Olympics in L.A.?

July 12, 1958 By Keith Thursby Times staff writer Los Angeles officially threw its hat into the Olympic rings for the 1964 Summer Games. Mayor Norris Poulson announced the bid after a meeting with the Southern California Committee for the Olympic Games. "We in Southern California, Los Angeles in particular, already have unparalleled facilities for the successful staging of the Games," Poulson said in Braven Dyer's story in The Times. The 1932 Olympics had been a success in Los Angeles. Money was already an issue in picking future Olympic cities. Dyer wrote that "many European countries claim, after having made the long trip to Australia for the 1956 Olympics, that they will seek to keep the big international program in Europe for years to come, travel expenses being so heavy for many nations which lack the financial standing of the United States." Unlike many of the paper's stories leading up to the Dodgers' move, Dyer's piece kept the Olympic bid in perspective. He pointed out that Tokyo was expected to make a bid in 1964 since the city was awarded the 1940 Games, a competition that didn't take place. Tokyo was named the host city in 1964, with Detroit finishing a distant second in the International Olympic Committee voting. Detroit was viewed as a better Olympic city than Los Angeles? California did get another Olympics in 1960, with the Winter Games coming to Squaw Valley. L.A. had to wait until 1984. Detroit is still waiting. keith.thursby@latimes.com

July 12, 1938

Mystery photo revealed!

Yes, it is Rod Cameron and Adrian Booth in "Brimstone," correctly guessed by Michael Ryerson, Michael Goosman, John Jarnagin, Gary Hertzberg and Howard Decker.  More important, note the Colt Single Action Army Frontier he's carrying. At least that's my best guess.  Above, our mystery guest, identified by Don Danard as: Adrian Booth, Lorna Gray and Virginia Pound (I would have accepted any of these names). But of course, the Daily Mirror isn't done. Now the mystery guest is the fellow on the right. And just because I'm in a good mood, here's another photo. Keith Thursby asked if this was taken at the Golden Horseshoe at Disneyland. Alas, no. (This is on the set of "The Black Hills," Sept. 10, 1950). Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Speaking of fur coats, who's the lady wearing this one? (She was photographed in March 1945 after being arrested on drug charges. She was later exonerated, see below).  P.S.: Dig that great metal plate around the doorknob. Hint: This actress has more than 50 credits on imdb and to the best of my knowledge is still alive. Big hint: Our mystery guest appeared in a film with two of the actresses listed below (Lorna Gray, Ida Lupino and Rita Hayworth appeared in "The Lone Wolf Spy Hunt.")

Another vintage shot of our mystery guest, sans fur coat. (This is cropped from a still photo of "The Return of Captain America"). Another photo of our mystery guest. ("The Man They Could Not Hang," 1939) Here she is in another fur. (Photograph by Roman Freulich, Republic Studios, Oct. 20, 1954). Virginia Hill? Sorry, no. Susan Hayward? I'm afraid not. Joan Fontaine? Alas, no. Yvonne De Carlo? Sorry, no. Ida Lupino? Alas, no. Mala Powers? Interesting guess! But alas, no. Olivia de Havilland? Sorry, no. Nora Eddington? Interesting guess, but no. This woman has more than 50 imdb credits and is still alive as far as I know. Barbara Hale? The Case of the Mistaken Identity, I'm afraid. Rita Hayworth? Alas, no. Jane Greer? Sorry, I'm afraid not. Jean Arthur? Interesting guess. But I'm afraid not. This lady is still alive as far as I know. Jean Arthur died in 1991. Ann Blyth? Sorry, I'm afraid not. Ann Rutherford? I can see the similarity. But I'm afraid not. Lucille Ball? I'm sorry, this lady is still alive as far as I know. Ball died in 1989. Jane Randolph? A very good guess. Our lady has way more credits on imdb, though. Luise Rainier? Alas, no. Linda Darnell? I'm afraid not. Linda Darnell died in 1965. Faye McKenzie? Interesting guess, but alas no. Elaine Riley? Sorry, no. Pamela Blake (with Alan Ladd or Elisha Cook Jr.)? Interesting guesses for sure. But no.  Phyllis Coates? Interesting guess, but Coates has far more credits on imdb. Marsha Hunt? Another interesting guess, but Hunt has far more credits on imdb. Diana Barrymore? Alas, Diana Barrymore died in 1960. Deanna Durbin? I'm afraid not. Gene Tierney? (two people). Alas, this lady is still alive as far as I know. Tierney died in 1991. Joan Bennett? I'm afraid not. This lady is still alive and Bennett died in 1990. Maureen O'Hara? Interesting guess, but alas, no. Ann Sheridan? Alas, no. This lady is still alive and Sheridan died in 1967. Ava Gardner? Alas no. This lady is still alive and Gardner died in 1990. Simone Simon? Alas no. This lady is still alive and Simon died in 2005. Ava Gardner? I'm afraid not. This lady is still alive and Gardner died in 1990. Mary Anderson? Interesting guess, but I'm afraid not. Sonia Darrin? Alas, no. Celeste Holme? Alas, no. Rosalind Russell? I'm afraid not. This lady is alive and Russell died in 1976. Email me

Architectural rambling

View Larger Map

t's difficult to be certain, but I believe the house shown in Google maps' street view is the one designed by Clara Content Alden. Fortunately, Riverside County has posted its historic maps online, so I was able to find the River Crest Tract. It took a bit of detective work to locate the homes, however, because all the streets have been renamed. I try to note women's history whenever I get a chance and hoped to write about Alden, but there is nothing to be found of her in The Times. I can only recall one other woman in this period whom we wrote about as an aspiring architect, Penelope Murdoch. Nor is there much in The Times about Harry Hawes, although I learned about a man by that name who was the attorney for Mrs. Adolphus Busch and was a senator from Missouri. Email me

Topanga Canyon blaze

spark from an electrical short in the pump house at Hertz Ranch was blamed for a fire that burned 125 acres before it was contained, The Times says. Six other fires were also burning in Southern California, The Times says. In one of the most dramatic moments, a helicopter dropped firefighters on Mt. San Gorgonio ahead of the advancing flames in the San Bernardino Mountains. Hertz Ranch was owned by John D. Hertz, the founder of Hertz Rent-a-Car and owner of Yellow Cab Co., who died in 1961. Hertz built an elaborate fallout shelter on the Shoup Avenue site before selling it in 1959 for the Pinecrest School. Bonus fact: Harry James once boarded his horses there, but I can't find any information about it being a movie ranch. View Larger Map Email me

Nuestro Pueblo

View Larger Map 4139 Bandini Blvd., the location of the Bandini Fertilizer Co. in 1938, via Google maps' street view feature. I was unfamiliar with the terms "Bandini Mountain" and "Mt. Bandini" until now.

July 11, 1938

"I'm afraid you didn't get my name. I'm a personal friend of the mayor," one caller said.

erhaps someone in LAPD communications will enjoy discovering that crackpots haven't changed much in 70 years. Above, Howard C. Nutt takes the calls. At left, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Gates wants to return to the whipping post for a husband who spent most of his earnings from a WPA job on drinking and gambling. And the Park Commission will plant 20 Cape Chestnut trees along 65th Street between Vermont and Kansas. View Larger Map 65th Street via Google maps' street view. Email me

July 11, 1908

Above, a mangled mystery -- a wrecked car on San Fernando Road, stripped of anything that might identify the owner. But to no avail, for the truth will out.

ive people riding in an auto are badly hurt when the driver tries to pass a wagon on San Fernando Road and hits a utility pole. "Although the victims were all seriously injured, not one was taken to a hospital for treatment through fear that names would become known," The Times said. It was soon learned that chauffeur C.L. French went off on a joy ride in the car of his employer, insurance executive George Ira Cochran, after taking the Cochran family to the theater, and he was racing back when the accident occurred. Vaudeville actress Minnie Grace was pinned beneath the car in the crash; D.H. Christie suffered a fractured pelvis and his sister, Alma, was badly bruised on the head. Frank Dolan and another couple in the car were also injured, The Times said. Cochran fired French and was weighing whether to take legal action, The Times said. Apparently the Armour car repair shops, where the crash occurred, were so well known that The Times didn't need to say where they were. Today, unfortunately, the location is a bit more obscure. Bonus fact: George Ira Cochran died in 1949 at the age of 86. He was a University of California regent from 1919 to 1946. Email me

July 10, 1958

July 10. 1938

Now I'll have to start checking the crowd scenes in D.W. Griffith's films. Former Keystone Kop Edward Cline, director of "My Little Chickadee," "The Bank Dick" and "Never Give a Sucker an Even Break" says that Mack Sennett used to get in costume as a police officer and sneak into the background when Griffith was filming.