Category Archives: 1959

Matt Weinstock, July 29, 1959

Posted on July 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

“Great Scott! I’ve Kept You Rigid for Almost Two Hours! Why Didn’t You Stop Me, Miss Simmons? Body Surfers It appears that Bob Lee, who, as reported here, was knocked down by an unidentified object, which turned out to be … Continue reading →

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July 22, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on July 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1959: Matt Weinstock has the story of a driver who obediently followed a traffic officer to the site of a bank holdup so the policeman could finish writing up a ticket. Continue reading →

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July 22, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on July 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1959: Police officers have a new set of challenges, Paul Coates writes, like being insulted with the term “cop.” Continue reading →

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July 20, 1947: Wealthy Woman Gives Estate – Including Homeless Camp -– to Santa Barbara

Posted on July 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 20, 1947: Lillian Child sets up a homeless camp on her 17-acre estate. Upon her death in 1951, the estate is deeded to Santa Barbara, including the homeless camp. The mansion was burned down in 1959 by the Fire Department, the camp was later destroyed and a zoo was built. Continue reading →

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April 20, 1959: It’s a Woman’s World — Auto Mechanic

Posted on April 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

April 20, 1959: Meet Mrs. Roy Harper, a trained auto mechanic who helps run her husband’s auto garage, where she is apparently a service writer and specializes in carburetors. But the Los Angeles Times assures readers that she’s still ladylike and prefers “high heels and chic clothes” to dirty coveralls and tools in the hip pockets. Continue reading →

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February 28, 1959: Dodger Dome?

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 29, 1959: Could Dodger Stadium be renamed the Dodger Dome? Keith Thursby takes a look. Continue reading →

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February 28, 1959: Ex-Teamsters Boss Sentenced to Prison

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 28, 1959: Former Teamsters boss Dave Beck is sentenced to five years in prison. Beck died in 1993 at the age of 99. Continue reading →

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February 18, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1959: Actor Paul Fierro grew a beard in hopes of being cast as Fidel Castro. His ploy finally worked — somewhat. He’s cast as a police officer and has to shave off the beard but is keeping the mustache, Matt Weinstock says. Continue reading →

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February 16, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on February 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 16, 1959: A woman’s freelance writing jeopardizes her eligibility for welfare, Matt Weinstock says. Continue reading →

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February 16, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on February 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 16, 1959: Racists oppose statehood for Hawaii, Paul Coates says. Also the Elizabeth “Ma” Duncan is about to begin. Continue reading →

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January 31, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1959: Bill Thomas, then a staffer on the Mirror, is assigned to write about American Airlines’ first jet flight to New York. His colleagues buy a life insurance policy. “As the plane goes down it should be comforting to know you are doing a nice thing for your friends,” they say. Continue reading →

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January 31, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1959: Paul Coates has the story a drug addict who graduates from Synanon and an update on the postmortem drama about the body of Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer, which was stranded at the morgue. Continue reading →

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January 22, 1959: ‘Our Gang’ Star Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer Dies in Fight Over $50

Posted on January 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 22, 1959: Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer dies in a fight over $50. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Baseball, Crime and Courts, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Keith Thursby, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on January 22, 1959: ‘Our Gang’ Star Carl ‘Alfalfa’ Switzer Dies in Fight Over $50

January 21, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on January 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 21, 1959: Matt Weinstock tells of a Russian speaker who had her own thoughts about the recent visit of Anastas Mikoyan. And Weinstock has the story of another elaborate party prank. Continue reading →

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January 21, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 21, 1959: Paul Coates has the story of a boy who received a mail solicitation for a package of nude photos, and a model who did some pinup photos and a recording that a jury deemed “obscene.” Continue reading →

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January 16, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on January 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 16, 1959: Matt Weinstock recounts the war story of a wounded sailor, expected to die, who was revived by a glass of brandy from a nurse. Continue reading →

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January 16, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 16, 1959: Paul Coates on the story of Butch Harris, who was refused admission to the Cub Scouts because he was Black. Continue reading →

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January 14, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 14, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 14, 1959: Paul Coates has an update on three boys, the oldest age 10, who killed their father as he slept. Continue reading →

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January 7, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on January 7, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 7, 1959: A group of grimly playful fellows at USC have changed their names from Asthmatics Anonymous to Asthmatics Militant, bringing a report from Detroit about the new Flatulente Four Fifty auto, Matt Weinstock says. Continue reading →

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January 7, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 7, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 7, 1959: Tiger Small steals toupees, but it’s only a sideline Paul Coates writes. Small stole his first toupee as a favor for a chorus girl and it took off from there. Continue reading →

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