Monthly Archives: April 2010

On the Road With Linda Ronstadt, April 20, 1980

  April 20, 1980: Linda Ronstadt tells Robert Hilburn, “A lot of musicians mistakenly think you're supposed to know everything about your craft at age 18 just because a couple of geniuses, like Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger, seem to … Continue reading

Posted in Music, Rock 'n' Roll | 1 Comment

Mark Twain Near Death

  April 20, 1910: Samuel Clemens "has been perfectly conscious and in possession of all his faculties throughout his illness and, weak though he is, frequent flashes of the characteristic wit that made him a unique figure when in health, … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock, April 19, 1960

  A Lounge Lizard       A flagrant instance of heresy, one that cannot be unchallenged, occurred during the recent Sportsmen's Show.  This is an attempt to erase it, lest such a mammoth slur cast a shadow on outdoor living … Continue reading

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 19, 1960

  Let's Look at What Happened in London         With the odd feeling of an outsider looking in, I read the news accounts of what happened in London yesterday.        There was a parade, seven miles long.  … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 19, 1941

  April 19, 1941: “Franchot Tone beaued Olivia de Havilland to the Mocambo the other night, took her home at 11 — and returned with another girl,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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Faces of the City, April 19, 1960

April 19, 1960: 1st and Broadway, just up the block from The Times, has changed drastically in the last 50 years. Ed Dudley’s newsstand vanished long ago and two corners are vacant eyesores. But he wasn’t wrong when he said: … Continue reading

Posted in @news, Downtown | 1 Comment

Walt Mason, the People’s Poet

  April 19, 1910: The Times’ Albert Jean Taylor draws a cartoon to give East Coast expatriates a self-satisfied laugh … And Uncle Walt the Warbler takes a jaded look at the love poem: O come, my pet, and cook … Continue reading

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From The Vaults: ’13 Ghosts’ (1960)

Oh William Castle, I love you so. I cannot resist your theatrical gimmicks, even when they hopelessly slow the pacing of your movie. I adore your lengthy and unnecessarily elaborate introductions. I cherish your perfect jump scares. I want to … Continue reading

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock, April 18, 1960

  Brave New World     A young lady named Joan got a bright vision of the future a few days ago while driving over Coldwater Canyon.  As she reached Mulholland Dr. she was fascinated to see a helicopter land in … Continue reading

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 18, 1960

  Southern Lawyer Still Fights for Son     Charles Lee Guy Jr. is a man who takes disappointment with a minimum of emotion.       I learned that 2 1/2 years ago, when I met him for the first time. … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Baseball Commissioner Visits Dodger Bullpen

  April 18, 1960: And now warming up in the Dodger bullpen—the commissioner of baseball?

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Charles Champlin on ‘The Tin Drum’

  April 18, 1980: “ ‘The Tin Drum’ is, in fact, almost everything anybody could ask a film to be. It is strikingly original and continuously surprising, compliments of the novelist, whose large and densely packed book has been translated … Continue reading

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Sunday Drunks

  The Reduso corset reduces measurements of hips and abdomen from one to five inches. April 18, 1910: Police round up 23 drunks on Sunday and the ones who are too intoxicated to give their names have a number stamped … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Fashion, Food and Drink, LAPD | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 17, 1940

  April 17, 1940: “Stage door Johnnies besieging the Florentine Gardens to date a blond shapely, while down the street, in a battered flivver, her boyfriend smiles — and waits,” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Daryl Gates in His Own Words

Photograph by R.L. Oliver / Los Angeles Times March 29, 1978: Sima Gates checks the new badge of her husband, Daryl F. Gates, after he was sworn in as the city's 49th chief of police during ceremonies at the Police … Continue reading

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Blessing of the Animals at the Old Plaza

“Someone’s Trying to Blow Up the Eliza Ann!” April 17, 1960: In a 19th century Holy Week custom revived in New Mexico in 1930, a group of animals led by a Holstein cow is blessed at the Old Plaza. The … Continue reading

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Woman Dresses as Man to See Prizefights

     April 17, 1910: As I have said before, early 20th century Los Angeles is an acquired taste. Many people prefer the ill-defined “noir” period that is written in smoke and shadows – and just as elusive.  Quite honestly, … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock, April 16, 1960

  Hibachi Rebellion     The other night a man I know stoked up his hibachi for the first time this year.  He did so with certain qualms, having read not long ago that authorities in Pennsylvania were considering a proposal … Continue reading

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 16, 1960

  These Easter page toppers were a regular feature in the Mirror. Mash Notes and Comments     (Press Release) "Secretary of Defense Thomas S. Gates, a man of few words, has no sympathy for the Pentagon's famous red tape.     … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 16, 1940

  April 16, 1940:    Jimmie Fidler says, If Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman are still blushing, here's why: The other eve, they emerged from a preview theater to find the usual swarm of sidewalk gapers choking the lobby. "Autograph hunters!" … Continue reading

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