April 8, 1958
Above, Al Jolson in blackface as the lead in "Porgy and Bess" while African Americans play all the other roles? Now there's a casting idea that takes my breath away. Philip Scheuer interviews Ira Gershwin and notes that the lyricist will be back on the lot where he and his brother George wrote their last song together: "Our Love Is Here to Stay." And a little explanation of the old gag about the film credit on "Taming of the Shrew" : "Additional dialogue by Sam Taylor."
Below, unemployment is up ... An atomic physicist dies when his helicopter crashes in bad weather off Eniwetok ... Technicians go on strike at CBS ... And a judge denies requests to release Cheryl Crane to her family pending the investigation into Johnny Stompanato's killing.
Quote of the Day: "I am not satisfied with the current version of the story. I think the timetable in the case is too pat.... It doesn't seem possible he would just stand there and let somebody put a knife into him. He was in the Marine Corps and had lots of training. He was very quick." --Carmine Stompanato, on the killing of his brother Johnny
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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.