An Ill-Mannered Con

December 5, 1947
Los Angeles

There were two distinguishing features of the man who robbed the Bank of America branch at Seventh and Broadway near closing time today. He had a very dirty face, and he was no gentleman.

Teller Paul V. Glowczewski of 2939 Covina Street told police that the man came to his window, showed a revolver through his Army raincoat’s split pocket, and snarled “Gimme money.” Glowczewski placed some cash on the counter, and Mr. Grubby snapped “Gimme more!” He was right; Glowczewski had been holding out on him.

Then the man took his money and strolled casually out of the bank, leaving one shaken teller and several dozen oblivious customers to finish up their business.

Kim Cooper

Kim Cooper is the creator of 1947project, the crime-a-day time travel blog that spawned Esotouric’s popular crime bus tours, including The Real Black Dahlia. She is the author of The Kept Girl, the acclaimed historical mystery starring the young Raymond Chandler and the real-life Philip Marlowe, and of The Raymond Chandler Map of Los Angeles. With husband Richard Schave, Kim curates the Salons and forensic science seminars of LAVA- The Los Angeles Visionaries Association. When the third generation Angeleno isn’t combing old newspapers for forgotten scandals, she is a passionate advocate for historic preservation of signage, vernacular architecture and writer’s homes. Kim was for many years the editrix of Scram, a journal of unpopular culture. Her books include Fall in Love For Life, Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth, Lost in the Grooves and an oral history of Neutral Milk Hotel.

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Kim Cooper

Kim Cooper is the creator of 1947project, the crime-a-day time travel blog that spawned Esotouric’s popular crime bus tours, including The Real Black Dahlia. She is the author of The Kept Girl, the acclaimed historical mystery starring the young Raymond Chandler and the real-life Philip Marlowe, and of The Raymond Chandler Map of Los Angeles. With husband Richard Schave, Kim curates the Salons and forensic science seminars of LAVA- The Los Angeles Visionaries Association. When the third generation Angeleno isn’t combing old newspapers for forgotten scandals, she is a passionate advocate for historic preservation of signage, vernacular architecture and writer’s homes. Kim was for many years the editrix of Scram, a journal of unpopular culture. Her books include Fall in Love For Life, Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth, Lost in the Grooves and an oral history of Neutral Milk Hotel.

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  1. FILM HEADS VOTE BAN
    ON GANGSTER PICTURES
    NEW YORK, Dec. 3. (AP)—The board of directors of the Motion Picture Association of America today voted to cease distribution of new and old pictures glorifying gangster names and criminal practices.

    The association, which includes all of the nation’s leading film producers, also banned the use of salacious and obscene titles.

    Eric Johnston, chairman of the board, who recommended the changes in the association’s codes, announced the film companies had agreed to drop immediately 25 titles deemed objectionable, adding that distribution of films produced with these titles will be stopped.

    In some cases the banned titles were for films not yet produced.

    Titles of already produced films whose further distribution is banned include:

    “Dillingerâ€Â (1945) imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0037644/
    “Roger Touhy, Gangsterâ€Â (1944) imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0036846/
    “The Racket Manâ€Â (1944) imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0036287/
    “This Gun for Hireâ€Â (1942) Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake. imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0035432/
    “The Murder Ringâ€Â (unable to locate this cinematic gem).
    “The Killersâ€Â (1946) Burt Lancaster. imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0038669/
    “They Made Me a Killerâ€Â (1946) imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0039023/
    “Born to Killâ€Â (1947) imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0039211/
    “Shoot to Killâ€Â (1947) imdb page: https://imdb.com/title/tt0039820/
    “The Last Gangsterâ€Â (1937) imdb page https://imdb.com/title/tt0029118/
    “Me, Gangsterâ€Â (1928) imdb page https://imdb.com/title/tt0019154/
    “Gang Warâ€Â (1941) imdb page https://imdb.com/title/tt0033998/
    “Ladies of the Mobâ€Â (1928) imdb page https://imdb.com/title/tt0019062/
    “The Racketeerâ€Â (1929) imdb page https://imdb.com/title/tt0020305/

    Titles not yet used for films which were stricken from the registration list included: “Al Capone,â€Â “Killer for Hire,â€Â “The Gangster’s Mollâ€Â and “Gangster’s Glory.â€Â

    Producers also withdrew three titles submitted for registration last month: “The Capone Story,â€Â “How We Trapped Caponeâ€Â and “Gun Moll.â€Â

    + + +

    As I recall, “Scarfaceâ€Â was also part of this group of banned gangster films, as it vanished from exhibition for many years.

    https://www.lmharnisch.com

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