Category Archives: Hollywood

An EBay Mystery – Earl Carroll’s Inner Circle

One of the more intriguing mysteries I’ve come across in years of delving through EBay surfaced the other day, but the auction ended before I could write about it (so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch). The item was a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

UCLA Provost Calls for a Return to Basics in Education

Feb. 25, 1942: UCLA Provost Earle Hedrick (d. 1943) describes the prevailing disdain for the “three Rs” as “the Pearl Harbor” of American education. Charging that American education is ruled by an elite clique, Hedrick says: “I propose that we … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Education, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 4

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. Yesterday, in Part 3, I was exploring the history of Hollywood … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transportation | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Random Shot: N.Y. = L.A.

Look what I found last night outside the Last Book Store at 5th and Spring.

Posted in Books and Authors, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 3

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. You want to know about all the hot gossip in this … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 2

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. Pages XI to X of “Full Service” set the scene on … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Libraries | Tagged , | 24 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 1

“Full Service,” by Scotty Bowers with Lionel Friedberg. One of the guiding principles at the Los Angeles Daily Mirror is that history is not the exclusive domain of straight, white, Protestant males. As long as I have been blogging about … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Libraries | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++]

And this movie would be?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , | 49 Comments

GIs Want More Form in Women’s Uniforms — Olive Drab Too Drab!

Feb. 18, 1942: Pvt. Fred A. Ranker of the 3rd Coast Artillery begins a campaign against what he considers women’s unflattering uniforms. On his first pass since Pearl Harbor, Ranker dashed to Hollywood Boulevard. “Instead of the usual beauty parade, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Fashion, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Architectural Mystery — Solved

The Brain Trust has solved the mystery of the department store used in “The Public Enemy.” Thanks to Craig Deco, Lee Rivas and Nathan Marask! Here are our young ruffians (Frank Coghlan Jr. and Frankie Darro) sliding down the escalator … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Interior Design, Location Sleuth | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Bowling for Victory! Keglers vs. the Axis!

Feb. 16, 1942: America’s 16 million bowlers are being asked to help promote physical fitness and mental alertness for the nation’s fighting men in their war against the Axis, and to provide relaxation for defense workers!  No effort will be … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Sports, World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on Bowling for Victory! Keglers vs. the Axis!

Movieland Mystery Photo – Architecture Edition

The more intriguing mystery of “The Public Enemy” is the department store used in the early part of the film. Recall that our young ruffians run through an unidentified department store, committing all sorts of mischief and aggravated mopery. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

Lawmakers Urge Roosevelt to Order Immediate Evacuation of All Japanese

Feb. 14, 1942:  West Coast legislators abandon plans to register “enemy aliens,” a process that would allow them to remain in defense zones. Instead, the congressmen ask President Roosevelt to order the “immediate evacuation” of “all persons of Japanese lineage.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Lawmakers Urge Roosevelt to Order Immediate Evacuation of All Japanese

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

And for Monday, we have another photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged | 14 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Photo: A coffin snuff box listed on EBay at $2,200. Queen of the Dead – dateline February 13, 2012 •  It is dangerous to call someone “the last living” whatever, as you will invariably be proved wrong. So I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, World War I | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition II [Updated]

Here’s two young mystery lads in newsboy caps. And the movie would be? How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat –  ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition How … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , | 17 Comments

‘Hellzapoppin’ " Opens in Los Angeles

Feb. 10, 1942:  The Hawaii Theater at Hollywood and Gower becomes a first-run theater (adios, Charles Foster Kane) with “Hellzapoppin.’ ” The “Congaroos” are “colored performers” who do “snappy dances.” “Stand-ins of the Hollywood stars” sounds like a gag, but … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, Theaters, World War II | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

February 9, 1915: Over Protests of Racism, ‘The Clansman’ Opens in Los Angeles

February 9, 1915: The Los Angeles premiere of D.W. Griffith’s “The Clansman” (later retitled “The Birth of a Nation”) provokes protests and an attempt to prevent Clune’s Auditorium from showing the film, which was based on Thomas Dixon’s “The Clansman.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Theaters | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

U.S. Moves to ‘War Time’

Feb. 9, 1942: It’s a sad day at the Daily Mirror HQ. No more Jimmie Fidler. The U.S. moves to Daylight Saving Time “for the duration,” which will last until six months “after the day America wins the war,” The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Religion, World War II | Tagged | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

And this movie would be?  I know, too easy, right?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments