July 15, 1957
Los Angeles
They had been through triumph and tragedy, and spent more time together than many married couples. But it was time for a change. The scripts were lousy and getting worse. One of them wanted to keep working and the other wanted to quit and raise thoroughbreds.
So Bud Abbott and Lou Costello split the act. Abbott, the straight man, was going to retire to his ranch in Ojai. Costello, the pudgy comedian, was going solo–he didn’t want to work with anyone else.
Soon it was Abbott vs. Costello in a $222,465 lawsuit over money from a TV contract, although the men apparently remained friends.
And in less than two years, Costello was gone. He was hospitalized after he collapsed in an apartment at 4222 Ethel Ave., where his family was living while a home was being built at 3322 Longridge Terrace, Van Nuys. At the time of his death, Costello had some TV dates on Steve Allen’s show and was to appear at the Dunes in Las Vegas. Continue reading
arion Jones died with a secret–and a lot of medical bills ($2,308.64 for doctors’ visits in 2007 dollars). She died owing $29.45 ($647.52 USD 2007), so she was turned over to the medical school at USC to be dissected by the students. Her former employer said she was a well-educated and refined woman who concealed her identity so her family wouldn’t discover she was working as a housekeeper. When he learned that she had died, he recovered her body from the dissection lab, paid her hospital bill and had her buried at Grand View Cemetery in Glendale.
Coming to Hollywood in 1907, Eleanor Brodie Jones determined to make a difference in the small community. For over 22 years, she brought a love of reading, knowledge, and growth to everyone through her successful work in community engagement and outreach, offering programs for all ages and ensuring access to cultural and artistic events through various clubs and societies, but especially as Hollywood librarian. Jones’ evolution of the library and its impact on society parallelled Hollywood’s rise as an artistic community thanks to her work. She also left an indelible mark by inspiring the construction of the Hollywood Studio Club, a safe and encouraging residence for young women immigrating to the city in hopes of making it in movies. Her leadership provided a much needed home for single women stepping out on their own to succeed in the business world.
er name was Fanny (or Fannie) and she had everything a young wife could want, at least according to her husband, Walter F.W. Stock, a grading contractor from Long Beach. The Stocks enjoyed a happy home and had two children. At least that was Walter’s story.
Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and 
ladailymirror.com 