Dec. 25, 1941: Crew members of the Absaroka, which was hauling lumber, recount being torpedoed by a Japanese submarine at an undisclosed location off the California coast. One man was crushed by piles of lumber after rescuing a shipmate who had been tossed overboard in the explosion.  Chief Steward W.F. Schiele said: “I’ve been on the sea 46 years. This was the toughest.”

Times staff poet James Warnack contributes a Christmas poem for the front page. Recall that in this era (and for many years after) The Times published a daily Bible quote on the editorial page.

Earl Carroll is opening a new show: “Star Spangled Glamour.”

Jimmie Fidler says: Carole Landis has signed for a series of song recordings, thereby flooring Hal Roach studio, which didn’t know she could sing and dubbed her voice in “Turnabout.”