The Vintage Fashion Guild

The Daily Mirror is the journey of my discoveries in history and I hope they interest everyone else as much they interest me. Here's something fun I stumbled across recently: The Vintage Fashion Guild. The organization's website says: The Vintage Fashion Guild's mission is to become the international voice of the vintage fashion industry and its leading authority.  The guild's website features a directory of vintage labels to help date clothing. Check out the labels for Bullock's Wilshire. >>> (At left, labels from previous Daily Mirror posts). And for questions, there's "Ask Ms. Vintage."

More blacks enroll in college, Colts win over Rams, December 16, 1968

U.S. Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford tells the North and South Vietnamese to stop squabbling over seating arrangements at the Paris peace talks. Above, a video on the Black Student Union at the University of Washington. The Times sends education reporter William Trombley on a tour of college and university campuses to gauge the attitudes of African American students, prompted in part by protests at San Francisco State. "It used to be you went to a white school to establish the distance between yourself and the rest of the black community. But most of us plan to go back to the community, at least for a few years, to see what we can accomplish and to spur other bright young cats on to good schools." Robert Hall, Harvard University senior

The 1968 Rams would not be a disappointment today. A team that finished 10-3-1 and second in its division would be making playoff plans. This was a different era in the NFL, however, so the '68 Rams were closing shop after losing their season finale to the Baltimore Colts, 28-24. "We played well enough to win but we made too many mistakes," Coach George Allen told The Times' Mal Florence. Rams' kicker Bruce Gossett had a tough day. He had two field goal tries blocked and a successful kick was called back because of a Ram penalty. --Keith Thursby

Voices -- Christine Collins, September 13, 1925

The Christine Collins letters The woman whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie "Changeling" tells her story in her own words. From the California State Archives

Los Angeles, Calif. Sept. 13, 1925 Mr. Gannon, No. 1 Sansome St. San Francisco, Calif. Dear Sir, I am writing you in regard to my husband Walter J. Collins imprisoned at Represa, Calif. Mr. Gannon will you please see what can be done to gain my husband's freedom? He is all that my babe and I have in this world and we really need his support. I am sure you will never regret giving him a parole and I will do all I can to see that he become a respected citizen. It seems so unfair that he was given such an excessive sentence when he was convicted on circumstantial evidence. I have done all I could to help him and even borrowed two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) and forwarded to a lawyer in S.F. to help him gain freedom. I sent this money by post office money order last March to Atty. Ernest B.D. Spagnoli, 820 Washington St., S.F. and as yet have not received an answer nor has he done anything for us. Which is worse. Mr. Collins was arrested for supposed robbery yet this lawyer robbed a hardworking woman of a loan and is regarded as a citizen. Mr. Gannon, will you please do what you can for me and speak a good word for Mr. Colins in order to gain a parole for him? Please help us. Hoping you will grant me this one great favor, I remain, Very respectfully, Mrs. W.J. Collins, 217 N. Ave. 23, Los Angeles, Calif.

Bullock's Wilshire

Photograph by Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times Bullock's Wilshire, at Wilshire and Westmoreland, opened in 1929 and closed in 1993. It is now the library of Southwestern University School of Law.

Above, the lavish interior of Bullock's Wilshire in an undated photo. "Beauty, comfort and utility at apex in building." A reader asked where Bullock's Wilshire was located, so I thought I'd post a bit about the store, especially because I feature items that turn up on EBay. The store was already struggling against suburban malls when it was looted in the 1992 riots and closed the next year.

View Larger Map

Found on EBay -- Rachmaninoff in Los Angeles

Above, an autographed program from Rachmaninoff's 1933 concert at the Philharmonic Auditorium on EBay. It's listed as Buy It Now for $671.40. According to The Times review, Rachmaninoff played six encores, including works by Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov as well as one of his own compositions.

Found on EBay -- Bullock's Wilshire

Another Irene Lentz item from Bullocks Wilshire has been listed on EBay. It's priced at $350 under Buy It Now.

           

Found on EBay -- J.W. Robinson

Here's what appears to be a needlepoint purse, made in Austria for J.W. Robinson and listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99.

UCLA student stars in Egyptian films, Rams win over Packers, December 15, 1958

Above, The Times' Philip K. Scheuer interviews Egyptian film star Lobna Abdel Aziz, who attended UCLA in 1954 as an exchange student. She says she appeared in two plays while attending classes in Los Angeles.

The Rams ended their season quietly with a 34-20 victory over Green Bay at the Coliseum. The playoffs were out of reach and the opponent came in with only one victory, so the 54,634 fans at the Coliseum apparently weren't too excited about the season finale. The Times' Cal Whorton said the "tame tilt was played in near Forest Lawn silence." Bill Wade finished his outstanding season at quarterback by nearly reaching Sammy Baugh's NFL record for passing yards gained in a single season. He fell only 63 yards short. The Rams finished 8-4 and drew more than a million fans at home and on the road for the second consecutive season. --Keith Thursby

Voices -- Christine Collins, December 29, 1923

The Christine Collins letters The woman whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie "Changeling" tells her story in her own words. From the California State Archives, thanks to researcher Chris Garmire.

Los Angeles, Calif. Dec. 29th, 1923 Mr. A.H. Wright State Clerk, Represa, Calif. Dear Sir: I just received a lovely letter from my dear husband, Mr. Walter J. Collins, in which he stated your great kindness toward and your efforts to aid him in the time of need. I appreciate this great consideration very much. Mr. Collins is not a criminal by any means but simply had the misfortune of meeting such a fate. He has held some very responsible positions in Los Angeles and was liked and respected by all. The poor boy has known suffering and sorrow in his life and when our mothers passed beyond it was almost as much as he could stand. He could not bear to owe a debt and when expenses came upon us so heavily he became discouraged and sick at heart at the turn of events. He is a wonderful man and ever since I have known him he has never done anything that I did not approve of. It seems a shame such a good fellow should meet with such a fate. I know he is proving to you just what sort of a person he is. He is a very devoted husband and loving father and it just about breaks his heart to be away from me. If the prison board would only give Walter a chance I am sure he would prove a worthy citizen as he has always been until this terrible prejudice condemned him. I was at his trial and only one man could say that he could identify him and even he in a doubtful nod. I was told that the jury is picked and approved by the district attorney's office so consequently Walter didn't have a fair chance in the least. In your kind efforts to help a good man I ask also a great favor of you, Mr. Wright, and that is will you please see if you cannot get him released on parole and relieve a wife's aching heart. I am sure your efforts will not be in vain for Walter will prove to you the good citizen that he is and erase the stain that has marked our good name. He need never come back to L.A. but I could join him in another state. I am not very strong, Mr. Wright, and we need Walter's support. It is very hard on me to try and work out care for junior as well. Mr. Collins hasn't a soul in the world but baby and I and it is very sad to think we have to be separated. Junior is calling for his daddy all the time and I know your good people would not have the heart to separate us much longer. Hoping you will be very successful in your attempts to aid us, I am, Very respectfully, Mrs. Walter J. Collins 2614 1/2 Pasadena Ave. Los Angeles, Calif. I wish you a very bright and happy New Year and God bless you!

Gustav Mahler's farewell concert with the New York Philharmonic, December 14, 1908

I stumbled across--guess what--a daily history blog at the New York Times, headed by William S. Niederkorn. Here's the New York Times' review of "Mr. Mahler's Last Concert." But wait, what's this? Overemphasis of the brass? (gasp) ... Untunefulness in the 'wood winds?' (horrors!) "Mr. Mahler was much applauded and several times recalled." Evidently the blog began in October but I only discovered it recently. The user interface is fantastic. I'm quite pleased the New York Times has joined the growing trend of newspaper history blogs. I'm aware of at least three others now, in addition to Times Traveler and the Daily Mirror: Bayou City History (Houston Chronicle), Photos From the Vault (San Luis Obispo County Tribune) and Tales From the Morgue (Arizona Daily Star). There's also Britain at War by the Daily Telegraph. That's almost enough for a convention!

Found on EBay -- James Cagney's Auburn

A bit of movie history has been listed on EBay: The Auburn 12 cabriolet driven by James Cagney in "Mayor of Hell." The seller says Cagney used this as his personal car. It's listed under Buy It Now for $375,000.  Below left, a clip of "Mayor of Hell" showing the car.

Found on EBay -- J.W. Robinson

Isn't this dress something? It's from J.W. Robinson of Los Angeles and is listed on EBay with a starting bid of $10 (there is a reserve).