Category Archives: Obituaries

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Los Angeles Times file photo Update: Richard Quine and first his wife, Susan Paley, 1942. Richard Quine, 68, Film Director, Dies of Gunshot Wound June 13, 1989By EDWARD J. BOYER, Times Staff Writer Film director Richard Quine, whose string of … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | 58 Comments

Egghead Prof. Doesn’t Want Babies, Wife Sobs

Sept. 28, 1909: Prof. Zorn doesn't want babies! The secret life of John Fitzgerald is finally revealed.

Posted in #courts, Obituaries | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

California gets 16,000 Nazi POWs as farm workers. Spencer Tracy in "The Seventh Cross." Funeral services are planned for Harry Chandler, who died Sept. 23, 1944, at the age of 80. "Until a few days before his death he had … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Voices — Alicia de Larrocha, 1923 – 2009

April 22, 1980: The late Daniel Cariaga profiles pianist Alicia de Larrocha. The New York Times has reported that Larrocha died in Barcelona at the age of 86. The Times plans an obituary in upcoming editions.

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Voices — Susan Atkins, 1948 – 2009

Dec. 7, 1969: Susan Atkins' father describes his troubles with his daughter before she joined the Manson family. Dec. 12, 1969: The late Dial Torgerson, one of The Times' most distinguished writers, on Susan Atkins: 

Posted in Film, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries | Comments Off on Voices — Susan Atkins, 1948 – 2009

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Los Angeles Times file photo Update: Hall Bartlett in an unidentified photo published in 1954. Update: As many people guessed from a certain picture with a seagull, this is Hall Bartlett. Hall Bartlett; Wrote, Directed Offbeat Films September 16, 1993 … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | 46 Comments

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Los Angeles Times file photo Update: Our mystery guest is Esther Ralston, above, in 1923. Esther Ralston; Silent Era ‘American Venus’  January 21, 1994 By MYRNA OLIVER, TIMES STAFF WRITER Esther Ralston, the beautiful blonde “American Venus” of silent films, … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | 26 Comments

Voices — Patrick Swayze, 1952 – 2009

Nov. 30, 1983: Patrick Swayze dances "Without a Word." From the Bayous to the Catskills 'Dirty Dancing' Takes to the Screen With Some Smart and Funny Steps August 21, 1987 By SHEILA BENSON, Times Film Critic By being smart and … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Stage | 9 Comments

Voices: Larry Gelbart, 1928 – 2009

June 17, 1951: How Larry Gelbart got started in show business while he was a student at Fairfax High.   Nov. 25, 1951: Rehearsals of "My L.A.," sketches inspired by Matt Weinstock's book, with a script by Larry Gelbart, Laurence … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Television | 2 Comments

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, Sept. 11, 1959

Actor Paul Douglas dies at the age of 52. "The reading public is seldom aware of the enterprise, imagination, teamwork and tireless digging that goes into the achievement of an exclusive newspaper story. The Mirror News published such a scoop … Continue reading

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Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Sept. 10, 1909: Edward Henry Harriman, "the master builder of railways," dies after a long illness, but the news is withheld from reporters until the stock market closes. Cmdr. Robert Peary files Part 2 of his description of discovering the … Continue reading

Posted in Fashion, Front Pages, health, Obituaries, Transportation, travel | Comments Off on Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Voices — Army Archerd, 1922 – 2009

Perfect Casting * The Role Called for a Dapper Guy Who Could Schmooze With Hollywood's Rich and Famous as They Arrived at the Academy Awards. Enter Army Archerd. The Rest Is History. Sunday March 21, 1999 By ROBIN ABCARIAN, Robin … Continue reading

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Valentino’s Funeral

Sept. 8, 1926: Valentino's funeral, invitation only, Church of the Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills. Pola Negri "went to the casket moaning in grief and at times sobbing loudly. She lifted the old rose pall and her flowers upon it and … Continue reading

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Police Captain Found Not Guilty of Corruption

  Sept. 5, 1909: Etiwanda Vineyards. You get the profit — We do the work.     Capt. Thomas H. Broadhead is found not guilty of taking a $1,000 bribe for protection in the red light district. Even so, the … Continue reading

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Voices — Dominick Dunne, 1925 – 2009

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / August 7, 2001 Dominick Dunne gestures during an introduction before reading to a small group of people from his book "Justice: Crimes, Trials and Punishments" at a Beverly Hills hotel. Dominick Dunne's Dangerous … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, books, Obituaries | 3 Comments

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s Eulogy for Robert F. Kennedy

"Love is not an easy feeling to put into words. Nor is loyalty, or trust, or joy. But he was all of these. He loved life completely and lived it intensely." June 9, 1968: The Times' obituary of Sen. Edward … Continue reading

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Voices — Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, 1932 – 2009

Those Who See Only Dwarfs Today Are the Sort Who Belittled Giants Past December 3, 1987 By EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Edward M. Kennedy is the senior senator from Massachusetts. This commentary is adapted from a speech that he gave recently … Continue reading

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Voices — Don Hewitt, 1922 – 2009

Don Hewitt, the creator of CBS' "60 Minutes" news program in New York in 2004. (Jim Cooper / Associated Press) The Man Who Winds the Clock Don Hewitt built '60 Minutes' and still drives TV's top-rated news program. How does … Continue reading

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Obituaries, Television | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

 Los Angeles Times file photo   Above, Everett Sloane as Capt. Frank Kennelly in CBS radio's "21st Precinct," July 21, 1953.  Update: This week's photos weren't much of a mystery. I think this is the first time anyone has complained … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | 393 Comments

Les Paul, 1915 – 2009

Solid-Body Legend Plagued by arthritis, Les Paul acknowledges that his playing days are probably numbered, but new releases will preserve his work  November 24, 1991 By MICHAEL WALKER, Michael Walker is a free-lance writer based in New York. NEW YORK … Continue reading

Posted in #Jazz, art and artists, Blues, broadcasting, Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll | 3 Comments