Coming Attractions -- Charles Mingus

On April 28, Zocalo and the city's Department of Cultural Affaris will host a panel on Charles Mingus. The forum will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Barnsdall Gallery Theatre. Make reservations here >>>

Central Vice Reports on the Norbo Grill, 1958

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times The Hotel Norbo, 526 E. 8th St., Feb. 14, 2009 Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times The former Norbo Grill, 530 E. 6th St., Feb. 14, 2009

Photographs by Catriona Lavery Los Angeles Times In December 1958, Henry Charles Hochman applied to the Los Angeles Police Commission for a cafe entertainment permit for the Norbo Grill. After hearing testimony and reading officers' reports on the bar, the commission denied the permit. What follows is a portrait from official documents of a gritty jazz joint where black prostitutes plied their trade with white customers. Although this is an official document, it is by no means dull. Consider the quote: "Get out of here, you m... f... cop." "You are not a fit and proper person to hold a Cafe Entertainment police permit." "There has been no police problem in and about these premises except ..." "...the Norbo Grill is not frequented by prostitutes or narcotics users to his knowledge. " "The Norbo Grill has always attracted mixed patrons, both colored and white." "The actions requested by the examiner ... would result in the applicant violating the rights of many of the patrons..." Witnesses and exhibits "Location frequented by prostitutes and narcotics users..." "This so-called music is like a torment, no less than Russian brain-washing, having to listen to their music so loud -- like playing for Zombies or Watusis... " Testimony of Sgt. W.R. Danheiser, Serial No. 2591 "He had a knife and I was scared, so I jumped behind the bar and pulled a gun on him..." "There you are, you S.O.B...." "He has seen in the Norbo bar persons whom he, as a police officer, believed were 'hypos,' also 'Paddy hustlers....' " "At this time, defendant stated 'It will cost you 10 dollars and for that I'll ...' "  "During this period they observed numerous males (white) enter the bar alone, then leave with colored females." "Standing outside the door of the room, the officers overheard an act of sexual intercourse taking place. Officers entered the room, by the manager's key, checked the couple in the room, who were not married."    "Bartenders 'send people out if they get fresh...' " "She has once asked Mr. Sway if she could dance (by herself), but Sway said dancing was against the law." "He has seen Ruby Smith talking to men in the Norbo, but has never seen her leave with a man." "Miss Cloteal Wilson, arrested 12-28-57, 1:50 a.m., outside Norbo Grill..." "I have not been busted for a long time, I've only had two tricks today." "He and his partner saw Ruby Smith leaving the Norbo in a car with a white man. Officers followed them to an apartment house on 36th Street, but officers were unable to gain entry. He climbed a tree trying to observe. The Smith woman stuck her head out of a window and shouted: 'Get out of here, you m... f... cop.' " "There are quite a few bars within 10 blocks of the Norbo, that Norbo would rate about 75 percent as to being orderly as compared to the others."  "This band attracts patrons as these musicians are well-known in the field of jazz and progressive music." "He was sitting in the rear of the bar watching a bowling game. He heard a 'thud.' " "He was arrested in Chicago for kidnapping, served 11 years-plus in state prison..." "This place is not frequented by narcotics users or prostitutes to a greater extent than any other place in the city." "All officers testified that the Norbo Grill was a hangout for prostitutes." "This location is a known hangout for prostitutes and narcotics users." "Recommendation that application ... be DENIED." Application denied.

Voices -- Louie Bellson, 1924-2009

Louie Bellson and Pearl Bailey at the Cocoanut Grove, July 19, 1959.

Friday August 23, 1991 Big-Band Ambassador Louie Bellson Drums Up American Jazz as a Catalyst for Global Cooperation By BILL KOHLHAASE SPECIAL TO THE TIMES Earlier this week, during the height of the attempted Soviet coup, drummer Louie Bellson voiced his concern for Mikhail Gorbachev, whom he'd met during one of the Soviet leader's visits to this country. "This man tried his best to further human rights," he said, "and this could take them right back to the Dark Ages." Recalling his own experiences in the Soviet Union, Bellson said he discovered the citizenry to be "a wonderful people," and, in a prayer that seems almost prescient in retrospect, said, "Let's hope they can do something." Bellson, who along with his late wife--singer and social activist Pearl Bailey--has long exported American jazz as a catalyst for cooperation and understanding to the far corners of the globe, is no stranger to the Soviet Union. During a phone conversation earlier this week from his San Fernando Valley home, he recalled his visit to the Russian Federation in 1985. "I went over with Pearl and played the American embassies in Moscow and Leningrad, and they just loved it. You know, music knows no barriers. They asked if we would play with these Russians, and we said sure," he said. "They were just marvelous musicians. And I asked, 'How did you learn this music?' They told me they'd picked it up listening to Willis Conover on the Voice of America. These players were absolutely fantastic. "That's the great thing about music," he said. "It makes a great life for everybody. It brings people together. When Duke (Ellington) and Louis (Armstrong) and Benny Goodman all went over there, they went without any gibberish. All they had were some B-flats and some E-flats and look what they did. They're still talking about them over there. "That was always my wife's solution," the gentlemanly musician asserted. "People coming together with love. We've tried war, we've tried this and that. But if people come together in love, they'll learn to live in peace. And that's what music does." Bellson has kept himself busy since Bailey's death last year. "It's been a tough time for me," he said, "but I have great memories of that lady. The Lord gave me 39 years with her--what a blessing. It was a big blow losing my best friend, but music and my friends have pulled me through. I've been continually working." No lie. Just this summer, Bellson traveled on his own to New Zealand and Spain, and recently spent a month playing the European festival circuit in a band with Benny Carter, Milt Hinton, Harry (Sweets) Edison, Al Grey and Marian McPartland. Earlier this year, his big-band album, "Air Mail Special," was nominated for a Grammy and he continues giving seminars and clinics at colleges around the country. He's also preparing to record both small- and large-ensemble albums. The drummer appears tonight at the Hyatt Newporter in Newport Beach with a group that includes saxophonist Bob Cooper, bass trumpet and valve trombonist Jimmy Zito, keyboardist Frank Strazzeri and bassist Andy Simpkins. Bellson, long recognized as one of the most musical of trapsmen, has been known for his big sound since adding a second bass drum to his kit in 1946. But he says the revelation came to him much earlier. "I actually got the idea in 1938 or '39 in a high-school art class. I drew this set with two bass drums and the teacher passed me on that drawing alone. I've always been ambidextrous and wanted that big sound with the left foot on bass and hi-hat. So I got my thinking cap on--that's what happens when you're 14 or 15 and get your brain working." It was Bellson's sound that helped power the Duke Ellington Orchestra back into the public spotlight during the early '50s. The drummer, who was working on the West Coast with trumpeter Harry James, remembers when the call came from Ellington in 1951. "A wonderful thing happened. Three of us from the band--(alto saxophonist) Willie Smith, (trombonist) Juan Tizol, who composed 'Caravan' and myself--went up to Harry and said, 'We have a chance to join Duke.' And you know what he said? 'Take me with you.' That's something to lose three players like that and give your blessings. It took a great gentleman to say that." Bellson left Ellington in 1953, the same year he married Bailey, and has pretty much followed his own path since. He worked for years with his wife, led his own bands and occasionally joined tours with Ellington, Count Basie and Tommy Dorsey. Sometimes billed as "Last of the Great Swing Drummers," the ever-modest Bellson differs with that assessment on two counts. "I try to think of myself as a complete drummer," he said. "I like all kinds of drumming, I dig country and Western, Latin music. I'm into rock like Earth, Wind & Fire and the Tower of Power band." In fact, Bellson is credited with the tune "I Need Your Key" on James Brown's 1970 album "Soul On Top." "Any great drummer has to keep his eyes open, has to be able to do it all. That's the fun of it, to wake up in the morning and do something different. If not, you stay stagnant, and that's not good for your soul. "As far as being the last, there's still a guy around named Max Roach, there's still a guy around named Ray McKinley. Barrett Deems, who played with Louis Armstrong, is still around. "I'm not the last of that group--I'm the youngest."

Woman Loses Children Over Nude Photos; Angels Earn Most of Cubs' Income, January 29, 1949

A panel from "Terry and the Pirates," by George Wunder.

At left, The Times' comics page from 1949. Moon Mullins ... Li'l Abner ...  Brenda Starr ... Dick Tracy ... Orphan Annie ... but also Ella Cinders ... Napoleon ... Harold Teen ... Abby an' Slats ... And Nancy. Always Nancy. Below left, Jeanne Shapiro pleads on her knees as a court awards custody of her children to her estranged husband, Arthur, a musician, after he introduces as evidence a picture of her in bed with another musician, Thomas Mace. "Mrs. Shapiro ... protested that she was a good mother and cited her work with children's groups," The Times said.

A woman sues General Hospital, accusing a doctor of brutality. MGM denies rumors that it plans to make "Brigadoon" with Gene Kelly.

There was nothing minor about the money made by Los Angeles Angels in 1949. The Angels' profit was big enough to help the other team playing in a ballpark called Wrigley Field--the Chicago Cubs. A story in The Times from the Cubs' board of directors meeting tried to put the money in some perspective. Perhaps the paper was already starting to promote the idea of the major leagues should look toward California--or at least that the Pacific Coast League deserved major league status. The Cubs earned $141,000, but $109,890 came from the Angels, who played in Los Angeles' Wrigley Field. Much of the Angels' profit had been spent to retire part of the corporation's stock, which left the minor leaguers $39,890 to work with in the coming season. So permit a little bit of math here. According to the story, if you subtract the Angels' profit from the Cubs' overall profit, the big club had $39,110 for working capital. So the major league team and the minor league team ended up with about the same money? Granted the Cubs were dreadful in 1948. But the Angels obviously were a major help to Chicago's bottom line. Or as The Times' story concluded, "There's your argument, fellas. Is the Angel team big league or minor?" Wonder if Walter O'Malley was already taking notes. --Keith Thursby

Another Night at the Haig

Richard Koch writes: I have a question.  Sometime in the late 90’s I was in Los Angeles and I was researching the location where the famous Haig was.  I just wanted to stand there and take some pictures at this sacred spot in jazz history.  In Leonard Feather’s Encyclopedia of Jazz it was listed at 638 S. Kenmore Street.  This was at the time before I was on-line and of course before Google even existed.  I had a difficult time finding 638.  Between north and south at Wilshire there seemed to be some numbers missing.  I gave up out of frustration.   Do you have anything on this famous “West Coast” club? Well, Richard, the Haig is a little before my time, but the online Los Angeles city directories show that the Haig was right where Feather said it was, 638 S. Kenmore. Times stories describe it as being across Wilshire from the Ambassador. The 1942 city directory shows there was a restaurant there, but doesn't give the name.  Let's dig a bit more. The 1956 street directory also lists the Evanston Apartments at 630 S. Kenmore. So it would seem logical that if we went just south of the apartments we would find the former location. And here's what's on Google maps' street view: View Larger Map

Baby Burned to Death on Stove, Dodgers Scout Players, January 25, 1959

Whenever someone tells you the past was a "kinder, simpler time," show them this article. I'm unable to find any further stories on this tragic incident.

My boyfriend embarrasses me because he won't race his car.... An advice column by ... Dick Clark? Yes it's true. What does he tell the girl who can't get a dance partner because she wears glasses? Let that "inner beauty we're talking about shine through extra bright." And "keep your clothes and hairdo neat and be sure you dance better than any of your girlfriends." I'm 16 and my boyfriend is 28. Do you think he is too old for me? Yes. Frank Sinatra, workaholic. Sinatra dislikes title "Ocean's Eleven" and wants to call the film ....

What was big money for bonus babies in 1959? "We spent $850,000 for players last year but we think we got our money's worth," Midwest scouting supervisor Bert Wells told a meeting of Dodger scouts. Frank Howard received $108,000 to sign with the Dodgers and Ron Fairly got $120,000, according to Wells. General manager Buzzie Bavasi tried to correct the record a couple days later, telling The Times' Frank Finch that "Howard got closer to $120,000 than Fairly did." Either way, sounds like they were bargains. --Keith Thursby

Found on EBay -- Earl Carroll's

Here's what appears to be an original snapshot of Earl Carroll's, listed on EBay. Bidding starts at 99 cents.

Demonstators protest arrival of Soviet leader; Dodger turns to acting, January 11, 1959

Soviet Deputy Prime Minister Mikoyan provokes demonstrations in San Francisco en route to his visit to Los Angeles. Recall that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev will come to Los Angeles later in the year. And a federal court strikes down a regulation used to keep Georgia's college campuses segregated.

At left, a jazz concert featuring George Shearing, Shelly Manne, Anita O'Day and Andre Previn. I'm not sure how the Kingston Trio got mixed up with Shearing--must have been interesting. Previn had quite a career as a jazz pianist and film composer before he became a serious conductor.    At left, Andre Previn and Oscar Peterson.

Found a rather extensive photo package about the Dodgers' Duke Snider trying his hand at acting. Snider had a role in an episode of "The Rifleman," which starred former Brooklyn Dodger (and very briefly, former Boston Celtic) Chuck Connors. According to Leslie Lieber, Connors invited Snider to try acting while they were at a Dodgers' practice (maybe he meant in the outfield before a game). Leiber referred to Snider as "the great clouter" and "pride of the Los Angeles Dodgers" but said as an actor he "has the most retiring gun in the Wild West--it hardly gets out of the holster." Connors had no regrets about quitting baseball. "Tell me how much would I have had to hit last year to make $41,000 in baseball," Connors told The Times' Frank Finch in a story published later in January. "Well that's what I made last year in front of the TV cameras and it's only the beginning." --Keith Thursby

Happy New Year, 1959!

The rest of the world may peer into a darkened crystal ball, but at the Daily Mirror, we know what the future has to bring. In 1959, Los Angeles won the series and we lost Errol Flynn and Raymond Chandler. Nikita Khrushchev paid us a call. Schoolchildren designed 50-star flags to welcome Hawaii and Alaska into the U.S. And a municipal judge named David Williams wonders why the LAPD mostly arrests African Americans for gambling; 5,210 blacks compared with 482 whites for 1958. It's going to be quite a year--stay tuned!    Flynn discusses his 1959 trip to Cuba. Raymond Chandler's obit runs on Page 4 of The Times. Baby Boomers rotted their minds with "Clutch Cargo." While their parents listened to Miles Davis--or Arthur Godfrey.  And Jack Kerouac turned up on Steve Allen's TV show.

Voices -- Freddie Hubbard, 1938 - 2008

	Freddie Hubbard tells Leonard Feather: "I've worked very hard to get as far as I have. I think the turning point came when I toured in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the early '60s. Art spotlighted all his soloists, gave us a chance to talk on the mike, and let us compose for the band. I learned there and then that I wanted to be a leader."