Category Archives: Front Pages

Christmas 1968

Posted on December 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Pueblo crew arrives in San Diego. Note the bylines: Chuck Hillinger and Bob Rawitch! My good friend Eric Malnic, retired reporter who’s now recovering from surgery, often talks about the other distinguished rewrite folks at The Times and their … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Charles Hillinger, Dodgers, Front Pages | 1 Comment

Christmas 1938

Posted on December 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Times’ front page features a poem by James "Sunrise Jim" Warnack, the paper’s religion writer for many years.

Posted in Front Pages, Religion | 1 Comment

Christmas 1908

Posted on December 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

Crowds of shoppers watch a downtown building go up in flames and bandits rob a holiday party. Volunteers give presents to the needy children of Los Angeles and there’s dinners for the hungry and homeless. Mayor Harper is hurt in … Continue reading →

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Radio station cancels ads as Christmas present to listeners, Dodgers and Phillies swap players, December 24, 1958

Posted on December 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

As a Christmas gift to its viewers, radio station KPOL is going without ads for 48 hours … and watch for Santa Claus played by Peter Lorre (with Milton Berle) and Buster Keaton ("The Donna Reed Show")! The plot of … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Dodgers, Front Pages, Religion, Television | Comments Off on Radio station cancels ads as Christmas present to listeners, Dodgers and Phillies swap players, December 24, 1958

December 23, 1968: N. Korea frees crew of U.S. spy ship Pueblo

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Pueblo’s Bittersweet Tribute For Pete Bucher, captain of the spy ship, the years haven’t erased the pain of his captivity–or his homecoming. Even medals and a ceremony did not come without a fight. Saturday May 5, 1990 By RICHARD E. … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Current Affairs, Front Pages, Politics | 1 Comment

Kidnapping victim meets reporters, December 23, 1968

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

    November 19, 1985 Kidnapper Who Used ‘Grave’ Accepted at Medical School ‘There are some people who have faith in me.’ Associated Press ATLANTA — The man convicted of abducting Barbara Jane Mackle and placing her in a "living … Continue reading →

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Geronimo Pratt case 40 years later

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Elmer Gerard  "Geronimo" Pratt in 2000, after his release from prison. 'Lie down and pray' Gunshots on a Santa Monica tennis court reverberated across legal landscape. Note: Edward J. Boyer, now retired, covered the Elmer … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 11 Comments

Body found in shallow grave; Rams take off-season jobs, December 22, 1958

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

I thought I had encountered just about every kind of bizarre Southern California crime imaginable, but the Elizabeth Ann Duncan case is staggering–lrh. Mother leaves three children outside orphanage.  Teenage robbers shoot barber The Rams’ season was over, so it … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Front Pages, Homicide, Sports | Comments Off on Body found in shallow grave; Rams take off-season jobs, December 22, 1958

December 22, 1938: Jealous husband kills wife with ax

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Testimony in the murder trial was so graphic that spectators became ill and fled the courtroom, The Times said.

Posted in #courts, 1938, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Hanukkah 1980: Man recovers 400-year-old menorah from dump

Posted on December 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Goldberg family of Cheviot Hills usually kept their 400-year-old menorah in a bank vault, but Ellen Goldberg decided to show the family heirloom to a religion class she taught at Wilshire Boulevard Temple. She brought it home and left … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Religion | Comments Off on Hanukkah 1980: Man recovers 400-year-old menorah from dump

Kidnapped girl found buried in box, Alcindor sets UCLA record, December 21, 1968

Posted on December 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, an update on the Barbara Jean Marckle kidnapping. For some reason, The Times front page didn’t get microfilmed. All we have is the runover.   Lew Alcindor reached into the UCLA record books to become the school’s top all-time … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, broadcasting, Front Pages, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

Robbers shoot couple on Santa Monica tennis court, Bills seek new coach, December 19, 1968

Posted on December 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

My heart skipped a beat when I pulled up this page. Of course, this is the beginning of the Geronimo Pratt case. Note the Ted Thackery Jr. byline. — lrh   The Buffalo Bills had big plans in 1968. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off on Robbers shoot couple on Santa Monica tennis court, Bills seek new coach, December 19, 1968

Dwyane Hickman to star in ‘Dobie Gillis,’ Dodger Pee Wee Reese retires, December 19, 1958

Posted on December 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

Hedda Hopper announces that Dwyane Hickman is leaving the "Bob Cummings Show" to star in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," one of the biggest hits of the 1950s and early ’60s. At left, a clip of Hickman with Bob … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, broadcasting, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Television | Comments Off on Dwyane Hickman to star in ‘Dobie Gillis,’ Dodger Pee Wee Reese retires, December 19, 1958

Bachelor farmer leaves fortune to waitress, Dodger official trades son to Royals, December 18, 1968

Posted on December 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Here’s the Los Angeles Times in its glory days: Chuck Hillinger on the cover and a Jim Murray column in sports. And it’s a perfect Hillinger story: A recluse farmer leaves most of his fortune to a former actress whom … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Charles Hillinger, Dodgers, Front Pages | 3 Comments

More blacks enroll in college, Colts win over Rams, December 16, 1968

Posted on December 16, 2008 by lmharnisch

U.S. Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford tells the North and South Vietnamese to stop squabbling over seating arrangements at the Paris peace talks. Above, a video on the Black Student Union at the University of Washington. The Times sends education … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Current Affairs, Education, Front Pages, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

UCLA student stars in Egyptian films, Rams win over Packers, December 15, 1958

Posted on December 15, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, The Times’ Philip K. Scheuer interviews Egyptian film star Lobna Abdel Aziz, who attended UCLA in 1954 as an exchange student. She says she appeared in two plays while attending classes in Los Angeles. The Rams ended their season … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports, Stage | 2 Comments

December 14, 1908: Mahler’s farewell concert with the New York Philharmonic

Posted on December 14, 2008 by lmharnisch

I stumbled across–guess what–a daily history blog at the New York Times, headed by William S. Niederkorn. Here’s the New York Times’ review of “Mr. Mahler’s Last Concert.” But wait, what’s this? Overemphasis of the brass? (gasp) … Untunefulness in … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, classical music, Front Pages, Music | 1 Comment

U.S. indicts George Burns, Jack Benny, December 14, 1938

Posted on December 14, 2008 by lmharnisch
Posted in #courts, broadcasting, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Stage | 3 Comments

Black students riot at high school, Laker peace conference, December 13, 1968

Posted on December 13, 2008 by lmharnisch

Actress Tallulah Bankhead dies at the age of 65 … or 67. Nothing new about a coach clashing with his star player. Nothing new for such controversies to involve the Lakers. But this wasn’t Phil against Shaq or Kobe. It … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Current Affairs, Front Pages, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

December 13, 1953: Father charged with leaving son, 4, in car parked on skid row

Posted on December 13, 2008 by lmharnisch

This is one of those haunting stories from The Times. I wonder what happened to Kenny Ross and whether he ever became a writer.

Posted in #courts, 1953, Front Pages, LAPD | 1 Comment