World War II on the Radio — U.S. Bombers Hit Florence, March 12, 1944

Posted on March 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 12, 1944

— CBS World News Today. John Daly in Naples, Italy, interviews B-26 pilot Lt. Jack A. Larkin of Great Falls, Mont., about bombing Florence, Italy. Daly said that the Air Force had bombed outlying rail lines in hopes of making a rail on Florence, but was unsuccessful. Larkin says that pilots received detailed briefings on places of cultural significance in Florence that were not to be hit under any circumstances. Pope Pius XII also pleaded with combatants to spare Rome from battle.

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 12, 1944

Posted on March 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 12, 1944, Louella Parsons

March 12, 1944

Although you may not believe it, Spence [Spencer Tracy], like all the Irish, has a very sentimental streak in him. He likes to pretend he’s tough, but he’s one of the kindest, sweetest guys in the whole town, and the type of man to whom friendship means a lot.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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The LAPD Adopts the Colt Police Positive and Smith & Wesson Police Special, 1914

Posted on March 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

LAPD Pistols, 1914

Here’s an item from my visit to the city archives: The Police Commission approves the rule that all new LAPD officers must be provided with a Colt Police Positive or Smith & Wesson Police Special .38-caliber revolver.

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1944 on the Radio — Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra on ‘Command Performance,’ March 11, 1944

Posted on March 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 11, 1944

It’s Saturday in 1944 and today we have:

— “The Adventures of Jungle Jim.” In episode, Jim and the crew are fighting the Japanese. Courtesy of Otrrlibrary.org.

— Dinah Shore, Ginny Simms and Frank Sinatra on “Command Performance.” Courtesy of Otrrlibrary.org.

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Few People Alive Today Realize the Mood of the Country in 1944

Posted on March 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

Frederick Crothers For Blog 1950

Frederick Crothers in 1949, courtesy of Anthony Stephen Crothers.

Note: This is a guest post by Anthony Stephen Crothers, a regular Daily Mirror reader.

Louella Parsons’ article published in March 1944 referencing Darryl Zanuck’s story and ultimately the picture he made about the bravery of the U.S. servicemen  in WWII [“Purple Heart”] dredged up a lot of interesting remembrances and feelings as to the mood of the country and the patriotism the prevailed among the folks here at home at that time.

Zanuck had three kids at the outset of WWII and somehow was able to enlist voluntarily and serve in the military for a time. Most every “red-blooded” American man enlisted or tried to enlist in the service in a wave of real altruism that pervaded our country at that time. Zanuck’s draft status was: married, with three children, which would normally have kept him out of combat.

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 11, 1944

Posted on March 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 11, 1944

HOLLYWOOD, March 10 — Hedy Lamarr is crazy about Mexico. She wears Mexican jewelry, which she bought there, and every time I see her she and John Loder are planning to return to Mexico City. So I think it is entirely fitting she should have the lead in “Holiday in Mexico.” It is an Arthur Freed musical to be made in Technicolor with a Mexican locale. [The film was released in 1946 with Ilona Massey.]

NEVER LET IT BE SAID that Kenneth MacGowan’s “Lifeboat” didn’t stir up plenty of controversy. So, naturally, his next production at 20th rates considerable interest. It will be “The Blue and the Gray,” an original by Bert Le Vino and his late wife, Peg, about three regiments of Confederate soldiers — prisoners of war sent West during the Civil War. There are still people, believe it or not, fighting the Civil War, so maybe MacGowan has another hot subject. Understand Fred MacMurray (20th’s latest male acquisition) and Dana Andrews will be the leads. [Interesting concept — I’m not sure this was ever made into a film. Does anyone recognize it?]

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 11, 1944

Posted on March 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 11, 1944

Lint From a Blue Serge Suit

Dinah Shore’s headache: Her great arranger has been drafted … Barbara Stanwyck’s next film will be her 50th. Just finished Warners’ “My Reputation.”

All those long-distance calls for starlet Gail Russell (when she was here) came from Duke Edwards … Betty Smith’s bestseller has been rechristened in England: “The Tree in the Yard.” Don’t they like Brooklyn over there?

John Carradine is rewriting Shakespeare for his next tour. Feels the Bard must be simplified for this generation…. F. Sinatra’s press staff has been told to play down the swoon angle and play up the family man stuff …

She’s a well-known movie actress. He’s a well-known married director … It’s been a romance for many years, but he can’t get a divorce … His daily telegrams and her nightly letters keep them alive … She signs hers “Swank” (meaning Sealed with a nice kiss) and he signs his wires “Blake” (for Best love and kisses ever). Those are not really the signatures but you get the idea.

From the St. Petersburg Times.

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Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Columnists, Film, History, New York, Nightclubs, Stage | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘The Fountainhead’ Comics

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead

The Fountainhead

Here’s a little sample of what I found while going through the Police Commission and Police Department materials from the 1940s at the city archives.

Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead”  was serialized and accompanied by these illustrations by Frank Godwin.

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

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This is “Make Way for Tomorrow,” an unusual and quite sentimental movie.

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Amos ‘N’ Andy’ and ‘The Lone Ranger,’ March 10, 1944

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 10, 1944

It’s Friday in 1944, and today we have:

— Andy is still looking for Madam Queen on “Amos ‘N’ Andy.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

— Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. “The Lone Ranger.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

— The 1940s version of easy listening music from “To Your Good Health” from the House of Squibb. Courtesy of Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org.

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 10, 1944

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

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A hot time in old Milwaukee!

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March 10, 1944

HOLLYWOOD, March 9 — SISTER KENNY ARRIVED IN TOWN WEDNESDAY to be the house guest of Rosalind Russell. Simultaneously with the arrival of the woman who has done so much for infantile paralysis sufferers, we learn that Roz is playing “Sister Kenny” —  and for RKO. The script is right back where it started — on Charlie Koerner’s desk. I have an idea when the picture is made that it will be Mary McCarthy’s script and not the treatment by Clifford Odets. Roz told me that she thought the McCarthy script was infinitely better. Never has there been such excitement over any one picture, and I am certainly glad that Roz, who loves Sister Kenny, will play that grand woman.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Selig Zoo, Motion Pictures’ First Theme Park

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Selig Zoo
The Selig Zoo, in Cement and Engineering News.


From its humble beginnings as merely a boarding home for William Selig’s wild animal film stars, the Selig Zoo at 3800 Mission Road in East Los Angeles eventually became one of the metropolis’ top tourist attractions in the 1910s and 1920s. Featuring exotic wild animals from around the world, extensive landscaped grounds, and elaborate amenities, the Zoo served as the impetus for the city of Los Angeles to organize a permanent public zoo for its citizens, and served as the city’s first theme park.

Col. (honorary) William N. Selig served as an itinerant traveling magician and managed minstrel companies before establishing a fledgling moving picture technology and production company in Chicago in 1896. A California resident in the late 1800s, Selig eventually established a permanent Los Angeles studio in 1909.

Mary Mallory’s “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found” is available for the Kindle.

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1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 10, 1944

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 10, 1944

The Private Papers of a Cub Reporter

From Miami Beach: At the graduation exercises of Officers Candidate school one of the brand-new lieutenants was a Negro. Which meant he had to be good because while they are fair there a colored boy doesn’t exactly have a bed of roses.

As you know, it is the custom for the girlfriends of the new lieutenants to pin their bars on. But there were, here in the very deep South, no colored girls sitting in the grandstand. So at the Big Moment the girls all rushed out and decorated the shoulders of the new officers. And the colored boy stood there in a little pool of silence and loneliness. After a long instant, however, a little Army nurse dashed out, pinned on his shining bars, smiled sweetly at him and returned to the stand. The colored boy’s big smile was a thing to see! Isn’t this democracy at its most spontaneous best?

From the St. Petersburg Times.

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1944 on the Radio — George Murphy on ‘Kraft Music Hall,’ March 9, 1944

Posted on March 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 9, 1944

It’s Thursday in 1944, and today we have:

— Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake of “Blondie” are the guests on “Abbott and Costello.” Abbott really gets a lot of mileage out of being “mayor” of Sherman Oaks.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

— “The Dinah Shore Program.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

— George Murphy is the guest on Bing Crosby’s “Kraft Music Hall.” Courtesy of Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org.

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 9, 1944

Posted on March 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 9, 1944, Jane Eyre

March 9, 1944, Louella Parsons

March 9, 1944

HOLLYWOOD, March 8 — “Mildred Pearce,” all renovated, streamlined and with a snow white bill of health, has so pleased Joan Crawford that she has consented to make it for Warners. Now, here is the inside of the “Never Goodbye” story which Eddie Goulding has been whipping into shape for months: Joan was perfectly willing to make the picture and Warners wanted her, but when it was finally written the man’s part turned out to be the lead. Walter Huston was engaged and Joan agreed with the studio that it was not her “dish of tea.” So now that’s that. While I cannot say that Eddie, whose ideas are so numerous, may again rewrite it, so far it’s a starring vehicle for Huston.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 9, 1944

Posted on March 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 9, 1944

Things I Never Knew ‘Til Now

(About Canada’s War Effort)

Canada is the only one of America’s Allies which has not used Lease-Lend help … Most of her money payments to the Allies have been outright gifts because Canada is opposed to piling up war debts… The United States is Canada’s best customer; and Canada is at the top of the list of our best customers.

From the St. Petersburg Times.

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1944 on the Radio — Lucille Ball on ‘Orson Welles’ Radio Almanac,’ March 8, 1944

Posted on March 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 8, 1944

It’s Wednesday in 1944, and today we have:

— Lucille Ball is the guest on “Orson Welles’ Radio Almanac.” More income tax jokes. Courtesy of Archive.org.

— Lionel Barrymore, Eddie Cantor and Connie Haines, plus the Pied Pipers, are the guests on “Mail Call.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

— Mezzo-soprano Suzanne Sten is the guest on “To Your Good Health” from the House of Squibb. Courtesy of Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org.

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 8, 1944

Posted on March 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 8, 1944, Louella Parsons

March 8, 1944

HOLLYWOOD, March 7 — Just heard that Ruth Gordon’s sprightly comedy “Over Twenty-One” has been bought for Irene Dunne. As you may have guessed, Columbia paid a pretty price for the privilege of filming Ruth’s play, which is playing nightly to a packed house on Broadway. There is a touch of Hollywood in this wartime comedy, which is as timely as your morning newspaper.

Irene told me she hasn’t read nor seen the play but had been told Columbia bought it. I suggest she go to New York and see it. On the other hand, her own conception of the wartime bride might be even better.

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 8, 1944

Posted on March 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

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March 8, 1944

Man About Town

Adelaide Norris is crowding Cholly McCarthy off Edgar Bergen’s spacious lap … Those 31 persons rounded up Saturday by the G-Men (for allegedly peddling illegal railway reservations in Florida) tittered at the warning here months ago. Ha, ha. That Winchell is such a comedian.

One of the weekly news mags is said to be able to prove the real murderer of Sir Harry Oakes. An irate husband angle. When and if the unsolved murder case is reopened, the evidence will revolve around Voodooism — which calls for setting fire to a body, etc.

Walter Huston may run for the Congress pew vacated by Will Rogers Jr. … Mark Hellinger’s next assignment will be his most thrilling.

From the St. Petersburg Times.

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Duffy’s Tavern’ and ‘Fibber McGee and Molly,’ March 7, 1944

Posted on March 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

radio_dial_1944

March 7, 1944

It’s Tuesday in 1944, and today we have:

— “Movie Primer,” a pretty funny satirical look at Hollywood going through the ABCs (B is for boy as in boy meets girl; C is for movie columnist; D is for dialogue, etc.), is the show in “Columbia Workshop.” With a segment titled “A Picture You Can’t Afford to Miss.” From Otrrlibary.org via Archive.org.

— Col. Lemuel Q. Stoopnagle (Frederick Chase Taylor) is the guest on “Duffy’s Tavern.” Calculating the federal income tax is a challenge. Courtesy of Archive.org.

— “Fibber McGee and Molly.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

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