November 3, 1941: Wingy Manone Puts the Swing in Swing Shift

NOv. 3, 1941, British Women
Nov. 3, 1941, Comics
November 3, 1941: Tom Treanor goes to a dance at the Glendale Civic Auditorium for swing shift workers, about 5,000 of them, from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. on a Saturday morning. Most of the couples are married, he says, and the wives are 18 or 19.

One of the trombonists wasn’t playing because his instrument was broken at a Halloween job. Why did he show up? Because he still got paid, even without his instrument. Trumpeter Wingy Manone [often spelled Wingie and Mannone] (d. 1982) played left-handed because his right arm was missing.  Manone wrote an autobiography titled “Trumpet on the Wing.”

Videos of Wingy Manone: Jukebox Joe’s | Tailgate Ramble | Vine Street Blues |

The Times also publishes a story about a woman who was “criminally assaulted” – one of those quaint terms newspapers used to use — by four men. One of them was a friend of her brother and wanted to kill her because she recognized him, but the others prevented him. And, as was customary in those days, The Times published her name and address.

Jimmy Fidler says: REPUBLIC’S “RED RIVER” SET AT A GLANCE: Cowboy extras using between scene leisure to shine already gleaming boots … “Gabby” Hayes displaying femme star temperament when a prop barber’s chair refuses to work … Sally Payne (industriously knitting a washcloth): “Other girls can keep the soldiers warm; I’m concentrating on keeping the Army clean” … The Sons of the Pioneers and Roy Rogers (who used to be one of them) blending voices for a sentimental rendition of “Sweet Adeline” … Veteran Henry Morris, greatest bulldogger in rodeo history, standing in for “Gabby” Hayes … Set visitors examining a bench carved with the initials B.C. as Billy Gilbert explains that Bing Crosby got his screen start on this very sound stage in Sennett shorts … Gale Storm (watching Mexican extras in a knife-throwing contest): “What a useful accomplishment in Hollywood society!”

[And yes, this was released as “Red River Valley.”]

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Movieland ‘Unsuitable’ Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Main Title Sinners' Holiday, lettering over black background

This week’s mystery movie was the 1930 Warner Bros. film Sinners’ Holiday, based on the play Penny Arcade by Marie Baumer, with Grant Withers, Lucille LaVerne, Warren Hymer, James Cagney, Joan Blondell, Noel Madison, Evalyn Knapp, Otto Hoffman, Hank Mann and Ray Gallagher. Continue reading

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November 3, 1907: A House With Curb Appeal


Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

November 3, 1907
Los Angeles

Mrs. E.N. Eskey is building this 10-room house in Pico Heights, on Van Ness just south of Pico.

According to The Times, the two-story house (with basement) has a first floor divided into a reception hall with an oak staircase leading upstairs. The living room features built-in bookcases and a massive brick mantel. The dining room has a built-in buffet and china closet, with a pantry and kitchen.


The floors are quarter-sawn oak on the first floor and maple flooring in the rest of the house. The Times says there are four chambers, presumably bedrooms, a sewing room and a bathroom upstairs, as well as an alcove.

In the basement, a coal bin and a Rudd heater.

The cost? $5,000 ($102,617.85 USD 2005) a bargain by today’s standards. Note that in March 2004, 1244 S. Van Ness sold for $1,037,500.

Update: This house is still standing and has been painted blue. I’ll post some photos once I get the film developed (yes, I’m old-school).

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Daylight Saving Time Ends: A Reminder From Pier Angeli and the Daily Mirror

Pier Angeli

Pier Angeli and her adorable little friend remind Daily Mirror readers that Daylight Saving Time ends today and to turn your clocks back one hour. Hi Eve!!

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November 1, 1947: UCLA Ruffians Kidnap USC’s George Tirebiter!


L.A. Times ,1947
Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project.

The assault on USC’s campus canine prompted angry letters to The Times and a pointed barb on the sports pages. “Whoever did that had a warped mind,” columnist Braven Dyer said.

Of course, the Trojans were up to the challenge and shortly before the schools’ annual grudge match, painted the Westwood campus with slogans like “George Tirebiter’s Revenge.” The scoreboard was vandalized to read: “USC 1,000, UCLA 0.” The actual score was much closer. USC, which at that point was unbeaten, defeated UCLA 6-0 and went to the Rose Bowl, although it subsequently lost its homecoming game to Notre Dame 38-7.

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October 31, 1957: Trick or Treat murder

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times

The “Trick-or-Treat Murder” house, 13236 Community St., October 27, 2007.


October 31, 1957
Los Angeles

They had planned the murder for months as the vague wish turned into a solid, horrible truth. They played out each variation in the script again and again until every detail was polished and perfect. They thought of everything. One was the brains behind the killing and the other was the willing, gullible stooge. Neither could have done it
alone, but the odd chemistry formed a murderous bond between the two women.

The first step took more than a month as Joan laid the groundwork for the killing, continually telling Goldyne that the victim deserved to die. “She painted him as a vile, evil man who wanted to destroy all people around him,” Goldyne said. “Although I had never seen him, I built up an intense hatred for him.”

Next, they had to choose a method. They decided they couldn’t use poison or a knife. They needed a gun.

With a male friend, Goldyne went to a Pasadena gun shop to select a .38 Smith & Wesson “for home protection.” Three days later, Joan took her to the store and gave her the money to buy the revolver and two bullets. Continue reading

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October 30, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Look, Mom! No CavitiesIn case you’re too young to understand Matt Weinstock’s reference, Crest toothpaste had a famous – and frequently satirized – ad campaign in the 1950s.


Seized by Indians*

Matt Weinstock Last Saturday as Hildred M. Hodgson, a lively grandmother, was walking along N. Beverly Glen Blvd. near her home, a big yellow bus marked “Special” stopped and a friendly gentleman inquired, “Where are you going, my pretty madam?”

“I’m going to the village to shop, kind sir,” she said.

At first she wondered if  anew bus service had been established in the Glen.  Then, from the convivial singing, with banjo accompaniment, emanating from the bus, she realized she’d been captured by a band of Stanford Indians — alumni, that is, some of whom were neighbors. Continue reading

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October 30, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Columnist’s Face Saved at Low Cost

Paul Coates, in coat and tieTOKYO — In today’s lesson, boys and girls, we will turn our rapt attention to the strange Japanese preoccupation with “saving face.”

All we’ve known about it in the past, of course, is what we’ve learned from the highly unreliable school of the American movie.

From the dim, distant days of the silent pictures up to the present era of the wide screen, we’ve watched countless Japanese bad guys (all of whom were Sessue Hayakawa) behave atrociously through every reel, but the last.

In the final scene, after being properly embarrassed by defeat at the hands of the hero, they would invariably take, what was for them, the easy way out by committing hara-kiri. Continue reading

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October 30, 1907: ‘Brat Frat’ Defies Ban by L.A. High School


Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

October 30, 1907
Los Angeles

The young men of Los Angeles High School have issued a direct challenge to the Board of Education, defying its authority by enlisting fraternity members despite a ban issued last year.

The chief offenders are the Pi Phis, who just added seven members, The Times says. “Another ‘brat frat,’ as they have been dubbed, recently held high jinks at Levy’s restaurant and made a burning declaration of independence in which the city superintendent of schools and all persons concerned in opposing them were relegated to a place where a fire company would not be a circumstance,” The Times said.

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Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – ‘Auction of Souls’

Jue 23, 1919, Auction of Souls
Photo: June 23, 1919, “Auction of Souls.” Credit: Los Angeles Times


Note: This is an encore post from 2011.

Los Angeles has long been a haven for refugees and artists, particularly those fleeing political and militaristic struggles.  As early as 1915, Armenians began arriving in Southern California after fleeing from the massacres and pogroms inflicted on them by Kurds and Turks.  By December of that year, 1,500 Armenians lived here without knowing the whereabouts of many members of their families back home.

Many continued to come, as the papers warned of massacres, imprisonment, torture, and murder of innocent men, women, and children. Genocide.  An article’s headline in the September 27, 1915, Los Angeles Times read, “Massacre of Armenians at Height of Its Fury, … Report States that Five Hundred Thousand Men, Women, and Children Have Either Been Killed by the Turks or Driven to the Desert to Perish of Starvation – Extermination of Non-Moslems is Programme Decided Upon.”  850,000 were reported killed by late October, nearly three quarters of the population of the entire country.

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October 29, 1959: Matt Weinstock

October 29, 1959: Pogo

No Boredom Today

Matt WeinstockThe girls in classified are a little dewy-eyed today over a Public Announcement ad.  It states simply, “Happy birthday, pretty Beverly.”  But there’s more to it than that.

Beverly, whoever she is, frequently remarks that nothing exciting ever happens to her.  An admirer, the man who phoned in the ad, confided to the classified ladies that he has arranged a day-long antidote for her boredom.

“When Beverly awakened this morning she was scheduled to be served a champagne breakfast with rosebud in vase.  Her roommate, who arises at 6 a.m., was in on the plot with her admirer.

When Beverly arrived at work she was confronted, according to schedule, by a 15-foot birthday card and a dozen roses. Continue reading

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October 29, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Women of Japan Enjoy Their Liberty

Paul Coates, in coat and tieLADIES DAY IN TOKYO (Part Two) — When General of the Army Douglas MacArthur returned, as he had somehow hurriedly promised to do, Japan got its first taste of democracy.

In the manner of a triumphant but just warrior, he used an iron hand to force the philosophy of freedom on them.

Say what you will about the pompous, rather regal ruler of our Pacific forces during and after our World War II, he was unquestionably the man who finally managed to introduce the West to the East.

And the main beneficiaries of that introduction were the women of Japan.

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October 29, 1907: ‘Oh, God, The Bassoon!’ Musicians Union Dispute Becomes Operatic

October 29, 1907: Rampant Laborites Ruin Opera Music

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

October 29, 1907
Los Angeles

Given The Times’ view of unions, it’s a little difficult to determine precisely what went wrong with a production of Ambroise Thomas’ “Mignon” at the Auditorium, but it went very wrong indeed because of a labor dispute.

The traveling company included orchestral players from Italy who had, according to The Times, joined the musicians union. However local union officials, citing labor leaders in St. Louis, appeared shortly before the evening’s performance and insisted that the musicians be thrown out of the union and therefore unable to perform.

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Matt Weinstock, Oct. 28, 1959

October 28, 1959: Peanuts

Misplaced Patch

Matt WeinstockThis one requires the utmost delicacy.

A lady named Irene got an infection on her chin.  Her doctor prescribed a series of shots, not on her chin.  She has been going to his office regularly and the nurse has been administrating them.

The other day when she appeared for her shot she said to the nurse, “I’ve got a business appointment after I leave here, would you put a Band-Aid on it?”

She was thinking, of course, of her chin.  The nurse, administering the shot, was not.  And amid wild laughter from Irene, she slapped the Band-Aid in the wrong place. Continue reading

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October 28, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Nippon Women Split on Retaining Geisha

Paul Coates, in coat and tie LADIES DAY IN TOKYO:  The flowery era of Madame Butterfly is dying, but not quite dead in the postwar life of Japan.

Under the democracy dictated to them by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Japanese women got the vote in 1946.

Since that time, 11 of them have become prominent members of parliament.  There is a very active, very huge, very persuasive League of Women Voters.  Women are beginning to outnumber men at political rallies.

And women are responsible for pushing through a law that banned prostitution for the first time in Japanese history.  It took them five tries in parliament to get the bill through, but they finally did it.

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October 28, 1956: Charlton Heston on the ‘Ten Commandments’

October 28, 1956: Ten Commandments

We had our religion writer Dan Thrapp interview Charlton Heston about his role as Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” Fortunately, Thrapp was not from the “over a salad and mineral water at the Polo Lounge” or “speaking by phone from Paris, where he is at work on his next picture” schools of celebrity interviewers, but he got something of substance.

Quote of the Day: It is interesting to note that once Moses climbs Mt. Sinai and talks to God there is never contentment for him again. That is the way it is with us. Once we talk to God, once we get his commission to us for our lives we cannot be again content. We are happier. We are busier. But we are not content because then we have a mission — a commission, rather.”

— Charlton Heston

This is adapted from an earlier post on Heston’s death >>>

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George Hodel: Ask Me Anything, October 2025

Here’s Boxetta (Boxie is on vacation) and I with this month’s “Ask Me Anything” on George Hodel.

In this session, I discussed:

Don’t dress up like the Black Dahlia for Halloween! 

Also: Continue reading

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October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

Old style LAPD badgeAbove, Police Chief James Davis turns over a list of more than 7,800 people who have received honorary badges from the Los Angeles Police Department. Recipients include Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, Louis B. Mayer, Joe E. Brown, King Vidor, Bela Lugosi and Leo Carrillo.

So many old-style badges like one the at left and the one in the Daily Mirror sidebar were handed out that the department replaced them with the current design and these are tightly restricted.

The old badges (usually with the rank of captain or chief) can sell for a fair amount of money, even though thousands of them were given away.

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October 28, 1907: Former LAPD Chief Calls It ‘Most Detestable Job Ever Created’

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
October 28, 1907
Los Angeles

You know the song even if you’ve never seen “Pirates of Penzance”: A policeman’s lot is not a happy one” and that is doubly true for one anonymous former LAPD chief.

The ex-chief has nothing but complaints: “It is the most detestable job ever created.” He can’t get enough men and when he does, many of them are political appointees who have friends in high places but nothing upstairs.

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October 27, 1968: Wilt Chamberlain and Richard Nixon

By Keith Thursby
Times staff writer

Wilt Chamberlain tried to explain his political leanings during a turbulent year in American history, particularly his support of Richard Nixon for president. Continue reading

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