Category Archives: Hollywood

Advice for Aspiring Screenwriters

“How to Write Photo-Plays” by Clarence J. Caine has been listed on EBay and describes the art of writing silent films as it was in 1915. (Hint: Do not make your scenarios too realistic. ) The book also includes a … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Libraries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Clover Club

Mary Mallory points out that this matchbook from the Clover Club has been listed on EBay. If you hunt around, you can also find collectors who have chips from the casino. Bidding on this matchbook starts at $4.99.

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Clover Club

Buddy Rogers Denies Rift With Mary Pickford

Oct. 12, 1941: Tom Treanor writes about the era when mourners could board a special funeral car that also carried the casket to the cemetery. C.V. Means, general traffic agent of the Los Angeles Railway, says that anyone can still … Continue reading

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Stage, Streetcars, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 11

Image: Harry Arnheim of the Hollywood Tropics, 1525 N. Vine St., protests being placed off-limits by the Navy. Credit: National Archives at Riverside. To recap briefly, I have been digging into the historical basis of the movie “Zoot Suit,” which … Continue reading

Posted in 1942, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, Food and Drink, History, Hollywood, Stage, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Coming Attractions: ‘Spencer Tracy: A Biography’

The Daily Mirror HQ just acquired “Spencer Tracy: A Biography,” by James Curtis, who recently shared his Dick Lane interview in L.A. Voices. The book isn’t officially out yet, but James did a prerelease book signing last week in conjunction … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Selig-Polyscope Projector

This early Selig-Polyscope 35-millimeter movie projector has been listed on EBay. Imagine cranking an early – flammable nitrate – film through this apparatus. It’s no wonder that early projection booths were encased in steel in the event of a fire. … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++++]

[Update: This is Martha Sleeper (d. 1983)] Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Photo: Rolls-Royce hearse at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com Queen of the Dead—dateline October 10, 2011  •  Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans were saddened to learn this week of the death on May 25 of musical-comedy starlet Betty Luster, … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Coming Attractions: This Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

On Monday, Eve Golden has a roundup of unusual obituaries in Queen of the Dead, and in Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory takes a look at the Clover Club, a 1930s casino on Sunset Boulevard. On Tuesday, there’s another installment of … Continue reading

Posted in 1931, 1942, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, LAPD, Latinos, Libraries, Mary Mallory, Queen of the Dead, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: This Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

[Update: This is Karin Booth (d. 2003)] Here’s our mystery gal, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Julian Eltinge

This rather bedraggled postcard of Julian Eltinge in “The Fascinating Widow” has been listed on EBay. Hm. Eltinge Cold Cream is a new one on me. Eltinge was one of the most famous female impersonators of his day and built … Continue reading

Posted in Found on EBay, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Stage | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

[Update: This is Dorothy Jordan (d. 1988). Please congratulate Mike Hawks, Mary Mallory, Bob Hansen and Don Danard for identifying her! ] Here’s today’s mystery photo – courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Woman Jailed for Driving Too Slowly

Oct. 7, 1941: You’re probably wondering how fast Blanche Roberts was driving. The story doesn’t say anything more specific than “an exceedingly low rate of speed” on the Calabasas Grade. Apparently no one thought to query the reporter — the … Continue reading

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Woman Jailed for Driving Too Slowly

Daily Mirror Lunch – Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Photo: Kisses on the tomb of Valentino. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com The Daily Mirror lunch at Astro Burger and tour of Hollywood Forever Cemetery was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Our distinguished guide, Karie Bible, showed us around … Continue reading

Posted in Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++]

[Update: As most people realized, this is Bruce Cabot. He’s with co-star Helen Mowery in the 1946 film “Avalanche.”] Here’s a mystery couple, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Photo: 1/43 model Studebaker hearse for sale on EBay. It’s listed as Buy It Now for $49.99. Queen of the Dead – dateline October 3, 2011 •  One way I knew I had become my mother was when I started … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Errol Flynn: ‘Everything Went Black’ in Mocambo Brawl

Oct. 1, 1941: Errol Flynn promises he won’t punch Hollywood columnist Jimmie Fidler anymore. The actor invoked the famous “everything went black” defense for the melee at the Mocambo, in which Fidler’s wife stabbed him with a fork.

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Judge Urges U.S. to Deport Union Leader Harry Bridges

  Sept. 30, 1941: A judge recommends the deportation of Harry Bridges, head of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union, a decision that was cheered by The Times. Of course, Bridges was never deported, despite a prolonged campaign to send … Continue reading

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Obituaries, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 10

Image: Racial incidents between servicemen and African Americans in San Diego.   Credit: The National Archives at Riverside. To recap briefly, I have been digging into the historical basis of the movie “Zoot Suit,” which I saw this summer in the … Continue reading

Posted in 1942, 1943, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Libraries, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 10

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +++]

[Update: This is Molly O’Day! L.A. Times obituary | ] Here’s another mystery gal! There’s another photo on the jump!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments