Category Archives: Hollywood

Writer arrested for threatening wife with butcher knife, November 21 1958

          "Suddenly it seemed the whole panorama of his life was a race and he was running last…. There was something in him that had to come out. He had to find a way to get … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, books, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Coming attractions — Maltese Falcon

"The Maltese Falcon" will be shown at the Warner Grand in San Pedro at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008. Tickets are free for L.A. Conservancy members–while supplies last. If you’re a member of the Los Angeles Conservancy, RSVP to … Continue reading

Posted in Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Found on EBay — Vintage film poster

At left, a poster from the 1912 Selig film "The Peculiar Nature of the White Man’s Burden" is on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.95 or buy it now for $150.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Vintage film poster

Rams tie San Francisco, November 18, 1968

The Rams escaped from San Francisco with a 20-20 tie and quarterback Roman Gabriel realized it could have been a lot worse. Gabriel waved off the Rams’ field goal unit for one more chance to score a touchdown that would … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 5 Comments

November 18, 1958: Mickey Cohen pal back from the dead

Here’s an amusing little wrap-up of crime news: Mickey Cohen’s pal comes back from the dead and a minor actress figures in a major trial about drunk driving. It never ceases to amaze me how much publicity celebrities were willing … Continue reading

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Police chief quits; Nazi fears drive Jews to suicide, November 17, 1938

Voice of executed man speaks from Tijuana grave. At left, the current film "The Citadel," with Rosalind Russell and Robert Donat. Police Chief James Davis, who figured in the Gordon Northcott "Changeling" case, says he’s stepping down to protect his … Continue reading

Posted in Changeling, City Hall, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off on Police chief quits; Nazi fears drive Jews to suicide, November 17, 1938

I Want to Live — The Barbara Graham murder case, November 16, 1958

Above: Barbara Graham, one of four women to be executed in California, along with Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli, Louise Peete and Elizabeth Duncan. The trailer–dig those bongos! Gerry Mulligan! Five years after the execution of Barbara Graham in the Mabel … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, San Fernando Valley | 10 Comments

DVD revival — Buster Keaton’s The General

I am unfamiliar with the reviews of Katherine Lipke, a movie critic for The Times from 1922 to 1927. (She also wrote a novel published in 1932, "Rain on the Roof"). Given her tepid review of Buster Keaton’s "The General," … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Film tells story of 1920s Jewish athletes

Photographs from Laemmle/Zeller Films A Jewish basketball team from 1921-22. ‘First Basket’ honors Jewish athletes Film documents the early days of organized basketball. By Gary Goldstein November 9, 2008 Inky Lautman of he Philadelphia SPHAS, about 1939-40. Did you hear … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Religion | 2 Comments

Movie star mystery photo

Our mystery guest has nearly 50 credits on imdb.  Update: Yes, she’s Jean Porter … "she has just completed ‘Abbott and Costello in Hollywood’ and ‘Early to Wed,’ " according to the caption information on the back of the photo. … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 24 Comments

Lasorda’s Dodger forecast, November 13, 1968

Above, "Therese and Isabelle," 1968. "Reminds us anew that there’s nothing quite so puritanical as a dirty picture."— Kevin Thomas Some clips on YouTube for the curious.,,, Part of the pleasure in plowing through old sports stories is reading about … Continue reading

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Columnists, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 1 Comment

Voices — Jay Fiondella

Above, Jay Fiondella sets off to look for World War II planes that crashed in Greenland. "My Holy Grail." "Adventure is out there."

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Obituaries, Television | Comments Off on Voices — Jay Fiondella

Rams win against Falcons, November 11, 1968

"Oh! What a Lovely War," 1969 The 1968 Rams weren’t known for their offense and things hit a low point at Atlanta. But the Rams had enough defense to edge the Falcons, 17-10. It just wasn’t pretty. Jack Pardee returned … Continue reading

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Changeling — Finding Christine Collins

Christine Collins’ residences, as shown on Google Earth. Christine Collins’ addresses in Google maps Dick Morris, a regular Daily Mirror reader, is a skilled researcher and passed along some material on Christine I. Collins. It fills in a few details … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 42 Comments

Hitler speech blames Jews, November 9, 1938

"Grand Illusion" is "a work of haunting simplicity." The Nazis take revenge against German Jews after the shooting of Ernst von Rath. "I regret my action but I obeyed a will stronger than myself. I did it because I loved … Continue reading

Posted in @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Religion, Sports | 2 Comments

November 8, 1938: Polish Jew shoots Nazi envoy

In Paris, Herschel Grynszpan, identified as a 17-year-old Polish Jew, shoots the third secretary of the German Embassy, Ernst von Rath.

Posted in City Hall, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on November 8, 1938: Polish Jew shoots Nazi envoy

L.A. kidnappings, June 17, 1934

The Times publishes a stern warning to racketeers that kidnapping doesn’t pay, but about the only gangland figure it mentions is Les Bruneman. The story touches on the Gordon Northcott (notice that we call him Gordon Northrop) and William Edward … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, @news, Changeling, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on L.A. kidnappings, June 17, 1934

Black Dahlia

Steve Hodel’s "Black Dahlia Avenger," inscribed to James Ellroy, as listed on EBay for $19.99, in 2006. Steve Hodel is bringing his "Black Dahlia Avenger" presentation to the South Pasadena Public Library at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, books, City Hall, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | 3 Comments

Movie mystery photo

Our Oscar-winning mystery guest has more than 150 credits on IMDb. Yes, as nearly everyone guessed, this is Michael Curtiz. Los Angeles Times file photo Several people have guessed correctly: Rance Ryan, Rotter, Richard Heft, Dewey Webb, Paul Cardinal and … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 7 Comments

Famous Monsters of Filmland

Photograph by Jack Carrick / Los Angeles Times Forrest J. Ackerman, 1969 Geoff Boucher writes: This is the 50th anniversary of the founding of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" by Forrest J. Ackerman, a man who almost single-handedly shaped the very … Continue reading

Posted in art and artists, books, Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments