Category Archives: Sports

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 on Orson Welles Describes Offer for Rigged Quiz Show

West Point Cancels Football Season After Player Dies of Game Injuries

Posted on November 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

     Nov. 1, 1909: West Point cancels the remainder of the football season after the death of Eugene A. Byrne, whose neck was broken when players piled on him during a game with Harvard.

Posted in Obituaries, Sports | Comments Off on West Point Cancels Football Season After Player Dies of Game Injuries

U.S. Approves Project to Clear Bunker Hill

Posted on October 31, 2009 by lmharnisch

Guess what happens after a plumber connects a butane line to Crestview, Fla.'s water supply Someone, we're not sure who, reminisces about Halloweens of the past. I figured out how to make the "ticktack" the woman describes, but the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on U.S. Approves Project to Clear Bunker Hill

Shostakovich Visits L.A.!

Posted on October 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Shostakovich meets the press at the Ambassador Hotel. Wouldn’t it be great to go see it? Oh, wait, we let L..A. Unified tear it down. Oct. 20, 1959: Dmitri Shostakovich leads a group of Soviet composers on a tour … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Front Pages, Music, Sports, Stage | 1 Comment

TV Star’s Wife Returns After Suicide Attempt

Posted on October 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Reporters meet Virginia Arness at the airport and follow her home. Photographers ask James Arness, the star of "Gunsmoke," to pose with her, but he refuses. Oct. 26, 1959: The front page teases a story about the Lions getting … Continue reading →

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Landmark Nightclub Modernized

Posted on October 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Virginia Arness attempts suicide in Hawaii. The Biltmore Bowl is heavily modernized so that is virtually unrecognizable. New and Old Chinatown, divided by Broadway. "I don't belong to the tong. I am an American. I belong to the Kiwanis Club." … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Suicide | Comments Off on Landmark Nightclub Modernized

Fidel Castro Survives Assassination Attempt

Posted on October 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 23, 1959: The courts refuse to halt the steel strike … And Shostakovich is coming. Farah Dibah, on a shopping trip to Paris, refuses to confirm reports that she is engaged to marry the shah of Iran. Harper Poulson, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Front Pages, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | 2 Comments

As Undercover Agent, Housewife Spied on Communists

Posted on October 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 21, 1959: Moiselle Clinger describes spying on Communists for the FBI. Truck driver Gordon Powell says he robbed a bank after losing work because of the steel strike. A new appeal seeks to block the execution of Caryl Chessman. … Continue reading →

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

Supreme Court OKs Dodger Stadium

Posted on October 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 19, 1959: Few attend Errol Flynn’s funeral … "Men will walk on the moon before there is a woman president," says Mrs. Claire B. Williams, assistant chairman of the Republican National Committee in charge of women's activities. Dodger Stadium … Continue reading →

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Residents Flee Big Tujunga Fire, Oct. 16, 1959

Posted on October 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 16, 1959: Mae West is censored … and Gov. Pat Brown hints that he may show mercy to Caryl Chessman. Audrey Hepburn in “The Nun’s Story.” Local freeways would need "major surgery" to handle the traffic from Dodger fans … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Dodgers, Downtown, Sports, Transportation | Comments Off on Residents Flee Big Tujunga Fire, Oct. 16, 1959

A Postscript on the Black Sox

Posted on October 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Aug. 13-14, 1969, catching up with the Black Sox.   Aug. 14, 1969, an interview with Gandil. "Chick Gandil was as tough as they come. He was 31 years old and stood 6 feet, 2 inches tall; a broad, powerful … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Film, Hollywood, Sports | Comments Off on A Postscript on the Black Sox

Shoeless Joe Jackson Seeks Reinstatement

Posted on October 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Jan. 28, 1934: John Lardner on Shoeless Joe Jackson. July 6, 1934: Jackson makes another attempt to play ball.   John Lardner was the son of Ring Lardner Sr. and the older brother of Ring Lardner Jr. I’m not familiar … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Sports | Comments Off on Shoeless Joe Jackson Seeks Reinstatement

Found on EBay – Stutz Racer

Posted on October 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 9, 1914: Earl Cooper is driving a Stutz in the race from Los Angeles to Phoenix.   This postcard showing a Stutz that took part in a race from Los Angeles to Phoenix has been listed on EBay. As … Continue reading →

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Writers Guild Strikes Over TV Residuals

Posted on October 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

  So here’s how Times cartoonist Bruce Russell shows that an eagle represents Mexico. He gives it a cute little sombrero. The Writers Guild goes on strike over residuals on TV broadcasts of films released after 1948. The Knights of … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Religion, Sports | 2 Comments

Black Sox Not Guilty!

Posted on October 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 3, 1921: The Black Sox are found not guilty of conspiracy. "Bailiffs vainly pounded for order, and finally, noticing Judge Friend's smile, joined in the whistling and cheering. Hats sailed high in the air, papers were thrown around … Continue reading →

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Final Arguments in Black Sox Trial

Posted on October 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

    July 30, 1921:  "This man, by his own confession, sat in his room at the Warner Hotel here and arranged to receive $10,000 for the dirty work he planned. Then Judas-like, he went downstairs to hobnob with his … Continue reading →

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Reds Take Black Sox Series

Posted on October 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale on the Reds taking the 1919 World Series.   “Mutt and Jeff” on the pronunciation of “Cicotte.”  Oct. 10, 1919: Rath up. Strike one. Foul, strike two. Rath opened the contest with a pop fly that … Continue reading →

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L.A. Welcomes Victorious Dodgers

Posted on October 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 9, 1959 In their second season in Los Angeles, the Dodgers turned to a very local hero en route to winning the World Series. Larry Sherry, who played baseball for Fairfax High before joining the Dodgers' farm system, … Continue reading →

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Black Sox Win Game 7

Posted on October 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 9, 1919, The Black Sox win Game 7, 4-1. Oct. 9, 1919: For some reason, we ran two game stories, one from AP and the other an exclusive.   July 22, 1921: Bill Burns testifies that pitcher Eddie Cicotte … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Sports | Comments Off on Black Sox Win Game 7