Monthly Archives: December 2010

Santa Monica Man Admits Strangling Waitress

       Dec. 3, 1960: Gerald "Frenchy" Fernandez admits strangling Susan Kilgore, whose body was found outside the Wind and Sea Tavern, 101 Broadway, Santa Monica. Her clothing was "disarranged" and Fernandez says he killed her when she "resisted … Continue reading

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On the Trail of the Keystone Kops

            Oct. 25, 1915: Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle … and Mayor Sebastian? The ad for the costume ball is the earliest reference to the “Keystone Kops” that I can find in The Times. However, a … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Stage | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 2, 1960

    Dec. 2, 1960: For a second time, Matt Weinstock debunks the notion that the tear-off strips on cellophane cigarette packs should be saved as a way to raise money.  Urban myths are hard to kill, he discovers. Also … Continue reading

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

Paul Coates, Dec. 2, 1960

    Dec. 2, 1960: Paul Coates and his wife visit the tomb of Lenin (and, at that point, Stalin) … and John Grover takes a humorous look at President-elect Kennedy’s plan to televise news conferences. 

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 2, 1940

           RKO's new importation, Signe Hasso, almost severed a finger peeling a potato; it's sewed in place and doctors say she won't lose it, Jimmie Fidler says.  ALSO Signe Hasso on the Daily Mirror

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Bruno Walter’s Last Concert

        Dec. 2, 1960: Van Cliburn, the Cold War sensation who won the 1958 Tchaikovsky piano competition, performs the Brahms second piano concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Bruno Walter at Shrine Auditorium.   [Yes, I cringe … Continue reading

Posted in classical music, Music, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 1, 1960

       Dec. 1, 1960: Matt Weinstock complains because Charlie Chaplin has no star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has an update on the fire hydrant in the gutter at 2nd and Hill streets.  DEAR ABBY: Have … Continue reading

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

Christina Makes Peace With Joan Crawford, Dec. 1, 1960

             Dec. 1, 1960: Eastside Beer is $1.09 a six-pack or $7.81 USD 2009. On the jump, Joan Crawford’s daughter Christina tells Lee Belser: "At long last Mummy and I seem to be feeling a … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 1, 1941

        Dec. 1, 1941: Tom Treanor visits the cavalry troops at Camp Seeley and mentions the remarkable lack of interest in the war. All the men talk about is their horses and maybe the M-1 Garand. Pat … Continue reading

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Movieland Mystery Photo – Update 2

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Here’s another mystery photo I found in Mack Sennett’s file.  Update: Alas, these young women aren’t identified on the back of the photo. It was supposedly published in The Times on … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 11 Comments

Labor Secretary Calls for Immigration Crackdown

        Dec. 1, 1930: Editorial cartooning from the pen of a younger Bruce Russell, in the days when newspapers ran them on the front page. And no, Russell’s concepts didn’t get any clearer over the years. Compare … Continue reading

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What to See in L.A., 1924

      I don’t post much on the 1920s (so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch) but I stumbled across this feature page when looking for something else and found several interesting pieces. The first is a long interview … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on What to See in L.A., 1924