WAR OF THE WORLDS—ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS
IT WAS October 30, 1938. Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his wooden pal Charlie McCarthy had just finished their opening bit on the Chase & Sanborn Hour, which owned Sunday radio … Continue reading
CHARLES H. CRAWFORD, A LOS ANGELES AL CAPONE PART 2
FAILURE OF California’s Julian Petroleum Company, aka “Julian Pete,” caught up Charles H. Crawford, Los Angeles politician/saloon owner in 1930. Allegedly, he paid $75,000 to hush up exposure of his … Continue reading
CHARLES H. CRAWFORD, THE LOS ANGELES AL CAPONE PART 1
IN MY continuing recognition of scalawags, political and otherwise, I offer Charles H. Crawford, who in the 1920s was the Los Angeles version of Chicago’s Al Capone. The tale has … Continue reading
FUEL CELLS FORGOTTEN? YET AGAIN?
WHAT WITH everyone but the guy next door promising to build only “electrified” cars, it’s surprising to me that only a few of the world’s automakers are seeing promise in … Continue reading
BOOK SMART, HEAD DUMB
MY MOTHER, rest her soul, used to say that I was “book smart, but head dumb.” I am not surprised to learn, based on a new book on the matter, … Continue reading
HOLMES AND THE ARTS PART 2
SHERLOCK HOLMES’ artistic streak surfaced regularly, and not just when he idly bowed his Stradivarius while pondering a consulting detective conundrum. Yesterday here, Michael Hardwick’s The Guide to Sherlock Holmes … Continue reading
HOLMES AND THE ARTS PART 1
SHERLOCK HOLMES is remembered for his cold unassailable logic. However, the world’s greatest consulting detective also had an artistic side. Indeed, name another shamus who played his own Stradivarius. What … Continue reading
STEFANO ZANNOWICH—A GENUINE RASCAL PART 2
WHEN WE left the Montenegrin Serb royal impersonator Stefano Zannowich yesterday here, it was 1773 and he had just composed Pigmalione. Let’s not credit Zannowich with inspiring the 1956 Broadway … Continue reading
STEFANO ZANNOWICH—A GENUINE RASCAL PART 1
WHAT WITH two-bit, four-bit, and six-bit rascals populating Washington, D.C. these days, it’s comforting to learn about a genuine, first-class, international rascal of the highest order. Indeed, his rascality calls … Continue reading
CELEBRATING THE BOEING 747
AFTER 48 YEARS of service, the Boeing 747 is being replaced by newer, more efficient wide-body aircraft. The 747 is a glorious example of aeronautical engineering and, for crew and … Continue reading
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