From the Stacks – 'Portraits of Crime' (1977)

Two years after writing about  LAPD Det. Ector Garcia, I finally located a copy of his book, “Portraits of Crime,” which arrived in the mail from the U.K. while I was on vacation. No one will ever mistake this book for great literature. The editing is weak (as in “Leo” LaBianca) but the rough, raw writing gives “Portraits” a freshness and immediacy that might be missing in a more polished work. Written by LAPD artist Garcia (d. 1987) and Charles E. Pike, “Portraits” consists of composite sketches and brief summaries of  29 cases from the 1950s to the 1970s. Aside from the Tate-LaBianca and Son of Sam murders, most of the subjects are obscure killings, kidnappings and rapes that could easily be the raw material for several seasons of TV crime shows.

What If a Thermonuclear Blast Hit the Valley?

March 26, 1961: So, if a nuclear blast from the Soviets (who else?) hit the San Fernando Valley, it would be bad. How bad? "The Valley would not survive a direct hit," The Times said.  "A thermonuclear blast in the Valley would be like a giant firecracker going off in a teacup," says Clifford R. Standing, Valley Civil Defense coordinator. "We'd all be part of the fallout and all our plans would be useless." Some of the predictions: Every woman five months or more pregnant would have miscarried in the shock and turmoil of the attack. There would be "wild and panicky mobs and cool and calculating looters." Bodies of victims would have to be collected and buried or burned. Standing’s advice: "Families should begin now to construct shelters with walls and ceilings at least 3 feet thick and adequately stocked for a long siege."

Van Nuys Is Born!

Sylvan Street and Van Nuys Boulevard via Google maps’ street view.

Feb. 23, 1911: The Times says, “There are few more beautiful sites for a city anywhere than that which lies in the San Fernando Valley, at the gateway of Los Angeles. Fifteen miles from the city's center as the crow flies, its setting is the largest tract of undeveloped land near a great city in the world; its background the green-carpeted and rolling hills of scenic beauty unexcelled in all the Southland.” Notice the names mentioned in a Feb. 23, 1934, story marking the 23rd anniversary of Van Nuys: William Mulholland, W.P. Whitsett, and, yes, The Times’ Harry Chandler. Referring to staff poet John Steven McGroarty, The Times; 1934 story said: "He was there at the first birthday party and he hoped he would be there for the party fifty years from now. But if he were elsewhere, if he and some of the others were not there fifty years from now, they would gather together at the ramparts of heaven and look down upon the little homes in the San Fernando Valley and be happy at the sight he was sure to behold." Here’s a curiosity: The 1911 story refers to the junction of Virginia Street and Sherman Way. If Virginia Street became Sylvan, as sources indicate, these streets would be parallel. Perhaps The Times reporter meant Van Nuys Boulevard, as indicated in a 1984 caption.

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 3, 1961

Feb. 3, 1961: What does a Burbank family do about their 4-year-old son, who refuses to go outside because he’s afraid of the street sweeper? CONFIDENTIAL TO "TROUBLE AT HOME": Someone once said "Divorce is hash made of domestic scraps." Your "scraps" are too large to digest. Better talk it over with the clergyman who joined you two together.

Found on EBay – Bullock’s

 

This outfit from the Collegienne department at Bullock’s in the San Fernando Valley has been listed on EBay. Of the Bullock’s items that are listed on EBay, those from the Valley store are by far the most rare. The outfit is listed as Buy It Now for $79.99.  As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated thoroughly before submitting a bid.

U.S. Launches Spy Satellite

May 25, 1960: The U.S. successfully launches a Midas satellite after a previous attempt failed. The Times editorialized that the satellites would make spy planes such as the U-2 obsolete. Which is why the Midas satellites became space junk and we’re still flying U-2s. And on the jump, burglars at the Queen's Arms get more than they bargained for.

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Sign a Bomb!

Jan. 5, 1943 -- Hedda Hopper says: The first thing Bob Hope did when he heard that Bing Crosby's house had burned down was to phone from Arrowhead and ask the family to move in with them. But Bing's four boys are living with Bill Goodwin, a neighbor, and Dixie is at Larry Crosby's. Bing stays at a Hollywood apartment until his picture, "Dixie," is finished. It's a strange coincidence that in the picture, owing to Bing's carelessness, he starts five fires -- burns down two houses, two theaters and a river boat ... One of the first to reach the scene of the fire was Bette Davis. It was through the burning of a Christmas tree that she was all but marred for life. View Larger Map Camarillo Street via Google maps’ street view. Faulty wiring in Christmas tree lights was blamed for a fire that swept Crosby’s house at 10500 Camarillo on Jan. 3, 1943. The fire destroyed everything but the living room, kitchen and servants’ quarters, including a large collection of Crosby's recordings and sports trophies.

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 5, 1959

Mash Notes and Comment       "Mr. Coates:     "In your column of last Wednesday, you delved into the timely issue of 'Is TV on the Up-and-Up?'     "You suggested, rather broadly, that maybe it isn't.     "You cited Desi Arnaz' accent and hinted it was just an affectation.     "Then you said, and I quote:     " 'And Sheriff John.  Everybody knows he's not actually a sheriff, but what I mean is, how does he REALLY feel about kids?'     "It just so happens, Mr. Coates, that I have an authentic badge given me by E.W. Biscailuz and an ID card which states that I am a duly authorized deputy sheriff of L.A. County.     "If you don't retract your false statement, I'm going to come over to your office one of these days and, if necessary, use a little persuasion on you."  (signed)  Sheriff John,KTTV, Hollywood.    -Lay a hand on me, officer, and I'll have you pounding a beat after the late, late movie.   ::       "To Paul Coats,      "Paul I sent a note to Hedda Hopper, she made a mistake in her column a couple of months ago.  She said Tennesee Ernie Ford was going to settle in Palo Alto.     "Well he changed his mind and moved to Portola Valley in the mountains 15 miles away from Palo Alto.     "How do I know this, well the guy who does the plumbing in Portola Valley took me to the Village Pub in Portola and Tennesee Ernie Ford was there and he introduced me to him.     "All the society people go to this bar, but we got in ok because we knew the bartender.  Paul I just paid Maria Ellena of Stanford 15 bucks to retype my book.  I paid her $7.50 but she will hold my book until I pay her the rest.     "I can get my book printed for two hundred dollars for the 1st thousand copies.  You are always broke, I know you won't lend me $200 even if I pay you back.      "I wish I could get Greer Garsons address.  She sent me a Christmas card five years ago, maybe she would lend me $200.    A Couple of Graves to Dig       "Money is hard to come by up here.  Today this guy came in and said Parkey will you drive me to the graveyard, I got a couple of graves to dig.     "He takes care of the cemetery Paul.     "I said I would take him after another beer.  By the time I got him to the graveyard he was too loaded to dig a grave, so we turned around and went back and got a bottle.     "I ask him how much he paid his helpers digging graves.  He said two seventy five an hr.  I said how about a job for me helping you.  He said swell.     "You watch, Paul, with my luck nobody up here will die for months."  (signed) Parkey Sharkey, 2077 Bay Road, Palo Alto.     -That's just negative thinking, Parkey.   ::       "Coates, your comment last week that you didn't ever heed any of Parkey Sharkey's pleas for the loan of some money because you didn't want to commercialize your friendship with him failed to strike me as being a humorous one, if you intended it that way.     "Any of the letters of Parkey Sharkey which you have printed should have been paid for by you.  His letters do untold good for you by adding the human touch to your column -- something which you rarely attain by yourself.     "Do you refuse to pay him the few dollars he asks because of poverty by your part.  Penury?     "Wake up, man!  You're profiting by Sharkey's frustrations.  The man needs help!"  (signed) Memphis Harry Lee Ward, P.O. Box 1963, Hollywood.     -Nothing wrong with Parkey that one good epidemic wouldn't cure.

Orchestras Ban Women Musicians

Nov. 2, 1919: Orchestra managers want to ban women musicians because an ensemble consisting entirely of men in tuxedos is more pleasing to the eye, The Times says. No, I'm not kidding. Nov. 16, 1919: Alma Whitaker writes about the attempted ban on women musicians.

Nov. 16, 1919: The Ridge Route opens and the Times publishes a terrific illustration by artist Charles Owens – nearly 20 years before he worked on “Nuestro Pueblo” … And the Auto Club writes a proposed law to make Hill Street, Broadway, Spring Street, Main one-way and to ban delivery trucks from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in designated congested areas such as downtown.

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Here’s a remarkable item from Oviatt’s – a necktie that the vendor says belonged to James Benton Van Nuys. And by remarkable, I mean remarkably hideous.  But it is from Oviatt’s, one of the most distinguished men’s stores in Los Angeles. Bidding starts at $39.95.

Sept. 3, 1962: J. Benton Van Nuys dies at the age of 79.

Landmark Nightclub Modernized

Virginia Arness attempts suicide in Hawaii. The Biltmore Bowl is heavily modernized so that is virtually unrecognizable.

New and Old Chinatown, divided by Broadway. "I don't belong to the tong. I am an American. I belong to the Kiwanis Club."

Five copies a minute, only 2 1/2 cents each.

The Lions beat the Rams, 17-7.

48,000-Acre Lankershim Ranch Sold to Developers

Sept. 24, 1909: The 48,000-acre Lankershim Ranch is sold to investors who will subdivide it for homes.

The Times says of this milestone in the development of the San Fernando Valley: "This is the largest and most notable real estate transaction ever made in Southern California. The ranch just sold is the largest undivided piece of property in Los Angeles County, having a length of 15 miles and a width of more than 6 1/2 miles."