Monthly Archives: November 2013

Take the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Responses Closed

Jack Webb and William Conrad phone in their answers to the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey. Update 2: Today’s the last day to express your thoughts in the Daily Mirror Reader Survey. And stay tuned for the results. Update: More … Continue reading

Posted in Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mystery Photo, Theaters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Ernst Lubitsch Dies!

Note: This is a post I originally wrote for the 1947project in 2005. I’m reposting it for newer readers. CAIRO, Nov. 30. (AP) With Arab bitterness mounting in the Middle East, Syrian demonstrators set fire to the United States Legation … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Matzo Brawl!

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project and I’m reposting it for newer readers. Nov. 29, 1907 Oh Those Shriners: Recall, if you will, the grisly train wreck that killed a large number of Shriners … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Food and Drink, LAPD, Religion, Streetcars | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Millennial Moment: Locke High Student Hangs Herself

Nov. 29, 1983: Bridget Marie Hicks was a 17-year-old girl with two children and apparently too many problems. A worker at the South-Central Multi-Purpose Child Development Center found her hanging from a tree. Police said Bridget, a student at nearby … Continue reading

Posted in 1983, Education, Hollywood, Millennial Moments, Suicide | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Lyndon Johnson’s 1955 Shopping Spree at Oviatt’s

I’m always looking for Oviatt items and here’s a jacket that has been listed on EBay, with bids starting at $149.99. And not just any jacket. This one was tailored for future President Lyndon Johnson. For the record: As Wayne … Continue reading

Posted in Downtown, Fashion, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

An 1890s Thanksgiving in the Kitchen

Here’s a traditional roast turkey recipe from the “Every-Day Cook-Book and Family Compendium,” written about 1890 by Miss E. Neill. Be sure your fire is bright and clear and watch out for the gall-bag.

Posted in 1890, Food and Drink, From the Stacks | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

L.A. Celebrates a Wartime Thanksgiving, 1943

A wartime Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, with many service personnel welcomed into people’s homes for a holiday meal. The Times published cooking tips for war workers, advising cooks who were otherwise engaged “for the duration” to use prepared mixes, packaged … Continue reading

Posted in 1943, Food and Drink, World War II | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Mitchell Leisen — ‘Lioness’ Tamer

Nov. 28, 1943:  Rumors of what will be known as the Tehran Conference (Nov. 28-Dec. 1, 1943) of Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin. Opening soon: “In Old Oklahoma,” starring John Wayne, Martha Scott and Albert Dekker, at the Paramount, Hollywood and … Continue reading

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — ‘Little Cowboy’

Police sketches of “Little Cowboy” by LAPD artist F.G. Ponce. I call her “Little Cowboy” because her shirt said “I’m a Little Cowboy.”  She was Jane Doe No. 62, coroner’s No. 77-8735, DR 77 596-048 In case you just tuned … Continue reading

Posted in 1977, Cold Cases, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Rediscovering Los Angeles – The U.S. Hotel

Jan. 13, 1936: One look and I knew this gem was gone. In fact, even the cross street has been obliterated. The U.S. Hotel was at Main and Market, across from City Hall. Times columnist Timothy Turner writes: “Rapid change … Continue reading

Posted in 1936, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Main Street, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

And for Monday, a mystery fellow.

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Sign Premieres November 1923

Jan. 6, 1924: The Times publishes a photo of an Oakland car that was driven up to the Hollywood sign. In the early 1920s, developers began opening virgin tracts of land for construction all around Los Angeles. To help sell … Continue reading

Posted in 1923, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: William Parker vs. Bugsy Siegel

By Yvonne Villarreal in The Times. Let’s get this straight: There was never a “long and often bloody struggle between LAPD Police Chief William Parker and gangster kingpin Ben ‘Bugsy’ Siegel” for the simple reason that Siegel was shot to … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, History, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, Television | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

A Little Something to Think About on a Sunday Morning

I suppose the venomous Cathy Seipp (d. 2007) is pretty much forgotten now. I hadn’t thought about her in a long time until the death of Wanda Coleman and remembered that Seipp took regular potshots at Coleman when she wrote … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, Obituaries | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Slaughter of the Innocent

Note: This is a post I originally wrote for the 1947project in 2006. Nov. 23, 1907 South Pasadena Warning: This is a grotesque, tragic story with graphic details. Pasadena Detective Wallace H. Copping is investigating the murder of a young … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Pasadena | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Lincoln’s Assassination Remembered, April 14, 1915

Eve Golden poses an interesting question: How did America observe the 50th anniversary of Lincoln’s assassination?

Posted in 1915, Civil War, Politics, Theaters | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

And for Friday, a mystery chap, courtesy of Christopher McPherson. Thursday’s mystery guest, Alice Joyce, was identified by Laura, Mary Mallory, Eve Golden, Joan Myers, Bob Hansen, Kent, Mike Hawks and Maedez. Congrats!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Nov. 22, 1963: Remembering JFK, That Day in Dallas and Baby Boomer Nostalgia

Nov. 22, 1963: The Times publishes an extra. I recently attended graduation exercises for a local college and the commencement speaker spent quite a while talking about how the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy was a watershed moment … Continue reading

Posted in 1963, History | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Movie Posters From Ghana at the Ernie Wolfe Gallery

“Return of the Living Dead 3” as interpreted by an artist in Ghana. The Ernie Wolfe Gallery at 1653 Sawtelle Blvd., in West Los Angeles is presenting a show titled “The Horror, The Horror,” curated by Brandon Boyd featuring hand-painted … Continue reading

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

And here’s Thursday’s mystery guest, courtesy of Christopher McPherson. Please congratulate Mary Mallory and Mike Hawks for identifying yesterday’s mystery chap.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 16 Comments