Carole Landis--RIP

I discovered something interesting in trying to enhance this photo.
	I was fiddling around with the contrast and brightness when the labels suddenly became readable -- at least the larger type. Imagine my surprise. (No, I didn't salvage this out of the photo above; someone sent me a scan.) The labels appear to say something like "Western Drug" or "Westwood Drug." Aha! Western Drug. Co., 5500 Hollywood Blvd., GLadstone-8192. Update: According to an informal inquiry held in lieu of an inquest, the envelope shown with the pill bottles said (apparently in Landis' handwriting): "red--quick--2 hours yellow about 5--can take 2" Note that only one of these four bottles looks like the three found on the bureau, at left. That's a total of six pill bottles at least. Maybe seven. Email me

Carole Landis--RIP

Above, the photo of Carole Landis published in The Times.
	omeone was kind enough to send me a scan of this photo. Here are the items on the bathroom counter: a book of matches, a comb and several bottles. It's a bit difficult to tell, but I think a pill bottle is visible behind the large bottle in the center of the photo. If so, we have found four pill bottles so far.
	And we get a closeup of her left hand. I noticed right away there's no wedding ring. She had filed for divorce, so that's not terribly surprising -- but worth noting. Also notice that the bathroom appears to be carpeted. Update: Now this is interesting. According to news reports, Landis was holding a satin ribbon bearing the Lord's Prayer in her left hand. But I don't see any ribbon, just a shadow from the leg of the bathroom sink. Unfortunately, her right hand is obscured.
	Of course, we're snooping, so we're going to look into this locking cabinet. What's in here? On the top shelf, we find a small box and what appears to be a small pouch or portfolio-type cover with a snap.
	This is the item that interests me the most. On the bottom shelf of this locking cabinet, closest to her head, we find some sort of typed or printed document. Unfortunately, I can't get any more detail by enhancing the photo. But it's clearly a document. Presumably this is not a will as there was confusion after her death about where it was located. What seems evident, though, is that she was using the locking cabinet to store valuables. In fact, someone sent me another photo of the scene in which the cabinet door isn't blocked by Detective Jones. At left, there's the lock. Someone who has more time than I do might find it productive to get a copy of her probate records from Los Angeles County. Because there was a legal dispute over her estate, it's fairly likely there's a large file that should include a detailed inventory of everything she owned when she died. Observations? Thoughts? Email me

Nuestro Pueblo

Below, Spring and Alpine streets via Google maps' street view feature.

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Carole Landis--RIP

Above, the Carole Landis crime scene photo as it was published in The Times, July 6, 1948.

nce again, here are our two detectives, John Laymen and Emmett Jones, looking at poor old Carole Landis on the bathroom floor. I have to admit I'm a little disappointed that nobody mentioned what I find to be the most interesting detail in this photo. elow, let's get a closer look. Sure enough, there's a set of keys hanging from the door of the cabinet where she's lying. I can't claim to be an expert on fancy Los Angeles homes of the 1940s (a shout-out to Nathan Marsak), but I have never encountered a bathroom that had a cabinet that locked with a key (perhaps I have led a sheltered life). I suppose there are several reasons for having one. One possibility is that it was an early attempt at baby-proofing; Lord knows the old newspapers are full of stories about children poisoning themselves with ant paste or their parents' medicine. hatever the reason, I'm beginning to suspect that Landis was using this locking cabinet as some sort of home safe. The inventory of her estate listed quite a bit of jewelry and the fact that she was found resting her head on a jewelry box makes much more sense if she kept her valuables in this cabinet. Wouldn't it be fun to look in the cabinet? Maybe we can. Email me

Carole Landis--RIP

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Here's the overall shot again. So far nobody has mentioned the item almost in the center of the photograph.

A piano bench and an old movie script. Voila!

At first I thought it was some sort of ledger. But on closer examination I decided it might be a script. Below, here's what a 1940s movie script looked like in its original binder. (This is the script for the MGM production "The Arnelo Affair," dated Nov. 5, 1946, purchased by me at the Salvation Army store in Pasadena for $4. The binders, by the way, came from The Loose Leaf House, 1240 S. Main St.) Email me

July 4, 1908

Ken Reich--in memoriam

Photograph by Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times Former Times reporter and columnist Kenneth Reich, who died in his sleep Monday.

This is a recording of Ken's memorial service, held July 3, 2008, at Mount Sinai, Hollywood Hills. This is a field recording and I've reduced it to monaural for streaming purposes, so it's a lo-fi experience.  The speakers were Rabbi Sheldon Pennes, Ken's longtime friend Anton Calleia, former Times Sports Editor Bill Dwyre and Ken's son, David. And I couldn't resist posting this sound clip from a 2006 gathering of the Old Farts of The Times on its 30th anniversary. The speakers are moderator Jerry Clark, Ken Reich, former Times National Editor Ed Guthman and Only in L.A. columnist Steve Harvey, discussing former President Nixon's "Enemies List" and former Times political reporter Richard Bergholz, who had recently died.   Email me

Carole Landis--RIP

Los Angeles Times file photo Let's break down the photograph by segments. First, we'll  inventory everything on and around the bureau.
	Starting from the left, here's the camera. I'll leave to the experts to determine the precise model. My first guess is that it belongs to the police crime scene photographer or to a news photographer. Update: Howard Decker asks whether this might be some sort of "flash slave unit" with a large battery pack. I don't know enough about 4x5 equipment to comment. I'm quite curious about how the photographer lit the bathroom.
	Then there's the flowers. Interestingly enough, the vase seems to be sitting on a metal tray--or perhaps it's an ashtray. There's also something that looks like a hankie to the left of the vase.
	And her purse. Note that it's reflected in the mirror.
	And the three bottles that everyone has mentioned. Unfortunately, the labels are unreadable, but the bottles look like drugstore prescriptions to me. At the moment I'm more interested in what's behind the bottles. Is it a clipboard? A large envelope? I can't quite tell.
	Finally, we have what appears to be a trunk or suitcase to the left of the bureau. One of the men in the picture is obscuring the object so we can only see a corner of it.

Above, the photo that turns up in so many crime books and on the Internet--usually not credited to The Times (ahem). Unfortunately, I cannot locate this print in The Times archives, so a clip from ProQuest will have to do.  It would be interesting to examine exactly what's on the counter.
	This is what we see in the mirror above the bureau. Of course, everything is reversed, so let's flop it.
	Notice that it's daytime and one of the windows is open. There are heavy drapes and we can see out into the yard.
	And here's the fur coat that everyone has mentioned. Nathan is correct in saying that Los Angeles gets cool at night, even in July, and for a stylish movie star like Carole Landis, a fur coat in the summertime doesn't strike me as being out of place. According to a story about the auction of her estate, Landis owned 11 fur coats, as well as stoles, capes, jackets, hats and muffs.
	Isn't this a wonderful hair dryer? Art Deco meets the Space Age. I'm sure there is someone, somewhere who collects antique hair dryers and can identify this for us. And there's a doorstop on the molding at the bottom of the picture. Presumably it's for the door that's behind heavy drapes to the right.
	Notice that the label is visible. I flipped the image to make it right side up.
	One reader commented on the door knob and the lock. Here's a more detailed image.

Thoughts? Observations? Email me

Carole Landis--RIP

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Detectives John M. Laymen, top, and Emmett Jones examine the body of actress Carole Landis in a bathroom (one of four) at her home at 1465 Capri Drive, July 5, 1948. Below, the approximate location via Google maps' street view feature. View Larger Map

he 60th anniversary of Carole Landis' suicide is coming up, so I thought it would be interesting to post a Times photo of the crime scene. I noticed several unusual things right away, but just to make this a bit more interesting, take a look at this photo and tell me what you see. There is at least one detail that I find extremely odd. At left, Landis in a 1940 studio photo (Note: Some Neanderthal at The Times cut this print into a bizarre shape, so I filled in the black background to make it a rectangle.) OK, mystery lovers... what do you see in the crime scene photo? Email me

July 3, 1938

Above, a panel from "Buck Rogers."

he editors of the Daily Mirror have several sayings: "We cannot forget the past, but also we cannot live there," "Everyone is entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts," and my new favorite saying: "Don't store fireworks in the oven." Then again, when was the last time you lit your kitchen stove (apparently a wood-burning stove at that) with a match? Presumably Mrs. Cote had decided that July was too warm for baking, so the oven was taking a little summer vacation. Email me

July 2, 1958

By Keith Thursby Times Staff Writer The Times published detailed results of the Chavez Ravine ballot initiative that showed just how close the vote was. The June 3 measure to approve a baseball stadium for the Dodgers passed by nearly 26,000 votes and was favored in nine of the 15 City Council districts. Four of the six districts that voted against the stadium contract were in the San Fernando Valley where, according to The Times' story, "sectional opposition to downtown attractions is fostered by some interests." That sure seemed like a line better suited for an editorial.  But anyone reading the coverage had to realize by now that The Times was clearly on one side of the debate. Councilmen John Holland and Patrick McGee, two frequently quoted opponents of the stadium deal, served districts with the biggest margins against the Dodger contract. Holland's 1970 obit by Times staff writer Doug Shuit included a quote that summed up his view of the contract. "It was the biggest steal of public lands and money since the trade for Manhattan Island with the Indians for a basket of beads," Holland said. keith.thursby@latimes.com

July 2, 1938

ayor Frank Shaw congratulates hundreds of city employees on their retirement, notably 90-year-old Robert Carr, above. The Times says that Carr worked in the street maintenance division for more than 20 years, meaning that he would have started with the city in his late 60s. Unfortunately, The Times doesn't say exactly what he did. Also, Earle Kynette tells the grand jury he can solve the Harry Raymond bombing. He doesn't offer any new details, just a new theory, which The Times doesn't describe.  Email me