Category Archives: Hollywood

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 →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on Rams win against Falcons, November 11, 1968

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

Changeling — Part X

Los Angeles Times file photo Gordon Northcott ignores his attorneys and argues with the judge, Dec. 5, 1928. Oct. 17, 1928: The Police Commission decides not to punish Capt. J.J. Jones for putting Christine Collins in a mental ward. The … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | 50 Comments

Changeling — Part IX

Los Angeles Times file photo Gordon Northcott On the eve of Gordon Northcott’s sentencing, a mob goes to the jail where he is being held. One of the leaders is N.H. Winslow, the father of two of Northcott’s victims, Lewis … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Changeling — Part IX

Changeling — Part VIII

Los Angeles Times file photo Gordon Northcott: "Youth Convicted as Boy-Butcher." Los Angeles Times file photo "I killed Alvin Gothea on the ranch…" Gordon Northcott is convicted and sentenced to death. There were appeals but he was hanged at San … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on Changeling — Part VIII

Billy Wilder on ‘Some Like It Hot’; Dodger stars pay a visit, November 4, 1958

Billy Wilder discusses the strengths of typecasting in "Some Like It Hot," a movie that was filmed in 1958. Movie note: Ernest Hemingway makes a cameo appearance in "The Old Man and the Sea." Add this story to the list … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | Comments Off on Billy Wilder on ‘Some Like It Hot’; Dodger stars pay a visit, November 4, 1958

Changeling –Part VII

                                     Los Angeles Times file photo From left, prosecutor Earl (sometimes spelled Earle) Redwine, Loyal Kelley, A.H. de Tremaudan (sometimes spelled Tremandon), J. McKinley Cameron, David Sokol, Gordon … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Changeling, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Changeling — Part VI

Los Angeles Times file photo In going through the photographs from the Gordon Northcott case, I’m struck by how different Northcott looks from one image to another. Sometimes he appears  thoughtful, even bookish. In others, he looks quite demonic. In … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Changeling, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | 4 Comments