Monthly Archives: December 2010

Blake Edwards Loves (and Hates) Peter Sellers — Updated

Blake Edwards: Love, hate, Peter Sellers and the Pink Panther.
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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 16, 1940

           Dec. 16, 1940: Lucille Ball (Desi Arnaz's bride) will ask RKO for permission to change her name to Lucille Arnaz, ala Dorothy McNulty, who changed to Penny Singleton when wed, Jimmie Fidler says.  ALSO Lucille … Continue reading

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Thelma Todd’s Wardrobe sold for $229

Los Angeles Times file photo Oct. 12, 1936: Thelma Todd’s 40 dresses, 57 pairs of gloves, 13 hats, 36 pairs of shoes, 35 bags and other items were sold to dress shop owner Blanche T. Wright for $229 [$3,507.31 USD … Continue reading

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Thelma Todd | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 15, 1960

       The surprise plot turn: a brilliant scientist and his beautiful daughter! I wonder if MST3K ever did comic strips. Dec. 15, 1960: Matt Weinstock writes about a longtime resident of Los Angeles who is horrified to discover … Continue reading

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Paul Coates, Dec. 15, 1960

       Dec. 15, 1960: Paul Coates writes about tourism in Los Angeles during the boom of the 1880s. Marilyn Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier don’t get along during filming of “The Prince and the Showgirl” (referred to here … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo

        Los Angeles Times file photo       March 28, 1936: The mayor of Ogden, Utah, says he may reopen the investigation of Thelma Todd’s death based on a tip from an informant who overheard a … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Suicide, Thelma Todd | 7 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 14, 1960

       Oh dear, not a brilliant scientist and his beautiful daughter. Sigh. And I was just starting to like “Buck Rogers.” Dec. 14, 1960: Matt Weinstock has the story of a man who didn’t get a job because … Continue reading

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Paul Coates, Dec. 14, 1960

         Dec. 14, 1960: While traveling overseas, Paul Coates runs into an old friend – who isn’t sure if he’s Paul Coates or Matt Weinstock. Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller make an expedition to Europe in Maurice … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 14, 1940

        Dec. 14, 1940: Humphrey Bogart, film bad man. Recently, Mr. Bogart found himself unable to realistically enact a screen murder because his "killer mood" had been destroyed when he saw a studio gardener trap a gopher … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: This is Thelma Todd and Antonio Moreno. Although there's no further caption information on the back of the print, I believe it's from "Bohemian Girl," as Mary Mallory says.  Please … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 5 Comments

Found on EBay – W.W. Robinson

A copy of W.W. Robinson’s “Bombs and Bribery,” about the 1910 bombing of the Los Angeles Times, has been listed on EBay. This book is usually listed at a steep price because it was a limited edition of 300 copies, … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 13, 1960

       Dec. 13, 1960: Matt Weinstock says “I've been watching a show called ‘The Westerner,’ admirably underplayed by hulking Brian Keith. It's possibly the most realistic portrayal of the Old West on television. It has nothing in common … Continue reading

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 13, 1960

       Dec. 13, 1960: Paul Coates has an update on the story of John Howard Griffin, whose book “Black Like Me,” about his experiences pretending to be African American, shocked many white readers. Notice Paul Weeks' byline out … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 13, 1941

           Dec. 13, 1941: The better local niteries are frowning on femmes who step out in slacks, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Movieland Mystery Photo

        Los Angeles Times file photo   Jan. 17-19 1936: The foreman of the Los Angeles County Grand Jury says the case of Thelma Todd is still open despite the autopsy surgeon's finding that death was caused … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Thelma Todd | 9 Comments

From the Vaults: ‘MASH’ (1970)

I loathe war movies. I also loathe hospital movies, and movies with predominantly male stars (really, who wants to sit and watch a bunch of men running around?) And I really loathe movies with long football scenes. Yet then we … Continue reading

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 12, 1960

    Dec. 12, 1960: Matt Weinstock has the story of identity theft as it was done 50 years ago. DEAR ABBY: I am a barber with 30 years' experience and that barber who wrote to you should be kicked … Continue reading

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Paul Coates, Dec. 12, 1960

    Dec. 12, 1960: Paul Coates updates the story of a Beverly Hills physician who had hit bottom and was in a mental hospital when he saved the life of an inmate.  Coates interviews the doctor, who has been … Continue reading

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 12, 1940

           Dec. 12, 1940: Nominated for the odd job championship: Brian Kilgore, former Chicago mortician, who bills himself as a technical director for gangster funerals, Jimmie Fidler says. 

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Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: This is Thelma Todd and Inez Courtney in a photo stamped Nov. 7, 1932.     Jan. 4-11, 1936: If you’re sick of the Thelma Todd case by now, you … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Thelma Todd | 1 Comment