Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
July 10, 1907
Los Angeles
Among the features of an educational conference being held in Los Angeles is a group of Native American students brought by Francis E. Leupp, the commissioner of Indian Affairs.
A Times editorial praised Leupp, saying: “He appears to be guided by great common sense and good judgment while actuated by a sincere affection and regard for the noblest savage race that ever inhabited the Earth.”
If you are cursed with the memory of having seen “Gangster Squad,” you may recall this ridiculous shot of Spring Street from City Hall. In last week’s mystery movie, “Illegal” (1955) we have the actual location, now occupied by Grand Park.
At the left, we have the California State Building, the Hall of Records and the Hall of Justice.
“The Sins of Hollywood,” via Archive.org.
Note: This is an encore post from 2015.
From its very beginnings, the motion picture industry has endured protests and censorship attacks from conservative members of the American public, those scandalized at seeing women given the right to be heroines, use of spirits or drugs depicted on screen, accurate depictions of romantic or sexual relationships, and dramatic depictions of violence. At the same time, many of the same people complaining about these visceral images on screen were eagerly partaking of scandal sheets and tabloid newspapers filled with muck, sensationalism, and gossip. These hypocritical individuals failed to realize that one form of entertainment was just as bad as the other, but they allowed journalism to partake of First Amendment rights, but not the entertainment industry.
As early as 1905 to 1907, many persons began calling for censorship of moving pictures, and by 1909, many cities and states possessed censor boards which approved or disapproved films for public exhibition. Though they would censor film product for its licentiousness, these same public officials felt no need to alter or disapprove of scandalous printed forms of entertainment. Conservative voices increasingly voiced their opposition to film depictions whenever scandal erupted in the motion picture industry.
Mary Mallory’s “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found” is available for the Kindle.
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1939 RKO picture “Fixer Dugan,” with Lee Tracy, Virginia Weidler, Peggy Shannon, Bradley Page, William Edmunds, Edward Gargan, Jack Arnold, Rita LaRoy, Irene Franklin, John Dilson and Edythe Elliott. Photography was by J. Roy Hunt, art direction by Van Nest Polglase, special effects by Vernon L. Walker. Screenplay by Bert Granet and Paul Yawitz, adapted from the play “What’s a Fixer For?” by H.C. Potter. Produced by Cliff Reid and directed by Lew Landers.
“Fixer Dugan” is available on DVD from Warner Archive with three other RKO pictures: “Criminal Lawyer,” “Behind the Headlines” and “Crashing Hollywood.”
Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
July 9, 1907
Los Angeles
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on Hewitt Street was barren; the pastor had gone away and the congregation had moved on. And so the City Council, in struggling to house inmates at the crowded, filthy prison on West 4th Street, decided to lease the old church for $100 ($2,052.36 USD 2005) a month as a temporary jail until a larger facility could be built “more nearly adequate for a city of the size of Los Angeles,” The Times said.
In discussing the move, Councilman Wallace berated his fellow lawmakers for neglecting the jail and said the council members were far worse criminals for their neglect than anyone housed in the crumbling structure.
“Hey, Johnny, what are you rebelling against?”
“What’ve you got?”
Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.
Hard at work as a mechanical engineer during the day, the former naval aviation researcher still finds time to do a little writing. At the moment he’s on his first novel, which is a book for children. It’s an amazing story about three young friends who have a rocket-building club.
Invited to address local librarians at a 1948 luncheon, the author says: “If we have a military base on the moon there will be no war. This would change the strategic situation so completely as to immediately postpone the cause of war.”
His first novel is published by Scribner’s under the name “Rocket Ship Galileo.” The author lives at 333 S. Clark Drive, Los Angeles, Calif.
His name is Robert A. Heinlein.
Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
July 5, 1907
Los Angeles
See here, you pesky temperance workers, beer is “liquid bread.” It’s good for you.
July 4, 1944: Uncle Sam in a cartoon by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale for the Los Angeles Examiner and republished in the Milwaukee Sentinel.
Note: This is an encore post from 2014.
Here’s a look at how Los Angeles has celebrated Independence Day over the years.
Note: This is an encore post that originally appeared on the 1947project, but in June rather than July. Oops.
Note: This is an encore post from 2014.
July 4, 1944
”The Make-Believe Sheriff” is the title of today’s episode of “The Green Hornet.” Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org
”Lum and Abner” are building a health resort on grandpappy’s farm. Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org.
Get ready to smile with “Vic and Sade,” brought to you by Ivory flakes. Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org.
Note: This is a post from 2015.
Years ago, in researching Camp Cooke, I bought the diary of a soldier named Harry A. Rankin, who was stationed there in 1942 and early 1943 (and no, he doesn’t mention Elizabeth Short). Here’s his list of what he did on a pass to Los Angeles on July 3-5, 1942.
Among the places he visited were Clifton’s Cafeteria of the Tropics, 618 S. Olive.; Pershing Square, where a B-25 was on display; the Biltmore; Beverly Hills Hotel; the Hollywood Canteen; Grauman’s Chinese Theatre; the Pantages Theatre; Earl Carroll’s; and Temple Baptist Church at 5th and Olive – also known as Philharmonic Auditorium. He also mentions the Platinium dance hall, which is a new one on me.
Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
July 4, 1907
Los Angeles
And how does Los Angeles celebrate Independence Day? With cricket matches and bagpipe contests.
The complete July 4, 1863, issue of the Los Angeles Star is available from USC, which scanned a copy at the Huntington.
Note: This is an encore post from 2013.
July 4, 1863: Los Angeles plans to celebrate the Fourth of July with a 34-gun salute and a fireworks display in the evening. A ball was planned at the Willow Grove House in the afternoon and another ball in town in the evening.
The Star, a staunch supporter of the Confederacy, said: “This Declaration is being now reenacted. The same soil which sent forth its heroes to do battle for these fundamental truths is again called upon to endure a baptism of blood in their vindication.”
The Star also reports on a measure in Sacramento “requiring foreigners to show their papers before voting.”
Sugar Chile Robinson performs at the Lincoln. I should do an entire post on him, but so many stories and only one Larry Harnisch.
July 3, 1947: One of the regular complaints in my Twitter feed is about the lack of people of color among movie critics. So here we are. A review of “Crossfire” in the Los Angeles Sentinel by Wendell Green. He says: “They should have stood in bed.”
Also: Duke Ellington says jazz musicians need thorough technical training.
Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.
This is where the 1947 Project intersects with other 1947 Project. Mysterious flying discs were reported June 28 over New Mexico, prompting sarcastic letters to The Times: (“They went by a cow out in the field right behind our house and the suction sucked the cow inside out so now all we have to do to milk bossy is lean her over sidewise and let the milk run out.”)
The next day, other observers reported that the saucers over Beverly Hills were searchlights reflected off clouds (presumably from another movie premiere or the opening of coin laundry).
Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
July 3, 1907
Los Angeles
Robert T. Hall, head of the Los Angeles Anti-Fakers League (or Anti-Fakers Society), says shots were fired at him as he returned from an outing to a friend’s summer camp, and he blames local spiritualists and mediums.
He has been leading a crusade against fortune tellers, seers and other practitioners of the mystic arts and in heading for the end of the streetcar line in Edendale, he passed Semi-Tropic Park, a gathering place for spiritualists just outside the city limits, where such practices are regulated by law.
This week’s mystery movie has been the 1955 Warner Bros. film “Illegal,” and yes, it is the studio’s second remake of “The Mouthpiece.”
With Edward G. Robinson, Nina Foch, Hugh Marlowe, Jayne Mansfield, Albert Dekker, Howard St. John, Ellen Corby, Edward Platt, Jan Merlin, Robert Ellenstein, Jay Adler, Henry Kulky, James McCallion, Addison Richards, Lawrence Dobkin, DeForest Kelly, Clark Howat and Stuart Nedd. This version of the screenplay was by W.R. Burnett and James R. Webb from a story by Frank J. Collins. Photography was by J. Peverell Marley, art direction by Stanley Fleischer, set decoration by William Wallace, wardrobe by Moss Mabry, orchestrations by Murray Cutter, makeup by Gordon Bau, music by Max Steiner. Produced by Frank P. Rosenberg, directed by Lewis Allen.
“Illegal” is available on DVD from Warner Archive, paired with “The Big Steal.”
Construction of the Statue of Liberty, artwork by John Durkin, Harper’s Weekly, Jan. 19, 1884.
Written in 1883 to help raise money for building the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty would stand, Emma Lazarus’ 14-line poem “The New Colossus” would take on a life of its own: becoming enshrined on the statue as a memorial to the poet and as a statement of welcome to those seeking refuge in our country. As we approach Independence Day, the meaning behind its words rings even clearer today.
Born July 22, 1849, in New York City as the fourth of seven children to wealthy merchant Moses Lazarus, Emma received a strong private education, learning to speak at least four languages and becoming an excellent writer, especially in poetry. Ralph Waldo Emerson mentored her. She translated works of literature as well as setting down her own odes, many based on romantic literature and others on troubling historic events regarding her fellow Jews, receiving much praise upon their publication. She also worked to alleviate the suffering of women and the poor.
Mary Mallory’s “Living With Grace” is now on sale.
ladailymirror.com 