"One good picture will reestablish me," declared silent screen actress Barbara La Marr before beginning her final film, The Girl from Montmartre (1926), the summer of 1925.
The twenty-nine-year-old former stock theater actress, dancer, vaudevillian, and screenwriter had ascended to international film stardom rapidly, appearing in nearly thirty films in five years, seducing audiences as a sultry vamp.
Read MoreTo movie fans around the globe, Errol Flynn is remembered as one of the top swashbuckling heroes in classic film. Known for his portrayals in Captain Blood (1935) and The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), in addition to his notorious personal life, much as been discussed, published, and filmed on the subject of Flynn.
Read MoreNearly everyone enjoys Sue Grafton’s Alphabet mysteries.
Although business has been slow lately for P.I. Kinsey Millhone, she's reluctant to take on the case of locating Beverly Danziger's sister Elaine Boldt. Beverly claims she needs Elaine's signature on some documents so that she can collect a small inheritance.
Read MoreThe flotilla of ships loitering off the coast of Southern California is not the first time a supply chain crisis has hit this region. And it won’t be the last. While the Port of Los Angeles is part of a vital global supply chain, few recognize it is a key link in a much shorter but vital 26- mile supply chain - one that services the island of Catalina Island.
Read MoreBeginning with World War II and continuing into the Cold War, U.S. cities installed air raid sirens to alert the citizenry of, at first, a Japanese invasion and later a Soviet bomber strike. Los Angeles, as well as other American cities, installed a network of sirens throughout the city including five in San Pedro, four of which still exist and we will take a driving tour beginning at the north end of San Pedro and working our way south to visit them all. The sirens were numbered when they were installed and those are the numbers we will be using.
Read MorePresident Harry Truman in October 1951 dedicated the date of January 13 to commemorate Stephen Foster, the Father of American music. Stephen passed away in 1864. It took only 87 years for our country to acknowledge his greatness. The day was only made official in 1966, another 15 years later. Many cities in our nation organize special events in his honor.
Read MoreDana Andrews was a key Hollywood star throughout the 1940s. Shining as a romantic lead in many dramatic films, Andrews worked with many top actresses of the day. Though he appeared in several notable films, he is most celebrated for offering some of the many moving performances in The Best Years of Our Lives (1946).
Read MoreIn just a few days, the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover is scheduled to land on the surface of Mars. The mission will include the search for signs of ancient life, experiment with converting Martian atmospheric carbon dioxide into oxygen and even gathering rock and soil samples to be retrieved on a future Mars mission. This impressively ambitious rover also carries a little helicopter by the name of “Ingenuity.” Sometime after touching down in Jezero Crater, the rover will deploy Ingenuity to attempt the first powered test flight on another world. Read on to learn about another special passenger who’s also on board.
Read MoreDo you know the answers to the following trivia questions?
Read MoreIf you drive into the Malaga Cove Plaza and enjoy its’ beauty and pristine ambiance you need to give huge credit to a Palos Verdes Estates resident Morynne Motley.
Read MoreDo you want to lose weight, make more money, and/or have more love in 2022… If so, let’s call upon the old tried and true scientific method to make it happen. The method– beginning with Epicurus and later popularized by good souls like the venerable, Ben Franklin– help you to focus on solid facts, and practical steps to more easily manifest your goals and dreams.
Read MoreWith the 80th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, we will doubtless see many articles about it and even descriptions of the attack, casualties, and pictures of ships blowing up or under water. I would like to offer a slightly different perspective – how Japan saw this as their most viable course of action given the nearly inevitable results:
Read MoreIt’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words, and Hollywood’s still photography proves the point. Combining glamour, sensuality, playfulness, beauty, and every day charm, these stunning publicity images sold Hollywood stars and movies to film fans for decades through their use in magazines and newspapers.
Read MoreWith the recent surge of smugglers bringing people and drugs onto our California shores in "Pange-Boats", Steve Blinder's new book is both compelling and timely.
Read MoreHave you noticed that the kids, and nerds of any age, have their own vocabulary? I remember when men were from Mars and women were from Venus and that fact explained most gender differences. But that was so 20th century. Today the kids and nerds live in the Metaverse, a shared virtual world accessed via the internet.
Read MorePoint Vicente Chapter’s National Society Daughters of The American Revolution (NSDAR or DAR) along with the El Redondo Chapter will gather for a wreath-laying ceremony to commemorate the Centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, veterans and all who have sacrificed for America’s freedom at Green Hills Memorial Cemetery in Rancho Palos Verdes this Veteran’s Day.
Read MoreIn my previous article about the sale of the Jester house I went into the process of the sale along with some historical photos of its construction. The interior of the house, which space did not allow me to get into, was an absolute showplace of mid-20th Century Hollywood show business.
Read More
