

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I am still on the trail of the mysterious Mr. Jacob/Jack/Jacques … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Books and Authors, Chicago, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Housewife Writes Pulitzer-Nominated Novel While Raising Family, Remodeling Kitchen

Posted on March 22, 2012 by

March 22, 1942: Until this morning, I had never heard of Nellise Child (and I dare say most people haven’t) but I was immediately enchanted with her story: A former reporter (her husband didn’t want her to work), she raises … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Books and Authors, Stage | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on March 22, 2012 by

And here’s today’s mystery photo!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 42 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 18

Posted on March 21, 2012 by

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I have been examining what Scotty Bowers describes as his first … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Manzanar Internment Camp Rising Rapidly in Owens Valley

Posted on March 20, 2012 by

March 20, 1942: A crew of 400 carpenters working 10-hour shifts is hurriedly building the internment camp at Manzanar for “10,000 alien and American-born Japanese from Los Angeles and other Southern California cities,” The Times says. “Manzanar is the former … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments