Monthly Archives: April 2010

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 23, 1940

    April 23, 1940: “Hollywood, where the girl you take to dinner tonight is usually fed up with you by tomorrow,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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Movie Star Mystery Photo

    Los Angeles Times file photo As nearly everyone guessed, this is Bob “Bazooka” Burns. Above, Burns and Martha O'Driscoll, examine the bazooka baseball pitcher, Dec. 29, 1946.  Feb. 3, 1956: Bob Burns dies at the age of 65.   … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 48 Comments

World Mourns Mark Twain

  April 23, 1910: “Several of his neighbors who stood close to him in life were permitted today to view the body. Mr. Clemens did much of his work in bed, and in death he still seemed a part of … Continue reading

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Found on EBay – Central Park

Someone recently asked me when “L.A.” became a common term for Los Angeles. I said I didn’t know and was reluctant to speculate because at the Daily Mirror, we don’t guess, we look things up. This postcard of Central Park … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock, April 22, 1960

The Vanished Bus       A fun-loving Hollywoodian is sweating out a nightmare, hoping it will go away.  The complication is that it wasn't a nightmare, it was real.       He went to Tijuana and became so simpatico with … Continue reading

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 22, 1960

New Information on Griffith Park Hermit       Call this an update on Dennis Farrell.     It's not good news.  But it's not bad news, either.     Dennis — In case his name has slipped your memory — is the … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 22, 1940

  April 22, 1940: “There's talk that Daisy, edjoocated purp of the 'Blondie' pics, will be replaced because the dog's owner is asking too much dough,” Jimmie Fidler says. 

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Hot Stove League

  March 11, 1960: How do you rate as a grandstand manager? Try your hand with the Baltimore Orioles of 1959 and see if you come up with the same strategy as manager Paul Richards.

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Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910

  April 22, 1910:  Samuel Langhorne Clemens “recognized his daughter Clara (Mrs. Ossip Gabrilowitsch), spoke a rational word or two and feeling himself unequal to conversation, wrote out in pencil: “ ‘Give me my glasses.’   “These were his last words. … Continue reading

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Found on EBay – Theda Bara

Movie memorabilia comes in all shapes and forms, but I’ve never seen a pennant like this Theda Bara item before.  A little research shows that a series of nearly 200 such pennants was issued about 1915. Ooh, is that a … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock, April 21, 1960

  “So I’ll Save the Wear and Tear on Your Tonsils, Mr. Ames.”  A Hard Life     If no one minds, I'd like to get literary for a moment.       Whitney Balliett of the New Yorker magazine, in reviewing … Continue reading

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 21, 1960

  Being a Celebrity Weighs So Heavily     Since everyone else is hesitant to say it, I'll say it myself.       I'm a celebrity.       It's been a long, hard, often discouraging fight to reach the top.  But, … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 21, 1941

  April 21, 1941: “Yvonne of the King Sisters and musician Buddy Cole are on the love list,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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Elvis Arrives in L.A.

    April 21, 1960: Elvis Presley’s return to Los Angeles to film “G.I. Blues” is put safely on Page 2. Instead, The Times leads the paper with the resignation of the South Korean cabinet.    ps. Georg Solti is … Continue reading

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Nuestro Pueblo

Oct. 17, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit the Pelanconi House on Olvera Street in another installment of Nuestro Pueblo. At right, a photo of the house from olvera-street.com. In case you just tuned in, I posted most of … Continue reading

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The Mysterious Death of Morgan Shiveley

  April 21, 1910: The Times publishes an update in the curious death of Morgan Shiveley (or Shively),  in which an examination of bloody fingerprints merely deepens the mystery.Charges against the Stones were eventually dismissed and the case was abandoned.

Posted in #courts, Homicide | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Catalina Tile

This Catalina tile table has been listed on EBay. According to the vendor, it was sold on Santa Catalina Island in 1950. Bidding starts at $1,150 with a Buy It Now price of $1,300. As with everything on EBay, items … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock, April 20, 1960

  Plane Bomb Jokers       Persons who go airplane riding had better get used to the idea that authorities don't think wisecracks about bombs are funny.  A story from Chicago a few days ago stated that nine persons have … Continue reading

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 20, 1960

  Census Takers' Woes Myriad in a Big Way      Census takers take, among other things, oaths.     Before beginning their tours of duty, they solemnly swear that they are not Communists, fascists, blabbermouths or mixed up in payola.  … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 21, 1940

  April 20, 1940: “Femme stars at Paramount are squawking about male execs hogging the studio's only sunbathing roof,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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