Finch Case Goes to Jury

Photograph by John Malmin / Los Angeles Times

March 5, 1960: Carole Tregoff. The caption information on the back says “Carole Guilty,” which has been changed to “Carole Tregoff.”

March 5, 1960: The Finch case goes to the jury, which will be sequestered in a downtown hotel pending the verdicts.

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, Photography | Comments Off on Finch Case Goes to Jury

LAPD Chief Wants More Officers

image

“The Days of Real Sport,” by Clare Briggs.

March 5, 1920, Police 

March 5, 1920: Police Chief Home appeals to the City Council for 300 more officers because so many have been transferred to the Central Division from more rural areas. Recall the theory proposed by prohibition advocates that banning alcohol would reduce the the number of liquor-related offenses and therefore require fewer police. And in all the years I’ve been reading old papers, I can’t recall a single story in which an LAPD chief said he had enough officers. In fact, I think that nearly ever chief has wanted a bigger force.

Posted in City Hall, LAPD | Comments Off on LAPD Chief Wants More Officers

Lummis Quits Library Job

 March 5, 1910, Lummis Quits

March 5, 1910: This was one of those days when there were too many good stories to focus on one: Charles Lummis resigns as city librarian … a veterinarian's assistant dies a horrible death after being bitten by a diseased dog … Andrew Carnegie is coming to see the observatory he’s funding on Mt. Wilson, though he isn’t arriving at the right time for the best view of Halley’s Comet … and plans to generate electricity using water in the aqueduct.

Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, books, City Hall, Front Pages, Science | Comments Off on Lummis Quits Library Job

Artist’s Notebook: Sign Spinning

2010_0228_flying_ads 
“Flying Ads,” by Marion Eisenmann.

You find these young men (and they always seem to be young men) with their handheld signs all over Los Angeles, advertising pizza, condos or some other business.  I saw one fellow put on an amazing acrobatic show at 1st and Hill streets a few months ago and have been hoping to see him again so I could get his name and have Marion Eisenmann draw him, but he’s never come back. Instead, this is Marion’s take on “sign spinning.”

Marion says:  I did not see this particular scenario for real. I just thought  that that kind of motion advertisement is sometimes amusing, and  pictured somebody who made fun of himself and his costume and stabbed  his Styrofoam pizza body with his arrow sign. The first time I saw  these kind of acrobats was in Los Angeles, and I sometimes wonder how  far people have to branch out to make a living.

Note: In case you just tuned in, Marion and I are visiting local landmarks in a project inspired by what Charles Owens and Joe Seewerker did in Nuestro Pueblo. Be sure to check back for another page from Marion's notebook.

By the way, Daily Mirror readers have asked about buying copies of Marion's artwork. Naturally, this is gratifying because I think Marion's work is terrific, and one of my great pleasures is sharing it with readers. We have decided that the project is a journey about discovering Los Angeles rather than creating things to sell. Marion is busy with other projects and says she isn't set up to mass-produce prints but would entertain inquiries about specific pieces. For further information, contact Marion directly.

 

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Marion Eisenmann | Comments Off on Artist’s Notebook: Sign Spinning

Found on EBay: Pershing Square Cannon


pershing_square_cannon 

You may recall a post I did last year on Pershing Square’s missing cannon, which vanished after being moved to Travel Town in Griffith Park. Here’s a 1905 postcard showing the cannon, which has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $2. And don’t you think Pershing Square (or Central Park, as it was known before World War I) was far more attractive a century ago before it was converted into a moonscape to repel the homeless?

Posted in Downtown, Parks and Recreation, Photography | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, March 4, 1960

March 4, 1960, Caryl Chessman

To Mars in a Tub

 

Matt Weinstock

    The reason the Russians are beating us into space is no mystery to Sam Lobell of S Westmoreland Ave.  In a word — bathtubs.  Others may cite graphs and statistics showing Russian emphasis on science and aid to bright students are responsible for their space lead.  Sam says no.

    His logic:  Reading, the link to knowledge, has been snapped by television.  The sounds of the electronic eye penetrate most rooms in most houses.  But as yet there are few TV sets in bathrooms.  Thus there remains, as a final refuge for readers, a warm bath and a good book.  Of course, readers must add a little hot water from time to time and get used to the inevitable drip of the faucet.
 
    But consider this:  Most housing in Russia is old.  Bathtubs are common.  Showers are rare.  In the United States the reverse is true.  And the trend is toward more showers, fewer tubs.
 

Continue reading →

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, March 4, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 4, 1960

March 4, 1960, Finch Case

Yes, the Mirror ran photos of the entire jury in the Finch case. 

Mash Notes and Comment

 

Paul Coates

    (Press Release) " 'Some people have said I'm stingy,' says J. Paul Getty, who at 67 is probably the richest private citizen in the world.  'But I'm not.  I'm willing to pay the going rate for anything, but why should I pay more because I have more?'
 
    "Getty, as the current issue of Look magazine points out, has sometimes been accused of trying to pay less rather than more.

    "He once waited outside a dog show until the lower 'late admission' price went into effect.
    
    "On another occasion he waited until the orchestra stopped playing before entering a restaurant to take advantage of the reduced over charge.
 
    "Five unsuccessful marriages haven't completely soured multi-millionaire Getty on the noble institution.  Asked whether he would ever marry again, he said:

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Homicide | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 4, 1960

‘The Tin Drum’ Opens Filmex 80


March 4, 1980, Tin Drum 

March 4, 1980, Jim Murray

Jim Murray on "They Call Me Assassin." More on the jump, plus Kevin Thomas on "The Tin Drum" for the opening of Filmex 80.

Continue reading →

Posted in #Jim Murray, books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on ‘The Tin Drum’ Opens Filmex 80

Westbrook Pegler on F. Scott Fitzgerald

Dec. 27, 1940, Westbrook Pegler 

Dec. 27, 1940: To most people living today, Westbrook Pegler is nothing more than a name – if that. His column on the death of F. Scott Fitzgerald will give you an idea of what he was like. “Peg” delivers quite a vicious takedown to the bard of the Jazz Age. 

Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists | Comments Off on Westbrook Pegler on F. Scott Fitzgerald

Chargers Pick Coliseum Over Rose Bowl

 March 4, 1960, Chargers

March 4, 1960: The Los Angeles Chargers picked the Coliseum for their home over the Rose Bowl as plans for the American Football League's first season started to come together.

Former Rams Coach Sid Gillman would bring his offensive genius and his collection of bow ties to the new franchise, which would include former Notre Dame Coach Frank Leahy as general manager.

Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Chargers Pick Coliseum Over Rose Bowl

Kennedy Pulls Even With Nixon in Poll

March 4, 1960, Elvis 
 
March 4, 1960: Nancy Sinatra greets Elvis!

March 4, 1960, Kennedy

March 4, 1960: Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) pulls even with Vice President Richard Nixon – even though Kennedy is Catholic! (More on the jump). 

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Dodgers, Front Pages, health, JFK, Music, Politics, Religion, Richard Nixon, Rock 'n' Roll, Sports | 1 Comment

A Letter of Defense

 

March 4, 1920, Japanese

Remember the editorial about the Japanese stranglehold on farmland? Here’s a response. More on the jump, plus Clare Briggs.

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Immigration | Comments Off on A Letter of Defense

Dallas Mob Throws Black Man From Courthouse Window, Drags Body 10 Blocks

 image

March 4, 1910: As a judge watches, a mob seizes accused child molester Allen Brooks, an African American, and throws him from a second-story courtroom, then drags his body 10 blocks before hanging his body from an arch in the Dallas business district.

On the jump: “Although Brooks' skull was crushed and his neck broken when he was thrown from the courthouse window and most of the mob knew it, in response to the insistent cries of women in the crowd it was decided to suspend his body in plain view as a warning to other Negroes. Negroes seized the long rope with white men and the procession along Main Street was begun with thousands following.”

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, March 3, 1960

March 3, 1960, Peanuts

Pyrrhic Victory

Matt Weinstock

    This corner keeps advising motorists never to make a left turn because big boy blue may be watching you and you'll be wrong if you think you are right — but nobody pays attention.

    There was John W. Dailey, heading north on Sepulveda Blvd., waiting in the center lane to make a left turn at 80th St.  The center lane southbound cleared and he moved into position, waited for oncoming cars in the other two lanes to clear, then turned.  An officer disapproved and wrote a ticket for an illegal left turn.

    Dailey posted $11 bail, pleaded not guilty and appeared in court with a  detailed drawing of the circumstances.  He is an engineer.  After hearing both sides, the judge dismissed the charge.

    TO DAILEY
it was simple case of triumph of justice.  He was not indignant.  He felt it was his duty as a  citizen to correct a mistake.

Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, March 3, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 3, 1960

March 3, 1960, Mirror

Let Us Consider Case of Robert Martinez   

Paul Coates

    Robert Martinez, I met by degrees.

    There was the first letter from him six weeks ago.  In spelling that was hampered by the fact that he never got beyond the eighth grade, he told me that he was an ex-con looking for a job.

    It's the kind of letter that I get ten, maybe a dozen, times a month.

    I used to catch work for a few of them now and then, but the parolee grapevine just about ran me out of business.  I suspect that each one I helped told five of his job-hunting friends, who in turn, passed the word around to five of their friends.  Invariably, the mail load boomed after each success I scored.

    And I'll tell you honestly, my successes weren't much to brag about.  Not many employers in town were willing to "gamble" on men who've made mistakes. 

    And those who were, I generally managed to alienate by pestering them once too often. 

    But back to Martinez.

 

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Front Pages, Nightclubs | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 3, 1960

The Eagles, March 3, 1980

March 3, 1980, Eagles 
Eagles drummer Don Henley at the Forum.

March 3, 1980: Robert Hilburn reviews the Eagles’ first local appearance in more than three years … Also on the bill, Roy Orbison. 

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on The Eagles, March 3, 1980

Hedda Hopper, March 3, 1939

image

March 3, 1939: On the jump, Carole Lombard in “Made for Each Other” and Hedda Hopper on who’s dating whom. Is that a new fellow for Marlene Dietrich?

Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Hedda Hopper, March 3, 1939

He Might Have Been the Next O.J. Simpson


March 3, 1970, Dodgers

March 3, 1970: Coverage of the Dodgers' 1970 spring training included several stories about the organization's young talent, but 19-year-old prospect Bobby Valentine, who chose the Dodgers and baseball over USC and football, received a higher level of praise.

Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Sports | Comments Off on He Might Have Been the Next O.J. Simpson

Chessman to Die May 2


 March 3, 1960, Slaying

March 3, 1960, Dodgers

Charlie Neal, right, is on the receiving end as four aspirants try out for the Dodger shortstop starting position. They are, from left, Don Zimmer, Bob Aspromonte, Bobby Lillis and Maury Wills.

March 3, 1960: James Kendrick, top, reenacts the slaying of Highway Patrolman Richard Duvall near Victorville.

On the jump, a judge schedules Caryl Chessman to be executed May 2 … The state Senate gets a bill to abolish the death penalty  … And Don Drysdale says: "The toughest batter for me is…"

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Caryl Chessman, Dodgers, Homicide | Comments Off on Chessman to Die May 2

Baptismal Records Hold Evidence in Suit Over Pioneer’s Estate

 
March 3, 1920, Grease 

March 3, 1920: I’m sure the concept of this ad seemed fine. But we have a slightly malevolent fellow spilling grease that turns into a highway. Maybe that’s why we don’t hear much about Gredag these days.

On the jump, baptismal records are introduced as evidence in a lawsuit over the Workman estate because Los Angeles County didn’t keep birth records between 1881 and 1888, The Times says.

Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Comics, Environment, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | 2 Comments