Category Archives: Paul Coates

Confidential File Fear, Ignorance Hard to Defeat This is a very unlikely story about a minister whom everybody feared. He was a kind, friendly man — a dedicated worker for his church. In fact, his dedication was so great that … Continue reading →

Confidential File Mash Notes (Press Release) "Jack Paar says in the current issue of Look magazine that his wife, Miriam, is sexy –'in a Republican sort of way'." (signed) Publicity Dept., Look magazine, New York City.    —Well, you know how … Continue reading →

Confidential File All About Dedicated Citizen Sam On the final day of May, 1954, I had an appointment to meet a wiry little Italian immigrant by the name of Simon Rodia. Rodia, then 76 years old, was to appear on … Continue reading →

Confidential File Cops Troubled With Delusions A policeman's lot, I've heard it sung, is not a happy one. And I'm inclined to agree. He's an underpaid, overinsulted public servant who even has to make good on the bullets he uses … Continue reading →

Confidential File On the Mentally Sick Who Rule the Well If someone will kindly run up a flag of truce, I'd like to have a word with Gov. Long. I know the old gentleman's respect for the working press isn't … Continue reading →

Devon McReynolds, a UCLA student who is interning with the Daily Mirror this summer, says this chart is "hilarious/upsetting." It reminds me of those old charts on how to get a good cut of beef from the butcher shop. Confidential … Continue reading →

Stop the presses–Big Tiny Little quits the Lawrence Welk show. Below, Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag" reduced to "rinky tink piano" crapola. Confidential File Mash Notes and Comments (Press Release) "The Adventures of Learning in College," a guide for the … Continue reading →

Confidential File New Criterion for Beauty Contestants I see we're on the verge of conducting another Miss Universe Beauty contest. The ripest, most exotic representatives of international young womanhood are — at this very moment — clustered in Long Beach. … Continue reading →

Confidential File Some Judges Deal in Real Justice Two weeks ago I quoted you a rather amazing conversation between an attorney and Los Angeles Municipal Judge George B. Ross. At least, to me it was amazing. The gist of the … Continue reading →

Confidential File Harry Karl's Barber Is Pro Tem Leftist When he's not busy totaling the day's receipts, Harry Karl, the shoe tycoon, is a member in good standing of a social class known as the idle rich. He is, so … Continue reading →

Confidential File Life Must Go On, Even After Murder On Feb. 19 of this year, Robert L. Mason, 40, went wild with a gun. He entered the Glendale home of jazz musician Johnny Zorro. He shot Zorro's wife, 31-year-old Mrs. … Continue reading →

July 13, 1959: California, the welfare magnet. Confidential File Are Juveniles Really Delinquent? Let me speak for the record. I'm against juvenile delinquents. They're a menace. No question about it. Not only are they constantly getting into trouble themselves, they're … Continue reading →

Confidential File Smog Blinds His Objectivity Traveling newspaper correspondents — for want of something better to report — get their kicks by diagnosing the ills of each city on their itinerary. And usually, because of deadlines and harassment by their … Continue reading →

Confidential File Mash Notes and Comments "Dear Paul, "Have you taken a close look in the mirror recently? "Well, we here at the Encino Summer Playhouse have. And do you know what we saw? "YOU — as an actor! "Now … Continue reading →

  July 5, 1959: Ira Cockrum is arrested in the death of his grandson. Confidential File About a Grandpa Who Killed Michael Gary Cockrum, a stocky little kid with blond hair and desert-brown skin, was buried yesterday. After 14 years … Continue reading →

  Confidential File How Secrets Filter From Me to Kozlov WASHINGTON, July 8 — Allowing Soviet Deputy Premier Kozlov to visit the University of California's radiation laboratory at Berkeley has been called "soft-headed nonsense" by Rep. Lipscomb (R-Los Angeles). Lipscomb … Continue reading →

Confidential File Ensenada's Brooding About Tijuana's Sins For natives of Ensenada there's a long, lean summer ahead. The gaiety picked up a little over the Cuatro de Julio* weekend, but so far this year, the Baja California resort city has … Continue reading →

July 6, 1959: “Our Boarding House With Major Hoople.” Kaff Kaff! Confidential File Fourth Shenanigans Shock Monarchist I trust this raucous celebration can be considered at an end until next July the Fourth. Now then, if the parades have run … Continue reading →

Confidential File Mash Notes and Comments "to Coats, "Memphis Ward says I should write you again and let bygons be bygons. Well, I guess its all water under the bridge, right Paul? "I had some bad luck two months ago. … Continue reading →

Coates Uncovers Hero Saga Hermit's Dad Proud of Son by Chris Farrell(As told to Paul V. Coates) That was my boy Dennis who came out of the Griffith Park hills this week after living up there for six years like … Continue reading →