A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 14, 2009 by lmharnisch
 Dec. 14, 1951, Hedda Hopper  

Dec. 14, 1951: Bob Mitchum says, “I haven’t anything else to hock!”

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Iran Welcomes President Eisenhower

Posted on December 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 14, 1959, Cover 

Elizabeth Taylor is out of the hospital … And The Times prepares to announce its Women of the Year. 
Dec. 14, 1959, Little Homemaker

Teresa "Terry" Kincheloe, 6, is learning "the domestic arts." She likes to dry the dishes, helps her mother in the kitchen, makes the beds, gardens and assists with housekeeping. I’m trying to figure out what made this so remarkable that it was worth a story and two photos.

Dec. 14, 1959, Shot

Dec. 14, 1959: The Times says James Burnaby Stephen was “visiting” Georgette Hanks. If you read far enough into the story, you’ll find out they were in the bedroom. The story could have said: “A man who took his daughter on a Christmas shopping trip returned to the home of his estranged wife, then shot her and killed her boyfriend after catching them in bed.” But it didn’t.

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Dec. 14, 1959, Murder

Now ask yourself: How many people take a gun when they go Christmas shopping?

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April 16, 1960: He got away with it.
 
Dec. 14, 1959, Ford

Among the skills Charlotte Ford learned at her European boarding school was how to pour a cup of coffee without looking.

Dec. 14, 1959, Edsel

What went wrong with the Edsel? Was it economics? Then again, it was an ugly car.

Dec. 14, 1959, D.W. Griffith

The Native Daughters of the Golden West place a plaque at Foothill Boulevard and Vaughn Street to mark D.W. Griffith’s movie ranch.

Foothill Boulevard and Vaughn St., filming location of some of D.W. Griffith’s early movies and the “inspiration” for “Birth of a Nation.” According to the plaque, “Custer’s Last Stand” was filmed here. This may be Griffith’s “The Massacre,” although the location looks more like the hills around Chatsworth.

image

“Actually, I Believe He Needs a Psychiatrist!” 
Dec. 14, 1959, Sports
Who's going to succeed Sid Gillman as the Rams' coach?
Posted in #courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

How to Spoil a Husband

Posted on December 14, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 14, 1919, Dorothy Dix

Dec. 14, 1919, People and Their Trouble 

Dec. 14, 1919: Dorothy Dix writes,

Have you ever noticed this strange domestic phenomenon – that  all the good women seem to get the mean husbands and all the mean women appear to get the good husbands?

Virtue apparently seldom runs 50-50 in the family circle. Ninety times out of 100 when you find a devoted, unselfish wife who spends her life slaving for her husband and wearing herself out in pinching in economies in order to save and help him along, you will find that the husband is a selfish brute who tyrannizes over her and who shows her neither gratitude nor appreciation.

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Preparations for Aviation Week

Posted on December 14, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 14, 1909, Blankets 
 
Navajo blankets from 1909. I’ll bet some were beauties.

Dec. 14, 1909, Aviation Week

 
Dec. 14, 1909: "One man, writing from a Nevada town, says he will have a flying machine ready with 36 propellers while several expect to fly from Southern California cities to the aviation grounds."

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 13, 1950, Hedda Hopper 
Dec. 13, 1950: Larry, 19-year-old son of Mary Martin, must have inherited her singing voice. He and Mary recorded “You’re Just in Love,” a tune from “Call Me Madam.” 

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Sid Gillman ‘Quits’

Posted on December 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 13, 1959, Sports

sid_gillman_rifleman Dec. 13, 1959: Sid Gillman is regarded as a football genius, a Hall of Fame coach with a bow tie whose disciples spread his offensive theories throughout the NFL. Back in 1959, however, he was just another unemployed coach.

The Rams parted company with Gillman after a disappointing 2-10 season. Gillman didn't exactly resign but agreed to go once it became clear the owners wanted to make a change.

"None of us are blaming him alone for the Rams' poor record this year but we felt that all the hue and cry would put too much pressure on him if he returned next year," said owner Dan Reeves, who said coaching the Rams was one of the toughest jobs in football.

"The rest of the league looks upon us as a bunch of Hollywood characters and they give … a little extra when they play us. I know they do."

Gillman didn't exactly set the world on fire with the Rams, going 28-31-1 in four seasons. And his critics included some famous names.

Former Ram great Tom Fears told the Associated Press a couple days earlier that Gillman was "tearing down a dynasty which had been carefully erected and he's doing it at a time when the Los Angeles Dodgers are moving in on the entertainment dollar." And Tom Harmon, a Heisman Trophy winning running back who became a Los Angeles broadcaster, called the team "gutless."

Bob Waterfield, a former Ram quarterback, was already rumored to be Gillman's successor. He did get the job and his record from 1960 to 1962 was downright dreadful.

As for Gillman, he would land with the Los Angeles Chargers of the American Football League, moving with them to San Diego after a season in the Coliseum. Until then, like many a Hollywood celebrity before him, he turned to television. On Dec. 31, The Times published the news that Gillman would appear in an episode of "The Rifleman."

"I can't ride, I can't shoot, I can't act and I'm not very pretty," Gillman said, "so the scriptwriter really faces a problem when it comes to figuring out my role."

–Keith Thursby

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Birth Control OK, Billy Graham Says

Posted on December 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 13, 1959, Birth Control

The Scriptures say nothing that would bar responsible use of birth control, Billy Graham says.

Dec. 13, 1959, Bill of Rights

Dec. 13, 1959: I rarely republish The Times editorials because they are frequently embarrassing,  taking such positions as the U.S. doesn’t need a federal anti-lynching law or the Holocaust-era pronouncement that America shouldn’t accept Jewish refugees from Europe because they’ll only go on welfare or take jobs from Americans.

But this one stands out, even among statements that the U.S. shouldn’t recognize Red China or recall corrupt Mayor Frank Shaw: The Times likes the Bill of Rights, except when some people – presumably Mickey Cohen and assorted communists — “abuse” their rights under the 5th Amendment.

Posted in #courts, Religion | Comments Off on Birth Control OK, Billy Graham Says

Book Store Owners Arrested for Selling Radical Literature

Posted on December 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 13, 1919, Clare Briggs

“Oh, Man!” by Clare Briggs.

Dec. 13, 1919, Reds 

Unfortunately, Google maps street view is a little broken at the moment.
The area of the Red International Book Shop, 508 S. Maple, is here.

Dec. 13, 1919: The Times publishes three stories about arrests involving subversive literature. I’m particularly intrigued by the references to American Legion operatives.  Presumably this is related to the fatal shootings at an Armistice Day parade in Centralia, Wash.

The Times also says authorities averted a plot by the International Workers of the World to persuade African American agricultural workers to destroy fruit-packing houses near Pomona and Monrovia.  “An important factor, also, was the patriotism of the Negroes themselves, who refused to join the IWW conspiracy," The Times says.

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Three Accused of Fraud in Newspaper Contest

Posted on December 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 13, 1909, Fraud 
Dec. 13, 1909: Los Angeles police detain three people accused of swindling the Ogden, Utah, Evening Standard in a publicity campaign. Ogden Mayor William Glassman, a part-owner of the  paper, says the suspects conspired to take a $300 prize by promising to give a woman a small share of the money for correctly identifying one of the conspirators as “Dotty Dimples” in a crowd of people. 

Wallace E. Tillinghast of Worcester, Mass., says he has perfected an airplane and secretly flown it to New York, where he circled the Statue of Liberty. But he won't show the aircraft to anyone.

And an underground explosion traps six African Americans in coal mine near Henderson, Ky. 

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December 12, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on December 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Phone Troubles

Matt WeinstockThis week, as indignant citizens protested to the State Public Utilities Commission that they were being billed for phone calls they didn’t make, a young woman recently married, asked to have phone service started in the apartment where she and her husband have just moved.

She was told a $20 deposit and a $4 turn on fee were required.  Not having the money she went to her mother for help.

The mother filled an application guaranteeing payment but was told she was disqualified to act as surety because her record showed she had been late six times in the last year in paying her own bill.  She pointed out that on several of these occasions the phone company had demanded payment before the bill was due.  Other times, she admitted, she had been late in paying. Continue reading →

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December 12, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on December 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

December 12, 1959: A police officer rams a towel into the mouth of actor Lawrence Tierney, lying on his back, to "muffle his vile words."

Mash Notes and Comment

Paul Coates, in coat and tie“Dear Paul–

“Re your column in which you became confused over the use of the words ‘lay’ and ‘lie’ and settled by saying ‘get prone.’

” ‘Lie’ would have been the correct word.  Intransitive, you know.

“But it would be difficult to ‘get prone and read my column’ — as you suggested.

“Perhaps you meant ‘supine.’

“Look them up in the dictionary.  Undoubtedly some friend of yours has one.

“But do not worry about split infinitives. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Paul Coates, Suicide | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 12, 1949, Hedda Hopper 
Dec. 12, 1949: Cary Grant in “Crisis” … with the future Nancy Reagan? And look who else is in “Crisis!”

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LoCigno Arraigned in Whalen Killing

Posted on December 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 12, 1959, Whalen

Darryl Kemp’s prints are found in Marjorie Hipperson’s apartment.

Dec. 12, 1959, Comics

“Yes, I’ll Leave Now!”

Dec. 12, 1959, Shostakovich 

Dmitri Shostakovich gives some lumps to Louis Armstrong and Leonard Bernstein.

Dec. 12, 1959, Hanukkah

Now you know what a Shamash is.

Dec. 12, 1959, Oviatt's

A robe is $55 at Oviatt’s – that’s $401.90 USD 2008.  

Dec. 12, 1959, Sports

Dec. 12, 1959: The Yankees trade Don Larsen to the Kansas City Athletics for Roger Maris. The Yankees also get Joe DeMaestri and Kent Hadley in return for Norm Siebern, Hank Bauer and Marv Throneberry. "Maris, who began his big league career with Cleveland, batted .273 with 16 homers and 72 runs batted in last season," the AP says. 

 

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Mickey Cohen, Religion, Sports | 1 Comment

Publicist Dies in Fall From Alexandria Hotel

Posted on December 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 12, 1919, Briggs

“Somebody Is Always Taking the Joy Out of Life” by Clare Briggs.

image

Dec. 12, 1919: Publicist Albee Smith had a big story, but nobody ever found out what it was.

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Illegal Living Conditions Found

Posted on December 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 12, 1909, Briefs 

1909_1212_165_n_utah
165 N. Utah St., the former Russian quarter, via Google Earth.

Dec. 12, 1909: Health inspectors checking the Russian quarter find violations of the law requiring that people sleep in rooms with at least 500 cubic feet of air per person. I’m not sure how officials derived this figure or how it was calculated, but even so, these places sound cramped. Maybe a little digging will turn up more information.

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December 11, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on December 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

December 11, 1959: Comic panel of spaceship. A man says: "Garlon! No! You Can't!"

L.A. Justice

Matt Weinstock As Ida Gutierrez, 44, a restaurant cashier, stepped from a 4 bus at Melrose and La Brea last Aug. 26 a woman who got off at the same time grabbed at a half-open package and excitedly accused her of stealing “her” gray sweater, the sleeves of which were hanging loose.

Miss Gutierrez, flabbergasted at the outburst, said this was not true, she had just bought the two sweaters in the package at a Wilshire Blvd. store.  She thought the woman was mentally disturbed.

The woman persisted and they went into a service station and called police.  Miss Gutierrez assumed they would clear the matter.

Two officers responded.  One talked to Miss Gutierrez, the other to the woman.  Apparently they reached no conclusion and the two were taken to Hollywood station.  After questioning, they were released.  The sweaters were held as evidence. Continue reading →

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December 11, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on December 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

December 11, 1959: Mirror Cover. SC Hazing Death Jury in Blistering Report

Youth Bought Death for Nickel a Game

Paul Coates, in coat and tie    I have never met a man who dropped $4,000 pitching pennies, but I guess it’s possible.  Because last week I talked to one who estimates that he has lost, in the past four years, nearly $20,000 — on nickel pinball machines . . .
from this column, Nov. 12, 1957

Today I met a man who lost even more.  He lost a son.

The man’s name is George Bergeman.  He lives in Montebello, where he owns a glass and mirror company.

The week end before last, he and his wife went out of town.  When they returned a week ago Monday, they found a note from their son, George Jr., 24, a student at East Los Angeles Junior College, indicating that the boy had left home. Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 11, 2009 by lmharnisch
Dec. 11, 1948, Hedda Hopper 
Dec. 11, 1948: Deborah Kerr has gone to New York to do a final scene for "Edward My Son." It could not be shot here because Ian Hunter, who appears in the scene, can't leave his Broadway play.

”Strippers of the Purple Sage?” Are you serious?

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on December 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

2009_1207_mystery_photo
  Los Angeles Times file photo

Update – Signe Hasso, May 11, 1941.

As most people realized, this is Signe Hasso, who died in 2002 at the age of 86.

 
Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only five pictures; sometimes it's difficult to choose. To keep the mystery photo from getting lost in the other entries, I move it from Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday, etc., adding a photo every day.

I have to approve all comments, so if your guess is posted immediately, that means you're wrong. (And if a wrong guess has already been submitted by someone else, there's no point in submitting it again).

If you're right, you will have to wait until Friday. There's no need to submit your guess five times. Once is enough. The only reward is bragging rights. 

The answer to last week's mystery star: Marion Burns!

2009_1208_mystery_photo
  Los Angeles Times file photo

Update: Signe Hasso wears brown and beige in this camel’s hair hooded jacket suit, March 9, 1941.

Here's another photo of our mystery star. Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying her!
Dec. 9, 2009, Mystery Photo Los Angeles Times file photo

Update: (April 30, 1944) Dutch Nordic – Paramount seems to have a penchant for beautiful Swedish actresses. First it was Ingrid Bergman cast with Gary Cooper in “For Whom the Bell Tolls.” Now they give Gary lovely Signe Hasso in Cecil De Mille’s “The Story of Dr. Wassell.” She plays a Dutch nurse, and wait until you see that pink and cream loveliness in gorgeous Technicolor,

Here's another photo of our mystery gal. Please congratulate Dewey Webb and Gerald McCann for identifying her!

Dec. 10, 2009, Mystery Photo Los Angeles Times file photo

Feb. 27, 1952: Ruth Gordon, Garson Kanin and Signe Hasso.

Here's another photo of our mystery woman with some (sort of) mysterious companions. Please congratulate  Carmen, Rosemarie, Mike Hawks and Kylie for identifying her!

Dec. 11, 2009, Mystery Photo Los Angeles Times file photo
Update: (June 25, 1950) Doctor’s Work – In this scene from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s “Crisis,” Cary Grant, who portrays a world famous surgeon, is tending one of his patients, Jose Ferrer. Looking on is Signe Hasso, who has the role of Ferrer’s wife. Also in the cast are Paula Raymond, Ramon Novarro, Gilbert Roland and Leon Ames. 

Please congratulate Rick Scott, Megan Lee and Thom; Michael Ryerson, Steve Stollar, Jeffrey Speicher, Cold in PHX, Claire Lockhart, Lee Ann Bailey, James Curtis, Dru Duniway, April Moreau and Rosalyn for identifying her or her mystery companions!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 37 Comments

Texas a Gateway for Drugs From Mexico, Officials Say

Posted on December 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

De. 11, 1959, Times Cover

Walter W. Williams, 117, the last living Civil War veteran, is in critical condition.

Dec. 11, 1959, Drug Raid

Dec. 11, 1959, Border Drug Traffic  

Dec. 11, 1959, Baby Jesus Letter

“Dear Jesus, I am writing to you instead of Santa because you are what Christmas is. I would like to say before we all forget happy birthday and thank you for the present of you.”

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo

“Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” by Ted W. Lawson and Robert Considine.

Dec. 11, 1959, Pilot Grounded

You know the scene in “Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo” where they fly under the bridge? Don’t do it.

Dec. 11, 1959, Whalen

Sam LoCigno is indicted in the killing of Jack “the Enforcer” Whalen.

Dec.11, 1959, Toys

Engineer Bill in person at Builders Emporium in Van Nuys … and Covina!

Dec. 11, 1959, Watts Towers

The Watts Towers are “bizarre.”

Dec. 11, 1959, Bergman Filmes

Ingmar Bergman’s “The Seventh Seal” and “Smiles of a Summer Night” are adults-only.

Dec. 11, 1959, Sports

Former world champion featherweight, lightweight and junior welterweight Tony Canzoneri is found dead in his New York hotel room. He had been dead about two days, officials say.
Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Mickey Cohen, Sports, Transportation | Comments Off on Texas a Gateway for Drugs From Mexico, Officials Say