Category Archives: Hollywood

Found on EBay – Marya Marco

A movie still showing Marya Marco has been listed on EBay. Who is Marya Marco, you ask? She’s one of the women misidentified as Elizabeth Short in Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger.” Bidding starts at $9.99. ALSO “Black Dahlia Avenger” … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

       Dec. 6, 1960: Paul Coates writes about a Soviet woman he calls Tanya and describes the hardships of her daily life. It’s marriage for Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe in Maurice Zolotow’s “The Real Marilyn Monroe.”

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 6, 1940

           Dec. 6, 1940: Latest candidate for the plum lead in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is Ingrid Bergman, who'll get it if boss David O. Selznick says yes, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

         Los Angeles Times file photo    Dec. 17, 1935: The finding by autopsy surgeons last night of evidence that monoxide gas poisoning caused the death of Thelma Todd, blonde motion picture actress whose body was found … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

      Los Angeles Times file photo       Update: Our mystery guest in this photo, published in The Times on Oct. 30, 1927, is former mystery guest Josephine Dunn. Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying her! I … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 4 Comments

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

       Dec. 6, 1930:  Fascists in Berlin protest a showing of the German version of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” “Fascists, who were planted in the audience, shouted, ‘Out Jews!’ hurled stench bombs and set white mice … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

From the Vaults: ‘Pillow Talk’ (1959)

"I love you." "I know." You know what movie that's from, right? WRONG! Years before Han Solo (and hey, RIP Irvin Kershner), his possibly-most-famous line gets drawled by Rock Hudson, playing a womanizing songwriter in "Pillow Talk." Hudson tosses it … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

      Los Angeles Times file photo         Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: Yes, this is Thelma Todd, above, in “Follow Through.” I’m a bit pressed for time this morning so I’ll be back … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 33 Comments

Santa Monica Man Admits Strangling Waitress

       Dec. 3, 1960: Gerald "Frenchy" Fernandez admits strangling Susan Kilgore, whose body was found outside the Wind and Sea Tavern, 101 Broadway, Santa Monica. Her clothing was "disarranged" and Fernandez says he killed her when she "resisted … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on Santa Monica Man Admits Strangling Waitress

On the Trail of the Keystone Kops

            Oct. 25, 1915: Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle … and Mayor Sebastian? The ad for the costume ball is the earliest reference to the “Keystone Kops” that I can find in The Times. However, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Stage | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 2, 1960

    Dec. 2, 1960: For a second time, Matt Weinstock debunks the notion that the tear-off strips on cellophane cigarette packs should be saved as a way to raise money.  Urban myths are hard to kill, he discovers. Also … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 2, 1940

           RKO's new importation, Signe Hasso, almost severed a finger peeling a potato; it's sewed in place and doctors say she won't lose it, Jimmie Fidler says.  ALSO Signe Hasso on the Daily Mirror

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 2, 1940

Christina Makes Peace With Joan Crawford, Dec. 1, 1960

             Dec. 1, 1960: Eastside Beer is $1.09 a six-pack or $7.81 USD 2009. On the jump, Joan Crawford’s daughter Christina tells Lee Belser: "At long last Mummy and I seem to be feeling a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 1, 1941

        Dec. 1, 1941: Tom Treanor visits the cavalry troops at Camp Seeley and mentions the remarkable lack of interest in the war. All the men talk about is their horses and maybe the M-1 Garand. Pat … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 1, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo – Update 2

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Here’s another mystery photo I found in Mack Sennett’s file.  Update: Alas, these young women aren’t identified on the back of the photo. It was supposedly published in The Times on … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 11 Comments

What to See in L.A., 1924

      I don’t post much on the 1920s (so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch) but I stumbled across this feature page when looking for something else and found several interesting pieces. The first is a long interview … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on What to See in L.A., 1924

Paul Coates on Adolf Eichmann, Nov. 30, 1960

         Nov. 3,  1960: Israel's Atty. Gen. Gideon Hausner tells Paul Coates: "Revenge is not the motive of this trial. What we want to do is, once and for all, set before the world the fully documented … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 30. 1940

           Nov.  30, 1940: I watched Olivia de Havilland select a swank pair of earrings which, she confided, were destined for sister Joan Fontaine's Christmas tree. The purchase completed, the clerk asked: "Anything else, Miss de … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 30. 1940

Movieland Mystery Photo – Update 2

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Mack Sennett was this week’s mystery guest. I found this picture in his file and thought it would make a nice mystery photo. Update: Harry “Kid” McCoy, center, is the only … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 10 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 29, 1960

    Nov. 29, 1960:  Matt Weinstock has the story of a group of people who were discussing current films (one of them had seen a preview of “Exodus”) and another said he hadn’t been to a movie since “Wings.” … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Nov. 29, 1960