Category Archives: Downtown

Joy in Bukowski Square

Charles Bukowski in 1994. The newly released "Portions from a Wine-Stained Notebook" pulls together as-yet uncollected essays and stories by Charles Bukowski, written from 1944 to 1990. Read more>>> They’re celebrating at 7th and Main.             

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Court to hear dispute over Dodger Stadium, October 16, 1958

By Keith Thursby Times staff writer The state Supreme Court will hear arguments over the legal battle to build a baseball stadium for the Dodgers in Chavez Ravine. The Times ran a short Associated Press story on Page 1 that … Continue reading

Posted in City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

Officers buy police jobs for $150, October 16, 1938

Above, imagine my surprise to recognize the Coliseum in this panel from "Ella Cinders" by Bill Conselman and Charlie Plumb.  Ruth Etting’s ex-husband Martin Snyder kidnaps Etting’s husband, Myrl Alderman, forces him to drive to their home at 3000 Lake … Continue reading

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Coming attractions — free Philip Marlowe tour

Brian and Bonnie Olson, authors of "Tailing Philip Marlowe," write that they are giving a tour of downtown landmarks mentioned in the mysteries of Raymond Chandler. Sites include the Bradbury Building, the Oviatt Building and City Hall. The tour is … Continue reading

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Hitler, Chamberlain promise peace, October 1, 1938

Poland demands share of Czechoslovakia More than 1 million Polish troops are poised to invade. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain gives the British the Munich agreement and his pledge with Nazi leader Adolf Hitler that Britain and Germany "never will go … Continue reading

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Los Angeles mayor begins City Hall cleanup, September 28, 1938

Mayor Bowron asks 117 commission members to quit Two members of the Police Commission resign and the head of the LAPD vice squad announces his retirement. "You Can’t Take It With You," one of my favorites. The Monte Carlo Ballet! … Continue reading

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Los Angeles County supervisors divert money for Dodger Stadium roads, September 24, 1958

Chavez Ravine funds go elsewhere County money intended to build roads into Dodger Stadium will be diverted to other projects. Wait a minute! IMDB says this is W.R. Burnett’s "Asphalt Jungle" turned into a western.  By Keith Thursby Times staff … Continue reading

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Los Angeles on smog alert, Braves win against Cards, September 19, 1958

Los Angeles urged to drive less and reduce smog  Ozone levels in the region reach 0.53 per million, which would be a Stage 3 alert in 2008.    The "Mating Urge," in "flaming color." Imdb says this wasn’t released until … Continue reading

Posted in @news, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Environment, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, Hollywood, Science, Sports | 1 Comment

Los Angeles history–Nuestro Pueblo

The hanging tree Once described as the oldest rubber tree on the American continent, it was actually an Australian fig … maybe. Either way, it’s gone now. And the rustlers who were supposedly hanged here must have been awfully short … Continue reading

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Los Angeles gets a new mayor, September 18, 1938

Bowron: Liberal, moderate and conservative The Times’ Timothy G. Turner writes: ‘Fletcher Bowron is no longhair nor will he turn the town over to Psalm singers. He is little concerned with gambling and prostitution as such, only in their effect … Continue reading

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Los Angeles mayor removed in recall, child killer executed, September 17, 1938

Bowron defeats Shaw Superior Court judge, elected with 65% of the vote, will take office Sept. 26. He says: ‘This election, in no sense, is a personal triumph. This is not my fight. I have merely been part of a … Continue reading

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Los Angeles history–Nuestro Pueblo

Grateful family erects frontyard shrine The doctor said Generosa Bruno was dying and there was nothing to save her. ‘You might pray,’ he told her family. And they did. 739 Yale St. in 1938 and, below, Yale Street via Google … Continue reading

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Los Angeles votes in recall election, September 16, 1938

City voters decide on removing Mayor Shaw Judge Bowron predicts that he will win the election by 85,000 votes. In fact, he took an early lead and defeated Shaw by 100,000 votes, The Times says. Above, a political ad for … Continue reading

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City attorney expects court battle to delay Dodger Stadium, September 7, 1958

City attorney sees long battle for Chavez Ravine Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley expects legal challenges to be resolved quickly and predicts stadium construction will begin in February 1959. By Keith ThursbyTimes staff writer Jeane Hoffman’s interview with Los Angeles City … Continue reading

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Death stalks Spanish nobleman, Angels win, September 7, 1938

Roy Rogers and Smiley Burnette: happy trails! Death stalks Spanish nobleman In Miami, the the former heir to the Spanish throne dies from injuries in a car crash because he carries the hereditary disease of hemophilia. His companion, a nightclub … Continue reading

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Woman missing with family ‘fortune’; Golden Boy knocked out, September 6, 1958

Art ‘Golden Boy’ Aragon on the ropes Woman vanishes with family ‘fortune’ We don’t know when Stella Collins started lying. Maybe it was in 1940, when she married Stanley. Or maybe it was later. We don’t know why she started … Continue reading

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LA turns 157, September 5, 1938

Capt. Eugene Plummer is featured in a story about Plummer Park in West Hollywood. According to the caption, the revolver he’s holding belonged to Joaquin Murietta. At left, Mayor Frank Shaw and actor Leo Carrillo help celebrate Los Angeles’ 157th … Continue reading

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LA history–Little Tokyo

Above, as published in The Times, Sept. 2, 1938, and below, via Google maps’ street view.

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LAPD officers accused of beating, August 24, 1938

Above, another editorial in The Times’ well-worn tradition of asking: "What’s all the fuss I hear about … recalling the corrupt mayor … a federal anti-lynching law … opening up America to the refugees of Europe? We don’t need to … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, @news, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Parks and Recreation, Politics, Robberies, Stage | Comments Off on LAPD officers accused of beating, August 24, 1938

Los Angeles history: Bunker Hill

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