Monthly Archives: March 2009

Found on EBay — Pacific Electric Railway

Now here’s an intriguing book. "A Pictorial Album of Electric Railroading" compiled by Donald Duke, published in 1958. Bidding starts at $30.

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Matt Weinstock — March 7, 1959

The Case of Judge Pfaff This was the week of Superior Court Judge Roger Alton Pfaff’s great disillusionment. On receiving what he considered an unjustified speeding citation (45 in a 25) he said angrily, "In 12 years on the bench … Continue reading

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Paul Coates — Confidential File, March 7, 1959

CONFIDENTIAL FILE Mash Notes and Comments "Dear Mr. Coates, "Last week I bought, for 30 cents, some discarded material that was emptied out of a room that a man died in some time ago and I was surprised! "One learns … Continue reading

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In the Theaters — March 7, 1923

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Trouble Was His Business — Raymond Chandler

The Times’ Robert R. Kirsch reviews Philip Durham’s "Down These Mean Streets a Man Must Go," Dec. 11, 1963. Kirsch says: Raymond Chandler "was one of a small group of writers who used Los Angeles in the regional sense. The … Continue reading

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George Garner Rediscovered

The Garner Concert Jubilee Company, in a photo from a promotional brochure. I’ve been able to gather some more information about George Robert Garner, a Pasadena choral director and singer who was the first African American to solo with the … Continue reading

Posted in #opera, Music, Stage | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Dodger Ticket for Campanella Benefit, 1959

Los Angeles Times photo Roy Campanella is honored during a benefit game between the Dodgers and the Yankees. This ticket from the benefit game for Roy Campanella, May 7, 1959, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99.

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Matt Weinstock — March 6, 1959

Lost Chords A PTA meeting at Center Avenue Elementary School in Inglewood opened Tuesday with a salute to the flag, after which the audience remained hushed as a Girl Scout choral group assembled for a song and the accompanist approached … Continue reading

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Paul Coates — Confidential File, March 7, 1959

CONFIDENTIAL FILE Inactivated Barber Makes Superb Clip Any man who can overcome a handicap like an underactive thyroid and make a name for himself in show business, is, in my book, all right. Therefore, to wit, I like Perry Como. … Continue reading

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We’re Twittering — and on Facebook!

We may delve into the past, but we also try to be up to date. "Throwback" Thursby got us on Twitter. So I upped the ante and created a Facebook page.

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In the Theaters — March 6, 1920

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Trouble Was His Business — Raymond Chandler

I hate to say it, but as far as I can tell, The Times didn’t review Chandler’s second novel, "Farewell, My Lovely," at left. We did review the 1945 film, however.  

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Raymond Chandler | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Our mystery movie star is Betty Bronson, who died in 1971. Her last film was "Evel Knievel."  Eve Golden also points out that she appeared in an episode of "Marcus Welby" not listed on imdb.  Check back Monday for another … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 315 Comments

Voices — Sydney Chaplin, 1926 – 2009

By Valerie J. NelsonMarch 6, 2009 Sydney Chaplin, an actor who experienced his greatest success on stage, earning a Tony Award for starring in the late 1950s musical "Bells Are Ringing," died Tuesday. He was 82. Chaplin, the oldest surviving … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment

March 5, 1959: Blinded by Bullet, Officer Shoots Gunman Who Killed Partner

Through the 1950s, Police Officer Ector A. Garcia became a minor celebrity for producing sketches of crime suspects that were astonishingly accurate. But he wanted the excitement of being on the streets and that’s what he got. Garcia and his … Continue reading

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Found on EBay — Hollywood Boulevard

View Larger Map Notice that there’s no traffic signal at Highland, just a stop sign. This postcard of Hollywood at night, showing the neon signs on Hollywood Boulevard, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $5.99. I suspect my … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, March 5, 1959

Panes in Stomach First let it be stated that G.K. Williams, editor of the Coronado Journal, and Jane Reed, his assistant, are known by me to be utterly reliable. Now go on. They depose, on a stack of pancakes, that … Continue reading

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Paul Coates — Confidential File, March 5, 1959

CONFIDENTIAL FILE Big Money Bonanza Fails to Pay Off LeRoy McFarland of Huntington Park, has a money mine. It’s in his back yard. He just discovered it. It’s a lively one — chock full of coins, thousands of them. From … Continue reading

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In the Theaters — March 5, 1918

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Music, Stage | 1 Comment

Trouble Was His Business — Raymond Chandler

Feb. 19, 1939: "The Big Sleep," reviewed in The Times by Wilbur Needham, a name Chandler might have used for one of his characters. Needham and his wife, Ida, operated Needham Book Finders at 2317 Westwood Blvd. Note: To mark … Continue reading

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