Found on EBay -- St. James Park

View Larger Map

This postcard of St. James Park has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $8.99. St. James Park is in the Adams district near Scarff Street. According to The Times (Jan. 5 1896), St. James Park was established in 1892 and cost $6,049.40 ($137,939.94 USD 2007) for three-quarters of an acre.

Matt Weinstock -- February 14, 1959

A Raid, A Hunch Deputy sheriffs this week raided a bookmaking joint in West Hollywood with 10 telephones, indicating it was a big operation. As the two suspects were taken into custody and evidence was gathered, the phones kept ringing. Officers answered them and told the people not to call anymore as the place had been raided. But the phones kept ringing and while the deputies were busy, photog Eli Ressler, who with Ed Fleming of Channel 2 went along for the raid, picked one up. A woman said, "I want to put a bet on--" Eli said, "I'm sorry, lady, the place has been raided" -- and hung up. SOON THE phone rang again and the same woman asked, "Are you the gentleman who just answered the phone?" He said yes. She said, "I want to put a bet on the third race tomorrow." Eli said, "But lady, the place has been raided, the police are here." "Are you a cop?" "No." "All right then, take my bet -- I want to bet on Channel 2 in the third tomorrow." "But lady, you can't bet anymore." Click. Now there was one of those hunch bets of all time -- a lady in a frenzy to bet on a horse named Channel 2, the station from which Eli worked. He resolutely refrained, but the word got around and from usually reliable sources it is reported other KNXTers bet on it, presumably with their bookies.  This is to report that Channel 2, the horse, ran 10th in a field of 11, proving you can lead a better to slaughter but you cannot make him think. * * THERE'S DIVIDED opinion among writers about opening sentences of books and short stories. Some contend the reader should be captured instantly and his interest should not be permitted to stray until he's hooked. Others disagree, saying the heck with anyone who won't read at least the first half dozen paragraphs. Anyway, Al Meyers came up with what he considers the most provocative opening sentence ever written-- from Francis Yeats-Brown's "Lives of a Bengal Lancer": "All the long way from Bareilly to Khushalgarh on the Indus I was alone in my railway carriage with two couchant lions."  * * THE ENEMY PEOPLE Moon creatures, Moon creatures Flee while you can, Ere you encounter The blessings of Man. --DAVID SELVA * * KID STUFF -- Heather Akin, 9, accidentally kicked a dinner guest under the table, then apologized, "I was only trying to find a place where your feet aren't" . . . After playing a while with his sons Jimmy, 7, and Kenny, 3, John Aitchison, secretary to Desi Arnaz , announced he had to go to work. They asked why -- it was a holiday-- and he explained he had to go to work to make money. "Can't you bring the machine home," Jimmy asked, "and make the money here?" * * A SUBSCRIBER signing John Q. Quibble writes, "I see you boys did it again- the bannerline, 'Crack Train Plunges Off Track.' Why must it always be a 'crack' train? Don't ordinary trains ever jump the track?" The dictionary states "crack" is an adjective in good standing, meaning "of superior excellence," but I agree, this has gone too far. I plan to consult the editor about discontinuing words that irritate people. * * FOOTNOTES -- People blink when they see the pumping oil rigs on the parking lot of the new Broadway Del Amo, on Hawthorne Boulevard in Torrance . . . In assembling information for the Valentine's Day exhibit in City Hall Tower Gallery, Ken Ross, director of the Municipal Art Department, learned that an estimated 1,500,000 valentines went through the L.A. mails this year . . . The guessing game has started as to the identity of the author of the book "The Vanishing Evangelist," due out in May. It deals with the sensational disappearance of Aimee Semple McPherson in 1929. Lately Thomas, the name used, is a pseudonym.

Paul Coates -- Confidential File, February 14, 1959

Mash Notes and Comments "Dear Paul Coates: "I have often been told that an opinion unasked is seldom accepted. However, as this is my opinion as constructive criticism, I hope I do not offend you. "On television you interview many mobsters, racketeers, etc. "But should that fact give YOU license to wear the attire of these questionable characters? "A few evenings past, you were wearing a wide-striped suit, a very dark shirt (it looked black or navy), light tie -- really an outfit a tin-horn gambler would select. "Perish the thought that this should happen to a nice looking gentleman of your apparent good background and intelligence. "We still admire you, but please surrender that particular creation which you wore to interview Mickey Cohen." (signed) Marjorie Powell Clegg, 3975 Glen Feliz Blvd., L.A.  -- Mickey Cohen! He wouldn't be caught dead in an outfit like that. * * "Dear Mr. Coates: "Usually you are right -- but this time you goofed. "In reference to your recent column in which you state that you never received a Man-of-the-Year award, I must remind you that you were the recipient of such award from the Al Jolson B'nai B'rith Women No. 760.  "It was presented to you in April, 1955, at Ciro's nightclub. "May I add that you were not asked to bring any film stars along, and as it turned out, you yourself were very entertaining." (signed) Mrs. Jack Sonenshine, president Al Jolson B'nai B'rith Women, L.A.  -- I know I was. But I hated myself in the morning. * * "Dear Mr. Coates: "Last Sunday evening while I was hustling papers in front of the Hollywood Egyptian theater I noticed five beautiful girls and wealthy young women looking at me and I heard their conversation mention you. "Then they mentioned the name Parkey Sharkey and looking at me, they were laughing as they entered their expensive automobile. "I do not know how they could have imagined ME being the man Parkey Sharkey. "I am not in the least egotistic, but I have decided to go to the expense of getting the attached snapshot of me into your possession so that you may be able to show, when necessary, that I am not Parkey Sharkey." (signed) Memphis Harry Lee Ward, P.O. Box 1963, Hollywood.  -- How could anybody confuse you with Parkey? He's bald. * * (Press Release) "Mr. Lenny Bruce -- one of the most brilliant modern humorists and wits in captivity -- has just been added to the great lineup of stars that impresario Gene Norman will present in a modern jazz concert at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium Saturday night, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. "Bruce is not a 'stand up' comedian. He will bring to the auditorium all his facilities in the modern approach to humor. "Bruce is a sort of Thoreau-type comedian. He attacks humor in a very natural sense. "If he says 'Go jump in the pond,' he probably means it!" (signed) Audrey P. Franklyn, publicity, 8568 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. -- Whether he means it or not, I must admit it's a hysterical line.

Opening Statements in Sirhan Trial; Injured Angel Makes Comeback, February 14, 1969

The prosecution makes opening statements in the trial of Sirhan B. Sirhan in the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. Out of curiosity, how many Daily Mirror readers would be interested in following his trial? I hadn't planned on it, but it's possible.

"Kennedy must be assassinated before June 5." And the May Co. opens a Carlsbad store. A Democratic group supports Councilman Tom Bradley in his race against Mayor Sam Yorty.

Michael Sarne's "Joanna" at the Fox Village in Westswood. At left, Kevin Thomas interviews Vincent Minnelli, who is directing "On a Clear Day" with Barbra Streisand and Yves Montand. Above, a clip from "Bullitt," playing at the Pix Theatre, Hollywood near Vine. Love the sound of those engines!

Jim Murray and Mormon golfer Bill Casper visit the Joseph Smith farm in New York.

Baseball's expansion years are perfect times for comeback stories. Former Angel third baseman Paul Schaal was one of those players hoping for a fresh start. Schaal, a promising young player on some bad Angel teams, had been beaned in 1968 by Boston's Jose Santiago and spent 12 days in the hospital and months trying to get his balance back. The Times' Mitch Chortkoff visited with Schaal as he worked out at Huntington Beach High, readying for the Kansas City Royals' first spring training. "The count was 0-2. Both pitches were outside curves, but I had swung at one," Schaal said. "I had looked pretty bad. I thought [Santiago] would throw me another one." Schaal said he leaned out over the plate and Santiago threw a fastball. Schaal's 1968 season actually ended as a pinch-hitter against Boston. "I hit a fly ball to right field and as I ran down the baseline I tried to look at the ball," Schaal said. "Suddenly I began wobbling. That kind of scared me." The Angels let him go in the expansion draft. His best season in Kansas City statistically was 1971 with 11 home runs and a .274 average. He finished his career in 1974 with the Angels. "I'm sorry to leave the Angels, but expansion brings a lot of opportunities for ballplayers," he told Chortkoff. "I'm happy to be getting another chance." -- Keith Thursby

Valentine's Day, 1882

Found on EBay -- Bullock's Wilshire

This Lilly Pulitzer outfit from Bullock's Wilshire has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $15.

            

Matt Weinstock -- February 13, 1959

Thorns and Fragrance It's the time of year when the two factions of the greeting card world, the sentimental and the offbeat, resume their snarling. The hearts-and-flowers folks have lost a little ground in the last few years to the impudent group, but to hear them tell it they're not giving an inch and they predict sweetness and light will ultimately prevail. A couple of local boys, Bill Box and Bill Kennedy, who represent the audacious and racy school of thought, resent having their cartoons called "sick" art. Kennedy, interviewed in Newsweek, says, "It's laughing at life itself." One of their current numbers shows a grizzled bum with a tin cup of pencils. The caption, "Things are tough." On the inside flap, "So be tender." Meanwhile, coming up strong on the inside as usual, and unconcerned about the conflict, is the Retail Candy Store Institute, which suggests that for St. Valentine's Day candy is still dandy. * * WITH THEIR customary inspiration, the boys on the copy desk went to work between editions naming some fictitious towns, as follows: Rano, Mo,; Farmerina, Del.; Lukmahnocav, Vt.; Phytawnfarole, S.C.; Daddyzinna, Kan.; Mahnpahzinna, Penn.; Eggsen Bay, Conn.; Ahmsoterribl, Ill.; Kildare, Md., and, of course, Hauge, Wash. * * MODERN MOTHER GOOSE Sing a song of sixpence But sing it with a sigh: For what the heck will sixpence Buy? - W. B. FRANCE * * SOMETIMES that so-called long arm of coincidence can sneak up behind a guy and almost choke him to death. A week ago there was an item here about a junior high school teacher in San Fernando Valley grimly greeting her new class on opening day of the new semester with, "All you've heard about me was true!" A teacher at Sutter Junior High in Reseda inquired if he might be the teacher referred to, as he had said precisely the same thing to his class. A woman teacher at Walter Reed Junior High in North Hollywood wondered if she was the one, as she had also said it to her new class. Nope, it was a teacher at Patrick Henry Junior High, also in the Valley. * * SPEAKING OF coincidence, publicist Jerry Hoffman called an agent for some pictures of an actor client and received them with a note from the agent's secretary, Patricia Lowe, stating, "And how have you been?" Jerry's memory clicked into gear and he remembered a book he'd borrowed from her long ago -- 31 years ago, he determined, incredibly. He looked in a closet and found it -- "Meaning No Offense," by John Riddell, pseudonym of Corey Ford.    A robotic performance of George Antheil's "Ballet Mecanique." He sent it to her with a paperback duplicate for interest and this note: "'Neither a borrower nor a lender be' was said by Polonius but not to me. I borrowed, with the best intent, of returning quickly what was lent. The years are fleeting, 20? 30? Now where's the book, is it town or dirty? I searched. I feared -- my, such suspense! At last, it's here, 'Meaning No Offense.'" * * AROUND TOWN -- Public relations note: Letters to newspaper executives from R. Hoe & Co., manufacturers of printing equipment each included a new $1 bill for their secretaries so they'd be sure to call their bosses' attention to the Hoe ad in Editor & Publisher. Easiest buck the girls ever earned . . . Wonder if Jerome Kern is flipping in his grave at what the rock-and-rollers are doing to "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" . . . Note from a lady in Big Bear: "Imagine all that fuss over one disputed Abominable Snowman in the Himalayas. We get three inches of snow up here and the place is crawling with abominable snowmen" . . . "Whatsamatter with those Latin Americans, tearing off half of Jayne Mansfield's dress?" D. K. asks, "Didn't they ever hear of the striptease?"

Nuestro Pueblo -- Fish Harbor, February 13, 1939

Paul Coates -- Confidential File, February 13, 1959

CONFIDENTIAL FILE Good Resolutions Behind Jail Bars Not all is grim behind the walls of prisons. The latest edition of the Menard Time -- monthly tabloid put out by inmates of Illinois State Penitentiary -- has as its "Photo Quiz" question of the month: What resolutions have you made to make 1959 a better year for you? Among answers was the following from inmate Bill Herrington: "I shall abstain from richer foodstuffs, concentrating on basic staples such as beans, spuds and frankfurters. I shall abstain from all legal intoxicating beverages. "I also resolve to discipline my activities by abstaining from boating, water skiing, mountain climbing and hiking." * * Florida libraries urged to remove "Wizard of Oz" as "poorly written," "outdated." In the dank, depressing cold of Tijuana's city jail last week, there were also moments of levity. A subtle one came when a small Mexican boy was passed through the clanking door into the cellblock to visit his father. Tucked into a holster belt strapped around the boy's waist were two very realistic-looking pistols. But the guard didn't even bat an eye at them. * * The Americans picked up in the Rosarito Beach gambling raid were the stars of the show -- the privileged class. They had extra blankets, special food and the services of "runners" -- kids who'd keep them supplied with coffee, cigarettes and other jail luxuries. They were allowed visitors just about any time of day or night. But in Cell 5-C was another American, not quite so lucky. His crime, he told me, was running a red light. He had one thin blanket to keep himself warm. He ate the regular jail fare. He had no errand boys at his disposal, and when his wife and five kids had come to visit him the night before, they were turned away because it was "too late," even though others received visitors afterward. He called me over to his cell during one of the few quiet moments there. George Antheil dies. And check out the fashion photo. A well-dressed model in a room full of oscilloscopes? Those fashionable engineers! "Being here's not too hard on me," he said. "But my wife. It's real hard on her. We don't do too good when I'm out there working, but this -- I've got to get out or those kids of mine are going to get awful hungry." Jailers Raise Ante It was his third day in jail, the man told me. "They said it would take $80 to get me out," he went on. "So my wife borrowed $80 from a friend of hers. Gave away the pink slip on my car. "But when she brought the money here, they said it was $24 more. I don't know where she's going to get it. Even if she does, they might just boost it up some more." I asked him how much time he'd have to serve if she couldn't raise the money. "I don't know," he answered. "They haven't told me. But I imagine it'll be a long time."

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Los Angeles Times file photo Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday. To keep the mystery photo from getting lost in the other entries, I move it from Monday to Tuesday to Wednesday, etc., adding a photo every day. I have to approve all comments, so if you're wrong your guess will be posted, but if you're right, you'll have to wait until Friday. There's no need to submit your guess five times. Once is enough. The only prize is bragging rights.

Los Angeles Times file photo Here's another photo of our mystery woman. Three people have identified her: Alexa Foreman, "Carmen" and Jeff Hanna. Los Angeles Times file photo Here's another photo of our mystery woman. Los Angeles Times file photo And another photo of our mystery woman. Los Angeles Times file photo Here's the final photo of our mystery woman. She is Jacqueline White and appeared in "Narrow Margin," "Crossfire" and "Swing Shift Maisie."  Check back Monday for another mystery photo!

Dodger Tickets Selling Fast, February 13, 1959

This 1959 World Series ticket has been listed on EBay with Buy It Now for $100.

Dodger tickets for 1959 were going fast. The team already had grossed $1,250,000 in box seat sales for upcoming games at the Coliseum, according to business manager Harold Parrot, who talked to The Times' Jeane Hoffman. "It's a terrific vote of confidence. And I think Chavez Ravine being settled helped our ticket sales," Parrott said. "People felt they could bear with the Coliseum's drawbacks for one more season." This guy was some salesman. He apparently asked the Dodgers to move their dugout because "60% of the reserved seats remain on the third-base side instead of behind the Dodger dugout," Hoffman wrote. The Dodgers turned down that plan and Hoffman, always looking for a chuckle, had an explanation: "Dodger brass felt it would be betraying those who purchased box seats behind first to get a close look at Walt Alston's bald spot." -- Keith Thursby

Letter to Three Wives; Branch Rickey Visits L.A., February 13, 1949

Meet Albert Brouse, opera singer, performer in "The Drunkard" and collector of all manner of antiques.

He was active in the Horseless Carriage Club and at one time owned a fleet of early automobiles.

California death records list two men named Albert Brouse, both born in 1906. Albert Anderson Brouse died in 1984. Albert E. Brouse died in 1979. I wonder what became of all this sheet music and early recordings.

The "giant screen television" had a display of 126 square inches and cost $4,529.83 USD 2007. Joseph L. Mankiewiwicz discusses "A Letter to Three Wives." John Wayne finishes "Three Godfathers," "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and "Wake of the Red Witch." Gail Russell has "wonderful possibilities," John Wayne says.

The Dodgers' Branch Rickey visited California and was asked why the weather wasn't good enough for the major leagues. "There are several cities that could sustain major baseball -- Montreal, Los Angeles, Houston, San Francisco and others," he said. "But to change the identity or makeup of the present major leagues seems a most difficult task." Interesting that Rickey first named Montreal, then one of the Dodgers' top minor league cities. Wonder how Walter O'Malley would have answered that question in 1949? Rickey's official reason for being in town was to check up on the Hollywood Stars. According to the story in The Times, the teams recently signed a working agreement. "I can't make champions of the Stars overnight," he said. "But I am going to help them all I can. ... Next year Hollywood will be a certain first-division club and a pennant contender right on par with our own two Triple-A teams, Montreal and St. Paul. We have 70 players on the Brooklyn roster right now, which means 30 must go down. Montreal and St. Paul already are pretty well-equipped. So the Stars might surprise this season." -- Keith Thursby