Category Archives: Hollywood

Brenda Allen

    Photograph by Al Humphreys / Los Angeles Times Someone asked: Who was Brenda Allen? I imagine you’ve read something about her or more likely you have at least heard of her. This is Brenda (she also used the … Continue reading

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Santa Claus Lane

Nov. 19, 1957Los Angeles Hollywood Boulevard gets ready for Christmas.   I’ll see if I can find a better photo of this in the archives. Meanwhile, here’s a 1946 postcard that shows the electric Christmas trees, courtesy of Nathan Marsak … Continue reading

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Ed Gein arrested

Nov. 18, 1957 Plainfield, Wis. “It appears to be cannibalism.” What more does anyone need to say? (Notice that The Times did not put this on Page 1).  

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Location sleuth

Twentieth Century Fox goes to Main Street, Los Angeles. The work of cinematographer Joseph MacDonald: I had an opportunity to tour the Regent, 448 S. Main St. (yes, it’s still standing) during the Los Angeles Conservancy’s recent Mainly Main tour. … Continue reading

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Actress seeks divorce

  Nov. 6, 1957 Los Angeles A dissolute, self-centered millionaire playboy with two marriages under his belt meets a gorgeous starlet on the rebound from her second marriage and the outcome should be obvious to everyone. But it wasn’t. Frederick … Continue reading

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Elvis live!

  Oct. 29, 1957 Los Angeles He came out of nowhere, barely a blip on the nation’s radar in 1955 (according to Proquest, he wasn’t mentioned even once in The Times that year). But by 1957, he was an unstoppable … Continue reading

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Blue movies

Oct. 24, 1957Los Angeles The wages of sin was a hilltop mansion in Bel-Air for Donald De Munck, who according to The Times provided his home at 10689 Somma Way as a location to shoot stag films.* The Times account … Continue reading

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Meet my boss, Walter Lantz

  Oct. 18, 1957BY HAL MORRIS Mirror-News Staff Writer There may be no production of cartoon shorts for theaters within five years, warns Walter Lantz, veteran cartoonist-producer. The creator of Woody Woodpecker blames the possible end of a theater cartoon … Continue reading

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Rock Hudson’s wedding album

I went down to The Times’ archives and pulled Rock Hudson‘s wedding pictures because I’m the kind of person who would want to see Rock Hudson’s wedding pictures. Please note: All captions are from original information provided when the photos … Continue reading

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October 19, 1957: Matt Weinstock

October 19, 1957 Edwin Anthony Browne, playboy newspaperman of another day, is revisiting L.A. after 20 years and he is aghast. Perhaps aghast is too strong a word. Let’s say amused or mildly interested. Brownie, an innocent-looking cherub but a … Continue reading

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Drug bust

Oct. 19, 1957 Los Angeles Perhaps you remember publicist Desmond Slattery from Paul Coates’ Aug. 22, 1957, column. In brief, he was selling crickets as pets. This time, however, his problem is roaches–or rather, a roach. Slattery and his roommate, … Continue reading

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Marie Wilson update

I went into the archives last night and pulled the photos of Marie Wilson and her family. Photograph by Don Cormer / Los Angeles TimesMarie Wilson and her son, Greg. Los Angeles Times photoMarie Wilson with Greg and Christine, Oct. … Continue reading

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Change of Heart

Oct. 16-22, 1957 Los Angeles Somewhere, perhaps in Los Angeles, is a woman who celebrated her 50th birthday on June 25, 1957, and may have no idea of the legal battle that was fought over her when she was 3 … Continue reading

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Brando marries

Oct. 12, 1957

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Location sleuth

Another shot from "Act of Violence," showing downtown Los Angeles.  

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As crazy as two waltzing mice

  Oct. 9, 1957 Ventura, Calif. Renzee Louis Alameda, 36, was the quietest man on the block. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound ex-Marine, a USC graduate, was unmarried and had lived alone at 2412 Ridgeley Drive for the last 10 years. He … Continue reading

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Location sleuth

Here’s The Times Building as seen in "Act of Violence," 1948   Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times, Oct. 6, 2007 Trees and buildings prevented me from precisely re-creating this shot. The camera was north of where I was standing … Continue reading

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Buster Keaton add 1

Oct. 6, 1957Los Angeles Add this to your trivia file on Keaton. There’s no further word in The Times on Alum Jones. I’d love to know what the rest of his life was like.  

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Location sleuth

Note the neon sign for the Westlake Theatre.   Email me

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Location sleuth

The Times Building in "Act of Violence," 1948, pointed out by  my colleague, Steve Hensch.  

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