Monthly Archives: July 2018

July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon Strangled With Stocking

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Here’s a perfect illustration of the difference between The Times and the Examiner, which has a completely different version of Antonio Mondragon’s actions on the night … Continue reading

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Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 2

Here’s the footprint of the demolished California State Building, as seen from space in 2011 via Google Earth. Our crime buddy Nathan Marsak also took a tour of the remains, posted on SkyscraperPage.com. Here’s a shot of the bank of … Continue reading

Posted in 1955, Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Black L.A. 1947: No Black Writers Invited to Preview of ‘Black Narcissus’

July 10, 1947: Earl Griffin, the Sentinel’s Hollywood Spotlight columnist, writes of a press premiere of “Black Narcissus” at the Carthay Circle Theater and notes that “the Negro press has been conspicuous by their absence (not being invited).” Griffin salutes … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

July 10, 1907: L.A. Times to Native Americans ‘Work or Starve’

  Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 10, 1907 Los Angeles Among the features of an educational conference being held in Los Angeles is a group of Native American students brought by Francis E. Leupp, the commissioner … Continue reading

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Historic L.A. in ‘Illegal’ | Part 1

If you are cursed with the memory of having seen “Gangster Squad,” you may recall this ridiculous shot of Spring Street from City Hall. In last week’s mystery movie, “Illegal”  (1955) we have the actual location, now occupied by Grand … Continue reading

Posted in 1955, Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Sins of Hollywood – Tinseltown’s First Sordid Look at Scandal

“The Sins of Hollywood,” via Archive.org. Note: This is an encore post from 2015. From its very beginnings, the motion picture industry has endured protests and censorship attacks from conservative members of the American public, those scandalized at seeing women … Continue reading

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1939 RKO picture “Fixer Dugan,” with Lee Tracy, Virginia Weidler, Peggy Shannon, Bradley Page, William Edmunds, Edward Gargan, Jack Arnold, Rita LaRoy, Irene Franklin, John Dilson and Edythe Elliott. Photography was by J. … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

July 9, 1907: L.A. Converts Abandoned Church to House Inmates From Crowded Jail

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 9, 1907 Los Angeles Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on Hewitt Street was barren; the pastor had gone away and the congregation had moved on. And so the City Council, in struggling … Continue reading

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July 7, 1947: 4,000 Bikers in ‘Gypsy Tour’ Wreak Havoc in Hollister

“Hey, Johnny, what are you rebelling against?” “What’ve you got?”

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July 6, 1947: 1930 Duesenberg Convertible for Sale. Best Offer

Sigh.

Posted in 1930, 1947, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mechanical Engineer Publishes First Book

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Hard at work as a mechanical engineer during the day, the former naval aviation researcher still finds time to do a little writing. At the moment … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

July 5, 1907: Beer Is the Health Drink, Like ‘Liquid Bread’

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 5, 1907 Los Angeles See here, you pesky temperance workers, beer is “liquid bread.” It’s good for you.

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L.A. Celebrates the Fourth of July 1889 – 1960

July 4, 1944: Uncle Sam in a cartoon by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale for the Los Angeles Examiner and republished in the Milwaukee Sentinel.   Note: This is an encore post from 2014. Here’s a look at how Los Angeles … Continue reading

Posted in 1863, 1907, 1910, 1947, 1957, 1960 | Tagged | 2 Comments

July 4, 1947: Man Convicted of Dog Atrocity

Note: This is an encore post that originally appeared on the 1947project, but in June rather than July. Oops.

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1944 on the Radio — The Fourth of July, 1944

Note: This is an encore post from 2014. July 4, 1944 ”The Make-Believe Sheriff” is the title of today’s episode of “The Green Hornet.” Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org ”Lum and Abner” are building a health resort on grandpappy’s farm. Otrrlibrary.org via … Continue reading

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A Wartime Fourth of July: Los Angeles, 1942

Note: This is a post from 2015. Years ago, in researching Camp Cooke, I bought the diary of a soldier named Harry A. Rankin, who was stationed there in 1942 and early 1943 (and no, he doesn’t mention Elizabeth Short). … Continue reading

Posted in 1942, Black Dahlia, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Can This Be the Fourth of July?

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 4, 1907 Los Angeles And how does Los Angeles celebrate Independence Day? With cricket matches and bagpipe contests.

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Music, Parks, Streetcars | Comments Off on Can This Be the Fourth of July?

July 4, 1863: Los Angeles Celebrates the Fourth of July With Pic-Nics and Fire-Works

The complete July 4, 1863, issue of the Los Angeles Star is available from USC, which scanned  a copy at the Huntington. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. July 4, 1863: Los Angeles plans to celebrate the Fourth … Continue reading

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Black L.A. 1947: Sugar Chile Robinson and a Review of ‘Crossfire’

Sugar Chile Robinson performs at the Lincoln. I should do an entire post on him, but so many stories and only one Larry Harnisch. July 3, 1947: One of the regular complaints in my Twitter feed is about the lack … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

July 3, 1947: Flying Saucers Over Beverly Hills!

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. This is where the 1947 Project intersects with other 1947 Project. Mysterious flying discs were reported June 28 over New Mexico, prompting sarcastic letters to The … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Aviation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment