Monthly Archives: September 2012

Found on EBay: The Ma Duncan Trial

Rare (or r@re) is terribly overused on EBay, but this time it’s accurate. A LP from clandestine recordings made at the murder trial of Elizabeth “Ma” Duncan, has been listed. Bidding starts at $5. The Duncan case (she was convicted … Continue reading

Posted in 1958, Found on EBay, Homicide | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb. Here’s our mystery guy and I love the name of the mystery film.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: The Black Dahlia

Photo: <<Le Dahlia Noir>>  Once again, Elizabeth Short’s bogus middle name appears in a story about the Black Dahlia – proof that mistakes take on a life of their own. In reality, she had no middle name. She was erroneously … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Reading Los Angeles: Glen Creason

Photo: “Murder at the Sleepy Lagoon” by Eduardo Obregón Pagán. In interviewing Los Angeles Public Library map librarian Glen Creason, I asked about his favorite books on Los Angeles. There wasn’t space to include the list with the story, but … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

America Losing War, Navy Official Says

Sept. 25, 1942: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Ralph Bard says that America is losing the war because it has been blinded by “an insufferable and materialistic pride,” a feeling that prevents Americans from realizing the “desperate fury” of Nazi … Continue reading

Posted in 1942, Comics, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Gypsy Rose Lee and ‘The G-String Murders’

Photo: Barbara Stanwyck in “Lady of Burlesque.” This post has been corrected. See note below for details. While being tops in your field can be exciting, an ambitious or intellectually curious person always looks for new ways to grow. This … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Robert Harron & Clarine Seymour

Robert Harron & Clarine Seymour   This week I am going to start you off with a clip, rather than ending with one.: The unhappily married young couple in this D.W. Griffith film, The Girl Who Stayed at Home, would … Continue reading

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead, Uncategorized | 18 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Keystone Anniversary

Photo: “The Water Nymph” via archive.org Today is the day that the Keystone Film Company started business, and it released its first film, a pair of “split-reelers” called “Cohen Collects a Debt” and “The Water Nymph” starring Mabel Normand.

Posted in 1912, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Glen Creason: All Over the Maps

My latest column for The Times is a chat with LAPL map librarian Glen Creason. Check it out.

Posted in History, Libraries | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

James Curtis / L.A. Voices: Jules White – Part 7

A reproduction of a poster for the Three Stooges “Half-Wits Holiday” has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $6.99. James writes: Here’s another of those interviews I did during a random burst of energy in 1975. This … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Tomorrow on the L.A. Daily Mirror

James Curtis concludes his interview with Jules White and discusses Harry Cohn, the death of Curly Howard and why he retired.

Posted in James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s another mystery photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Renate Müller

An cigarette card of Renate  Müller has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $2.99. Renate Müller 1906 – 1937 I’ve always gotten a frisson of enjoyment from Weimar-era Berlin culture, probably because like, in a good horror … Continue reading

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead | 7 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s another photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Bert Longworth and ‘Hold Still, Hollywood’

In the last forty years, movie collectors and photography connoisseurs have recognized the art and value of Hollywood still photography, most particularly in the gloriously lit and composed portraits of glamorous stars. For decades, however, many people, including industryites, failed … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | 8 Comments