Category Archives: San Fernando Valley

Wife ends family fight with shotgun, August 18, 1958

Posted on August 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

August 18, 1958 Ralph Atkinson, 28-year-old upholsterer of 6609 Beeman Ave., North Hollywood, left home early Sunday to buy a newspaper. On the way back, he decided to stop at a bar and have a drink. Or two. Or three. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, LAPD, San Fernando Valley | 1 Comment

Topanga Canyon blaze

Posted on July 11, 2008 by lmharnisch

spark from an electrical short in the pump house at Hertz Ranch was blamed for a fire that burned 125 acres before it was contained, The Times says. Six other fires were also burning in Southern California, The Times says. … Continue reading →

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May 31, 1938

Posted on May 31, 2008 by lmharnisch

Floyd Roberts of Van Nuys, who gained much of his experience on the dirt track at Ascot, wins the Indianapolis 500. Roberts averaged 117.2 mph in a four-cylinder car (at left) built and owned by Lou Moore and designed by … Continue reading →

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May 5, 1958

Posted on May 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, migration of Los Angeles Jews to the Westside and the San Fernando Valley is reflected in the sale of the Eastside Jewish Community Center, 2317 Michigan. Below, Los Angeles begins Cinco de Mayo celebrations with a Sunday picnic, with … Continue reading →

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April 12, 1938

Posted on April 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Yiddish theater in Los Angeles! Below, the Harry Raymond bombing case is about to go to trial. Prosecutors say they plan to seek the death penalty … The bishop of Los Angeles has a Holy Week message on the … Continue reading →

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April 10, 1958

Posted on April 10, 2008 by lmharnisch

Half a century does nothing to erase the pain of this picture. The young man is David Greenstein and he’s being comforted by his mother, Gladys, after a coroner’s jury ruled that his slaying of his father, Rubin, was justifiable … Continue reading →

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Girl strangled

Posted on April 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 4-June 12, 1958 Los Angeles "I think I just killed a girl."Cary had killed her, all right. Strangled her with her sweater. Afterward, he drove around the Valley with her slumped under the dash until the left front wheel … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates

Posted on April 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 7, 1958 I’ll post more on this story soon. Stay tuned….

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Encino memories

Posted on March 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

March 26, 1938 Los Angeles

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March 24, 1908

Posted on March 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the daily horoscope as it existed a century ago. Below, the plight of hobos who are running afoul of a tough constable around Burbank. In an interview, a homeless man complains of being sentenced to the chain gang … … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates

Posted on March 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

March 20, 1958 Barbara Ridley is 25. She’s the mother of four sons, ages 6, 4, 3 and 1. She’s also part of the unpleasant headlines you’ve been reading this week. She’s the wife of 36-year-old James Vernon Ridley, who … Continue reading →

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Feb. 8, 1958

Posted on February 8, 2008 by lmharnisch

 

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on February 5, 2008 by lmharnisch

Feb. 5, 1958 AROUND TOWN–Naughty youngsters are filling paper bags with water and putting them in the seats of sports cars parked near KTLA. When the owners get in their cars in the dark, squish … Note of anachronism: A … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates

Posted on February 4, 2008 by lmharnisch

Feb. 4, 1958 Mrs. Shannon is not against progress. Her argument is not with the achievement itself. It’s with the method employed to reach it. She phoned me last night with her story. "I live at 16200 Gilmore St. in … Continue reading →

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U.S. launches rocket

Posted on February 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1958 Los Angeles Scientists–bruised by the Soviet success with Sputnik–celebrate the successful launch of Explorer … The launch is a triumph for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Rocketdyne, The Times says. … Worries about a television strike against … Continue reading →

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Gang shooting

Posted on January 3, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jan. 1, 1958Los Angeles  

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Van Nuys Boulevard

Posted on December 29, 2007 by lmharnisch

Dec. 29, 1957Los Angeles Isn’t this building cool, in its weird 1950s Space Age way? This is a wonderful detail from a Times ad for the opening of a Van Nuys Savings and Loan office at 8201 Van Nuys Blvd. … Continue reading →

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Christmas past

Posted on December 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

Dec. 24, 1956Los Angeles      Photograph by Pete Grant / The Los Angeles Times The Times features the home of W.N. Chandler, 13060 Otsego St., Sherman Oaks, in a Dec. 24, 1956, photo essay on holiday yard decor.

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Wife shoots husband

Posted on November 21, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 21, 1957 Los Angeles You remember that 35-year-old woman out in the Valley who hooked up with her daughter's 16-year-old boyfriend three years ago? Well, she shot him. Accident. Jimmy and Dee Dee got married in 1957 and … Continue reading →

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Times endorsements

Posted on November 19, 2007 by lmharnisch

Nov. 19, 1957Los Angeles Here’s something from another era in politics: An endorsement masquerading as a Page 1 item urging people to vote. And in case people missed it on Page 1, The Times ran another item on Page 4 … Continue reading →

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