Category Archives: Sports

Paul Coates — Confidential File, February 11, 1959

CONFIDENTIAL FILE Somebody Does Love a Fat Man For years, the Fat Man had ignored those ads that flashed intermittently on his TV screen. The ones that told him to get rid of that ugly excess by exercising in beautiful … Continue reading

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Santa Barbara Oil Spill; Don’t Change Baseball, February 11, 1969

The Times publishes a Chuck Powers story on the Santa Barbara oil spill. Powers left The Times to become a novelist but died just before his first book, "In the Memory of the Forest," came out. "Anyone who says he … Continue reading

Posted in books, broadcasting, Dodgers, Environment, Front Pages, Music, Sports | 1 Comment

O.J. Simpson vs. Pat Boone?

The matchup between O.J. Simpson and Pat Boone probably didn’t happen. Boone led a celebrity basketball team against some former college athletes before the Los Angeles Stars’ game at the Sports Arena. An ad in The Times said the team … Continue reading

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O.J. Simpson vs. Pat Boone, Chamberlain Scores 66 Points, February 10, 1969

O.J. Simpson vs. Pat Boone? Keith, what’s the deal? Wilt Chamberlain scored 66 points as the Lakers defeated the Suns, 134-116. That’s a career night for most people, but not Wilt. After all, this was the guy who once scored … Continue reading

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Koufax Explains Baseball, Ladies Only

Some old stories are dispatches from another planet. Take Jeane Hoffman’s report on a "ladies baseball clinic" sponsored by the Dodgers and a group called Secretaries of Sports. Nearly 300 "lady fans" showed up for the event at Bullocks’ downtown … Continue reading

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Found on EBay — The Coliseum

This postcard of the Coliseum configured for the Dodgers has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $4.99.

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Trial of Former Mayor’s Aide to Begin, Feburary 7, 1939

It’s a bit hard to tell from reference photographs, but I believe this is a Lockheed Hudson being assembled in Burbank. Trial of Joe Shaw, brother of recalled Mayor Frank Shaw, on 66 counts of altering public records. Fire Department … Continue reading

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Airliner Plunges Into N.Y. River; Dodgers Sign Contracts, February 4, 1959

The Times put out an extra, but the runover page wasn’t microfilmed. All we have is the cover.  Notice that Gov. Pat Brown is opposed to a state lottery. "Evil Woman" Ingrid Bergman pretends she doesn’t know she’s attractive in … Continue reading

Posted in @news, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

President to Press for Mideast Peace, Bomb Scare at Lakers Game, February 3, 1969

"President Nixon plans to take two moves shortly to obtain an Arab-Israeli peace settlement and improve this country’s relations with the Arabs." When this was written, President Barack Obama was 7 years old; Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert was 23; … Continue reading

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2 Die in Midair Plane Crash; Lombardi at USC? February 2, 1959

Wreckage landed in the 7900 block of East 8th Street, Buena Park.   At left, Officer J.F. Harkan shoots Edwin Kelly, 17, during a stakeout at the RKO Hill Street theater at 8th and Hill. Above, Judy Holliday will appear … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Sports, Stage, Transportation | 1 Comment

Aragon Suspected of Fixing Fight, February 1, 1959

Los Angeles Times file photo Art Aragon in training, Oct. 14, 1949. Art Aragon, the Golden Boy of Los Angeles boxing in the ’40s and ’50s, was in trouble again after apparently winning a fight too easily. The referee of … Continue reading

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Burbank Installs Time Capsule; Wilt Chamberlain Debuts in L.A., February 1, 1959

The people living in 1959 had noble expectations for Burbank: Atomic power! Monorails! I wonder if anyone plans to actually pop it open this week. This is the bridge that spans the Golden State Freeway, the railroad tracks and the … Continue reading

Posted in Freeways, Front Pages, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Player Ejected During Dodger Game, 1958

Here’s an interesting little item. Umpire Bill Jackowski’s report on why he ejected Don Hoak. Bidding starts at $49.95. The Times’ story doesn’t mention Hoak getting thrown out, but the box score revealed there were only three umpires. Maybe that’s … Continue reading

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Woman Loses Children Over Nude Photos; Angels Earn Most of Cubs’ Income, January 29, 1949

A panel from "Terry and the Pirates," by George Wunder. At left, The Times’ comics page from 1949. Moon Mullins … Li’l Abner …  Brenda Starr … Dick Tracy … Orphan Annie … but also Ella Cinders … Napoleon … … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, #Jazz, @news, art and artists, classical music, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 3 Comments

Missing Boy Found Dead, L.A. Hockey, January 28, 1959

Bad news for beatniks. Above, the supermarket strike-lockout appears to be over … The Soviet Union promises world domination (remember Nikita Khrushchev is coming to visit Los Angeles later in the year) … Vice President Richard Nixon supports foreign aid … Continue reading

Posted in @news, Front Pages, Homicide, Nightclubs, Sports | 1 Comment

Baby Burned to Death on Stove, Dodgers Scout Players, January 25, 1959

Whenever someone tells you the past was a "kinder, simpler time," show them this article. I’m unable to find any further stories on this tragic incident. My boyfriend embarrasses me because he won’t race his car…. An advice column by … Continue reading

Posted in #Jazz, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Music, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports | 4 Comments

The Ghosts of Wrigley Field, January 24, 1969

Photograph by Hal Moulin / Los Angeles Times Wrigley Field, Oct. 3, 1944, as the San Francisco Seals defeat the L.A. Angels. "Roadside Baseball" looksat Wrigley Field John Hall wrote a couple of columns bidding farewell to Los Angeles’ Wrigley … Continue reading

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 3 Comments

10 Feared Drowned in River; Ballplayer Hopes for Comeback, January 22, 1969

Here’s a weird story about a baseball player I never heard of. Lee Meyers was making a comeback, hoping to get a job with the first-year Kansas City Royals. This was news, apparently, because Meyers was a local kid who … Continue reading

Posted in Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports | 1 Comment

Musial, Campanella named to Hall of Fame, January 22, 1969

Roy Campanella, whose Dodger career was cut short by a car accident before the team moved to Los Angeles, was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame. "I never had any idea I’d even play in the majors, much less make … Continue reading

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Rams draft Rafer Johnson, January 22, 1959

The Rams picked a real winner in the NFL annual draft. Rafer Johnson would become world famous in 1960 by winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the Rome Olympics. He already held the world record in the event … Continue reading

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