Category Archives: Front Pages

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

Vandals paint swastika on Hollywood synagogue, December 12, 1938

Posted on December 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

Vandals paint a swastika on Temple Beth El, 1508 N. Wilton. Nazi police censor sermons of Vienna’s Catholic priests. The former temple photographed by Nathan Marsak, who wrote a wonderful post on the 1947 project. Today’s edition of The Times … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Religion, Sports | Comments Off on Vandals paint swastika on Hollywood synagogue, December 12, 1938

December 11, 1938: Breakfast of death; voodoo cult killings

Posted on December 11, 2008 by lmharnisch

December 10, 1938: I defy anyone to insist that the past was “a kinder, simpler time” after reading this page. But don’t take my word for it — see for yourself.

Posted in #courts, 1938, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on December 11, 1938: Breakfast of death; voodoo cult killings

Cult members describe bombing, December 11, 1958

Posted on December 11, 2008 by lmharnisch

"Venta will return and be resurrected." Known as "the barefoot people." Above, followers of Krishna Venta describe life at the Fountain of the World religious compound and the bombing that killed 10 people. "A tower of blue and white flame … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Religion, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Comments Off on Cult members describe bombing, December 11, 1958

Dodgers’ move pays off at the gate, December 10, 1958

Posted on December 10, 2008 by lmharnisch

Wow! Luger cuff links and matching tie clip. I mean … wow!–lrh At left, a pair from an old EBay auction. I’ll see if any more turn up. Just for the heck of it. The Dodgers’ move to Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Fashion, Front Pages, Sports | Comments Off on Dodgers’ move pays off at the gate, December 10, 1958

Cult leader killed in bombing of religious compound, December 10, 1958

Posted on December 10, 2008 by lmharnisch

American history presented as a lavish pageant, the only film directed by Anthony Quinn, who took over from the ailing  Cecil B. DeMille. With a great score by Elmer Bernstein. An ad published in The Times shortly before the explosion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, Religion, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | 2 Comments

Arsonists set fire to university offices, Colts win over Rams, December 9, 1968

Posted on December 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

  The Rams were supposed to beat the Chicago Bears and then face the Baltimore Colts to determine the division championship. But a series of mistakes — and the Bears — got in the way as the Rams lost, 17-16. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Education, Front Pages, Politics, San Fernando Valley, Sports | 2 Comments

Mayor refuses to give Senate committee secret files on LAPD funds, December 9, 1938

Posted on December 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles sizzles at 92 degrees and thousands of beach-goers went into the ocean, even though it was 64 degrees. The Soviet weather bureau says the North Pole has been warming up for the last 10 years. Octopus saves student … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

Senator, 66, to marry beauty queen, 22; baseball commissioner fired, December 8, 1968

Posted on December 8, 2008 by lmharnisch

Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.) plans to marry Miss South Carolina, 1965, Nancy Moore. The Times ran a United Press International story predicting big changes for baseball in the wake of owners firing the commissioner, William D. Eckert. Possibilities included: — … Continue reading →

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