Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Los Angeles Times file photo

[Update: STRANGE CASE -- Dan Barton plays the central figure in a homicide with an unusual twist in "A Matter of Degree," Goodson-Todman's production in the new "The Web" telefilm series for Screen Gems in a photo stamped July 14, 1957. ] [Please congratulate Pat in Michigan, Mary Mallory and Rogét-L.A. for identifying our mystery guest as Dan Barton (d. 2009)!] Here’s our weekend mystery fellow! There’s a new photo on the jump!

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Los Angeles Times file photo

[Update 2: This is Bramwell Fletcher (d. 1988), whom most people recognize from “The Mummy.”  This publicity photo is stamped Oct. 7, 1930.] [Update: Please congratulate Anne Papineau, Pamela Porter, Lee Ann Thom and Megan, Mike Hawks, Mary Mallory and Don Danard (via email) for identifying our mystery fellow! ]  Here’s our mystery fellow! There’s a new photo on the jump!

Found on EBay – 1912 Rose Parade

This magic lantern slide of a woman riding an elephant in the 1912 Rose Parade has been listed on EBay. Nothing says turn-of-the-century Southern California like palm trees in the frontyard of a home. Notice the streetcar tracks! Bidding starts at 99 cents.

Architectural Rambling

I found this postcard of Dr. Alfred G. Schloesser’s Castle Sans Souci in Hollywood (the Times used the addresses 1831 and 1901 Argyle Ave.) and dug into the clips for a little more information.  The castle was built about 1912 for Schloesser, who changed his name to A.G. Castles during World War I. It was designed by Dennis and Farwell, the architects of his previous home, Castle Glengarry, which was on the other side of Argyle.   In 1928, The Times reported that Castles was moving to an even more opulent home to be called Falconhurst Castle, but it’s unclear from the clips as to whether it was built.   It’s equally unclear what became of Dr. Castles, who specialized in miracle cures using glandular treatments. The last mention of him in The Times is a 1932 ad headed “Marvels of Science.”  The postcard is listed as Buy It Now for $12.99.

Found on EBay – Angels Flight

Postcards of Angels Flight are fairly common, but I can’t say I have ever seen  one taken from this perspective on 3rd Street. Bidding starts at $6.89.

Found on EBay – L.A. Times Thermometer

Here’s how The Times advertized itself in 1907, using a giant thermometer stuck in the sand at Long Beach. This postcard has been listed on EBay for $7.

Found on EBay – Lemuel S. Ellis

This picture of a century plant by early Los Angeles photographer Lemuel S. Ellis (d. 1902) has been listed on EBay. Ellis was working for C.C. Pierce & Co. at the time of his death, having come to Los Angeles in the 1880s. Bidding starts at $5.

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Los Angeles Times file photo

[Update 2: Lawrence Dobkin portrays an unsuspecting heavy in the "Prairie Elephant" episode of "Rawhide" in a photo published Nov. 12, 1961.]  [Update: Please congratulate RJ for identifying our mystery guest! And please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying the TV show that featured our mystery friend!] Here’s this week’s mystery fellow! There’s a new photo on the jump!

Found on EBay -- Mystery Postcard [Updated]

[Update: What’s wrong with this postcard?  Notice City Hall way down the block? Please congratulate Cat Murray for recognizing this as Broadway, not Spring Street. ] This postcard of downtown Los Angeles has been listed on EBay…. Does anyone notice anything unusual about it? Bidding starts at $12.69.

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Los Angeles Times file photo

[Updated 2: Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying our mystery fellow as Maurice Schwartz! This is Schwartz (d. 1960) in a photo stamped April 9, 1963.] [Update: So far, nobody has identified our mystery fellow, so I’ll leave him up one more day in case some folks didn’t check the blog this weekend.] Here’s our weekend mystery fellow! There’s another picture on the jump!

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Los Angeles Times file photo

[Update 2: This is indeed Eddie Quillan (d. 1990) in an undated photo from his Mack Sennett days, stamped March 5, 1984, by The Times library.] [Update: Please congratulate Mary Mallory, Eve Golden (who gets bonus points for interviewing our mystery fellow), Bob Levinson, Herb Nichols, Rance Ryan, Nick Santa Maria, Floyd, Rick Scott, Randy Skretvedt, Claire Lockhart and Don Danard (via email) for identifying this week's guest! ] Here’s our mystery guest! There’s a new photo on the jump!

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Los Angeles Times file photo

[Update: June 11, 1936 -- Franchot Tone and Robert Greig in a comedy sequence in MGM's "The Unguarded Hour," directed by Sam Wood. Loretta Young plays the heroine in the Lawrence Weingarten production.] Our mystery fellow has a mystery companion!