Category Archives: Columnists

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 4, 1960

  The Mark of the Beast Is With Us Once More     I don't rattle too easily.  But the other day I managed, in the vernacular of Elvis Presley, to get all shook up.     Coming out of the house, … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 4, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  The dark ages of crossword puzzle construction: Look at all those two-letter answers! Marian Anderson performs at Philharmonic Auditorium in a recital of works by Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Rachmaninoff and Gretchaninoff, who is not a composer I recognize. Anderson … Continue reading

Posted in classical music, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Stage | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 3, 1960

“Crash!” The Foundry     Almost everyone at one time or another aspires to be a writer and perhaps reshape the world with a literary effort so filled with truth and wisdom that fame and riches are inevitable.     When they … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Comics, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 3, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 3, 1960

Yanqui Go Home – After Touring Cuba     (NEWS ITEM)- Cuba's push to receive tourist travel to the island has blossomed into a full day for free.  The Cuban Tourist Commission is now offering hotel accommodations, a drink, dinner, floor … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Architecture, Columnists, Front Pages, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 3, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 3, 1941 – Hedda Hopper praises Dalton Trumbo. Yes, that Dalton Trumbo: “Those chronic fault-finders, who are always screaming about bad adaptations of best sellers, must be gnashing their teeth over 'Kitty Foyle.' All praise to Dalton Trumbo … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

‘Queen for a Day’ Host Jack Bailey Dies

  Feb. 3, 1980: Al Martinez wrote a very clever obituary on TV host Jack Bailey, who died at the age of 72.

Posted in Columnists, Hollywood, Obituaries, Television | Comments Off on ‘Queen for a Day’ Host Jack Bailey Dies

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 2, 1960

Mystery of Missiles       One of the problems of those who guide our missile program is making it understandable to earth-bounders.  In other words, translating complex scientific data into ordinary terms.       Toward this end former newspaperman Chris … Continue reading

Posted in classical music, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Music | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 2, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 2, 1960

Tall Man Considers Cellmate, Dr. Finch     The tall man was talking about an ex-cellmate of his. They were together in County Jail for a month and a half.     The ex-cellmate's name was Finch.  Dr. R. Bernard Finch.     … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 2, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 2, 1940: Now here’s an interesting line from Hedda Hopper, who is normally a real flag-waver.  “Gold Star Mothers are steering clear of 'The Fighting 69th.' Most of them won't see the picture, even on a pass, saying … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 1, 1960

New-Found Evidence Favors Tokyo Rose     Two months ago, On the 18th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, I printed what I thought was the first interview by a newsman with a woman known to the world as Tokyo Rose.     Her … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, broadcasting, Columnists, Front Pages, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Feb. 1, 1960

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 1, 1960

Different Way to Lose     Those who have learned the hard way will stipulate that race track betting is a snare and a delusion.  Today we have with us reader G.S., who has a dynamic idea to unsnare and undelude … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Comics, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 1, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Feb. 1, 1939: Hedda Hopper gives five bells to “Gunga Din,” but says "Joan Fontaine’s beauty and ability were thrown away in a bit" part.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Nixon, the ‘Indispensible Man’

“You Remember Her?”     NBC used to have an opera company. Amazing, no? Although I can’t say I’ve ever heard of Virginia Copeland (Gordoni), David Poleri or Chester Ludgin. “Goliath and the Barbarians” in Colorscope!  Paul Zimmerman takes a … Continue reading

Posted in #opera, broadcasting, classical music, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, JFK, Lakers, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports, Television | Comments Off on Nixon, the ‘Indispensible Man’

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 16, 1942: Carole Lombard delivers a speech in Indianapolis in a rally to sell war bonds. Jan. 17, 1942: Lombard is killed on the flight returning to Los Angeles.  Jan. 31, 1942: Norman Corwin turned down an opportunity … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 30, 1960

Rewarding Experience     Ad executive Henry Mayers and his wife came home from a trip to southeast Asia about a year ago appalled by the deluge of printed propaganda they saw extolling communism and attacking this country.     To help … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Matt Weinstock, Obituaries | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 30, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 30, 1960

Mash Notes and Comment       (Press Release)  "Gigantic 'man-eating clams' with shells of unusual proportion, sometimes reaching four feet in width, are found along the great barrier reefs dotting the Pacific Ocean from Australian waters northward into the Solomon … Continue reading

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 30, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

  Jan. 30, 1941: Frank Capra tried to show a print of his first film, "Fultah Fisher's Boarding House," and "found the film had completely disintegrated. He'll pay almost anything for another print," Hedda Hopper says … Hey, it's Trixie … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 29, 1960

    Monetary Crisis     An armored truck, the kind that picks up and delivers large sums of cash for banks and stores, stopped a few days ago at 1st and Main Sts.  The armed attendants got out and grimly … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 29, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 29, 1960

  Here's a Fishy Story From Death Row        This is the story of a fish, but it's not a fish story.     It lives on San Quentin's Death Row.  It's a salt-water fish — possibly a smelt — about … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 29, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

    Jan. 29, 1940:  Akim Tamiroff tells Hedda Hopper it took him three months to learn how to use a bullwhip for scenes in “Union Pacific.”

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist