End of the Line, 1957
Feb. 23, 1957: Jewelry store robbery suspect Benny Hirschfield is wrestled to the ground by Patrolman Fred Kite, right, and Officer D.J. Lightfoot. Delmar Watson, Mirror-News staff photographer, shot this image after getting caught in the middle of the jewelry story robbery and helping chase Hirschfield.
The Mirror-News reported the entire incident in the Feb. 25, 1957 edition:
Mirror-News Photographer Delmar Watson and Reporter Jack Springer found it’s possible to get TOO close to the news – they covered a robbery Saturday while it was still in progress and Watson was a shot-at victim.
Springer and Watson were five blocks from the scene of a jewelry store robbery at 6317 Hollywood Blvd. when the police radio reported a holdup. They dashed to the scene just as one robber ran out.
Springer pursued the fleeing bandit while Watson ran into the Kruse Jewelry Store to discover that Bandit No.2 was still very much in business.
Benny Hirschfield, 40, the ex-convict robber, had just herded Jack Sanford, store manager, and Patrolman J.E. Eifert into an upstairs storeroom when Watson barged in.
Hirschfield menaced Watson with his gun, but the distraction provided Officer Eifert with an opportunity to fire at Hirschfield who fled from the store. Eifert’s bullet, which missed Hirschfield, passed over Watson’s shoulder.
Hirschfield was arrested minutes later in a nearby parking lot by Officer Fred Kite and Watson was on hand to get a vivid, grade-A action shot of Kite just after he stretched the bandit on the asphalt with a tackle.
Bandit No. 1 outsprinted Springer and boarded a bus just pulling away from a stop. Springer furnished the only accurate description of the thug who escaped with $20,000 in jewelry in a shopping bag.
Los Angeles Times archive
A 'getaway bus'??
All that's good with America, 1952
Aug. 21, 1952: Halftime entertainment at the eighth annual Times charity game was provided by Spike Jones, left, Marilyn Monroe and Ken Murray (actor Paul Picerni far left peeking over Jones' shoulder). The defending champion Rams beat the Washington Redskins, 45-23.
Los Angeles Times staff writer Jack Geyer reported in the next morning’s paper:
There were a lot of fancy runs at the Coliseum last night where the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Redskins clashed in the eighth annual Times charity game, but none was more thrilling than the 50-yard dash luscious Marilyn Monroe made from the sidelines to the center of the field.
Marilyn…bounced across the field with a run that charged more batteries than a generator.
Ken Murray, the incomparable comic who emceed the terrific halftime pageant, explained it best. Said Ken:
“Marilyn had better be careful or the referee will penalize her five yards — for backfield in motion.” (Ain't America great?)
The Los Angeles Times-Rams Charity games continued until 1993.
This image was published on a photo page with five shots from the game. Photo credit for all six images was given to Phil Bath, Art Rogers, Larry Sharkey and Bob Jacobsen.
Scott Harrison
Los Angeles Times archive
Policewoman lures rape suspect, 1952
30 July 1952. Florence Coberly -- 26 years (policewoman); I have to admit, there is something very alluring about a woman with seriously plucked eyebrows wearing a tight skirt and a firearm.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Policewoman lures rape suspect, 1952 (2)
30 July 1952. Detective F.A. Marz shot and killed suspect Joe L. Parra; Detective S.W. Griffin;
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Los Angeles Police Department narcotics arrest, 1958
8 January 1958. Barbara Burns, 19, booked by Los Angeles Police as narcotic addict early this a.m. Narco detective in shot with her is E.L. Allen". This would be Barbara Burns, daughter of comedian/musician Bob Burns, also known as the Arkansas Traveler. Her father had been dead two years when this picture was taken.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Barbara Burns sentence, 1958
9 June 1958. L to R: Marshall Norman Coppock; Barbara Burns.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Mocambo Party for Mr. and Mrs. C. Ray Gilliland, 1954 (3)
2 June 1954. Paul Brinkman & Jeanne Crain dancing.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Runaway boy (Inglewood), 1952
17 March 1952. Davies Herron -- 12 years. I hope things settled down for Davies. I hope he had a good life.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Bruce Cabot Divorce, 1951
27 November 1951. Attorney Jerry Geisler; Mrs. Bruce Cabot. And here's two more folks to whom an impending divorce moves them to laughter. I understand the lawyer's high spirits (yet another picture in the paper, big fees) but the lady seems unduly amused. Maybe she just realized the big fees for Mr. Geisler will be covered by the soon to be ex-husband. Then again maybe it's just me.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Monterey Park 'spying suitor' court trial, 1954
21 January 1954. Champion Rogers (suspect); Harry Leppek (Attorney); Caption slip reads: "Photographer: Paegel. Date: 1954-01-21. Reporter: Massard. Assignment: Monterey park's 'Spying Suitor' court trial. 3/4: Champion Rogers and his attorney Harry Leppek." I think nowadays this guy would simply be called a stalker.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Monterey Park 'spying suitor' court trial, 1954 (2)
21 January 1954. Jean Yates (victim).
Jean Yates, on whom Rogers was spying, hides face from photo lens."
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Shooting (Wilshire Police Station), 1958
6 January 1958. 'Tim' Moore -- 70 -- 'Kingfish' of TV 'Amos and Andy,' in Wilshire Station for shooting at wife".
He took a shot at Sapphire? At Sapphire?? That man must be crazy.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Wrestling, 1951
19 September 1951. Baron Leone; Red Berry. Whoa Nellie! I don't know exactly what they're doing here but it looks as though they're both losing! The paying customers seem to be enjoying it though. I just about hear Dick Lane's voice.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Marriage license, 1951
Marriage license, 4 September 1951. Cornell Wilde; Jean Wallace.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Catholic School Mothers Club -- plan dance, 1958
10 January 1958. L to R: Mrs. Joseph Dunnigan; Mrs. John T. Cahill; Mrs. Ambrose Schnieder".
Supplementary material reads: "Photo assignment for Friday January 10 at 3 p.m. Pls go to home of Mrs. Wright, 804 North Linden Drive, Beverly Hills, CR 17814, get shots of Catholic School Mothers Club women planning dance. Candid, three cols. Contacts Monday; Thanks, Carter Ludlow".
...And you read your Emily Dickinson,
And I my Robert Frost,
And we note our place with bookmarkers
That measure what we've lost...
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Ku Klux Klan warning (Negro house bombed), 1952
01 April 1952. On sidewalk at 2633 South Ridgeley Drive; Reporter looking on.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
'Queen of the Barbelles', Abbye Eville, 1949
When Abbye Eville wanted to shed some pounds, her then-boyfriend Les Stockton encouraged her to lift weights at Santa Monica's Muscle Beach. The "Queen of the Barbelles" soon was the poster-girl of fitness, and as one wag put it, her nickname, "Pudgy," became "a libel." In the 1940s, she organized the first all-female weight-lifting contest and opened the first all women's gym in the United States. She and Les, by then her husband, later popularized working out on the Sixth Street Stairs in Santa Monica. Photo dated: December 10, 1949.
LAPL
Narcotics suspect, 1954
14 April 1954. Suspect Frank Rasulo, left, being questioned by Detective Al Challoner.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Murder in front of 663 Lamar Street, 1952
Murder in front of 663 Lamar Street, 30 May 1952. Murder scene; Body of Fernando Reyes -- 17 years (shot and killed in street brawl) 1726 1/2 Clover Street; "Choppie" Reyes (brother of dead boy); Louis Barrera -- 17 years (friend of Reyes); William Humm (Deputy); Don Joseph (Deputy); Detective T.F. McGovern. Boy walking around officer on far left is Louis Barrera, 17. Shows murder scene, where Fernando Reyes lies dead". Murder east of the river, in a tough part of town. Then again, maybe they're all tough parts of town.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961
Murder, 1960
Murder, 12 December 1960. Lt. R.W. Lauritzen inspects the body of L.L. Hardwick, 43. Police Sgt. Reggie Floyd, first police officer on scene, looks on. In background is victim's car.
USCdigital archive/Los Angeles Examiner Negatives Collection, 1950-1961