Category Archives: Countdown to Watts

Raymond bombing

Posted on January 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

  An attorney for two LAPD officers charges that Assembly Speaker William Moseley Jones is exploiting the state vice inquiry to bolster his campaign for attorney general  … Diplomatic repercussions over a  sentry slapping a U.S. envoy in Nanking …  … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, City Hall, Countdown to Watts, Downtown, LAPD, Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Raymond bombing

Jan. 20, 1908

Posted on January 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

  More than 200 African Americans gather at First Methodist Church to protest the vandalism of a house on East 33rd Street that was rented to a black family (above, the original Jan. 16, 1908, story) …  A man on … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Countdown to Watts, Religion, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Jan. 20, 1908

Stars and Bars

Posted on January 17, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jan. 17, 1958 The Daily Mirror salutes insurance salesman Harold Alonzo Franklin, who on Jan. 4, 1964, became the first African American to register at Auburn University in 108 years. Franklin was seeking a master’s degree in history. (Bonus fact: … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Church shooting

Posted on November 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

Nov. 11, 1957 Los AngelesThomas J. Tophia and James Wallace were arguing outside a bar when Tophia drew a gun and hit Wallace over the head with it. The gun fired, sending a bullet through the open door of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Homicide, LAPD, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Church shooting

Budweiser boycott

Posted on November 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 7, 1957 Los Angeles Here’s a story that white Los Angeles will never see: An NAACP boycott against Anheuser-Busch because it refused to hire African American truck drivers, plant workers and office staff.    According to the California … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Food and Drink, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Budweiser boycott

A dose of skepticism

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 22, 1957 Los Angeles And here’s where storytelling trumped skepticism. Recall the death of Theodore Roosevelt Beckham, who killed Juvenile Officer Robert R. Christensen at 1524 Ingraham St. during an attempted arrest. The first news accounts said officers … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A dose of skepticism

Countdown to Watts

Posted on October 12, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 12, 1957 Yes, this really happened.  

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts

A miracle

Posted on October 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 5, 1957 Louisiana The story of Alton Clifton Poret presents unusually frustrating challenges for the diligent researcher. Identified in a 1954 Times story as "a former Los Angeles Negro," Poret and Edgar Labat were sentenced to die in Louisiana’s … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

It was a kinder, simpler time

Posted on September 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 27, 1957Los Angeles

Posted in @news, Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on It was a kinder, simpler time

Little Rock, Ark.

Posted on September 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 23, 1957 Page 1 of the Mirror:

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Little Rock, Ark.

Little Rock, Ark.

Posted on September 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 23, 1957Little Rock, Ark. In case you are wondering, The Times did not run these pictures. They appeared in the Mirror.

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

South-Central Vice

Posted on September 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 8-12, 1957 Los Angeles Let's suppose you are the mayor of the nation's third-largest city. Let's further suppose that your wife has received several letters complaining about rampant crime in a heavily minority neighborhood. You might turn the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Countdown to Watts, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on South-Central Vice

Countdown to Watts

Posted on September 4, 2007 by lmharnisch

Yes, it really happened.

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Front Pages | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts

Pepe Arciga

Posted on August 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 26, 1957 In a recent issue of Variety, columnist Dave Kaufman sends off his piece with an opening paragraph sure to be an eye-catcher. It concerns racial prejudice and the way some writers are unsuccessfully trying to peddle their … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Countdown to Watts, Pepe Arciga, Temple City | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Pepe Arciga

Countdown to Watts

Posted on August 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

The California Eagle, Aug. 22, 1957. The Times never reported the NAACP’s lawsuit against the Police Department. Apparently the Los Angeles police chief giving sworn testimony about the department wasn’t considered news.

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts

Countdown to Watts

Posted on August 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 21-22, 1957Los Angeles Note the contrasting coverage as Kappa Alpha Psi, an African American fraternity, holds its national convention in Los Angeles.

Posted in 1957, Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts

Countdown to Watts

Posted on August 15, 2007 by lmharnisch

Another story not appearing in the Los Angeles Times….. The California Eagle, Aug. 15, 1957  

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts

King/Drew–1975

Posted on August 11, 2007 by lmharnisch

"Horror stories implying neglect and incompetence, especially by nursing personnel, are heard regularly." "We all came with such high hopes. Can we provide high-quality healthcare in the ghetto? I’m not sure. It’s very spotty so far." "I have never seen … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on King/Drew–1975

Countdown to Watts

Posted on August 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 5, 1957 Los Angeles In eight years (the headline above is from The Times, Aug. 12, 1965), Los Angeles will explode in the Watts riots and many people will wonder how it happened. Here’s part of the answer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts

Countdown to Watts

Posted on August 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

Aug. 1-7, 1957Los Angeles A search through The Times for early August reveals several stories about Chief William H. Parker being honored for 30 years service with the Los Angeles Police Department. In a luncheon at the Biltmore Bowl hosted … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Countdown to Watts