Cheap and Easy Dreams: Spadrom Estates and Herbert Heftler

Located in Anaheim, California, Spradrom Estates was a $7.5 million development of 486 homes that broke ground in 1956. It’s still there. Hundreds of housing developments were built across the Southern California landscape in the post-World War II housing boom of the 1950s and 1960s. Like most housing developments of that period, Spadrom’s original name… Continue reading Cheap and Easy Dreams: Spadrom Estates and Herbert Heftler

Random Ephemera: Doctor’s Estate Mysteriously Willed to Secretary

In 1951, Dr. Roy Campbell committed suicide in his office at 814 1/2 S. Alvarado, Los Angeles. Dr. Campbell’s will, which was never found, apparently left $100,000 not to his wife, Mrs. Iva or Eva Campbell, 55, but to Ondine Kifer, 35, his secretary. Dr. Campbell supposedly had written it by hand on a sheet… Continue reading Random Ephemera: Doctor’s Estate Mysteriously Willed to Secretary

Men in War (1957): Surprisingly Good “Lost Platoon” Movie

Aldo Ray and Robert Ryan, Men in War

One more step and I’ll fill your guts with lead. That’s the tagline on one of “Men in War’s” posters, with Aldo Ray’s character Montana leveling his gun at Robert Ryan. If you’re a battle-hardened veteran of World War II movies made in the 1950s, you’ll like this one. For one, it’s Korea, not WWII.… Continue reading Men in War (1957): Surprisingly Good “Lost Platoon” Movie

Mickey Cohen Brings Max Tannenbaum Out to L.A.

Max Tannenbaum

Sure, there’s a copy of Case of the Half-Wakened Wife by that Perry Mason writer underneath your glass of iced Seagram’s, its paper cover soaking up the glass’ condensation like a three-dollar coaster. You’ve tried the novel once or twice poolside. But the crack between pages one and two is a testament to your education… Continue reading Mickey Cohen Brings Max Tannenbaum Out to L.A.

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Categorized as 1950s