July
16, 1899: Malicious mischief ... selling lottery tickets ... speeding ... theft and robbery. And yes, The Times refers to a "slant-eyed disciple of Confucius."
July
15, 1899: An old panhandler ... a man arrested for speeding ... theft ... prostitution and public intoxication. Yes, The Times referred to an Asian as a "slant-eyed celestial."
July
13, 1889: A smash and grab robbery at 1st and Spring ... an old man
robbed by a prostitute ... a forgetful woman ... and The Times finds
fault with the new City Hall on Broadway, shown below left.
Although City Hall is gone, the 1914-15 annex, known as the Hosfield Building or the Victor Clothing building, is still standing.
April 18, 1971: Marie Stansell is honored for 25 years as a school crossing guard.
The Times never reported the outcome of charges against Frederick Krupp in the death of Officer Ferris E. Stansell.
At left, on July 11, 1941, Officer Ferris E. Stansell is killed while directing traffic near the Hollywood Bowl. His widow, Marie, takes a job as a school crossing guard. I can imagine some reporters groaning about an assignment like this: 25 years escorting kids across the street. But Donna Scheibe turns it into an interesting story.
July 11, 1889: One of the best things about the 1880s newspapers is that The Times wrote about everything. One of the more controversial issues before the Police Commission is what to do with all the prostitutes in Los Angeles. Accusations of false arrest ... appointment of a police matron ... selling off the department's old horses ... it's all here.
July 8, 1899: Officer Ziegler arrests a couple of youngsters in the theft of some tools. "Officer Ziegler holds the record for being a terror to small boys," The Times says. "All lawbreakers look alike to him, regardless of age, sex, color or previous condition of servitude."
July 7, 1949: Charles Stoker surrenders his police badge to defense attorney S.S. Hahn after being accused of burglary by Policewoman Audre Davis.
In this story, Davis admitted lying to win the conviction of Hollywood madam Brenda Allen. She accused Stoker of stealing nude photos of her, as well as a check with a forged signature.
Gen. Harry M. Vaughan threatens to punch photographers in the nose if they take one more picture.
Tokyo Rose liked the glamour of her World War II propaganda work, according to a prosecutor in her treason trial.
Baseball always seemed a simple game to me, but Al Wolf's coverage of the Hollywood Stars' 12-0 victory over the San Francisco Seals required some explanation. Or translation.
Wolf turned the Stars into the Twinks (a familiar nickname often used in headlines) and the homebreds. Pinky Woods wasn't just the winning pitcher. He right-handed his way to victory.
The game was played in Hollywood so the fans were the Gilmore Gardens gazers. Hits were round-trippers or two-ply wallops. Runs were markers or tallies.
The opposition became the no-so-sassy Seals.
The best part of the story didn't have any goofy names. Wolf noted that a game later that week had been deemed "Television appreciation night," with a $500 set to be given as a door prize.
Guess the winner could gaze at a round-tripper leaving Gilmore Gardens.
July 5, 1899: The Times tallies the injuries caused by Fourth of July fireworks ... and in Fullerton, a Mexican named Gonzales is beaten for spitting on the flag.
July 5, 1889: Firecrackers and rockets touch off numerous blazes around the city ... a man is arrested for swearing at a driver who collided with his wagon.
Larry Harnisch. The leading Black Dahlia expert and a collaborator in the 1947project, Harnisch has been a copy editor at The Times since 1988. He has appeared on many TV shows discussing the Dahlia case, notably "James Ellroy's Feast of Death."
Join him for a spin through old Los Angeles in the Mirror's radio car. Keep your eyes open for Mickey Cohen and Tempest Storm. It's quite a ride.
The reporter's badge belonged to Sid Hughes (1908-1958), legendary reporter who worked at nearly every newspaper in Los Angeles.
Keith Thursby. Keith has been an editor at The Times in news, sports and design since 1986. The Rams moved to St. Louis on his first day as assistant sports editor of the paper's Orange County edition. He grew up in Norwalk and lives in Irvine.
Blogs
Subscribe to this Blog - What is RSS?
Larry Harnisch. The leading Black Dahlia expert and a collaborator in the 1947project, Harnisch has been a copy editor at The Times since 1988. He has appeared on many TV shows discussing the Dahlia case, notably "James Ellroy's Feast of Death."
Join him for a spin through old Los Angeles in the Mirror's radio car. Keep your eyes open for Mickey Cohen and Tempest Storm. It's quite a ride.
The reporter's badge belonged to Sid Hughes (1908-1958), legendary reporter who worked at nearly every newspaper in Los Angeles.
Keith Thursby. Keith has been an editor at The Times in news, sports and design since 1986. The Rams moved to St. Louis on his first day as assistant sports editor of the paper's Orange County edition. He grew up in Norwalk and lives in Irvine.