Southland Fires; Dodgers on the Radio

Posted on August 23, 2009 by lmharnisch
Aug. 23, 1969, Cover

Charles T. Powers has the lead story on fires that burned 40,000 acres, while Gary Libman covers a smog alert for the Los Angeles Basin. From Jerusalem, Louis Fleming reports the arrest of an Australian Christian in a fire that destroyed part of Al Aqsa [Aksa] Mosque.

In response to a $3-billion cut ordered in Defense spending, the Navy plans to reduce its strength by 72,000 men and mothball 100 ships.

 
Aug. 23, 1969, Katz
Above, a father and son play a jazz Bar Mitzvah. 		 
Aug. 23, 1969, Mosque

Above, "Stung by Arab accusations of arson, Israeli officials hit back with a statement recalling the desecration of Jewish holy sites during the 19 years of Jordanian control of the Old City."

"I had a grim feeling today that we were back in the days of the British mandate with the recurring violence and curfews," a longtime resident of Jerusalem said.
Aug. 23, 1969, Tiffany Jones

"Tiffany Jones"

1969_0823_don_page_thumb Don Page was worried about the youth of America.

The Times' veteran radio and television columnist thought he had spotted a disturbing trend about the Dodgers.

"Although the Dodgers are doing well in attendance, the old fire
among the fandom seems to be diminishing. .. You don't hear the Dodgers
on the air in public places as much as before and the teenagers in
particular aren't charmed by [Vin] Scully or baseball," Page wrote.

Not charmed by Scully? Impossible.

Still, it was better to be the Dodgers than the struggling American
League team to the south: "The Angel broadcasts are practically
nonexistent in stores, supermarkets, garages and taverns."

I do wonder how many taverns and garages Page surveyed for his analysis.

–Keith Thursby

Jim Tison I
remember the '65 and '66 World Series games being on the radio
everywhere, and I remember LA being rabid for the Dodgers during those
days. It was almost as if the loss of the '66 World Series and the very
flat 1967-69 seasons that followed sucked the air out of Dodgers fans.
And then they split the leagues into divisions in '69 … the game
changed; some say for the worse. (From Facebook).

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times
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2 Responses to Southland Fires; Dodgers on the Radio

  1. Rob McMillin's avatar Rob McMillin says:
    August 24, 2009 at 5:24 pm

    This clip must have come from some alternate universe. Not charmed by Vin Scully?

    Like

  2. Kirk Silsbee's avatar Kirk Silsbee says:
    October 11, 2009 at 7:37 am

    Cellist Fred Katz innovated a place in small band jazz for his instrument in the Chico Hamilton Quntet of 1955. A clip of the band–with future “Route 66” and “Adam 12” actor Martin Milner holding the guitar (as John Pisano’s hands actually executed the playing)–from the movie “The Sweet Smell of Success,” is posted on YouTube. After the music sequence, a nerdy jazz groupie pesters Chico as he comes off the stand. He gently dispatches her with: “Talk to Fred Katz–he writes all the music for the band.”

    Like

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