Category Archives: Fashions

Sept. 11, 1907: In Praise of the Corset for the ‘Woman Who Weighs a Ton’

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 11, 1907 Direct Wire From New York Wow! Now this is the kind of quote one simply doesn’t see every day, at least in the 21st century. The Victorians certainly had … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Streetcars | 1 Comment

Can This Be the Fourth of July?

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 4, 1907 Los Angeles And how does Los Angeles celebrate Independence Day? With cricket matches and bagpipe contests.

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Music, Parks, Streetcars | Leave a comment

June 18, 1907: Immigration Agent Accused of Poisoning Neighbor’s Dog

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. June 18, 1907 Los Angeles The victim: A collie named Baby The plaintiff: Hazel G. (or Ella M.) Schurger, 1156 S. Flower. The suspect: J.J. Brady of the Immigration Bureau, a next-door … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Animals, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Fashions, Immigration, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

June 16, 1907: Lawyer Edith Foulkes Handles Her Own Divorce Case

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. June 16, 1907 Los Angeles Despite the old saying—a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client—Edith Foulkes is a smart woman, at least in the courtroom. She can’t make … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Crime and Courts, Fashions, Homicide, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dec. 4, 1911: Man Arrested for ‘Masquerading in Female Attire’

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Dec. 4, 1911 Clarence Westfall, 22 years old, was taken into custody at San Pedro yesterday afternoon when a boat from San Diego docked. He was arrested for having masqueraded in female … Continue reading

Posted in 1908, 1911, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Fashions, LAPD, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

March 3, 1907: L.A. Public Library Welcomes Young Readers

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. March 3, 1907 Los Angeles Stroll into the Los Angeles Public Library on Central Avenue with me for a moment, over to the children’s section. The librarian says there are about 15,000 … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, Fashions, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jan. 21, 1907: L.A. Hosts First Car Show on the West Coast

Jan. 21, 1907 Los Angeles Mayor Arthur C. Harper addressed the crowd for a moment, reminiscing about a teacher who used to tell his pupils that someday, long after he was gone, people would get around Los Angeles in self-propelled … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Religion, Streetcars | Leave a comment

L.A. Celebrates Fourth of July With Cricket Match, Bagpipe Contest

Note: This is a post from 2007. July 4, 1907 Los Angeles And how does Los Angeles celebrate Independence Day? With cricket matches and bagpipe contests.  

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Music, Parks, Streetcars | Leave a comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide — Last Minute Edition

The Santa Claus newsboy cap, available for $32 here. It’s Christmas Eve! Are you still wondering about a last-minute present? It may be too late to get a Santa Claus newsboy cap, but here’s a gift that lasts all year, … Continue reading

Posted in Fashions, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nell Brinkley, Queen of Early American Comics

When Americans think of classic illustrators from the early 20th century, names such as Charles Dana Gibson, Harrison Fisher, Haskell Coffin, James Montgomery Flagg, and John Held Jr. spring to mind. Forgotten by almost everyone, but in every way these … Continue reading

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Flapper Speaks to American Women

The Flapper – via Wikipedia. Life changed quickly in the United States post-World War I. Nowhere was this more evident than in the role and actions of young women emancipating themselves from the corseted way of life to more boldly … Continue reading

Posted in 1922, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition VII (Updated +++)

And here’s a mystery chap in a newsboy cap! How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat — ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition I Movieland Mystery Photo – … Continue reading

Posted in Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition VI (Updated +++)

Here’s a mystery lad in a newsboy cap! How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat — ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition I Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy … Continue reading

Posted in Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 19 Comments

‘Gangster Squad’: Fail – Part 1

Uh-oh. Nobody should be surprised — least of all Warner Bros. — that  “Gangster Squad” is a terrible movie. Anyone who saw the trailers or heard the industry gossip knew that it was going to be dreadful. It was a … Continue reading

Posted in 1949, Fashion, Fashions, Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

How to Wear a Hat – Rod Steiger Edition

We have explored how newsboy caps were worn by several men in “Monkey Business” and by Lee Marvin in “King of the North,” by Henry Fonda in “The Grapes of Wrath” and by Marc Chevalier in real life. Here’s Rod … Continue reading

Posted in 1959, Chicago, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

A Page From the Past

March 3, 1907Los Angeles Stroll into the Los Angeles Public Library on Central Avenue with me for a moment, over to the children’s section. The librarian says there are about 15,000 to 16,000 books, only half of what is needed, … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, Fashions, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged | Leave a comment

If They Had Only Known

Jan. 21, 1907Los Angeles Mayor Arthur C. Harper addressed the crowd for a moment, reminiscing about a teacher who used to tell his pupils that someday, long after he was gone, people would get around Los Angeles in self-propelled vehicles. … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Religion, Streetcars | Leave a comment

The Imp

Oct. 20, 1907 Los Angeles Winsor McCay and his cartoons never completely go out of fashion and are periodically rediscovered—as in the current Taschen anthology. He was a fabulous artist and his Sunday panels remain a marvel of fantasy and … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Comics, Fashions, LAPD, Streetcars | Leave a comment

The Fall Collection

Sept. 11, 1907Direct Wire From New York Wow! Now this is the kind of quote one simply doesn’t see every day, at least in the 21st century. The Victorians certainly had a different attitude toward women’s physiques: “The woman who … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Streetcars | Leave a comment

Vegans Avert Your Eyes

July 19, 1907CovinaLavish preparations are underway for an enormous, free picnic to celebrate the opening of a Pacific Electric streetcar line to Los Angeles. “Covina had long awaited the approach of those shining iron bands that connect the pretty little … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Leave a comment