Found on EBay -- 'Headline Happy'

Los Angeles Times file photo

A somewhat distressed copy of “Headline Happy” by Florabel Muir  has been listed on EBay. You may recall that Muir, above, has a terrific description of the Busgy Siegel crime scene and, yes, she’s the reporter who got hit in the rear during the attempted killing of Mickey Cohen at Sherry’s in 1949. Trivia note: The Times’ only mention of Muir being shot is in a Hedda Hopper column that says Muir was sporting an “Italian sunset.” Judging by the vendor’s description, this copy is not in pristine shape, but it’s difficult to find “Headline Happy” for less than $50 and the price (bidding starts at 50 cents) makes it sound interesting for those who are looking for a reading copy.  ALSO Mickey Cohen on the Daily Mirror Florabel Muir on the Daily Mirror

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 25, 1941

March 25, 1941: Tom Treanor has another column on Jan Valtin’s “Out of the Night,” which I have begun reading, thanks to the Los Angeles Public Library, and I must say that so far the book is much better than I expected. In fact it’s remarkably good. As Richard Krebs (Valtin was a pen name), the author was quite a figure in San Quentin, where he worked on the prison newspaper after being convicted of a 1926 assault. He was paroled in 1929 and pardoned in 1941.   It took Robert Rossen three times as long (six months) to script "The Sea Wolf" as it took Jack London to write the novel, Jimmie Fidler says.

Make Your Own Pickwick Book Shop Bookmarks!

I noticed that L.A. Observed had an item on the reissue of “Los Angeles: A Guide to the City and Its Environs,” a book that is well worth having. The Daily Mirror HQ acquired its copy (formerly the property of Fremont High School--ahem) back in the 1970s and it has provided many hours of entertainment (check out the Chapman South American Chinchilla Farm, 4957 W. 104th St., admission by telephone appointment only). The book has been reissued previously and is available on Bookfinder, although the price may be a little steep.   As a public service, to accompany your new/used copy of the WPA guide to Los Angeles, here are scans so you can make your own bookmarks from the Pickwick (d. 1995), 6743 Hollywood Blvd. You’re welcome!

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 19, 1941

March 19, 1941: A couple of years ago Louis Bromfield told me he believed the country was waiting for a novel by someone who knew Hollywood and would play it straight. Authors who couldn't fit into Hollywood have gone away and written scorn and satire. Often it was clever but it never rang true. Now Rupert Hughes has written a Hollywood novel and has played it straight, Lee Shippey says.  Note: Shippey is referring to Hughes’ “City of Angels.” There is one copy at the Los Angeles Public Library and it’s non-circulating, so I’ll have to add this to my Zombie Reading List, right after “Out of the Night.”   A one-sentence summary of The Times’ review: “This is not Rupert Hughes at his best but it is certainly Rupert Hughes at his most readable.”   Marsha Hunt is feuding with Lady Luck: 30 minutes after recovering her brand new coupe from car thieves it was demolished by a hit-and-run driver, Jimmie Fidler says.

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 18, 1941

March 18, 1941: Lee Shippey has a letter from author Harlan Ware about attempts to deport Jan Valtin, who wrote “Out of the Night.”  This is the book that Tom Treanor mentioned recently. I never heard of this title before I ran across it in the old newspapers. I’ll have to add it to my Zombie Reading List. Orson Welles arrives in town Saturday to remake seven scenes for "Citizen Kane," which will be released with those changes in May, Jimmie Fidler says.