A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies.

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 13, 1936, Movies

July 13, 1936: Hedy Kiesler stars in "Ecstasy."

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Republicans Break Ranks to Pass Budget; Disco Demolition Turns Violent

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 13, 1979, Cover

The Legislature approves a budget after a few Republicans break ranks to end a stalemate. The Times takes a long look at the crash of American Airlines Flight 191, bound for Los Angeles, on takeoff from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, killing 273 people. When I was young, we lived on the same block as the pilot, Walter H. Lux, and I knew his son, but not very well. –lrh

July 13, 1979, Disco

Here's some news footage from the riot. In the game highlights, you'll notice the White Sox wearing what look like turn-of-the-century softball uniforms. The uniforms just add to the weirdness of the entire event.

It sounds so stupid now on so many levels.

The second game of a doubleheader between the White Sox and Tigers was canceled after a riot broke out on the field between games. The cause? A silly promotion to burn disco records.

Some people might dispute using the term riot, but when there are people on the field who shouldn't be there and fires are being set, riot seems to me a highly appropriate description.

The idea was to let fans in for 98 cents and a disco record that would be destroyed. The cheap price was close to the call letters of the participating radio station. The records were placed in a wooden box in center field that was blown up.

Then things got scary.

According to the story in The Times, fans started pouring onto the field "as if on signal." Soon there were fights, fires and police in riot gear.

The second game wasn't played and the Tigers were awarded the victory in a forfeit.

It's amazing that given all the elements involved, no one thought to stop this stupidity before things got out of hand.

–Keith Thursby

Posted in Politics, Transportation | Comments Off on Republicans Break Ranks to Pass Budget; Disco Demolition Turns Violent

Former Principal Commits Suicide

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 13, 1899, Suicide  

July 13, 1899: Former school Principal John H. Brown commits suicide, citing financial problems. He asked to be buried near his wife, who had died several years earlier. Brown left an 11-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son, and two children from a previous marriage.  

Posted in Education, Suicide | 1 Comment

Woman Turns Informant in Jewel Robbery

Posted on July 13, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 13, 1889, Diamond Robbery

July
13, 1889: A smash and grab robbery at 1st and Spring … an old man
robbed by a prostitute … a forgetful woman … and The Times finds
fault with the new City Hall on Broadway, shown below left.

https://i0.wp.com/latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedailymirror/images/2008/07/27/city_hall_bwy_crop_2.jpg

 Sept. 20, 1914, Hosfield Building

Although City Hall is gone, the 1914-15 annex, known as the Hosfield Building or the Victor Clothing building, is still standing.

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on Woman Turns Informant in Jewel Robbery

Cross-Country Trip Begins!

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
Alice Ramsey on Cross-Country Trip

Emily Anderson begins her re-creation of Alice Ramsey's 1909 cross-country trip this morning. Follow her progress on her website. Or on Twitter.

Emily Anderson Arrives at Vassar -- Poughkeepsie Journal  Update: Emily Anderson has started — in the pouring rain. The 1909 Maxwell gets a police escort out of New York and is being followed by a 1907 Spyker from the Netherlands.

June 9, 7:30 PDT: The team reports a loud noise from the engine, as if one of the connecting rods broke a bolt. "Might be up all night fixing this," the team says.

June 10: Day 2 – car in
the 'hospital' – hurt but not broken. We are delayed this morning but
resting to go later today or tomorrow morning.

June 11: The Maxwell is
alive and kicking. Tim and Rich dedicated 26 hours to fixing it. We are
meeting in the hotel lobby at 8a.m. to continue on!

Emily anderson June 12, 2009, working on the engine June 11: 5pm ish 5 miles in the knocking noise starts to pick up again … Super bummer. Car has to stay at the shop and get worked on fast and furiously we are done for the day … really tired. lots of rain.poor car. sunburned wrists never thought to put sunscreen on wrists before

June 12: Problem solved!
oil was not reaching front cylinder and causing the babbit to run dry
get hot & melt. totally fixed, car running! Relief.

Maxwell at Gas Pump June 13: car runs
beautifully – excited to hit the open road but will have to take it
slower tomorrow. long afternoon nap and dinner in buffalo.

 June 14: Emily Anderson and the Maxwell reach Ohio. 7 15pm we made it! After singing songs and climbing a few last hills we were greeted by cousins and friends.

June 19: Had a wonderful lunch in Jefferson, IA. Stormy weather has returned so we had to eat and run. 120 miles left to go Omaha.

June 20: Day to relax in Omaha. Excellent hosts. Maxwell on display sat/sun at Durham Museum for Railroad days!

June 22: Made it to Grand Island, NE. Babbs finished up in style.

June 24: Arrived in Cheyanne, WY @ 7 PM. So great to be driving and cross another state line!

https://i0.wp.com/aliceramsey.org/wp-content/uploads/img_5977-400x300.jpgJune 29: Lehi, UT for the night!

July 2: wonderful evening
bbq hosted by the mayor of ely and the amazing railway museum. got to
visit the engine house and board an 09 steam engine

July 3: Made it over 6 passes and a through a hail storm…Will lay our heads in Austin, NV.

July 3: RENO, NV!

Drive Across AmericaJuly 8: Made it to San Rafael, CA. Awesome greeting by the Sagar family! Thanks guys!

July 9: "From Hell's Gate to the Golden Gate" Alice Ramsey 1961 We made it!!

July 12: 10am Babbs is
hitting the road again – trailering to whidby island today and her
final resting spot. i am having babbs driving withdrawls!
Posted in Transportation, travel | Comments Off on Cross-Country Trip Begins!

Found on EBay — Batchelder Tile

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Batchelder Tile Thistle Ebay

This piece of Batchelder tile has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $4.99.
Posted in Architecture, art and artists | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Batchelder Tile

What’s the Worst Baseball Movie (b/w) Ever Made?

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Keith says: There’s also a scene in which Babe Ruth goes into a bar and orders milk.

So Larry and I were discussing the Mystery Photo one day and I
commented on actor William Bendix, who was in a shot with the
then-mysterious Noreen Nash. Bendix once played Babe Ruth in “The Babe
Ruth Story” a film I said was without question the worst baseball movie
of all time.

Oh really, said Mr. Harnisch. And before I knew it, a survey was born,

We’d like to know your pick for the worst baseball movie. Since this
is The Daily Mirror, let’s limit the field to black and white
productions.

Here are some suggestions:

–“Angels in the Outfield,”  the 1951 version with Paul Douglas and Janet Leigh. Not the Disney remake with Danny Glover.

–“The Jackie Robinson Story,” starring Robinson in the title role.

–“Fear Strikes Out,” with Anthony Perkins as troubled Red Sox outfielder Jimmy Piersall.

There are tons of others–I’m not including some of my personal
favorites. There’s even another candidate with  Bendix called “Kill the
Umpire.” Here’s a glimpse of Bendix playing Ruth the way Jackie Gleason
might have played President Taft.

–Keith Thursby

Update: Author James Curtis says: Worst baseball movie, I’ll be curious to see if anyone mentions “Roogie’s Bump,”
which I saw one time at a Saturday kids’ matinee.

Alexa Foreman, researcher for Turner Classic Movies, says: “The Slugger’s Wife.”
Posted in Film, Hollywood, Sports | 3 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept: Your Movies

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 12, 1935, Movies  

July 12, 1935: "Becky Sharp" and "In Caliente."

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept: Your Movies

Trouble for Autry and the Angels

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 12, 1969, Akron

July 12, 1969: Akron has hip-huggers … guitars … clock radio/desk lamps. 

July 12, 1969, Autry How wide was the gulf between the Angels and Dodgers? Consider this
item from The Times' radio columnist, Don Page, discussing Gene Autry's
troubles:

"This should be a particularly depressing week for Autry, the Angels
and Channel 5. By Sunday, Channel 5 will have dispensed five Angel
telecasts into Southland parlors–all opposite Dodger radio games when
Vin Scully is describing the hottest week of the L.A. team's season.
Pity the Angel ratings."

There was plenty of speculation that Autry was going to tap Channel
5 general manager Doug Finley to become president of the Angels.
Finley's most recent claim to fame was boosting Channel 5 news ratings
by hiring former LAPD Chief Tom Reddin.

–Keith Thursby
Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Dodgers, Sports, Television | Comments Off on Trouble for Autry and the Angels

Mayor Rebukes Police Chief for Insubordination

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 12, 1899, Police Commission

July 12, 1899: The mayor apologetically rebukes the police chief for talking back to a police commissioner.

Posted in City Hall, LAPD, Politics | Comments Off on Mayor Rebukes Police Chief for Insubordination

Chef Joseph Goes on a Bender

Posted on July 12, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 12, 1889, Chef

July 12, 1889: Millionaire P. Beaudry's chef, Joseph Garson, is an artist in the kitchen but when he's been drinking he becomes "a rather disagreeable personage."
Posted in #courts, Food and Drink | Comments Off on Chef Joseph Goes on a Bender

Found on EBay — Enrico Caruso

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Enrico Caruso, Rosa Ponselle Ebay
Caruso in "I Pagliacci." 		What appears to be a collection of ephemera given by Enrico Caruso to Rosa Ponselle has been listed on EBay.

There is no strong tie to Los Angeles, although both of them performed here. For example, Caruso appeared in a Met production of "Lucia di Lammermoor" in 1905 at Hazard's Pavilion and Ponselle was at the Hollywood Bowl in 1923.

I'm noting these items because there may be a few Caruso or Ponselle fans among the Daily Mirror readers who would enjoy knowing about them. Bidding starts at $429.99.
 

Posted in #opera, classical music, Music, Stage | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, July 11, 1959

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 11, 1959, Peanuts

Dear Friend

Matt Weinstock It's too hot for indignation but maybe, with a cool drink, we can muster a little pique.

I
refer to a certain type of unsolicited direct mail pitch. A large
envelope shows up in the mailbox. How the outfit got your name and
address you don't know.

Inside is a mimeographed letter
addressed to "Dear Friend," stating you have been recommended for
membership in a "new, exciting and convenient way of shopping."
Superimposed in large type is the admonition, "Send no money."

TO GET IN ON THIS
excitement you will want the catalog and to get the catalog all you
have to do is fill out the enclosed application and return it in the
reply envelope. This is where the pique comes in.

The
application wants to know your name, address, age, whether single,
married, separated or divorced, the name of your employer and how long
you've worked there. So far, routine. But then it wants to know, "What
are your present earnings?" And the name of the bank where you have an
account.

July 11, 1959, Billy Eckstine Remember, you didn't send for anything, you don't want anything — only to be left alone.

I say it's an impertinence and an invasion of privacy.

::

A MAN NAMED EDDIE asked his wife to go deep-sea fishing with him over the week end and got this evasive and somewhat double-edged reply:

"No,
I don't think I will. I'm afraid I'd get seasick. Besides, there've
been a lot of boat accidents and I don't want to get dumped in the
water with all those sharks around. You go, though, but leave your
wrist watch home."

::

SAFETY FIRST
To drink and drive is
    treacherous
For accidents are grim
So he who drinks just
    like a fish
Should park his car and
    swim.
    — PEARL ROWE

::

DEATH OF retired
Adm. Harry E. Yarnell in Newport, R.I., this week brought a grateful
eulogy from George Krain of the SC photo department.

Krain, a
White Russian, was a newsreel cameraman in the Far East when the
Japanese bombed the gunboat Panay in the Yangtze River in 1937. Because
he photographed the pillage of Nanking he became a fugitive from the
Japanese. Five of his countrymen were executed.

He appealed for
help and Adm. Yarnell, commander of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet, got visas
for him and his wife to enter this country.

"He saved our lives," Krain said. "We will never forget him."

::

THE HEAT
is getting to people. A man entering Spring St. building stopped,
muttered something, then reached down and pulled a blue tie out of one
pants leg. . . . And a painting publicist, returning from lunch, gasped
to his companion, "I'll race you to the air conditioning!"

::

July 11, 1959, Abby EDWARD L. LASH,
3751 Bagley Ave., L.A., survivor of the Norway hotel fire in which 17
were killed, writes Nellie Byrne of the Byrne Travel Service from
Edinburgh, "I think the 22nd of June was our lucky day. We arrived at
the Stalheim Hotel and for the first time on our trip were given a room
on the first floor. The fire broke out on the second floor and spread
upwards. Three in our group were burned to death. Others were killed
jumping from windows."

::

FOOTNOTES —
A photog on another paper always puts his glasses and keys on a desk
when he returns from an assignment and heads for his darkroom. If he
wonders why his key ring has gotten so heavy lately, his colleagues
have been adding a key a day. . . . Regarding supposedly unused watch
pockets in men's trousers, R.R. Auerbach of La Jolla Sportswear says,
"We don't try to figure out the whys — all we know is people want them
in, used or not". . . .A lady Mike Molony knows malapropped to her dog,
"If you don't behave I'll pick you up by the scum of the neck and throw
you out of the house!"
Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, July 11, 1959

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, July 11, 1959

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Confidential File

Smog Blinds His Objectivity

Paul CoatesTraveling newspaper correspondents — for want of something better to report — get their kicks by diagnosing the ills of each city on their itinerary.

And
usually, because of deadlines and harassment by their editors, they
have to do it fast. Like, say, 20 minutes after they check into their
downtown hotel, they've got to unlock their typewriter and begin
recording their impressions.

This gives them time to glance at
the headlines of the local press, talk to two bellboys, a cab driver
and one waitress and overhear an argument between a middle-aged matron
and a room clerk.

The results generally are similar to the following, a recent summation of the city of Los Angeles by a correspondent of London's Daily Express:

July 11, 1959, Mirror "This
is America's smog city. The filthy, swirling muck is as much a menace
here to health and happiness as it is in London and Manchester…

"Whereas New York goes to ridiculous lengths upwards, Los Angeles goes to ridiculous lengths sideways.

"It
is in area the world's largest city — as all its taxi drivers never
fail to point out proudly during their 20-mile, $5 drives.

"The result is appalling for city living.

"Two million, five hundred thousand people are smeared thinly over a 450-square mile area of perpetual suburb.

"Your neighbor is a half-hour drive away, your supermarket a healthy trek, your local pub a plane trip.

"A novelty shop on Hollywood Blvd. claims to sell 'real stardust — gathered electromagnetically from outer space, with the aid of the latest scientific techniques.'

"Yet all the star-dusted creatures are supposed to live within a few blocks."

July 11, 1959, Houdini Taking
this man's comments as a whole, I've got to admit that he encountered
some pretty observant bellboys, waitresses, and cab drivers.

But there's one point where I take exception — that crack about it being a plane trip to your local pub.

That's not true. And it's just this kind of propaganda that gives us a bad name all over the world.

::

While
on the subject of plentiful pubs, I'm sorry to report that through some
clever lobbying, the proponents of Senate Bill 1093 maneuvered their
pet through the House and Senate in Sacramento, and onto the desk of
Gov. Brown for signature.

Booze Sale Near Schools

The legislation opens up to retail liquor establishments
and bars some previously protected territory around certain schools,
institutions and hospitals where it would be dangerous, or at least ill
advised, to peddle booze at the premises' gates.

It's pure special interest legislation. It's going to make a few people rich. (Or richer, as the case may be.)

And that's a rotten reason for permitting it to become law.

If you're interested in stopping it, drop a card to Gov. Brown. His veto can kill it.

::

As
proof that the public can have the final say in government if it's
willing to speak up, an ordinance outlawing pinball machines went into
effect this week in El Monte.

The profitable pinball pay-off
games — for years well protected by selfish interests in the community
— were finally put to a vote a couple of weeks ago after some
intensive petition passing by concerned parents in the area.

The citizens effected the ban by a 535-to-334 vote.
Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, July 11, 1959

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 11, 1934, Movies

July 11, 1934:Confirmation that celebrities' deaths always come in threes.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Architectural Rambling — Ray Watt

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

Oct. 27, 1963, Ray Watt

Oct. 10, 1963: The Times' real estate section features an 80-acre tract on Sepulveda Boulevard in Torrance being developed by Ray Watt, who died July 7.
Oct. 27, 1963, Ray Watt

The condo development was called New Horizons–South Bay and was praised by Times Real Estate Editor Tom Cameron for a 10,000-square-foot clubhouse and recreation building, a nine-hole golf course, putting green and swimming pool. Cameron also noted that the project had underground utilities and a wall around the perimeter that eliminated "interior streets, which makes the community completely pedestrian-oriented."

But it wasn't for everybody: "Residence is limited to families in which one spouse must be 35 years old or more or to single persons that age or above. No children under 18 years of age may be permanent residents."

Posted in Architecture, art and artists | Comments Off on Architectural Rambling — Ray Watt

Traffic Officer Killed Near Hollywood Bowl

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

April 18, 1971, Stansell

April 18, 1971: Marie Stansell is honored for 25 years as a school crossing guard.

 

July 23, 1941, Stansell

The Times never reported the outcome of charges against Frederick Krupp in the death of Officer Ferris E. Stansell.

 

April 18, 1971, Stansell

At left, on July 11, 1941, Officer Ferris E. Stansell is killed while directing traffic near the Hollywood Bowl. His widow, Marie, takes a job as a school crossing guard. I can imagine some reporters groaning about an assignment like this: 25 years escorting kids across the street. But Donna Scheibe turns it into an interesting story.

Posted in Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Traffic Officer Killed Near Hollywood Bowl

Clerk Refuses to Marry Chinese Man to White Girl

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 11, 1899, Marry

 

July
11, 1899: A Chinese man accused of raping a white 16-year-old girl wants to marry her. The girl and her mother consented, but intermarriage of whites and Asians was illegal at the time.

Posted in #courts, Eurasians | 1 Comment

Police Commission Studies Regulation of Prostitution

Posted on July 11, 2009 by lmharnisch
July 11, 1889, Police Commission

July 11, 1889: One of the best things about the 1880s newspapers is that The Times wrote about everything. One of the more controversial issues before the Police Commission is what to do with all the prostitutes in Los Angeles. Accusations of false arrest … appointment of a police matron … selling off the department's old horses … it's all here.

Posted in #courts, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on Police Commission Studies Regulation of Prostitution

Found on EBay — Charles Mulford Robinson

Posted on July 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Charles Mulford Robinson, Honolulu
A plan for Honolulu, 1907 		In the early 20th century, Charles Mulford Robinson wrote a series of books on beautifying cities and developed specific plans for such places as Detroit and Los Angeles. Robinson proposed that Los Angeles build a Union Station, straighten Spring Street and plant jacarandas. He also advocated a scenic drive from downtown to Pasadena and a large library on 5th Street. Sound familiar?

A copy of his plan for Honolulu has been listed on EBay. It's priced at $85, a bit expensive for an ex-library book, but it's hard to find.

Luckily, many of Robinson's books are available at archive.org. But not the plan for Los Angeles.

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, books, Downtown | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Charles Mulford Robinson