Category Archives: Television

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Keye Luke

Posted on September 4, 2017 by

Image: “Just a Little Longer,” illustrated by Keye Luke for Harold Weeks Melody Shop. Credit: Mary Mallory.   Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Keye Luke, the talented and respected Chinese American actor, is probably best known to … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

RIP Robert Osborne (1932 – 2017)

Posted on March 6, 2017 by

  Robert Osborne, the always affable TCM host, has died at 84 after years of declining health. TCM Remembers Robert Osborne (video). Los Angeles Times. Variety. Washington Post. New York Times profile.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Television | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Remembering ‘Severed’ Con Man John Gilmore

Posted on February 17, 2017 by

I promised I would tell a few tales about the late John Gilmore, author of “Severed.” It’s on L.A. Review of Books. (Though prone to exaggeration, Gilmore actually had a few small roles as an actor, including this 1960 appearance … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 2016, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, Obituaries, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden’s YouTube Theater: ‘Green Acres’ was genius. I will not entertain counter-arguments

Posted on January 10, 2017 by

Arnold the Pig in a musical moment. Too many people think of Green Acres as just another hick sitcom, like Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies (though to be fair, The Beverly Hillbillies could sometimes be genuinely funny). But Green … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Television | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Daily Mirror Christmas Buying Guide: Scary Clown Clock to Terrify Baby Boomers

Posted on November 29, 2016 by

Photo of the Abbotwares Bozo clock via EBay. If you are tired of misty-eyed Baby Boomer nostalgia, this may be for you. I have written before about Abbotwares radios (often rendered as Abbotware). You may recall “Atwater Kent’s Love Child … Continue reading →

Posted in Found on EBay, Television | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden’s YouTube Theater: I Have Such a Crush on Bill Goodwin

Posted on September 13, 2016 by

  A still of Bill Goodwin, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $17.50. Among my unlikely crushes is Bill Goodwin, an actor whose name is pretty much forgotten today. He was good-looking in an ordinary-guy sort of way; … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

‘Mad Men’ Props Auction June 1

Posted on May 23, 2016 by

Props from “Mad Men,” including Peggy Olson’s moving box, are going up for auction June 1. More info here.

Posted in Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

How I Almost Killed Garry Shandling

Posted on March 24, 2016 by

This would be a much funnier story if Garry Shandling were still alive, but if he were, I wouldn’t be telling it. I was partially responsible — in a roundabout way — for nearly killing Garry back in the 1970s. … Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries, Television | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Gary Shandling: A Tour of L.A. Comedy Clubs in 1981

Posted on March 24, 2016 by

I rarely dig into my old clips, but here is my feature on Garry Shandling, who died today at the age of 66, from the Arizona Daily Star, Nov. 24, 1981. The ending isn’t exactly mine; it was altered  by … Continue reading →

Posted in 1981, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Television | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Jan. 16 in L.A. History

Posted on January 16, 2016 by

Jan. 16, 1910: The Times recaps Aviation Week.   A Week of Aviation Triumphs, Jan. 16, 1910 Library Officials May Remove Books on Making Alcohol, Jan. 16, 1920  TV Writers Go on Strike Over Residuals, Jan. 16, 1960 Matt Weinstock, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910, 1920, 1960, Aviation, Columnists, Libraries, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Valley of Gwangi’ on TCM Dec. 29!

Posted on December 23, 2015 by

Set your DVRs! TCM is airing “The Valley of Gwangi” on Dec. 29 at 9:45 a.m. (ET). Like “King Kong,” only it’s a dinosaur. With cowboys!

Posted in Film, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

What’s Up at TCM?

Posted on November 21, 2015 by

TCM’s showing of “At Sword’s Point” on Friday, part of its tribute to the late Maureen O’Hara, was preceded by what may be the oddest Robert Osborne introduction I have ever seen. Bob was taped against a black background and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Julian Bond: Video of 1968 Democratic National Convention

Posted on August 16, 2015 by

This is how I think of Julian Bond: At the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago (notice the shots of Mayor Richard J. Daley) being nominated for vice president, but too young to hold the job. (Yes, Bond is talking … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, Obituaries, Politics, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Watts Riots: Rare Video of Marquette Frye

Posted on August 12, 2015 by

My good friend Tony Valdez aired part of an interview with Marquette Frye last night as part of Fox 11’s coverage of the Watts riots. The arrest of Frye by CHP officers is what touched off the riots in 1965. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1965, African Americans, Television | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Notes on AT&T’s ISB7500 – And an Important Warning

Posted on June 29, 2015 by

Behold the ISB7500. Notice the LINK light is lit. That means it’s connected to the gateway. If it isn’t, the DVR won’t play back movies you have recorded.  We recently said goodbye to our latest VIP2250 DVR, which we burned … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Documentary: Glen Creason and the ‘Map House’

Posted on March 9, 2015 by

Alec Ernest has made a short documentary for the Los Angeles Review of Books about our friend Glen Creason, the map specialist at the Los Angeles Public Library, and the incredible “map house” of John Feathers. I played a very … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: From the Archives, 1998

Posted on February 5, 2015 by

  One of my projects while on sabbatical is digitizing my old videotapes. And look what I found!

Posted in 1998, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Question for the L.A. Daily Mirror Brain Trust

Posted on January 27, 2015 by

“Deadline” was a television show that premiered in Los Angeles on May 17, 1962, hosted by Paul Stewart, whom you may recall as Raymond in “Citizen Kane.” Drop me a line if you have any copies of the show. Thanks.

Posted in 1962, Television | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Not on Netflix in February 2015: Dr. Who

Posted on January 7, 2015 by

Best of Netflix reports that Classic Dr. Who (1964-1989) and Dr. Who (2005-2012) will be removed from Netflix streaming in February 2015.

Posted in Television | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, Sept. 18, 1944

Posted on September 18, 2014 by

Sept. 18, 1944 After spending Labor Day in Pawling, Republican nominee Thomas E. Dewey drove to New York for conferences with John Foster Dulles, his adviser on foreign affairs, and Herbert Brownell, Republican National Committee chairman. The next day, on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Television, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment