Category Archives: Religion

World Mourns Death of Pope; Ban Baseball on Radio? February 18, 1939

Posted on February 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror is a few days late with coverage of the passing of Pope Pius XI, who died at the Vatican on Feb. 10, 1939. In Los Angeles, Pius XI was remembered in an elaborate Mass at St. … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Religion, Sports, Stage | 1 Comment

Coming Attractions — City of Seekers

Posted on February 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles Conservancy is sponsoring a self-driving tour of five landmarks in the spiritual history of L.A.: Angelus Temple, the Self-Realization Fellowship Mother Center, Chapel of the Jesus Ethic, the Philosophical Research Society and the Bonnie Brae House, home … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Religion | Comments Off

Jewish Home for the Aged — Ida Mayer Cummings

Posted on January 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Ken Dare / Los Angeles Times Ida Mayer Cummings, Dec. 15, 1957. Alicia Mayer Beverley writes from Australia: I ran across your blog entry on the 1957 Women of the Year. My great-grandmother Ida Mayer Cummings is one … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, health, Religion, San Fernando Valley | Comments Off

Former child star dies in fight over $50, voices of Chavez Ravine, January 22, 1959

Posted on January 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

I finally found a Times story in which the paper talked about people living in the Chavez Ravine area. Cordell Hicks’ short story told of some local kids who tried to find a place in their neighborhood to play baseball. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Religion, Sports | Comments Off

Vivian Leigh cast as Scarlett O’Hara, January 1939

Posted on January 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

On January 14, 1939, The Times published the news that an English actress had been cast in the lead of "Gone With the Wind." Excuse me, but Jean Arthur as Scarlett? Hedda Hopper covers the furious reaction over David … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, books, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Religion, Sports | 3 Comments

Thousands in Los Angeles pray for peace, January 14, 1939

Posted on January 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

About 4,000 worshipers attend a Perpetual Novena for Our Sorrowful Mother at St. Vibiana’s Cathedral. People knelt in the aisles, in the doorways and outside praying for peace and for relief of the poor, The Times says. County Supervisor Roger … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Columnists, Current Affairs, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Religion, Sports, Suicide | Comments Off

Paul Coates — Mikoyan interview, January 13, 1959

Posted on January 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Interview With Coates Russian Stars on TV Show By Paul V. Coates, Mirror News Columnist When President Eisenhower sits down with Soviet Deputy Premier Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan on Saturday to plan give-and-take with West Berlin and Germany, it’ll be Ike … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Columnists, Current Affairs, Dodgers, Hollywood, LAPD, Paul Coates, Politics, Religion, Television | Comments Off

Baby abandoned at hospital; Times’ Oscar favorites, January 8, 1939

Posted on January 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sheriff Eugene Biscailuz is honored for 32 years of public service. Above, a baby nicknamed Little Buttercup is abandoned at White Memorial Hospital. Unfortunately, The Times never followed up on what became of her. We also take a look at … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Film, Front Pages, health, Hollywood, Religion | Comments Off

Christmas 1938

Posted on December 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Times’ front page features a poem by James "Sunrise Jim" Warnack, the paper’s religion writer for many years.

Posted in Front Pages, Religion | 1 Comment

Radio station cancels ads as Christmas present to listeners, Dodgers and Phillies swap players, December 24, 1958

Posted on December 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

As a Christmas gift to its viewers, radio station KPOL is going without ads for 48 hours … and watch for Santa Claus played by Peter Lorre (with Milton Berle) and Buster Keaton ("The Donna Reed Show")! The plot of … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Dodgers, Front Pages, Religion, Television | Comments Off

Hanukkah 1980: Man recovers 400-year-old menorah from dump

Posted on December 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Goldberg family of Cheviot Hills usually kept their 400-year-old menorah in a bank vault, but Ellen Goldberg decided to show the family heirloom to a religion class she taught at Wilshire Boulevard Temple. She brought it home and left … Continue reading →

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Vandals paint swastika on Hollywood synagogue, December 12, 1938

Posted on December 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

Vandals paint a swastika on Temple Beth El, 1508 N. Wilton. Nazi police censor sermons of Vienna’s Catholic priests. The former temple photographed by Nathan Marsak, who wrote a wonderful post on the 1947 project. Today’s edition of The Times … Continue reading →

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Cult members describe bombing, December 11, 1958

Posted on December 11, 2008 by lmharnisch

"Venta will return and be resurrected." Known as "the barefoot people." Above, followers of Krishna Venta describe life at the Fountain of the World religious compound and the bombing that killed 10 people. "A tower of blue and white flame … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Religion, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Comments Off

Cult leader killed in bombing of religious compound, December 10, 1958

Posted on December 10, 2008 by lmharnisch

American history presented as a lavish pageant, the only film directed by Anthony Quinn, who took over from the ailing Cecil B. DeMille. With a great score by Elmer Bernstein. An ad published in The Times shortly before the explosion. … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, Religion, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | 2 Comments

December 1, 1938: California prepares to execute two killers at San Quentin

Posted on December 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

The secret of Babe Ruth’s happy marriage: White Owl cigars. December 1, 1938: California prepares to use the gas chamber for executions rather than hanging.

Posted in #courts, 1938, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Politics, Religion, Sports | 1 Comment

Poison gas kills Disney’s mother, November 27, 1938

Posted on November 27, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Walt Disney gave his parents a home at 4605 Placidia Ave., Toluca Lake, for their golden wedding anniversary. According to The Times, a faulty furnace connection let carbon monoxide into the house. Disney’s father, Elias, was found unconscious … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Blues, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Music, Religion, Sports | 2 Comments

Film tells story of 1920s Jewish athletes

Posted on November 14, 2008 by lmharnisch

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

November 7, 2008: Jews celebrate survival of Holocaust Torah

Posted on November 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times Dr. Joel Kushner, left, and Rabbi Richard N. Levy unroll the Yanov Torah during a ceremony at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion near USC. The Torah survived the Holocaust by being cut … Continue reading →

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Hitler speech blames Jews, November 9, 1938

Posted on November 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

"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 3, 1958: 44 shopping days until Christmas

Posted on November 3, 2008 by lmharnisch

Honestly! The Christmas ads start earlier every year. I remember when they used to wait until after Thanksgiving!

Posted in Fashion, Food and Drink, Religion | 1 Comment