August 27, 1903: 6,000 Union Army Veterans Gather to Recall the Campfires of Old

Aug. 27, 1903, Civil War Reunion

Aug. 27, 1903, Civil War Reunion

The entire August 27, 1903, edition of the Herald is available here.


August 27, 1903: The Los Angeles Times (and by extension, the Chandler family) is frequently treated as if it was the only paper in the city’s history. Those who delve into the subject know better, of course, but access to The Times’  long-dead rivals, such as the Examiner, Herald-Express and Daily News, is difficult because it involves microfilm, which is regrettable  because the Examiner, for example, was a far superior paper in many respects – certainly when it came to crime coverage.

The California Digital Newspaper Collection has a wide assortment of papers, although few of them cover the Raymond Chandler era (1930s-1950s) that is so popular in the public imagination.

Here’s an issue from the Herald, which noted on its masthead that  it was the oldest morning paper in Los Angeles, having been founded in 1873.

About 6,000 veterans of the Grand Army of the Republic gather at Eastlake Park (now Lincoln Park) for a reunion, with lunch, speeches and a massive bonfire. The band and drum corps from the Soldiers Home played “America, the Beautiful,” “Marching Through Georgia,” “Rally Round the Flag” and “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys are Marching.”  Including wives and children, the total attendance was estimated at 10,000, the Herald said.

Those who think traffic in Los Angeles is a new problem – and that the streetcars were the perfect solution – please note:

The Los Angeles Railway company tripled its service to the park on both the Maple Avenue and Downey Avenue lines and even with the many additional cars the traffic was badly congested at times and the veterans had to wait for accommodations both going and coming.

Among the speakers was Will A. Harris, the son of a Confederate soldier, who spoke out against the lynching of African Americans.

William H. Potter of Alhambra appears before Judge Trask on an insanity charge. He is found to be suffering from “a plethora of money and has for years been busily engaged in having ‘a good time,’ so called,” The Herald said. “To blow in $500 in a day or two was a common occurrence with him, but as there did not appear to be any sign of actual insanity, Potter was discharged.”

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August 26, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

August 26, 1959: August 26, 1959: The Miss Universe Contest is becoming increasingly scandalous and tawdry, Paul Coates says. Dear Abby has advice for a woman who sees nothing wrong with having an affair "as long as nobody is hurt."

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, August 26, 1944

Aug. 26, 1944, Comics

August 26, 1944

When William Bendix was broke and didn’t have a nickel to his name, his father-in-law, Henry Stafanotty, loaned him money to support his wife and child. Bill isn’t the kind who forgets and now he has opened a hardware shop for his wife’s father in Newark and is calling it “The Wake.” That’s in honor of “Wake Island,” which put Bill in the movie limelight.

VIRGO: Put today in your happy medium column. Approach agreeably and without fuss the good and the bad tasks. No volcanic promotion ideas, just down-to-earth dependability.

From the Philadelphia Inquirer via Fultonhistory.com.

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Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is September 2

Boxie and I will be doing a live “Ask Me Anything” on the Black Dahlia case Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. Pacific time, on YouTube. I won’t be doing more streaming videos on Instagram because I don’t have enough subscribers.

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August 26, 1938: LAPD officer accused in bizarre plot to kill neighbors

August 26, 1938: Photo of house with dotted line showing path of a tunnelI had to look twice at this one: A suspended police officer hires a couple of men to tunnel to his neighbors’ house? Really? I mean are you serious?
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Posted in #courts, Front Pages, LAPD, Sports | 4 Comments

August 26, 1907: Save Those Redwoods

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

Aug. 26, 1907
Santa Rosa, Calif.

Elected officials addressed a large rally devoted to saving the 800-acre Armstrong Grove, named after lumber baron J.B. Armstrong, who decided to save the stand of soaring redwoods rather than clearing it.

“Armstrong Grove contains the finest and largest redwood timber in California,” The Times said. “For years it has been a great attraction to tourists and is one of the features of the Russian River section.

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August 25, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

August 25, 1959: Paul Coates and Dear Abby

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Open Secret’ a Timely Tale of Tolerance

Open Secret
TCM tackles a vital subject with its screening of the motion picture “Open Secret” during the upcoming TCM Classic Film Festival April 11-14. 2019. As timely now as when it was first released in 1948,“Open Secret” promotes religious and racial tolerance to a country fighting to accept the very principles upon which it was created. Produced on a much smaller budget than studio films “Crossfire” and “Gentlemen’s Agreement,” “Open Secret” takes a no-nonsense look at growing racial intolerance and anti-Semitism in the late 1940s, fighting back against these loathsome tendencies.

Two years after the United States and its allies crushed the Axis powers of Germany, Italy, and Japan to win World War II and restore dramatic principles of equality and tolerance, fear and hatred of foreigners and “others” was growing among the disenchanted in America. The July 17, 1946, Los Angeles Times reported that the Jewish Labor Committee was beginning a campaign to “eliminate racial discrimination and bigotry among workers.” “It takes a concerted campaign against the conditions which tempt ordinary people to grasp at the dangerous belief that it is the Jews, or the Negroes, or the foreigners who are taking away their economic bread and butter or cultural opportunities. Most antagonism arises from economic insecurity which pits man against his fellow man for jobs, better living standards and social advancement.” The Committee hoped to show that it was economic and political practices which were causing these cuts in wages, not the people.

The TCM Classic Film Festival begins April 11.

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August 25, 1947: Police Investigate Death of Doctor’s Wife

Aug. 25, 1947, L.A. Times

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

A doctor and a mysterious death—of course, Dr. Manuel de J. Castillo came under suspicion, although I suspect it was only briefly—in the Black Dahlia case.

The Times never followed up on Susanne Castillo’s death, either on the autopsy or the inquest. But Dr. Castillo turned up in the news several times in the 1950s and ’60s.

A 1940 graduate of the National Autonomous University of Honduras, Castillo got his California medical license in 1944. In 1955, he bought a 1,500-acre ranch near Bishop.

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August 25, 1958: Jealous husband rams movie star’s car, Reds win over Dodgers

Some folks may find this hard to believe, but drivers were complaining about bad traffic in Los Angeles 50 years ago. I can’t say it often enough: History shows that congested streets have been a problem in Los Angeles for at least a century.

August 25, 1958: Letter writer complains about Los Angeles freeways. Continue reading

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August 25, 1907: Death at the Lummis House Over a Garden Hose


Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

Aug. 25, 1907
Los Angeles

A 20-year-old Pueblo Indian from New Mexico was shot to death at the home of City Librarian Charles F. Lummis in a fight with a houseguest that began over a garden hose.

The gunman, Francisco Amante, 51, described as a Spanish minstrel who has been Lummis’ houseguest for two years, surrendered to police, but no charges were filed.

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Main Title: Lettering over shot of a pair of hands on a light pole.

This week’s mystery movie was the 1962 film Hands of a Stranger, with Paul Lukather, Joan Harvey, James Stapleton (Noah), Ted Otis, Michael Rye, Larry Haddon, Elaine Martone, George Sawaya, Michael duPont, Sally Kellerman,  David Kramer and Irish McCalla. Introducing Barry Gordon. Continue reading

Posted in 1962, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

August 24, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

August 24, 1959; Mirror CoverGreat Impostor Fools Our City Too

Paul Coates, in coat and tieFerdinand Waldo Demara Jr., age 37, is, by profession, an impostor.

Without benefit of a high school diploma, he has masqueraded as a college dean of philosophy, a surgeon in the Royal Canadian Navy (where he performed major operations), a Trappist monk, a cancer researcher, assistant warden of a large Texas prison and half a dozen other professions of equal status.

With each new job he assumed a new identity and a new personality. And, from his superiors as well as subordinates, new respect.

With rare exceptions, he conned them all. Continue reading

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August 24, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Aug. 24, 1957

There are two basic rules for pretty girls who wish to set Hollywood on its pink, shell-like ear.

The first is to meet the right people.

This one has nothing to do with me, so I’ll dismiss it.

The second is to get their names in the columns.

And here, I’m directly concerned. Because I — like certain other people in town — am a columnist. I, in a manner of speaking, write. Continue reading

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August 24, 1958: Los Angeles Coliseum is dangerous, Rams coach says

August 24, 1958, Sports PageBy Keith Thursby
Times staff writer

The Rams blamed baseball for an injury to one of their players.

Ron Waller separated his shoulder when he was tackled on the baseball infield during the second half kickoff of the Rams’ 38-10 exhibition victory over the New York Giants.

The Times’ Cal Whorton wrote: “Coach Sid Gillman of the Rams was outspoken yesterday about the dangers of having his expensive cargo of moleskinners out there exposing themselves to the perils of the concrete hard infield.” Continue reading

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August 24, 1947: Golfers Play Through as Fire Destroys Clubhouse at Inglewood

Aug. 25, 1947, Inglewood Fire, L.A. Times  

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

Fire which mushroomed early yesterday from the basement of the clubhouse at the Inglewood Country Club, 3424 W. Manchester Blvd., Inglewood, left the building and its furnishings a heap of charred or water-soaked debris but failed to deter golfers from enjoying their Sunday on the greens. For a score of golfers putted even while the clubhouse burned.

The cause undetermined, the fire swept through two locker rooms and the grill and then spread to the roof of the L-shaped building. Officially, damage was estimated at $50,000 ($473209.30 USD 2005).

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Samuel Steward and Rudolph Valentino: Another Good Story Ruined

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I may have retired, but I haven’t lost any of my annoyance over b.s. when it comes to historical figures. The case in point is today’s review in the New York Times by Jennifer Senior of “Philip Sparrow Tells All,” edited by Jeremy Mulderig.

The moment I read the review I thought “Oh, Scotty Bowers rides again!”

Fact-Checking “Full Service”: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Valentino Statue Aspires to Greatness

Valentino statue

Silent film lover and superstar Rudolph Valentino commanded the screen with his intense magnetism and sensuality. His untimely, tragic death in 1926 at the age of 31 gave him instant immortality, with thousands descending on the funeral home, church, procession, and funeral of their beloved star.

Upon his death, many clamored for ways to memorialize this worldwide icon. Chicago residents announced the first proposed memorial for Valentino within days of his death on Aug. 23, 1926. Judge Francis Borrelli, Assistant State Attorney Michael Romano and lawyers Ellidoe Libonati, Stephen Malato and Michael Rominia filed articles of incorporation for a Rudolph Valentino Memorial Association with the intent of constructing a memorial for the star in the Windy City.

Mary Mallory’s “Living With Grace” is now on sale.

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Couple found dead in pool, August 23, 1958

August 23, 1958: Couple Found Drowned in Arcadia Swim PoolAugust 23, 1958

Mrs. Lucille Barry and Reginald Koster.We’re parked outside the home at 322 Arbolada Drive, Arcadia. It’s early morning and everything is quiet. Nice place, isn’t it? Built in 1951. You’d never guess, but one spring day a few years ago, a college girl up the street killed herself over her boyfriend while her parents were on vacation. Very sad.

Ready? Let’s go. Keep your hands in your pockets. Don’t touch anything and don’t move anything.

They’re over here in the swimming pool. In a few hours, a man from the maintenance company is going to find them.

The man floating face-down is named is Reginald J. Koster. He’s 69 years old,* a retired businessman. Reginald was staying here by himself while his daughter and son-in-law were on a trip to Washington, D.C. According to an in-law, he was not a good swimmer.

The woman is Lucille Marceline Barry, 43, an auditor for Manor Market, 2526 E. Colorado Blvd., Pasadena.  She lived at 101 S. Fremont in Alhambra with her mother, who says Lucille wasn’t a good swimmer.

Apparently they met for drinks at Eaton’s restaurant, 1150 W.  Colorado Blvd., Arcadia. That’s the one with the windmill on the roof.

Witnesses say Reginald and Lucille had a few cocktails and took a cab back here. Reginald changed into his trunks in
one room and Lucille changed into a swimsuit in another room. Here’s their cocktail glasses: empty.

Police will figure they drowned when one of them began having trouble in the deep end and the other tried to help. Continue reading

Posted in @news, Suicide | 1 Comment

Ladies in Black visit tomb of Valentino

Los Angeles Times file photo

Here’s the earliest photograph I could find of a Lady in Black mourning Rudolph Valentino, Aug. 23, 1937, 11 years after the movie star’s death. In the first few years, memorial services were held on the anniversary, although the services eventually ceased and the large crowds dwindled to about 50 mourners.

In 1934, The Times referred to a “mysterious veiled woman” who visited the tomb every year at what was then Hollywood Cemetery. One story notes that a Lady in Black also appeared on Christmas and Easter. Someone wrote on the back of this photo: “Not Ditra Flame.” Are those white shoes?! Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment