Tag Archives: #la

From the Stacks: ‘Just One More!’

I picked up the 1961 edition of “Just One More!” by the Los Angeles Press Photographers Assn. and I’ve been enjoying it more than I expected. It’s a time capsule of press photography as it was 50 years ago, so … Continue reading

Posted in 1961, Books and Authors, From the Stacks, Photography | Tagged , , | 19 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Here’s our mystery desperado! [Update: This is  John Anderson (d. 1992), who played used car dealer California Charlie in “Psycho,” in addition to many other roles in film and on stage.  Please congratulate Michael Ryerson, David Franklin, Dewey Webb, Herb … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated+]

[Update 2: Margaret Campbell and Gertrude Olmstead in “Monte Carlo,” 1926. ] [Update: Please congratulate Mike Hawks for identifying the mystery gal on the left right!] Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb. Thanks! June 29, 1939: Campbell’s son, … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined – Mulholland and the Valley ‘Conspiracy’

My L.A. Times colleague Elaine Woo has a first-rate obituary on Catherine Mulholland, author of “William Mulholland and the Rise of Los Angeles.” One reason Mulholland took on the biography was to provide what she viewed as a more balanced … Continue reading

Posted in 1963, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, History, Hollywood, Obituaries, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – Mulholland and the Valley ‘Conspiracy’

7|9|2011, #history, #museum

NEWSLauren Viera, writing in the Chicago Tribune, says that the Art Institute of Chicago is quietly conducting a search for a director to replace  James Cuno, who has become president and chief executive of the J. Paul Getty Trust.Sidebar: Help … Continue reading

Posted in African Americans, Architecture, Chicago, History, Museums, New York, Philadelphia, Washington | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Day in Hollywood: July 8, 1941

July 8, 1941: I thought it would be fun to check in with our old pals, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor and Jimmie Fidler. Lee writes about visiting researchers spending their summers at the Huntington. That’s my idea of a vacation! … Continue reading

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 4

June 8, 1943: A mob of servicemen block a streetcar on Main Street to remove a passenger wearing a zoot suit. This was supposed to be an easy – if long – post to wrap up the Zoot Suit Riots. … Continue reading

Posted in 1943, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Nathan Marsak, This One Is for You!

June 5, 1943: A nude (well almost) woman climbs onto a neon sign at 6th and Broadway. Beatrice Tucker was clearly ahead of her time.

Posted in 1943, Brain Trust, Downtown | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Zoot Suits in the News

Just as we were exploring the history of the Zoot Suit Riots comes news of Kathy Peiss’ book “Zoot Suit” from the University of Pennsylvania Press. Writing about the book in the New York Times’ Arts Beat, Patricia Cohen raises … Continue reading

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Zoot Suits in the News

Z-Boys Skateboarder Chris Cahill Dies at 54

My friend and L.A. Times Daily Mirror partner Keith Thursby has an obituary on Chris Cahill, a member of the Dogtown Z-Boys skateboarders. Keith says: The Z-Boys, originally 11 boys and a girl, were the subject of the 2001 documentary … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Z-Boys Skateboarder Chris Cahill Dies at 54

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb! [Update: This mystery lady is Neva Gerber (d. 1974) who also performed as Jean Dolores. And she figures in the William Desmond Taylor case – although I can’t find anything about their … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Architectural Rambling

The home at 1315 S. El Molino in Pasadena is one of my favorite local landmarks. When I moved to Los Angeles, I spent a long time looking for the house before I finally located it.  I drive by it … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Witzel Portrait of Louise Fazenda

This striking photo of Louise Fazenda by Witzel studios has been listed on EBay. Witzel was one of the leading studios in Los Angeles for portraits of entertainers. The vendor says this is an authentic autographed picture. Bidding starts at … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Witzel | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Here’s another mystery photo courtesy of Steven Bibb. Thanks! [Update: Please congratulate Don Danard  for identifying Tex Fletcher (d. 1987) in “Six-Gun Rhythm.” ]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 3

In March 1943, Disney studios released “The Spirit of ’43,” a cartoon in which Donald Duck is forced to choose between saving his money for “taxes to bury the Axis” (aided by a thrifty proto-Scrooge McDuck)  and spending his paycheck … Continue reading

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Lee Shippey, Nightclubs, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Photographs by Howard Decker Our pal Fibber (Howard Decker) sends along two pictures as mystery photos. Thanks! [Congratulations to Lorenzo for identifying Season Hubley!]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

From the Stacks: ‘The Big Picture’

I picked up “The Big Picture,” Melba Levick and Stanley Young’s 1988 book about Los Angeles murals, not realizing what a terribly sad book it would be. As Young notes: “Most artists are aware that, exposed as it is to … Continue reading

Posted in 1988, Architecture, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Downtown, From the Stacks, Hollywood, Latinos, Photography, Preservation, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Here’s another mystery photo from Steven Bibb’s collection! [Update: Please congratulate Don Danard for identifying our mystery hero as Buddy Roosevelt. His mystery companion isn’t identified on the back of the picture, but Don says it is  Lafe McKee.]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 2

May 9, 1943: Al Capp satirizes zoot suits in a series about “Zoot-Suit Yokum.” In Part 1, we saw that in 1942, The Times originally portrayed zoot suits as a youthful fad, but that attitudes hardened toward them once the … Continue reading

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Fashion, Film, LAPD, Latinos, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb. There’s a closer look on the jump. [Update: This is Dorothea Wieck (d. 1986), known for “Maedchen in Uniform,” arriving in Los Angeles, April 13, 1933. She returned to Germany because she … Continue reading

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments