The mysterious John Montague, perhaps the greatest golfer never to have a won a professional tournament. His exploits on and off the green were legendary, and you, too, will be amazed once you read about him. From the Smithsonian Magazine, June 2008. Montague the Magnificent He was a golfing wonder, a dapper strongman and the […]
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Conflicting. STAR COMEDIENNE CAUGHT IN A RAID. MARGARET GIBSON, PICTURE ACTRESS, ARRESTED. Taken with Others on Charge of Violating Rooming-house Ordinance, but She Asserts Her Innocence and Authorities will Make Further Inquiry. Los Angeles Times, Aug. 26, 1917 — Margaret Gibson, moving picture comedy star, was arrested late yesterday afternoon and lodged in the City […]
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Kenny Kingston was a pseudo-celebrity known for his wild claims of speaking to dead celebrities. He often claimed to have been the personal psychic for U.S. Presidents Harry Truman and Dwight D. Eisenhower, Marilyn Monroe, John Wayne, Greta Garbo, Sally Struthers, Lilly Tomlin, Carol Burnett, Josephine Baker, Drincess Diana, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Hugh Jackman. […]
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John Wagstaff as Popeye in 1935. From Life Magazine (Oct. 4, 1937) : Sirs: Enclosed find photos of a friend, Mr. John Wagstaff of this city, who has a face that he can readily screw into various positions and shapes. He does not use any artificial makeup or teeth removing. It’s just a natural […]
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“They would murder me if they thought I was afraid of them. And I’ll tell you the truth – I am. Man, when I’m in there with those cats, I’m acting.” — Dick Walker, the resident lion tamer at Jungleland in Thousand Oaks. Here he is in 1960, preparing for an appearance at a fair […]
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“It’s for your good! You have no business being sick – everyone of you should get well and get up and go to work, huh? Get up and go to work and earn some money and help send the gospel out! Amen!” — Sister Aimee Semple McPherson AIMEE HORRIFIED BY PARIS NIGHT LIFE: CALLS […]
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May Isabel Betteridge (1905-1984) was one of the most photographed models in Los Angeles from 1927-1935. She later became an amateur archaeologist. She was born in Rhode Island in 1905. Her father, John Thomas Betteridge, came to the U.S. from Ireland and her mother, Mary, immigrated from Britain. The Betteridges married in Massachusetts and had […]
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“I have no whine at fate. I began with nothing and have ended with more money than is good for one. . . I write because I love to. . . I have perhaps less academic training than any man who has ever succeeded at writing in America. . . I will never be the […]
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Al D. Blake, posing with a female mannequin on Hollywood Boulevard in 1938. Alva Davis Blake (aka Al D. Blake) is a man of mystery. He was born in Manitou, Colorado on March 31, 1887. His father ran restaurants and hotels while his mother took care of the house. Young Al had two older brothers. The […]
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“Why, the name ‘Sindelar’ is that of my husband….He’s a commercial artist and we have the nicest studio apartment; it’s on 42nd Street. And Charles does the loveliest work. “ — Pearl Sindelar Source: Mabel Condon (1913) “I’m striving to reach that ‘something else’ because I like the work so well. I’ve been with the […]
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