Category Archives: Television

Vin Scully — Game Show Host

 Here’s more praise for Vin Scully …  the game show host. Cecil Smith visited Scully on the set of “It Takes Two,”  which The Times’ critic called “one of those inane daytime game shows.”  Smith, of course, was a fan … Continue reading

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Movie Mystery Photo

Los Angeles Times file photo Diana Sands plays Diahann Carroll's cousin in an episode of "Julia," 1970. Update: Yes, as nearly everyone realized, this is Diana Sands, who died in 1973 at the age of 39. Just a reminder on … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Stage, Television | 150 Comments

Kathy Fiscus Revisited — April 9, 1949

The Times, April 9, 1949, a little San Marino girl is trapped in an old well. L.A.Times photo Bill Yancey is lifted to the surface, carrying the body of Kathy Fiscus. I attended William Deverell's lecture Monday night on the … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Front Pages, Television | 1 Comment

New Light on ‘Dark Shadows’

[Did we misspell Barnabas all the way through this story? Yes.–lrh] Frid, Minus Fangs, to Read in O.C. Performance: The actor has less than fond memories for his years as vampire Barnabus Collins on TV’s ‘Dark Shadows.’ October 26, 1991 … Continue reading

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

Aaron Spelling and His Mansion

Photograph by Mark Terrill / Associated Press The Spelling mansion in 1993. The Daily Mirror revisits the story of Aaron Spelling and his Holmby Hills mansion, which is for sale. HE’S MADE TV WHAT IT IS TODAY * Aaron Spelling … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Television | 1 Comment

Trouble Was His Business — Raymond Chandler

Philip Carey discusses his new TV show, "Philip Marlowe," written by Gene Wang, formerly of "Perry Mason."  Archive of American Television interview with Philip Carey, 2002.

Posted in books, broadcasting, Hollywood, Raymond Chandler, Television | 1 Comment

Anna Nicole Smith — 2007

Note: The Daily Mirror revisits Times archival stories about today’s news makers. This is a column originally published in 2007 on the death of Anna Nicole Smith. Breathtaking coverage, but lamentable By Paul BrownfieldFebruary 10, 2007 The centerfold, the gold … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, broadcasting, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Television | 1 Comment

Re-Creating Ballgames in the Days of Radio, March 14, 1959

Los Angeles Times file photo KHJ-TV sportscasters Lyle Bond, left, and Bill Brundige in a 1957 publicity shot for their coverage of the Los Angeles Angels. I’ve always associated radio re-creations of baseball games with an earlier, simpler era. So … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Dodgers, Sports, Television | 4 Comments

Paul Coates — Confidential File, March 7, 1959

CONFIDENTIAL FILE Inactivated Barber Makes Superb Clip Any man who can overcome a handicap like an underactive thyroid and make a name for himself in show business, is, in my book, all right. Therefore, to wit, I like Perry Como. … Continue reading

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Matt Weinstock — March 3, 1959

Death of a Fighter Rene Belbenoit, a gallant man, goes to his grave today at Pierce Bros. Hollywood cemetery. Rene, 59, was found dead, sitting in a chair, in the little desert store he had operated the last seven years … Continue reading

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Misterogers Visits KCET; Tom Lasorda at Spring Training, March 3, 1969

Fred Rogers visits KECT-TV, with King Friday XIII and the rest. I know that high-minded Daily Mirror readers will completely ignore the story at left about streaking and that the subject of naked college kids running around holds no interest … Continue reading

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Dodgers, Education, Politics, Religion, Television | 1 Comment

Remembering Kathy Fiscus, 1949

April 10, 1949, Bill Yancey retrieves the body of Kathy Fiscus. Stan Chambers discusses covering the Kathy Fiscus story. His comments begin at the 10:50 point. Sixty years after a frantic attempt to rescue a young San Marino girl trapped … Continue reading

Posted in @news, broadcasting, Television | 3 Comments

Found on EBay — 1959 Predicta TV

A 1959 Philco Predicta has been listed on EBay. Warning: It doesn’t work and is evidently for display purposes only. Bidding starts at $9.99, but there is a reserve. 

Posted in art and artists, broadcasting, Television | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock — February 7, 1959

Viene La Mañana Lencho Perez, a song writer, was arrested recently for drunk driving, and when he appeared in Judge Carlos Teran’s court in East L.A. he contritely admitted his guilt and paid his fine. Not only that, he returned … Continue reading

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Vin Scully Hosts Game Show, February 6, 1969

In a skit, Tim Conway portrays San Francisco State President S.I. Hayakawa as a samurai warrior preparing to battle student radicals. Vin Scully was hitting the game-show circuit. The legendary Dodgers broadcaster had signed on to host "It Takes Two" … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Dodgers, Television | 5 Comments

Movie Star Mystery Photo

People didn’t care much for the last mystery photo. Here’s one you may like better. Update: Herb Nichols and Pete Nowell guessed that our mystery fellow is Chargers football coach Sid Gillman making a guest appearance on "The Rifleman." Notice … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Mystery Photo, Television | 24 Comments

Rock Stars Die in Plane Crash, February 3, 1959

Ritchie Valens’ Roots Los Angeles Times, July 19, 1987 By GREGG BARRIOS WATSONVILLE, Calif. — “I still remember the first time we heard Ritchie sing on the radio,” the mother of the late Latino rock ‘n’ roller Ritchie Valens recalled … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll, San Fernando Valley, Television, Transportation | 4 Comments

Imagining the Future, 1959

The home of the future will have a "television recorder" and a flat-screen TV! And the kids will have microfilm books that can be projected on the ceiling… In all, pretty accurate, but I’m still waiting for "Kukla, Frank and … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Science, Television | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock –January 27, 1959

A Sunny Gomorrah? Writers are still talking about Rod Serling’s biting drama, "The Velvet Alley," on Playhouse 90 last week. It was about a humble, hard-working New York writer, admirably played by Art Carney, who sells a TV script, comes … Continue reading

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January 24, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Paul Coates, Television | 1 Comment