November 20, 1941: California prepares to execute Juanita “The Duchess” Spinelli at San Quentin. Spinelli, her boyfriend Mike Simeone, Gordon Hawkins and Albert Ives were convicted of drugging and drowning Robert Sherrard to keep him from informing on them about another killing.

Spinelli was the first woman to be legally executed in California. She was followed by Louise Peete (1946), Barbara Graham (1955) and Elizabeth “Ma” Duncan (1962). A Mexican woman usually identified as Juanita was lynched in Downieville, Calif., in 1851 for killing a man named Jack Cannon, who is variously described as Scottish or Australian.

Jimmie Fidler says: Lucille Ball left by plane yesterday to join hubby Desi Arnaz in New York, then to Cuba for Christmas.

Also on the jump: The proper headwear for working on an old car – especially if your name is Goober.