Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on November 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 1, 2010, Mystery Photo  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

Here’s this week’s mystery guest!

Last week’s mystery guest was William Desmond Taylor! The weekend mystery guest was Gloria Blondell!

There's a new photo on the jump!

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 79 Comments

Lakers Playing to Empty Seats

Posted on November 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 5, 1960, Lakers  

Nov. 5, 1960: Don Page was worried about the Lakers. No one was watching.

"Bigger crowds have watched knitting tournaments than have viewed the Lakers thus far," wrote Page, The Times' radio columnist.

He blamed the lack of a consistent radio schedule for part of the team's problem. According to Page, the Lakers sought more for radio rights than did the Rams, then a popular draw in Los Angeles.

Page also noted that the Lakers' next game would be on television but not in Los Angeles. It probably didn't help that they were playing a home game at a college gym, at Los Angeles State College.

–Keith Thursby

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Posted in broadcasting, Downtown, Lakers, Television | Comments Off on Lakers Playing to Empty Seats

Woman’s Mutilated Body Buried in Backyard, 1910

Posted on November 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 28, 1910, Abortion  

  Setp. 24, 1910, Eva Swan  

  Sept. 25, 1910, Eva Swan  
  Eva Swan in the San Francisco Call  

Sept. 24-Nov. 5, 1910: Newspapers of the era are full of stories about a particularly grotesque case involving San Francisco stenographer Eva Swan, who lingered more than 10 days before dying of an abortion. Her body was buried in the backyard of a vacant home and was discovered by police acting on a tip from a disgruntled employee of Robert Thompson, who called himself Dr. James Grant.

On the jump, the confession of the nurse, Marie Messerschmidt, from the San Francisco Call. Thompson was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

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Posted in #courts, art and artists, health, Homicide | Comments Off on Woman’s Mutilated Body Buried in Backyard, 1910

Found on EBay – B.H. Dyas

Posted on November 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

dyas_boots_ebay dyas_boots_ebay_label

A pair of boots from the B.H. Dyas sporting goods store in Los Angeles has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $50.
Posted in Fashion | Comments Off on Found on EBay – B.H. Dyas

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 4, 1960

Posted on November 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 4, 1960, Comics    

Nov. 4, 1960: Matt Weinstock explores the new Hall of Administration in search of the press room … and gets lost.

DEAR ABBY: I am the mother of five grown children. Each has made me a grandma many times. My son had four children. His wife got involved with another man (married) and bore him a child, but my son continues to live with her because of their other children. She says she is ashamed and sorry, but we are heartbroken. My problem is that my income is small. I always remember my grandchildren on Christmas and their birthdays. Should I, knowing this child is nothing to me, give him a birthday and Christmas gift?

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Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Nov. 4, 1960

Paul Coates, Nov. 4, 1960

Posted on November 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

 

 
 

  Nov. 4, 1960, Cover  

Nov. 4, 1960: Paul Coates digs into his mailbox and comes up with items on Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra.

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 4, 1940

Posted on November 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 4, 1940, Closest Race Since 1916  
  Nov. 4, 1940, B-Girl Slayer  

Nov. 4, 1940: Friends who accompanied Dolores Del Rio to the station when she left for Mexico City the other day are chuckling about a last-minute chat between the star and her press agent, Jimmie Fidler says. 

"Now please," urged the p.a. "if there is a crowd at the train to meet you and photographers want to make pictures, take time out for them."

"I know there will be a crowd at the station," answered Dolores quite seriously, "because my 400 cousins always meet me!"

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Kennedy Leads Nixon in Gallup Poll

Posted on November 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 4, 1960, Kennedy  
  Los Angeles Times file photo  

  Nov. 5, 1960, Nixon Editorial  

Nov. 4, 1960: John F. Kennedy makes a campaign appearance in Amarillo, Texas, and The Times publishes a Page 1 editorial backing Richard Nixon.

On the jump, the latest Gallup Poll, conducted in late October,  finds likely voters shifting to Kennedy-Johnson 51%-45% over Nixon-Lodge.

"As far as attitudes toward the man are concerned, it may be that the series of four TV debates has been a decisive factor in the 1960 campaign," George Gallup wrote.

"The sentiment among those who watched the debates was that Kennedy did a better job. In addition, during the period in which the four debates were conducted, enthusiasm for Nixon fell off."

Also on the jump, introducing the vice president at a rally at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium: Nixon Democrat Ronald Reagan.

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Posted in JFK, Photography, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Kennedy Leads Nixon in Gallup Poll

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 3, 1960

Posted on November 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 3, 1960, Comics  

Nov. 3, 1960: Guess what jazz drummer Shelley Manne is calling his new Hollywood nightclub, Matt Weinstock says.

CONFIDENTIAL TO HANSEN: Experience is the comb that nature gives to bald men. Live a little.

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Paul Coates, Nov. 3, 1960

Posted on November 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 3, 1960, Cover  

Nov. 3, 1960: Paul Coates has the story of John Resko, who was sent to prison for killing a man but eventually rebuilt his life as an artist.

Also on the jump, Earl Wilson on Marilyn Monroe and “The Misfits.”

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Nov. 3, 1960

L.A. Team Seeks Manager

Posted on November 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 3, 1960, Al Haney  

Nov. 3, 1960: So who will manage Los Angeles' American League team?

The Times already suggested former Yankees manager Casey Stengel as a top candidate and now reported that another veteran manager, Fred Haney, didn't want the job.

Haney was most recently the Milwaukee Braves' manager and formerly ran the Hollywood Stars (yes, he ran a baseball team wearing shorts back in the days the Hollywood Stars wore those ridiculous uniforms).

Haney wanted no part of an expansion team—he was quite happy working as a broadcaster.

Of course, Haney would have a role in the American League team. But several things had to happen first.

–Keith Thursby

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Posted in Sports | Comments Off on L.A. Team Seeks Manager

GOP Truth Squad Attacks Kennedy’s Record

Posted on November 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 3, 1960, Comics  

  image  

Nov. 3, 1960: The Republican Party Truth Squad visits Los Angeles on its U.S. tour.  The Republican officials "accused the Democratic nominee of 'shocking distortions' concerning U.S. strength and progress achieved under the Eisenhower administration," The Times said.

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Posted in art and artists, Comics, JFK, Politics | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Belasco Theater

Posted on November 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Main and 4th St.  

Here’s an interesting postcard of Main and 4th streets that was mailed in 1908. Notice that it shows the Belasco Theater, which eventually became the Follies Burlesque. The postcard is listed on EBay for $5.

On the jump, a 1929 article about the changing landscape of Main Street by Ben S. Lemmon, a writer I have never encountered before, and worth reading.

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Posted in Downtown, Photography | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Belasco Theater

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 2, 1960

Posted on November 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 2, 1960, Comics  

Nov. 2, 1960: A San Fernando Valley resident conducted a treat or treat poll, asking youngsters who came to his door which candidate their parents were voting for before handing them the candy, Matt Weinstock says. 

DEAR ABBY: If you find out why they stopped the clocks when a person died, please print it.

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Posted in Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Nov. 2, 1960

Posted on November 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 2, 1960, Cover  

Nov. 2, 1960: Paul Coates has a terrific story on one of two young men who dressed as Nazis and picketed the Huntington Hartford Theater, where Sammy Davis Jr. was to perform, over Davis’ upcoming marriage to May Britt.

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Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

James Caan on Film Directing

Posted on November 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

 

  Nov. 2, 1980, James Caan  

Nov. 2, 1980: Roderick Mann interviews James Caan and asks when he will direct another film after “Hide in Plain Sight.”

Caan says: "A lot of people were very kind when my film opened. Michael Eisner of Paramount told me I could direct for them anytime. And Dustin Hoffman wrote me a long letter saying how much he liked the film.

"But the truth is it's just too hard for a creative person to go hat in hand to some of the people running this business and ask for things. If making that film taught me anything it's that some of the people in charge just don't deserve to be there."

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Posted in Film, Hollywood, Roderick Mann | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 1, 1960

Posted on November 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 1, 1960, Comics  

Nov. 1, 1960: BE ON THE ALERT for strangers in bars who offer to bet $25 or $5 that if Candidate A (or B) is elected that three days later the banks will be closed and there will be troops in the streets. Naturally. It'll be Veterans Day, Matt Weinstock says.

DEAR ABBY: I am a college student. Last year I met a student who attends another college. We were strongly attracted to each other. I sent him my picture, signed "Love, forever." He came to see me many times. We got very serious and then I heard…

Also on the jump, an interview with Buster Keaton….

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Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Nov. 1, 1960

Posted on November 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  Nov. 1, 1960, Cover
 

Nov. 1, 1960: Paul Coates has  a story taken from a second grade textbook smuggled out of East Germany.

Also on the jump, Earl Wilson on the reformed Steve McQueen.

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 1, 1940

Posted on November 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

 
 

  image  
  Nov. 1, 1940, Tom Treanor  

Nov. 1, 1940 — HOLLYWOOD AFTER DARK: Cesar Romero, at Florentine Gardens, blandly disregarding the near-nude floor show as the cafe numerologist foretells coming good luck with girls, Jimmie Fidler says. 

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Stengel Top Choice to Coach New L.A. Team

Posted on November 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

 

  image  
Nov. 1, 1960: The new American League team heading to Los Angeles seemed to be stockpiling star power. Hank Greenberg, a Hall of Fame slugger turned businessman, was putting together his bid for the franchise, which would start playing in 1961. And Casey Stengel, barely out of a job with the New York Yankees, moved to the head of the list of potential managers.

"If Casey wants to take another management job he will be given much consideration by our group," Greenberg told The Times' Frank Finch.

Next on Greenberg's list was talking to the Coliseum Commission to rent the stadium for his expansion team. A Times story Nov. 3 said Greenberg asked the commission for a two-year option to play in the Coliseum. Still to be decided was the matter of Dodger owner Walter O'Malley and what it would take to make him welcome the new team to the neighborhood.

Speaking of the Dodgers and expansion teams, the Houston team that would start play in 1962 named longtime Dodger coach Bobby Bragan as its manager. But he didn't manage until 1963 when he joined the then-Milwaukee Braves.

–Keith Thursby

Posted in Downtown, Sports | 2 Comments