Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… Gary Cooper dies…

November 21, 2014 by · 1 Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the HERALD EXPRESS–EXTRA, Los Angeles, May 13, 1961: “GARY COOPER DIES“…Gary Cooper's Death

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Carole Lombard…

October 24, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES EXAMINER, California, January 18, 1942: “CAROLE LOMBARD AND 21 OTHERS IN AIRLINER WRECK”Blog-10-10-2014-Carole-Lombard-death

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… Will Rogers honorary mayor…

September 12, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the EVENING EXPRESS, Los Angeles, December 21, 1926: “WILL ROGERS OFF IN BIG START AS BEVERLY MAYORBlog-9-12-2014-Will-Rogers-Mayor

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Douglas Fairbanks…

August 14, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES EXAMINER, December 12, 1939: “DOUG FAIRBANKS SR. DIESDouglas Fairbanks, Sr - Death

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… death of Fatty Arbuckle…

June 27, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the LOS ANGELES TIMES, June 29, 1933: “‘FATTY’ ARBUCKLE DIESFatty Arbuckle Death

Remember these names from the “golden era”?

June 23, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

One of our more recent purchases was a sizable collection of  newspapers from the West Coast which included many 20th century issues covering the deaths of famous movie stars or Jean Harlow Death Reportentertainers. Not surprisingly, Los Angeles newspaper gave much coverage to the passing of some of the more iconic names of stardom from the “golden era”. Those of a certain age well remember many of famous names of the 1930’s-1950’s (totally unknown to the millennial generation) and I count myself among them, so it was with a certain amount of nostalgia that I read the reports as I was writing up the newspapers for future catalogs.

If I had any common reaction to the reports I read it was to the age of many when they died. When I think of such stars I always presumed they were in their late 60’s or late 70’s when they were still acting & much older when they died. But that was when I was in my teens and 20’s, and anyone who had been “around for awhile” seemed like they were much older than they actually were. I was struck by the ages of many when they died, and perhaps you might be as well. Here is a sampling:

Clark Gable Death ReportTyrone Power 45

Humphrey Bogart 57

Rudolph Valentino 31

George Gershwin 38

Nat “King” Cole 45

Clark Gable 59

Jean Harlow 26

Cary Cooper 60

Mario Lanza 38

Jayne Mansfield 34

Steve McQueen 50

Judy Garland 47

Great Headlines Speak For Themselves… Lionel Barrymore death…

June 13, 2014 by · Leave a Comment 

The best headlines need no commentary. Such is the case with the DAILY NEWS, Los Angeles, November 16, 1954: “LIONEL BARRYMORE, STAGE GREAT, DIESLionel Barrymore Death Report

The “experts” don’t always get it right…

March 28, 2011 by · 2 Comments 

We recently unearthed two different newspapers which scream the reality “the experts are often wrong”.  The first report was an early review of “Gone With The Wind” which was not favorable (issue #580564).  The 2nd was a statement concerning Babe Ruth which occurred soon after he was traded to The New York Yankees which questioned whether he would be an impact player (issue #581104).  Interestingly enough, the opinion was given by Billy Evans, one of the most famous umpires (and member of the Hall of Fame) of all time.  Feel free to comment on similar finding of your own.  In the meantime, enjoy the reports:

Gone With The Wind…

Babe Ruth…


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