Category Archives: Front Pages

A Jovial Nixon Tells Strangers He’s Bob Hope, Makes Prank Phone Calls

Posted on November 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Vice President Richard Nixon interrupting early morning walk on Wilshire Boulevard to watch sidewalk repairs, lingers to talk sports with Vic Salazar, left and another worker. It's easy to find weird stories about Richard Nixon, before and after his presidency. … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Richard Nixon, Sports | 3 Comments

Nixon and Kennedy Visit L.A.

Posted on November 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Vice President Richard Nixon and his wife, Pat, arrive in Arcadia.  Nixon voices confidence the Republican Party … And the MTA is increasing fares on buses and streetcars from 17 cents to compensate for raises granted to union workers. Sen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Nixon and Kennedy Visit L.A.

U.S. Approves Project to Clear Bunker Hill

Posted on October 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Guess what happens after a plumber connects a butane line to Crestview, Fla.'s water supply Someone, we're not sure who, reminisces about Halloweens of the past. I figured out how to make the "ticktack" the woman describes, but the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on U.S. Approves Project to Clear Bunker Hill

Shostakovich Visits L.A.!

Posted on October 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Shostakovich meets the press at the Ambassador Hotel. Wouldn’t it be great to go see it? Oh, wait, we let L..A. Unified tear it down. Oct. 20, 1959: Dmitri Shostakovich leads a group of Soviet composers on a tour … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Front Pages, Music, Sports, Stage | 1 Comment

Lili St. Cyr Remarries

Posted on October 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Charles Van Doren reportedly confesses to getting answers for the TV game show "Twenty-One.'     Oct. 29, 1959: Americans are ashamed that the U.S. is behind the Soviets in the space race … And Lili St. Cyr is … Continue reading →

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Women in Little Tokyo Charged as B-Girls

Posted on October 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

And all this time, I thought people were joking about winning the Irish Sweepstakes.  The prolonged steel strike puts 6,100 local General Motors employees out of work. The affected factories are GM's Chevrolet, Fisher Body and truck plants in the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Downtown, Food and Drink, Front Pages | 1 Comment

Grand Jury to Investigate USC Fraternity Hazing Death

Posted on October 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 27, 1959: General Motors lays off 2,103 autoworkers in Los Angeles because of the continuing steel strike … And the grand jury will investigate the death of Kappa Sigma pledge Richard Swanson.

Posted in #courts, Front Pages | Comments Off on Grand Jury to Investigate USC Fraternity Hazing Death

Dark Side of the Moon!

Posted on October 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 27, 1959: In another setback for America in the space race, the Soviets release a photo of the hidden side of the moon, while two U.S. satellites plunge from orbit.

Posted in Front Pages, Science | Comments Off on Dark Side of the Moon!

TV Star’s Wife Returns After Suicide Attempt

Posted on October 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Reporters meet Virginia Arness at the airport and follow her home. Photographers ask James Arness, the star of "Gunsmoke," to pose with her, but he refuses. Oct. 26, 1959: The front page teases a story about the Lions getting … Continue reading →

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Brubeck Quartet at Reseda High School

Posted on October 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dave Brubeck at Reseda High School: $2. Oct. 24, 1959: Don’t worry. That train crash is actually in Canada … The New York district attorney is considering perjury charges against Charles Van Doren and Hank Bloomgarden, who voluntarily made substantial … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, Environment, Front Pages, Transportation | Comments Off on Brubeck Quartet at Reseda High School

L.A. County Seeks to Curb Smog

Posted on October 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 24, 1959: Smog continues to blight Los Angeles. City Hall is barely visible from Temple and Hill streets. And Walter O'Malley promises that Dodger Stadium will be dignified.

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Environment, Front Pages, Transportation | Comments Off on L.A. County Seeks to Curb Smog

Smog Alert!

Posted on October 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Funeral services for quintuplets born a few days earlier. Oct. 23, 1959: A pall of smog covers the city as county supervisors plan to send a representative to talk to Detroit auto executives about emission controls.

Posted in broadcasting, Environment, Front Pages, Television | 2 Comments

Fidel Castro Survives Assassination Attempt

Posted on October 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 23, 1959: The courts refuse to halt the steel strike … And Shostakovich is coming. Farah Dibah, on a shopping trip to Paris, refuses to confirm reports that she is engaged to marry the shah of Iran. Harper Poulson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Front Pages, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | 2 Comments

Cleaning Up L.A.’s Dirty Air

Posted on October 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

 The Mirror has three Page 1 stories about smog. Oct. 22, 1959: Anti-smog devices are available for cars starting with the 1961 model year.

Posted in Environment, Front Pages | Comments Off on Cleaning Up L.A.’s Dirty Air

As Undercover Agent, Housewife Spied on Communists

Posted on October 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 21, 1959: Moiselle Clinger describes spying on Communists for the FBI. Truck driver Gordon Powell says he robbed a bank after losing work because of the steel strike. A new appeal seeks to block the execution of Caryl Chessman. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

Quints Born in Texas

Posted on October 20, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 20, 1959: Former Secretary of State and Defense Gen. George C. Marshall is buried at Arlington. Former President Truman says: "I sincerely hope that when it comes my time to cross the great river, Gen. Marshall will place me … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Front Pages | Comments Off on Quints Born in Texas

Caryl Chessman Wins Delay

Posted on October 20, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 21, 1959: Caryl Chessman gets a stay of execution.

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | Comments Off on Caryl Chessman Wins Delay

Supreme Court OKs Dodger Stadium

Posted on October 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 19, 1959: Few attend Errol Flynn’s funeral … "Men will walk on the moon before there is a woman president," says Mrs. Claire B. Williams, assistant chairman of the Republican National Committee in charge of women's activities. Dodger Stadium … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on Supreme Court OKs Dodger Stadium

Errol Flynn Dies in Canada

Posted on October 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 15, 1959: The Mirror isn’t quite so dainty about calling Beverly Aadland a “protege.”  Aug. 19, 1979: Beverly Aadland writes to The Times and says she's living in the Antelope Valley.

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on Errol Flynn Dies in Canada

Fire Closes in on Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Posted on October 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 14, 1959: The Mirror brings out an extra on the La Canada fire, which is within a mile and a half of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The story says the fire moved half a mile in five minutes … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Front Pages, Television | 1 Comment