Category Archives: Television

December 1, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on December 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Arab League bans Elizabeth Taylor’s movies! Jerry Lewis at Bat for Actor Robinson Strange guy, Jerry Lewis. I’ve known him for years. I knew him when he was a kid on Broadway, when he had a partner named Martin, and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, broadcasting, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Television | 1 Comment

‘Ben-Hur’ Premieres in Benefit for USC

Posted on November 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 25, 1959: Los Angeles' population reaches 2.4 million. Parents pose with newly adopted children in a program of the Adoption Institute. “Ben-Hur” premieres as a benefit for USC. Gore Vidal worked on the script for “Ben-Hur?” William Wyler, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Sports, Television | Comments Off

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Nov. 24, 1959

Posted on November 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

Face It; Aren't You Just a Mite Rigged? Sit down. No. Better yet, lie down. Or is it lay down? Anyway, get prone. Tuck a pillow under your head if it'll help relieve that nervous tension … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Paul Coates, Television | 2 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on November 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 23, 1960: “Had a few days in New York while homebound from Europe so took in Lucille Ball's show 'Wildcat' in Philadelphia. It makes you laugh and cry and when it reaches Broadway it'll take this old town … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Stage, Television | Comments Off

Voices – Evelyn Rudie

Posted on November 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

Above, Evelyn Rudie, 9, who played Eloise on TV, makes the front page of the Mirror with a story about vanishing from home to go see Mamie Eisenhower. Paul Coates’ Nov. 10, 1959, column (“Evelyn Is a Real Old … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Paul Coates, Television | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Nov. 10, 1959

Posted on November 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Evelyn Is a Real Old Hand at Drum Beating I'm not one to go around saying I told you so. But I did. Three years ago I warned you about Eloise's alter ego, Evelyn Rudie. I … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Television | Comments Off

Yet Another Killer Dad in the Black Dahlia Case

Posted on November 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

The front page of the Los Angeles Examiner, Jan. 25, 1947. The only message ever confirmed to be from the Black Dahlia’s killer. With the publication of Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger” and “Most Evil,” I assumed that the market … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Homicide, LAPD, Television | 1 Comment

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

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

Charles Van Doren’s Statement – Full Text

Posted on November 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

Nov. 3, 1959: "I would give almost anything I have to reverse the course of my life in the last three years. I cannot take back one word or action; the past does not change for anyone. But at … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Television | 1 Comment

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Nov. 2, 1959

Posted on November 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

TV game show winner Charles Van Doren says everything was a fake. There's a Strange Girl in His Bath TOKYO — You know what you've always heard about those Japanese public baths? Well, don't believe it. We Americans … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Paul Coates, Television | 1 Comment

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

KNX’s Mornings With Bob Crane

Posted on October 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 9, 1959: The Times profiles KNX announcer Bob Crane, who became the star of “Hogan’s Heroes.” Somewhere at the Daily Mirror HQ, I’ve got an LP that KNX released with Bob Crane on one side and Pat Buttram … Continue reading →

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

Lili St. Cyr Remarries

Posted on October 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Charles Van Doren reportedly confesses to getting answers for the TV game show "Twenty-One.' Oct. 29, 1959: Americans are ashamed that the U.S. is behind the Soviets in the space race … And Lili St. Cyr is … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Front Pages, health, Television | Comments Off

Catching Up With ‘Twilight Zone’

Posted on October 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 4, 1959: I almost didn’t post this Cecil Smith column because it’s not terribly well done and is mostly Smith rambling to great length about ghost stories. But I reminded myself that at this point, very few people … Continue reading →

Posted in books, broadcasting, Television | 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 →

Posted in broadcasting, Front Pages, Sports, Television | Comments Off

Smog Alert!

Posted on October 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Funeral services for quintuplets born a few days earlier. Oct. 23, 1959: A pall of smog covers the city as county supervisors plan to send a representative to talk to Detroit auto executives about emission controls.

Posted in broadcasting, Environment, Front Pages, Television | 2 Comments

Voices: Soupy Sales, 1926 – 2009

Posted on October 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

May 22, 1985: TV critic Howard Rosenberg interviews Soupy Sales: Once, when Tom Snyder noted in an interview that some of his detractors regarded him as "the Soupy Sales of the newsroom," Soupy replied: "Let me add there is … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Obituaries, Television | Comments Off

Tent Revival in El Monte

Posted on October 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

A.A. Allen stages a tent revival in El Monte, with faith healing. Oct. 17, 1959: Dear True Love, wait until the Shangri Las release “The Leader of the Pack.”

Posted in Columnists, Music, Religion, Rock 'n' Roll, Television | Comments Off

Fire Closes in on Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Posted on October 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 14, 1959: The Mirror brings out an extra on the La Canada fire, which is within a mile and a half of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The story says the fire moved half a mile in five minutes … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Front Pages, Television | 1 Comment