Category Archives: Jack Smith

November 27, 1964: Secretary Found Stabbed to Death in the ‘Thanksgiving’ Murder

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1964: Joyce Walker is found stabbed 50 times on Thanksgiving Day, apparently raped and killed by a man who helped her after her car became disabled on the way home from a party. Two Manhattan police officers offered assistance but Walker and the suspect said everything was fine. Continue reading →

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What’s Troubling Today’s Young Women, Part 2

Posted on March 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

           March 27, 1961: Parts of this series on young women are patronizing and naive, and perhaps reflect the first tremors of what was called the Generation Gap. Some of the attitudes about college being a … Continue reading →

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Santa Claus Is No Ordinary Man!

Posted on December 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 23, 1960: Take that, Sluggo, you gender-stereotyping clod! On the jump, a “legless World War II veteran” is charged with having 250 reels of stag films…. Jack Smith goes Christmas shopping and finds his fellow human beings … Continue reading →

Posted in #games, 1947, 1957, 1960, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Jack Smith, LAPD, Religion | 1 Comment

Voices — ‘Howlin Mad’ Smith

Posted on March 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 21, 1960: Jack Smith profiles retired Gen. Holland Smith, who died in 1967 at the age of 84. 

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November 27, 1964: Secretary Found Stabbed to Death in the ‘Thanksgiving’ Murder

Posted on November 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1964: The death of Joyce Gayle Walker is one of the more haunting killings of the 1960s. I’m not sure it was ever solved. I can’t find any follow-up stories on it.

Posted in 1964, Front Pages, Homicide, Jack Smith | 1 Comment

Plane Crash Kills 42

Posted on November 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 17, 1959: Investigators speculate on whether a bomb exploded on a National Airlines DC-7B that crashed in the Gulf of Mexico, killing 42 people. Ultimately, no cause was ever determined. … And  Gene Sherman reports on border drug traffic. … Continue reading →

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Teen Hoped to Bear Errol Flynn’s Child

Posted on October 28, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo Errol Flynn and Beverly Aadland in a photo published Oct. 15, 1959. Oct. 28, 1959: Jack Smith interviews Errol Flynn’s teenage girlfriend Beverly Aadland (whom Smith describes as the actor’s “last playmate”)  and her attorney … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Obituaries | 1 Comment

The Tax Man Comes for Mickey Cohen; Covering the Mets

Posted on September 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1969: A typical screamer headline we put on the late final edition, which was for street sales. The front page of the home delivery edition didn't look like this. The National Commission on the Causes and Prevention of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Education, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Mickey Cohen, Sports | 1 Comment

Second Takes — Samuel Goldwyn

Posted on June 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 17, 1959: Jack Smith's series on Samuel Goldwyn continues. "[Robert] Sherwood and I were watching the first cut of the picture," Goldwyn says of "The Best Years of Our Lives." "It was very rough. Sherwood turned to me and … Continue reading →

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Second Takes — Samuel Goldwyn

Posted on June 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Part 3 of Jack Smith's series on Samuel Goldwyn. Goldwyn describes discovering Vilma Banky — and making her into a star of silent films. He also spent a fortune on her marriage to Rod La Rocque.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Second Takes | 1 Comment

Second Takes — Samuel Goldwyn

Posted on June 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Times' Jack Smith continues his series on Samuel Goldwyn. "When I arrived in New York I was absolutely alone, with no friend or relative to greet me," Goldwyn says.

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Nixon Urges Whittier Grads to Avoid Prejudice — and He Likes the Dodgers

Posted on June 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Gus Arriola is one of my favorite comic strip artists. His drawings are so clean and he's a marvelous draftsman. Vice President Richard Nixon and his family visit Disneyland and stay at the Disneyland Hotel. He also says he shaves … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, art and artists, Comics, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off on Nixon Urges Whittier Grads to Avoid Prejudice — and He Likes the Dodgers

Top Comedian Goes Crazy in San Francisco! May 14, 1959

Posted on May 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Winters later used his hospitalization in some of his routines. The Arechiga family, featured in the news because members were forcibly removed from two homes in Chavez Ravine, own 11 homes, The Times says. Mayor Norris Poulson angrily says: "The … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, City Hall, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Politics, Sports | 2 Comments

North Korea Shoots Down Navy Plane; Dodgers Beat Padres, 14-0, April 16, 1969

Posted on April 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Jack Smith on God and Mr. Gomez. N. Korea a test for President Nixon.  Art Seidenbaum on talk radio.  Kevin Thomas on "Twisted Nerve." 1960s art influences the comics. The Dodgers moved home plate 10 feet closer to center field … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, broadcasting, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jack Smith, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on North Korea Shoots Down Navy Plane; Dodgers Beat Padres, 14-0, April 16, 1969

Trouble Was His Business — Raymond Chandler

Posted on March 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

 

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Yma Sumac, April 24, 1957

Posted on November 6, 2008 by lmharnisch

Former Los Angeles Police Detective Fred Otash gets some rough treatment during a brawl at Yma Sumac’s home in 1957. By Jack Smith Singer Yma Sumac’s home yesterday was the scene of the champion brawl in Hollywood’s history–featuring the Peruvian … Continue reading →

Posted in Jack Smith, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Jack Smith, October 21, 1958

Posted on October 21, 2008 by lmharnisch
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May 20, 1958

Posted on May 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Ed Gamer / Los Angeles Times Times columnist Jack Smith pays a farewell visit to the Amestoy Building at the northeast*   corner of  Market and Main (shown in 1945 map) across from City Hall. Built in 1887 by … Continue reading →

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Fleetwood Pugsley

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

July 26, 1971

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April 18, 1958

Posted on April 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, note that Robin Ogle was drafted by the Dodgers as a first baseman in 1972. Below, The Times drops the nameplate for the Dodgers’ mug shots and runs a nice, deep picture of Carl Erskine … Also note the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Dodgers, Front Pages, Homicide, Jack Smith, Sports | Tagged , | 2 Comments