Category Archives: Sports

L.A. Disc Jockeys Turn Down Payola

Posted on November 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 24, 1959: KMPC’s Dick Whittinghill turned down $25, but says “I can’t sit in front of the chimney on Christmas Eve with a shotgun.” Bachelor Johnny Grant says he was offered “favorable attention from a young woman.” Robert Lee … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off

Injured Diver Dies After Falling From Rescue Helicopter

Posted on November 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

“Mary and Pete Are Reunited.” Skin diver Harold B. Gavenman dies after a tragic series of accidents in which he was struck by a boat propeller and fell 100 feet while being lifted to a rescue helicopter. Nov. 23, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Sports, Stage | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Dodgers

Posted on November 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

This Dodger pennant – made after the 1959 World Series but before the opening of Dodger Stadium – has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99.

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Dodgers Moving to KFI

Posted on November 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 21, 1959 This was a very small story that turned into a big deal. The Dodgers were moving on the radio from KMPC to KFI for the 1960 season. The significance? Gene Autry's company owned KMPC … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Dodgers, Sports | Comments Off

Beauty Queen Seeks Divorce From Dockworker

Posted on November 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 18, 1959: Shirlee Garner Witty seeks a divorce, saying that her husband was always making snide remarks. Witty competed for the title of Miss Universe in 1956 even though she was a wife and mother, because at that … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Sports | 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 →

Posted in art and artists, books, Comics, Dodgers, Front Pages, Jack Smith, Sports | Comments Off

Baseball Players May Sue Over Nonpayment of World Series Bonuses

Posted on November 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Chicago players have been waiting for more than a month for their money from the World Series. Nov. 17, 1919: Pacific Coast League umpires want the league to pay for pressing their pants.

Posted in #courts, Fashion, Sports | Comments Off

November 16, 1969: Once Around the Radio Dial

Posted on November 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

One of the true pleasures of contributing to The Daily Mirror is reading old columns by Don Page, The Times’ longtime radio critic. I regularly check his work, these days for 1959 and ’69. Some things change—by 1969 he no … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Dodgers, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports | 2 Comments

Family Killed in Kansas Farm Town

Posted on November 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

"The village of Holcomb stands on the high wheat plains of western Kansas, a lonesome area that other Kansans call 'out there.' Some seventy miles east of the Colorado border, the countryside, with its hard blue skies and desert-clear … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Front Pages, Homicide, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off

Reporters Walk Out on Rockefeller

Posted on November 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller’s plan for separate news conferences for print and broadcast reporters backfires when the TV and radio crews in Los Angeles walk out on him. Louie Malle’s New Wave film “Lovers” is just plain … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Richard Nixon, Sports | 3 Comments

Pro Hockey for L.A.

Posted on November 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 11, 1959 Would L.A. warm up to ice hockey? Bob Hannam apparently thought so. Described in The Times as a Pasadena insurance man and president of a local amateur league, he was the front man for an … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Sports | 3 Comments

Dodgers Don’t Expect Any Bargains

Posted on November 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 10, 1959 The Dodgers were feeling generous. Frank Finch reported on the team's prospects during the interleague trading period and found Vice President Buzzie Bavasi talking about what teams he could help. "With that short porch in left … Continue reading →

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Wife Stabs Bob Crosby

Posted on November 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 10, 1959: June Crosby stabs her husband, Bob, with a 10-inch letter opener during a fight. She tells Beverly Hills police that she grabbed the letter opener to fight him off after he pushed her down during a violent … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 1 Comment

Cops Pose as Beatniks to Catch Drug Suspects

Posted on November 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Like, dig the crazy berets on the fuzz, daddy-o! One New York detective even wrote poetry to fit in with the beats! Jack Webb’s cult classic about the newspaper business is about to open. Los Angeles Times file photo … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 3 Comments

House Committee to Investigate Payola

Posted on November 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 7, 1959: A U.N. group finds no proof that Laos had been invaded by communist troops from North Viet-Nam but discovers that Laotian rebels were supplied by Viet-Nam Reds. You may hear more about Viet-Nam in the days ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, broadcasting, Front Pages, Politics, Richard Nixon, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports, Television | Comments Off

Confessions of a Horse Thief

Posted on November 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Buster Brown" visits Athens. Nov. 7, 1909: A 25-year-old man describes his downfall, including stealing horses and betting money on baseball games. "Tell the young men that sin always brings suffering," Robert Perry says.

Posted in #courts, Animals, Comics, Sports | Comments Off

Dodgers Deliver Plans for Stadium

Posted on November 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 5, 1959: An artist’s concept of Dodger Stadium. Look at all the parking! "We have submitted plans for what we believe will be the most beautiful sports stadium in the world, in keeping with the best interest … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, broadcasting, City Hall, Dodgers, Richard Nixon, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

A Jovial Nixon Tells Strangers He’s Bob Hope, Makes Prank Phone Calls

Posted on November 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Vice President Richard Nixon interrupting early morning walk on Wilshire Boulevard to watch sidewalk repairs, lingers to talk sports with Vic Salazar, left and another worker. It's easy to find weird stories about Richard Nixon, before and after his presidency. … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Richard Nixon, Sports | 3 Comments

Orson Welles Describes Offer for Rigged Quiz Show

Posted on November 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 1, 1959: Orson Welles says he turned down an offer to pose as a genius on a TV quiz show, explaining that he knew nothing about baseball and would miss all such questions. A producer told him: “We're not … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Sports, Television | Comments Off

West Point Cancels Football Season After Player Dies of Game Injuries