Matt Weinstock, Nov. 23, 1960

Nov. 23, 1960: Joseph J. Cracchiolo traces a flaming object in the sky and watches it land in the 1200 block of West 120th Street. The space object turned out to be a plastic dry-cleaning bag, "with bamboo struts rigged at the open end to hold a candle," Matt Weinstock says. Also noted: A caretaker at Silver Lake Reservoir is firing shots at sea gulls -- but only to scare them. DEAR ABBY: Why did you tell that woman she shouldn't shake her dust mop out the window?

Comments

[Native Angeleno]

I remember this, the dry cleaning bags held open with straws and powered by candles, we kids would launch them in Buena Park that year, joining in the fad, big, to us, across SoCal.

[Dick]

We made these in Norwalk as well. Four McDonald's straws was just right to hold the bag open and hold the candles. I wouldn't describe them as "flaming objects" though. My description would be an eerie, dim floating ball of light that moved randomly. Of course, a slight irregular air movement is what made them move.