Three fellas who stopped by the market at 1313 E. Olympic last night got a humiliating surprise when a pair of armed robbers made them slip off their trousers and hand ’em over. While the chilly victims were waiting in the back of the store, the robbers made off with $800 from the till and $289 from various pockets. They were kind enough not to take the trousers when they left.
Mother: when a man comes to the door, tells you your little Arnie is the handsomest tot he’s ever seen and suggests that for a mere $2.50 he can snap a swell shot of the little one for entry into the Downtown Business Men’s Association’s beautiful baby contest, slam that screen door fast. There’s no such contest, the guy’s a crook, and to be perfectly honest, your kid is… uhm… gee… well, he’s just adorable.
This has been a public service announcement from your pals at the 1947project.
November 14, 1947Two years ago, someone snuck into waitress Gertrude Dye’s home at 2208 1/2 Marathon Street and stole $2000 in War Bonds and Postal Savings notes out of a dresser drawer. She was able to replace the postal notes, but the War Bonds were a loss.
Until today, when she heard from an LAPD officer conveying a message from his counterparts in Bakersfield, where a gas station attendant had found the missing bonds under the floor mats of a used car he was servicing. The only problem: the bonds are made out to Gertrude and her former husband James. We hope they can split their windfall amicably.
17-year-old Ray Luedeman was cleaning rags in a pan of gasoline on the back porch of his home at 1877 W. 38th Street when the automatic gas heater beside him clicked on. Suddenly realizing the danger of the gas igniting, he scooped up the pan, sending gas flying all over the heater and his clothing. He’s in Georgia Street Receiving Hospital being treated for serious burns.
Further reading: Never Done, A History of American Housework
Mrs. R.J. Odman was sleeping peacefully in her bed at 825 N. Wilcox Ave. when Harry Lavine, 41-year-old guest of her upstairs neighbor, actor Matty Fain, shot himself just below the heart. The bullet exited Lavine’s back, came through floor and ceiling, and passed through Mrs. Odman’s splayed hair before stopping.
She was startled but unharmed; Lavine is in serious condition in the Prison Ward of General Hospital. Not for the threat to Mrs. Odman, though: Lavine, also an actor, was out on $5000 bail on a narcotics charge, but had failed to appear in federal court on Monday. Prior to shooting himself, he left a note absolving Margie Martini, 28, who was arrested with him on the drug charge. Miss Martini awaits her preliminary hearing in the County Jail.
A mini Matty Fain 1947 film festival:
Dead Reckoning, with Humphrey Bogart and Lizbeth Scott (Fain, uncredited, as “Ed”)
Down to Earth, with Rita Hayworth (Fain, uncredited, as “Henchman”)
Divorcee Gloria Hendrickson, 23, has known Bob Holstein, 37, for two years. He wasn’t much trouble until his own divorce went through last August; ever since, he’s been pressing Gloria to be his wife. She made it clear she wasn’t interested, but continued to see Bob. It made a break from her theater usherette job and nights at home at 14215 S. Vermont with her parents and 3-year-old son Richard.
Last night his frustrations reached the boiling point while he was driving her home from work after midnight. He pulled over on El Segundo between Vermont and Budlong and again raised the question of an engagement. The lady repeated no way, no how.
Bob grabbed the ribbon tie around her neck and choked her, dragged her out of the car, letting her head connect with the running board. Desperate, Gloria scrambled to get underneath the vehicle and away from her tormentor. Then another couple pulled up to see what the trouble was. Bob made noises about a lover’s spat, but Gloria shrieked and ran for help. Her saviors were Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Brownley of 334 Oxford St., and they brought her to the Vermont Ave. sheriff’s substation where she swore out a complaint.
Bob Holstein, still being sought, lives at 1540 146th Street in Hawthorne. So peel an eye for the louse.
November 8, 1947The Morales family mourns the death of its 103-year-old matriarch Rafaela, who dropped a cigarette onto her clothes while rocking on her porch at 223 E. Slack Road and was consumed, despite the valient efforts of her daughter, Mrs. Pilar Mendoza, 54, who raced over from her house next door on hearing Rafaela’s cries.
Waitress Betty Fox, 23, currently sharing digs at 1248 S. Boyington Ave., really needs an apartment–she can’t get married until she finds a place for she and hubby to canoodle. The grapevine hummed with news of a three-room flat a soldier was giving up as he entered service, so she tracked the new recruit down and asked if his place might still be available.
“Sure thing, toots, and if you gimme 48 bucks that’ll cover the first month’s rent.”
She ponied up in exchange for the key and address, and soon learned that there is no such number.
When asked why he had attempted to kidnap Celina Jarmillo, 18, as she was leaving work at 1427 E. Fourth Street, Raymond Adame, also 18, explained: “Last April she made me a sandwich of potatoes, beans and macaroni, and, according to our legends, she bewitched me. I couldn’t get out of her spell.” A later reports added fish eyes to the sandwich ingredients, and Farmer’s Market columnist Fred Beek suggested this might be a good addition to a meatless Tuesday menu.
In any case, Celina’s witchery must still have been working, because a radio car drove by just as Raymond tried to make the snatch. He’s down at Hollenbeck cooling his heels. Adame usually resides at 206 N. Clarence Street, Jarmillo at 5927 Fifth Ave.
