Oct. 26, 1942: Rosetta (D. 1958) and Vivian (D. 1986) Duncan appear in “Topsy and Eva,” a musical version of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” a musical comedy in which they first appeared in San Francisco in the 1920s. The Duncan sisters wrote the music and lyrics for the show, adapted by Catherine Chisholm Cushing.

Councilman Norris Nelson tells a story about the ghost of Lon Chaney sitting on a bench at Hollywood and Vine.

In discussing a proposed ordinance to ease restrictions on placement of benches, Nelson said that about 15 years earlier, he had placed an ornamental iron bench at the famous intersection.

“Lon Chaney used to sit on that bench and wait for a bus when he was an extra boy,” Nelson said. “When he became a star he used to drive by it and pick up poor devils who were still extras; after he died his ghost was reported seen sitting on the bench and finally a spot was reserved for the ghost and nobody ever sat in it.”

Of course, arithmetic refutes the story. Using Nelson’s figures, the bench was placed in 1927, when Chaney was already a star. Another good story ruined.

Gang members riot at the Los Angeles Theatre when police try to arrest three of them for making unnecessary noises in the balcony. About 20 officers responded to the disturbance and the gang members fled, with only Tony Sanchez, 17, 858 1/2 State St., arrested.

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