Paul Coates, Dec. 7, 1960

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 7, 1960, Mirror  

Dec. 7, 1960: Paul Coates files another piece on his recent trip to the Soviet Union, this time about his Intourist guide. “Like most educated Russians I met, she was either very well-informed or grossly misinformed on the facts of American life,” Coates says.

And Mrs. Leonard Zilliox criticizes movies and TV shows for indecency. “In one recent episode of 'Wagon Train' the story was as follows: A young girl has an affair with a married man. Her father finds out, the lover shoots the father and is hung for his crime. Later the girl is found scalped and hung. The rest of the program is spent with all the principals accusing each other and discussing motives until the guilty party is found,” she says. 

Also on the jump, married life isn’t going well for Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio in Maurice Zolotow’s biography “The Real Marilyn Monroe.”

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 7, 1940

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 7, 1940, Schoenberg  
  Dec. 7, 1940, Bomb  

  Dec. 7, 1940, Traffic Semaphores  

Dec. 7, 1940: Yes, the bell on traffic semaphores in the old Warner Bros. cartoons wasn’t a joke. Today, we just honk since drivers are usually checking their BlackBerrys when the light turns green.

The audience walks out on the world premiere of Arnold Schoenberg’s Violin Concerto. According to the New York Philharmonic’s archives, the orchestra has performed the concerto three times in its history, twice in 1952 and again in 1967.

Astrid Allwyn receives her final divorce decree from Robert Kent today, Jimmie Fidler says.

One year to Pearl Harbor.

ALSO

Arnold Schoenberg in the Daily Mirror

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Posted in classical music, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated II

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  2010_1207_mystery_photo_02  

  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times  

Update: And here’s a mystery photo! 

Update II: This is Zasu Pitts and John E. Woodall. Please congratulate Mary Mallory, Karen and Dennis Gilliam for identifying our mystery couple and Steve Stoliar, Zabadu and Stacia for identifying our mystery woman.

  Dec. 7, 2010, Mystery Photo  
  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times  

  Dec. 18, 1935, Thelma Todd  

Dec. 18, 1935: Above, people crowd into the inquest in the death of Thelma Todd.

The Times says: “Steeped in mystery, the death of Thelma Todd, screen actress, last night remained a tragic riddle which authorities will seek to unravel at a coroner's inquest.

“From tangled evidence shot through with contradictions, police hope to learn whether Miss Todd was the victim of an ingeniously contrived murder prompted by cunning jealousy, or substantiate a preponderant belief that she died in an almost unbelievable accident.”

 

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Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 9 Comments

Autry Gets Angels!

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 7, 1960, Angeles

 
  image  

Dec. 7, 1960: The Angels were official.

Gene Autry's team would play in Wrigley Field instead of the Coliseum or Rose Bowl, apparently seeing the old minor league ballpark as a better financial deal even though there was room for only about 21,500 fans.

The Times continued to report that the team was expected to open the season at home against the Yankees. They actually opened at Baltimore.

A minor member of the Angels' ownership group was an interesting element to the story given O'Malley's opposition to another team in L.A.  Kenyon Brown had owned KCOP Channel 13, which campaigned against the Dodgers' bid to build a stadium in Chavez Ravine.  He was listed as part of the ownership group.

"O'Malley has studiously avoided any mention of Brown in discussions with the press about the 'acceptability' "of owners Autry and Bob Reynolds, Frank Finch reported in The Times.

Brown owned several local radio stations, which Finch speculated would make a nice nucleus for an Angel network. Of course, Autry's radio and television stations would carry the Angel games.

–Keith Thursby

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Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch
marya_marco_ebay A movie still showing Marya Marco has been listed on EBay. Who is Marya Marco, you ask? She’s one of the women misidentified as Elizabeth Short in Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger.” Bidding starts at $9.99.

ALSO

“Black Dahlia Avenger” on the Daily Mirror.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 6, 1960

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 6, 1960, Comics  

Dec. 6, 1960: A sign at a dry cleaners in Arcadia says: “Stop! Blood is hard to remove,” Matt Weinstock says.

DEAR ABBY: My little brother learned a Thanksgiving prayer at school and he said it at the table. My father didn't even bow his head, he just started right in eating. I said, "Daddy, you should bow your head and wait for the prayer to be over with before you start eating." And Abby, I said it real nice but he sent me away from the table and I didn't get any Thanksgiving dinner. My mother said that my father was trying to teach me respect for my elders but I think respect for the Lord comes first. Don't you?

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Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 6, 1960, Mirror  

Dec. 6, 1960: Paul Coates writes about a Soviet woman he calls Tanya and describes the hardships of her daily life.

It’s marriage for Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe in Maurice Zolotow’s “The Real Marilyn Monroe.”

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 6, 1940

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  image  
  Dec. 6, 1940, Tom Treanor  

Dec. 6, 1940: Latest candidate for the plum lead in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is Ingrid Bergman, who'll get it if boss David O. Selznick says yes, Jimmie Fidler says.

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Dec. 6, 2010, Mystery Photo    
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

 
thelma_todd_1935_0819Dec. 17, 1935: The finding by autopsy surgeons last night of evidence that monoxide gas poisoning caused the death of Thelma Todd, blonde motion picture actress whose body was found in her automobile in a Castellammare garage yesterday morning, did not lessen the vigor of an investigation being made by police into the riddle of circumstances surrounding the finding of the film player's body.

Because Miss Todd within the past few months had been the recipient of several extortion notes threatening her with death unless she paid $10,000 and because no apparent reason existed for her taking her own life, investigating officers desperately sought an answer to the mystery of her death.

Coagulated blood marred the screen comedienne's features and stained her mauve and silver evening gown and her expensive mink coat when she was found, her blonde locks pathetically awry, in the front seat of her automobile….

 

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 4, 2010, Mystery Photo  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

  Oct. 5, 1927, Thelma Todd  

Update: Our mystery guest in this photo, published in The Times on Oct. 30, 1927, is former mystery guest Josephine Dunn. Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying her!

I thought it would be interesting to make a small detour for Thelma Todd on the 75th anniversary of her death. I plan to post some of The Times’ archival photos with stories about her. Hope you find it interesting!

In this Oct. 5, 1927, story, Grace Kingsley profiles Todd, a former teacher who was Miss Massachusetts of 1924. “While there is nothing yet definite about stardom, Miss Todd is already being featured as leading woman and her work is improving all the time, it is said, with Paramount officials viewing her favorably for promotion,” The Times said.

And those who want to play the mystery photo game can try to guess her mystery companions!

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 4 Comments

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  image  

Dec. 6, 1930:  Fascists in Berlin protest a showing of the German version of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” “Fascists, who were planted in the audience, shouted, ‘Out Jews!’ hurled stench bombs and set white mice loose under the seats,” The Times said.

Ramon Novarro makes his debut in a Spanish-language film as director and star of "Sevilla de mis Amores," the Spanish version of MGM’s "Call of the Flesh."

ALSO

Movie Star Ramon Novarro Beaten to Death, 1968

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

From the Vaults: ‘Pillow Talk’ (1959)

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

Pillowposter "I love you."

"I know."

You know what movie that's from, right? WRONG! Years before Han Solo (and hey, RIP Irvin Kershner), his possibly-most-famous line gets drawled by Rock Hudson, playing a womanizing songwriter in "Pillow Talk." Hudson tosses it off almost before the credits are over; when another woman says, "Let me come over and fix you dinner," he replies, "Well, I guess that'd be all right." Hmm… unlike scruffy-sweet Han, this guy is a real jerk!

"Pillow Talk" is, of course, the first of several snappy, innuendo-filled comedies starring Hudson with the radiantly snub-nosed, impeccably tanned Doris Day. And I'm reviewing it on the recommendation of my mom. Hi, Mom! You were right, of course: This movie is hilarious — it's a blast to watch Hudson's character gradually get his comeuppance. And Doris' fashions are just incredible. I didn't think it was possible for me to covet a teal-blue suit jacket with a giant collar, but I want one.

Hudson and Day play total strangers who happen to share a phone line, since this is back in the days of party lines. He woos women over the phone, while she's a businesswoman who needs the phone for her interior-design clients. Before they've even met, they're at each other's throats: She tries to get his access to the line shut off; he calls her and accuses her of jealousy and "bedroom problems." My goodness! But then he gets a look at her and falls madly in lust. Rather than reveal he's the man she hates, he concocts a goofy Texan alter ego, and the fun begins.

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Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 9 Comments

L.A. County Cuts Welfare Costs, Pays Immigrants to Go Back to Mexico — Updated

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

December 3, 1941: Li'l Abner as Zoot Suit Yokum

March 14, 1941: Legislature drops rule banning relief to "aliens illegally in this country."
December 3, 1941: I have been reading old newspapers for years and very little about Los Angeles history surprises me anymore, but this one amazed me.

To reduce the welfare rolls, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approves paying $100 [$1,441.19 USD 2009] to immigrants to move back to Mexico. Families were to receive $10 a month for 10 months either through the Mexican government or the U.S. consul, The Times said.

[Update, Dec. 5, 2010, 3:57 p.m.: A headline and previous version of this post said payments would be offered to illegal immigrants. Further research in The Times’ clips shows that in 1941, legal and illegal immigrants were apparently eligible for relief (see the above story from March 15, 1941, in which the state Legislature tried to ban welfare to illegal immigrants). However, it appears that payments were to be offered to all immigrants, regardless of legal status.]

The story is on the jump.
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Posted in art and artists, Comics, Immigration | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 5, 1960

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 5, 1960, Comics  

Dec. 5, 1960: Two L.A. gendarmes and a highway patrolman have "retired" after being caught by a vice squad officer in the company of a bad gal, Matt Weinstock says.

DEAR ABBY: I just found out that a woman comes to this town almost every weekend to see my husband. She is married and has children. I could tell her husband and break up her home, but I hate to do that to innocent children. Please put this in the paper for my husband to see. He never misses your column. I want him to know I am on to them. If they don't stop seeing each other I will be forced to tell her husband. I can't stand it any more.

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Paul Coates, Dec. 5, 1960

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 5, 1960, Mirror Cover  

Dec. 5, 1960: Paul Coates writes about the curious contrasts in Soviet society, between the advanced technology in its space program and the shortcomings of its commercial aircraft, and notes the first-rate department stores stocked with fourth-rate merchandise. 

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Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Autry to Get L.A. Club, O’Malley Says

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 5, 1960, Angels  

Dec. 5, 1960: Gene Autry would be the owner of Los Angeles' new baseball team, according to none other than Walter O'Malley.

Frank Finch's story claimed that O'Malley's priority in the selection of an owner for the American League expansion team was the businessman's "caliber," whatever that means, and O'Malley noted he had good relations with Autry and his business partner Bob Reynolds when their station KMPC carried the Dodger games.

The Times' story said O'Malley left Autry's station because a sponsor wanted a change.

The story also included some interesting speculation. Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had been talked to about becoming the team's manager and there were plans for the Angels to open the season against the Yankees at the Coliseum. None of that worked out, however.

A story in The Times on Dec. 6 said the deal wasn't quite done, with the National League wanting to postpone American League expansion for a year to match the debut of National League teams in New York and Houston. According to Finch, O'Malley was "vigorously opposed" to another team playing in Los Angeles in 1961.

–Keith Thursby

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Posted in Dodgers, Sports | Comments Off on Autry to Get L.A. Club, O’Malley Says

Lakers Draw Small Crowd for Celtics Game

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 5, 1960, Lakers  

Dec. 5, 1960: The Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, 113-103 at the Sports Arena but the statistic that jumped out was the attendance.

The Times' headline noted the presence of 9,224 fans at the Sports Arena, an unthinkably small number by today's Laker standards.

Perhaps the game wasn't sold out because the teams were playing the following night again. The Lakers and Celtics in a back-to-back series? I know the league was trying to save teams travel costs but that's just incredible.

–Keith Thursby

Posted in Front Pages, Lakers, Sports | Comments Off on Lakers Draw Small Crowd for Celtics Game

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 29, 2010, Mystery Photo  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

  Dec. 4, 2010, Mystery Photo  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

Update: Yes, this is Thelma Todd, above, in “Follow Through.” I’m a bit pressed for time this morning so I’ll be back later today with more info. Stay tuned for a little Toddiana!

Isn’t this a great wristwatch? Our “mystery” guest is wearing it.

Last week’s mystery guest was Mack Sennett. The Keystone Kops and Bathing Beauties mystery photos were taken from his photo file.

There’s a new photo on the jump!

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 33 Comments

April 11, 1954, Not So Boring!

Posted on December 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 12, 1954, Spy  

A programmer unleashes a computer on the history of the 20th century …

  April 12, 1954, Bob Dobbs  

  The ads have been infiltrated by Bob Dobbs! Yikes!  

…. and discovers that April 11, 1954 ….

  image  

  Good grief, even the comics were dull!  

… was the most “boring day” in history.

 
Well, not quite.

In truth, this was a brilliant publicity stunt by William Tunstall-Pedoe to advertise his search engine, True Knowledge. The idea was to search material on the 20th century and quantify the importance of each day based on birth and death dates, and significant events, such as World War II.

Obviously, in selecting those criteria, one date had to come out with the fewest significant events, births and deaths, and that happened to be April 11, 1954, which through the notion that the 20th century was the most significant,  was deemed the “most boring day in history.”

Of course, Tunstall-Pedoe has been shrewd in not revealing the “least boring day in history,”  because under this program, there must be one. 

So what actually happened on April 11….

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Posted in art and artists, Comics, Religion, Sports | 4 Comments

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1960

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Dec. 3, 1960, Comics  

Dec. 3, 1960: Matt Weinstock says: "People are warming up to our town's pro basketball team, the Lakers. But something will have to be done about that name, which derives from their former home state, Minnesota, with its 10,000 lakes." 

Paul Coates digs into the mailbag after being on assignment (but nothing from Parkey Sharkey!).

DEAR ABBY: Our mother, age 70, eloped with a real estate dealer who sold her lovely big home to her. He claims to be 65 but looks much younger. No one knew she was even interested in getting married again. She had been a widow for 14 years.  Mother isn't the smartest woman in the world and we think perhaps…

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Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates, UFOs | Comments Off on Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1960