Rosh Hashana, 1951

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times

Rosh Hashana preparations in Pasadena, September 1951. The Times reported a novel approach to holiday celebrations all under roof: Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist and youth services. Louis B. Silver, left, was to conduct the Orthodox services while Rabbi Max Vorspan, center, conducted other observances. Charles Price, at right, was to conduct youth services. Musical direction was under Mrs. Norman Hassler, a Christian who had served the Jewish community for 27 years, The Times' Herb Brin said. "In many ways, what we are doing here is analogous to the community church idea. It is important that we are Jewish," Vorspan said. "Our job is to satisfy the essential needs of all Jews without breaking the essential unity of the faith. "It is an indication of a growing feeling on the part of Jews and Christians that the elements which have been dividing us are not nearly as important as the many bonds which should be uniting us."

Movie revival -- The Tingler

Coming soon to a theater near you...

Above, "The Tingler," 1959.

Oct. 31, 2008, 8 p.m. Silent Movie Theatre. Tickets $12.

 

Movie star mystery photo

Los Angeles Times file photo

Our actress had a long career on Broadway and appeared in silent and sound films as well as on television. She is listed in imdb (more than 50 credits) and Wikipedia. Update: We have the correct answer from Gregory Moore Greg Clancey (congratulations!) but because he guessed so quickly, I'm going to wait until tomorrow to post the answer in case anyone else recognizes her. Update 2: Ack! I went too fast. Gregory Moore guessed right. Gleg Clancey, alas, was wrong (but a good guess). Forgive my confusion over two Gregs, whom I was e-mailing at the same time! Our mystery actress is Mary Boland, who appeared in "The Women," among many other films. How did Moore recognize her? He explains: "We're both from Detroit."

Los Angeles Times file photo Here's a photo from 1935, when Boland was sued for $150,000 ($2.2 million USD 2007) on rather curious charges. Elizabeth Kummer, the wife of Boland's nephew, George Kummer, filed a lawsuit accusing Boland of alienation of affections. Boland called the charges ridiculous.  The Times never reported the outcome of the litigation. Los Angeles Times file photo Here's Boland with Charlie Ruggles, her frequent film partner at Paramount, in a 1948 production of the play "One Fine Day." According to imdb, they appeared together in 14 films, including "The Big Broadcast of 1936," "Ruggles of Red Gap" and "Boy Trouble." The Internet Broadway Database lists her stage appearances, including "Hellzapoppin."

Rams win against Cleveland, September 30, 1968

Above, Alabama Gov. George Wallace plans a TV appearance for his presidential campaign.

By Keith Thursby Times Staff Writer The Rams moved to 2-0 with a 24-6 victory at Cleveland. The Rams broke open the game in the fourth quarter and the Browns couldn't do anything on offense. Players of the game: The Ram defense. A headline in The Times put it this way: "Rams' Defense So Good It Makes Game Dull." Paragraph of the game: From The Times' Mal Florence: "Although the Ram offense didn't turn killer until late in the game, it had gratifying moments." Quote of the game: "I think it's very exciting. The crowd is large and the halftime show was excellent. I just went out for two hot dogs and best of all, today they were hot," said Cleveland owner Art Modell, asked if the game had been the dullest afternoon he had spent in football. keith.thursby@latimes.com

Victory for Hitler, September 30, 1938

Agreement hands Czech territory to Nazis Britain, France, Germany and Italy sign a compromise that is given to Czechoslovakia. If the nation refuses to accept being partitioned, it would stand alone against a German invasion.

Cary Grant is reading the script for "Dodge City" as a replacement for Errol Flynn in a cast that includes Olivia de Havilland and Victor Jory.

Munich conference Czech leaders turn to President Roosevelt in hopes of avoiding the dismemberment of their country. "From the man in the street to the highest political personalities of the nation, everyone is depressed and downcast," United Press reports. In Los Angeles, Mayor Fletcher Bowron moves to overhaul the Civil Service Commission and banishes the Los Angeles Police Department Vice Squad, which had been operating out of the mayor's office under Frank Shaw ... A tornado kills at least 26 people in Charleston, S.C., and injures several hundred ...  Text of agreement At left, an analysis by Pulitzer Prize winner Frederick T. Birchall of the New York Times says that Nazi leader Adolf Hitler got everything he wanted in the Munich conference. His only concession was to accept a longer timetable... All of Germany celebrates Hitler's diplomatic victory. The nation finds a new faith in Hitler's "political finesse," United Press reports.  Below, Pacifist Bertrand Russell says that war in Europe is inevitable. Londoners pray for peace Pope gives radio talk 61 held in vice raids Cubs over Pirates, 10-1

Rosh Hashana, 1948

Photograph by Ray Graham / Los Angeles Times

Rosh Hashana at the Jewish Home for the Aged, 325 S. Boyle Ave., in a photo taken in advance, Sept. 29, 1948.  (In 1948, Rosh Hashana began Oct. 3). From left, Abraham Anis, Zelig Meyerson, Baruch Solomon, Joseph Flasterstein, Benjamin Gorelik and Samuel Rosen. Below, Boyle Avenue via Google maps' street view.

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Hershiser breaks Drysdale's record, September 29, 1988

Photograph by Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times Orel Hershiser pitches for the Dodgers against Cincinnati, April 14, 2000.

By Keith Thursby Times Staff Writer Twenty years ago, I witnessed an important moment in Dodger history. Good thing they don't need me as an expert witness to recall every detail of the occasion. Orel Hershiser broke Don Drysdale's major league record for consecutive scoreless innings by pitching 10 innings against the San Diego Padres. I was in the stands that night. Mitch, my high school friend and a lifelong Dodger fan, was alongside. He was in San Diego County for a seminar, so perhaps I was the one who needed convincing that the drive would be worth it. Since Hershiser needed 10 innings to pass Drysdale, we didn't expect to see history that night. Nevertheless, we were there. Maybe the memories are vague because I wasn't much of a Dodger fan, or because the game was in San Diego and there wasn't the sense of hometown drama. After all, what Padre fan would want one Dodger to break the record of another? Were Mitch's memories any better than mine? "I don't think the Padre fans were aware of the record because the PA didn't make a big deal of it until it was done," Mitch wrote in an e-mail. "I remember us changing seats as the park emptied out and we got closer to the Dodger dugout." San Diego's stadium was then called San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, after a local sportswriter, of all things. Homey it was not -- it's one of those dual-purpose stadiums that really don't fit baseball or football very well. And once the game hit extra innings, many Dodger fans headed north and locals headed home. By the 16th inning, we had great seats since most of them had been vacated. I certainly recalled that the game went extra innings, but it didn't seem like 16 until I looked up the game story from The Times. I didn't recall that Hershiser needed four outs in the 10th to get the record because he struck out Marvell Wynne but the pitch bounced in front of, then over, catcher Mike Scioscia. One thing I have remembered all these years was the name Mark Parent, the journeyman catcher who homered off the Dodgers' Ricky Horton to give the Padres a 2-1 victory. Maybe I had his baseball card once. But I had forgotten completely that the Dodgers scored in the top of the inning to take a 1-0 lead. What does this all mean, other than my middle-age memory is pretty sad?  I always chuckle when I see sports fans -- often actors -- on nostalgic television shows recall the exact day they first were taken to Yankee Stadium or Madison Square Garden. Me? Couldn't tell you my first Angels, Dodgers or Rams game. I do recall one Notre Dame-USC game only because it was raining and I got hit on the head by the umbrella of a happy Irish fan. Is it really important to remember the details as a fan?  As my friend Mitch put it at the end of his e-mail: "It's pretty cool to say we were there." Some of my fondest sports memories are like that, a game where timing and luck made for a memorable experience. Seeing Barry Bonds hit his 500th home run (against the Dodgers) just because we happened to be in San Francisco for a vacation. Seeing Manny Ramirez's first game as a Dodger just because we bought discounted tickets two weeks in advance. And seeing the Padres and Dodgers on the night Mark Parent became a name I wouldn't forget. keith.thursby@latimes.com

 

Rams win with last-minute field goal, September 29, 1958

Clark Kerr becomes head of the University of California.

By Keith Thursby Times Staff Writer The Rams opened the 1958 season with a last-minute 30-27 loss to the Cleveland Browns at the Coliseum. Lou Groza kicked a nine-yard field goal with 23 seconds to play. Players of the game: Fumbles by quarterback Bill Wade and running back Jon Arnett led to Cleveland scores. Paragraph of the game: From The Times' Cal Whorton: "It was a truly bitter defeat for the pro-Ram crowd of 69,993 to take. Going into the final period the Rams led 27-14. But those pesky Browns, a team known in grid circles as a club that never beats itself, was not to be denied." Quote of the game: "Go over and pep him up. He's blaming himself for the whole thing," said Rams Coach Sid Gillman, motioning to a reporter to talk to Arnett. keith.thursby@latimes.com

San Marino woman commits suicide, September 29, 1958

Above, pro baseball players shatter youngsters' illusions by refusing to sign autographs. I guess Pat Brown can rule out an endorsement from The Times. Such was the state of political cartoons at The Times before the arrival of Paul Conrad.

Billee Jean Swarthout, Chi Omega, 1940, from El Rodeo Her story is sad enough; digging up the old photos only adds to the mystery. What went wrong? We'll probably never know. Her name was Dorothy, but as a teenager she went by her middle name, Jeanne. Her father was head of the music school at USC and she had a cousin who was an opera star. In 1938, when she was 16, Jeanne graduated from San Marino Hall School for Girls as the student body president and editor of the school yearbook. In 1939, as a freshman at USC, she was a Chi Omega and was calling herself Billee Jean.  In November 1940, at the age of 19, she became engaged to Mark Foulkes Jones Jr., a 27-year-old attorney who graduated from USC's law school. Then in February 1941, they eloped to Las Vegas. During World War II, she worked as a box office cashier. The Times reported in 1943 that she and two co-workers were robbed while a play was in progress, but didn't list the name of the theater, which was located at 4019 Clinton St. Then came three children, a girl and twin boys. In 1952, Jeanne was active in the Spastic Children's League of Pasadena. The growing family moved to 425 Plymouth Road, San Marino. And that's where Jeanne killed herself. Mark and the twin boys were on a fishing trip somewhere off Santa Catalina Island in their boat, the Mar-Ma-Le. She had planned to accompany them, so her mother-in-law came over to watch their daughter, who was staying behind. But at the last moment, Jeanne decided to remain in San Marino with her daughter and mother-in-law. Then one morning, Jeanne went to an upstairs bedroom, put the barrel of a .22 rifle in her mouth and pulled the trigger. Dorothy Jeanne "Billee Jean" Jones, the daughter of Max Van Lewen Swarthout and a cousin of Gladys Swarthout, was 37. We can make all kinds of guesses as to why a woman in her 30s with three growing children would kill herself, but I doubt we'll ever know. If she left a note, The Times never reported it. Her husband died in 1984 at the age of 71.

 

Movie revivals -- He Who Gets Slapped

Coming soon to a theater near you...

Above, "He Who Gets Slapped,"1925.

Oct. 1, 2008, 8 p.m. Silent Movie Theatre. Tickets $10 "He Who Gets Slapped," Lon Chaney, Norma Shearer, John Gilbert.