A napkin from Sunset Bowling Center, 5842 Sunset Blvd.
A collection of vintage Los Angeles (mostly) cocktail napkins has been listed on EBay, priced at $274.99 or best offer. Nightspots include many favorite watering holes of the past: Sardi’s, the Nickodell, Mike Lyman’s, and Clara Bow’s “IT” Cafe. All of them are excellent examples of graphic design from the 1940s-50s. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated thoroughly before submitting a bid. Continue reading
Boxie and I will be doing a live “Ask Me Anything” on the Black Dahlia case Tuesday, February 4, at 10 a.m. Pacific time, on YouTube. I have discontinued my videos on Instagram. Continue reading
Herbert Biberman, one of the Hollywood 10, courtesy of Mary Mallory.
Note: This is an encore post from 2014.
In times of social uncertainty and economic malaise, those in fear often turn to discriminating, finger pointing, blame and stonewalling, claiming “the other” is destroying livelihoods, ways of life, and social beliefs just by speaking out. These “others” become the scapegoats for all that is wrong: drought, job insecurity, national security concerns, discrimination, etc.
After the conclusion of World War II, when the Allies defeated the Nazis, Japanese and Axis, thus bringing to an end annihilation, genocide, starvation and imprisonment to so many, everything seemed to turn for a short time to hope, peace, freedom, welcome and acceptance. Unfortunately, demagogues quickly saw the bogeyman again with the Soviets’ takeover of Eastern Europe, which the Allies had allowed in order for a quicker end to World War II. Anyone questioning the role of government, demanding free speech and asking for social justice, was suddenly judged a turncoat, evildoer, overthrower. Many in the United States government would soon ape the policies of totalitarian countries they claimed to abhor by scapegoating those deemed “different,” blocking free speech, destroying lives and careers.
Mary Mallory’s “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found” is available for the Kindle.
This week’s mystery movie was the 1944 Warner Bros. film Janie, with Robert Hutton, Edward Arnold, Ann Harding, Alan Hale, Robert Benchley, Clare Foley, Barbara Brown, Hattie McDaniel, Dick Erdman, Jackie Moran, Ann Gillis, Ruth Tobey, Virginia Patton, Colleen Townsend, William Frambes, and presenting Joyce Reynolds as Janie.
Here’s Boxie and I with this month’s “Ask Me Anything” on George Hodel.
In this session, I went over the basics of Steve Hodel’s claims about his father in deference to any new subscribers I may have picked up from Reddit.
I emphasized that everything people think they know about George Hodel comes from one source: Steve Hodel, either directly through Steve’s books and interviews or indirectly through articles about Steve’s claims — all them based on what Steve says.
I also talked about Steve Hodel’s “apology” to the family of Walter Bayley, noting that if Steve is going to go around making apologies, he can start with his own family and all the people he’s harmed with his bogus claims. And then apologize to the Short family.
I will be waiting for that one.
Continue reading
Olive Borden / Edward Curtis, hand-colored by Emma G. Hoffman, courtesy of Revere Auctions.
Early cinema captured the attention of filmgoers through its realistic depiction of everyday life, enhanced by gorgeously crafted images and heart tugging acting. It grew out of what was called real photo postcards, those providing a documentary look at a place and people, as well as stereoptican cards and lantern slides, which offered a more visceral means of storytelling. To enhance these static images, color was often applied, adding beauty and vivacity but also accentuating the important story element of the image. Mostly men served as photographers and cinematographers in these first decades, but forgotten women behind the scenes applied the hand coloring which dazzled audiences with its visual impact and beauty.
The detailed, meticulous work handcoloring postcards, lantern slides, and 35mm film frame by frame was accomplished by the exhausting work of women artists, who dominated this trade at the end of the nineteenth century. Just like with cutting film later, they headlined these fields due to what many called their attention to detail and their preciseness. As a trade story noted, “Lantern slide coloring should offer special opportunities to women, ‘for it requires a delicacy of handling and a keenness for artistic perception which are more easily met with in women than in man… .” As another story put it, “There is no limit of age for this work, but it is essential that a lantern slide colorist should possess good eyesight and steady, sensitive hands. Indeed, it is apparently work peculiarly suitable for women.’ Continue reading
This week’s mystery movie was the 1943 RKO film Forever and a Day with a cast so large that it’s beyond me to list everyone!
Today is Jan. 15, the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death. As is the custom, the Daily Mirror will be dark.
Trim your roses in her memory.
This week’s mystery movie was the 1942 Paramount film Star Spangled Rhythm, with Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Fred MacMurray, Franchot Tone, Ray Milland, Victor Moore, Dorothy Lamour, Paulette Goddard, Vera Zorina, Mary Martin, Dick Powell, Betty Hutton, Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake, Alan Ladd, Rochester, William Bendix, Jerry Colonna, MacDonald Carey, Walter Abel, Susan Hayward, Marjorie Reynolds, Betty Rhodes, Dona Drake, Lynne Overman, Gary Crosby, Johnnie Johnston, Gil Lamb, Cass Daley, Ernest Truex, Katherine Dunham, Arthur Treacher, Walter Catlett, Sterling Holloway, the Golden Gate Quartette, Walter Dare Wahl and Company, Cecil B. DeMille, Preston Sturges and Ralph Murphy. Continue reading
The 1961 Bel-Air fire in a time exposure. Photo by Alan Hyde/Valley Times Collection, courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library.
Sadness and disbelief pervade Los Angeles looking over the tragic remains of the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. People have been wondering, how could this happen? It already had, 64 years before in the cataclysmic 1961 Bel-Air fire, which burned more than 4,000 acres and over 450 homes, considered the most disastrous brush fire in Los Angeles history until this week’s blazes.
Dry chaparral, drought, overtaxed water pipes and supplies, narrow, winding canyon roads, rocky terrain, and high winds led to a massive fire that swept from Bel-Air to Mandeville Canyon over 35 hours, mirroring much of what has happened this week. A fire swept Topanga Canyon at the same time, threatening to push through canyons to Malibu and over canyon walls into the San Fernando Valley. Perhaps society should look and learn from its past to try and prevent disasters rather than pointing fingers at politicians and terminology. Continue reading
Note: This is an encore post from 2013.
Cats have nine lives. People often experience second or third acts in their lives or careers. Some homes have multiple lives as well, like Villa Aurora, which has experienced three diverse lives, bringing knowledge and refuge to those who come through its doors. Opened in 1928, the Villa began life as a Los Angeles Times Demonstration Home, later housed German Jewish expatriates Lion and Maria Feuchtwanger, and now serves as residence for fellowship artists from around the world to freely create new works.
In the Oct. 1, 1926, Los Angeles Times, Santa Monica Judge Arthur A. Weber, George W. Ley, Edward Haas, and other investors announced they had spent $3 million to acquire 847 acres overlooking the Pacific Ocean over what was then called Beverly Boulevard (now Sunset Boulevard), not far from Ocean Highway, to establish Miramar Estates. Their development would offer homes reminiscent of the Mediterranean because of the property’s gorgeous panoramic views that resembled those of Naples or Nice. Mark Daniels, former assistant secretary of in the Interior, superintendent of national parks, and renowned Los Angeles architect of what is now Hotel Bel-Air, the clubhouse of Hollywood Riviera Beach Club, and many Bel-Air homes, was hired to design homes in the development.
In the January 2025 Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, I talk about my work in progress, Heaven Is HERE! and my current focus on the Los Angeles Examiner’s phone call to Phoebe Short, claiming that Elizabeth Short won a beauty contest.
Reminder: Trim your roses on January 15 in memory of Elizabeth Short, and consider a donation to an agency that provides services for the homeless/unhoused in her memory. I make my donation to Heading Home, which operates in the Boston area, but any similar institution would suffice.
WARNING: I am the “grumpiest man in the world” according to Last Podcast on the Left.
This week’s mystery movie was the 1942 Republic film Lady for a Night, with Joan Blondell, John Wayne, Philip Merivale, Blanche Yurka, Ray Middleton, Edith Barrett, Leonid Kinskey, Hattie Noel, Montagu Love, Carmel Myers, Dorothy Burgess, Guy Usher, Ivan Miller, Patricia Knox, Lew Payton, Marilyn Hare and the Hall Johnson Choir.
Directed by Leigh Jason.
Note: This is an encore post from January 2020.
Since TCM is featuring Mary Astor, here’s a brief post on her lost movie “New Year’s Eve.” (A tip of the hat to Lou Lumenick, who tweeted about the movie on — New Year’s Eve.) I also uploaded a version of this post to IMDB, in case you see it there.
Fox originally announced the film under the title “Strong Arm,” based on the story “$100” by Richard Connell, published in the August 1928 issue of Cosmopolitan Magazine. The film was supposed to star Lois Moran and George O’Brien in the leads, under the direction of J.G. Blystone. Fox initially planned the movie as a talkie, but released it as “New Year’s Eve,” a silent directed by Henry Lehrman with sound effects and music, designated “sound on film.”
Note: This is an encore post from 2013.
Just in time for New Year’s, we’ll take a look at a “lost drink,” making a brief inquiry into San Francisco’s Pisco Punch, made famous by Bank Exchange saloon owner Duncan Nicol (often spelled Nichol or Nicoll), who died in 1926 without revealing the recipe.
Boxie and I will be doing a live “Ask Me Anything” on the Black Dahlia case Tuesday, January 7, at 10 a.m. Pacific time, on YouTube and on Instagram. Continue reading
Note: This is an encore post from 2017.
Joe Vogel asks if there was a Queens Cocktail. The answer is yes.
According to the Jamaica Long Island Daily Press, Jan. 24, 1935, the Queens Cocktail debuted at the Hotel Commodore in a toast to President Roosevelt. Via Fultonhistory.com.
(No word yet on the Staten Island Cocktail — and boy that sounds like a straight line).
Photo: Mary Pickford in the 1933 Rose Parade. Courtesy of Mary Mallory
Note: This is a 2012 post with a slight update. The 136th Rose Parade is Wednesday.
Tomorrow sees the 124th annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, welcoming the new year with magnificent garlands of fresh flowers. It also acts as the 80th anniversary of Mary Pickford serving as the first female grand marshal of the parade.
Begun by the Valley Hunt Club in 1890, the Rose Parade saluted the area’s wonderful weather and flowering paradise. Soon, the Tournament of Roses Assn. took over what they now call “America’s New Year Celebration, greeting the world on the first day of the year….”
This week’s mystery movie was the 1941 Universal film It Started With Eve, with Deanna Durbin, Charles Laughton, Robert Cummings, Guy Kibbee, Margaret Tallichet, Catharine Doucet, Walter Catlett, Charles Coleman, Leonard Elliott, Irving Bacon, Gus Schilling, Wade Boteler and Dorothea Kent. Continue reading
Note: This is an encore post from 2013.
Dec. 20, 1934: In case you doubted me (but you wouldn’t, would you?), here’s a recipe for the Bronx Cocktail, from the Amsterdam Evening Recorder, courtesy of FultonHistory.com.
In case you plan to mix one up, a Bronx Cocktail is one part Italian vermouth, three parts brandy and a dash of orange bitters. Shake well!
Notice that there are also three variations of the Manhattan.
ladailymirror.com 