Monthly Archives: May 2008

Jack Parsons, RIP

May 7, 1938   Above, John W. "Jack" Parsons poses with his replica of the pipe bomb used in an attempt to kill Harry Raymond. Parsons, one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is an enigmatic figure who … Continue reading

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May 7, 1908

Above, an influential article by Harris Dickson appears in the Saturday Evening Post … Below, the term "soul kiss" is 100 years old? Imagine that. What’s this? The term "soul kiss" is attributed to Mary Pepper, a medium who is … Continue reading

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May 6, 1938

Above, former President Hoover speaks to people at Union Station in Kansas City (yes, the headline says "Oklahomans") … Italian troops and police quiet an angry crowd in Naples that had been waiting six hours to see Hitler and Mussolini. … Continue reading

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May 6, 1958

Above, Walter Alson has faith in Don Drysdale … Below, Vice President Nixon says it’s too early to declare whether he will run for president in 1960 … Southern California prepares for a simulated atomic blast … And Dennis Crosby … Continue reading

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Kathy Fiscus update

My post correcting the recent obituary on a former Pasadena firefighter who falsely claimed that he rescued Kathy Fiscus brought this response from Clyde Harp, one of the five men who helped dig her out in 1949:

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May 6, 1938

Germany plans to move thousands of Austrian Jews, and The Times buries the story with a one-column hed on Page 8. Below, how does Margaret Bourke-White get those terrific pictures? Why she smokes Camels!  Email me

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May 6, 1908

Above, an update in the divorce case of Henry Lord … The judge doesn’t even bother to hear all the testimony before dissolving the marriage. What became of Augustine Emanuel Lord and coachman Harry Cameron? Alas, The Times is no … Continue reading

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Mystery photo

OK, who are they? Max Baer (right)? Sorry, no. Carmen Basilio (right)? Sorry, no. Robert Ryan? Alas, no. Montgomery Clift? I’m afraid not. Fernando Lamas? Sorry, no. Ricardo Montalban and Johnny Indrisano? (Alexa Foreman) Absolutely right! The photo, dated Feb. … Continue reading

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Cinco de Mayo

May 7, 1895 Above, the earliest reference I can find to Cinco de Mayo in The Times: A celebration in Tucson featuring the Philharmonic Band, otherwise known as the Club Filarmonico Tucsonense, led by Federico "Fred" Ronstadt. And, yes, that’s … Continue reading

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May 5, 1958

Above, migration of Los Angeles Jews to the Westside and the San Fernando Valley is reflected in the sale of the Eastside Jewish Community Center, 2317 Michigan. Below, Los Angeles begins Cinco de Mayo celebrations with a Sunday picnic, with … Continue reading

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May 5, 1938

Above, Thelma Todd’s famous (or notorious) Inn … Below, George Sakalis says he was offered $3,000 to keep his mouth shut in the trial of Police Capt. Earle Kynette in the Harry Raymond bombing … Jackie Coogan says he brought … Continue reading

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May 5, 1908

  Above, an update in the Brownsville incident … Below, arson destroys a "spite house" next to 1712 W. Adams … Ministers of the First Christian Church help raise money toward a legal test case on the Bible in public … Continue reading

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Super stadium

May 4, 1958 By Keith Thursby Times Staff Writer   It’s a familiar story when a sports team trades in its home for a bigger, brighter facility with more luxury suites and a higher price tag. I remember when Anaheim … Continue reading

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Dinah Shore

May 4, 1958 By Keith Thursby Times Staff Writer The Dodgers’ contract with the city of Los Angeles heated up as a political issue in the spring of 1958. Proposition B was on the June 3 ballot and stories started … Continue reading

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May 4, 1938

Above, Myrna Loy, co-star of "Test Pilot." Below, vegetable peddler George Sakalis tells of police intimidation in the trial of Capt. Earle Kynette … In Rome, throngs of Italians cheer a smiling Adolf Hitler, yelling "Viva!" and "Heil!" … The … Continue reading

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May 4, 1908

Above, the Lincoln Day Club meets. Below, fighting in the Khyber Pass … A fire at the New Avelina Hotel kills at least 10 in Fort Wayne, Ind. … San Francisco prepares to welcome the Great White Fleet, which is … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock

May 3, 1958  

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May 3, 1958

A crazy chase–just to beat a traffic ticket? And below, the Headdress Ball! Email me

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May 3, 1938

  Note that William Grant Still took part in the rehearsals for these performances of "Lennox Avenue."   Here’s a link to more information from Duke University about William Grant Still. Email me

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Home of the week

May 3, 1908 Look what I found! Another 100-year-old home, as shown on Google maps street view: View Larger Map According to The Times, the Los Angeles Investment Co. developed a portion of what was known as the College Tract. … Continue reading

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