Here is part of an article in the LA Times dated 2/7/31:
HOAX BANDIT SHOT TO DEATH
Gun-Like Cigarette Case used in Theater Hold-Up Spells Doom to Robber When officer Fires
GLENDALE-A bandit who put his faith in a cigarette case shaped like a pistol unthinkingly pointed the mock weapon tonight at the heart of a policeman who had detected him in a hold-up of the cashier at the California Theater here, and an instant later fell dead on the sidewalk with six bullets from the policeman’s service revolver in his body.
The bandit, with the futile contrivance of shining metal still in his hand, was taken first to Glendale Emergency Hospital and then to the morgue, where he was identified from papers in his pocket as L.J. Wright, apparently about 30 years of age, from Metzger, Oregon.
Here is part of an LA Times article dated 9/12/28:
Police were still searching late yesterday for the asserted partner of James Pattey, 18 years of age. Pattey was captured earlier in the day in the frustration of what police reported was an attempt to hold up officials of the Strand Theater, 4409 South Broadway. Pattey said, according to police, that his “pal” was the one who planned the hold-up and that he met him in a local poil hall.
H.L. Cass, theater janitor, said he was held up by Pattey and his partner and bound hand and foot. When the two went to the front of the theater to wait for the manager, S.C. Mohl, Cass was able to loosen the bonds enough to allow him to walk out of the rear and notify the police.
Here is a 1989 Life photo that shows Disney’s ersatz Hollywood Boulevard in Florida. You can see the Chinese at the end of the street. Bleh. http://tinyurl.com/58qwum
Here is part of a 7/21/35 article from the NYT. I don’t think you can say thugs in a headline anymore. Not PC.
THUGS GET PAYROLL IN THEATRE HOLD-UP; 3 Flee With $400 in Astoria After Binding Manager and Boy and Cutting Wires.
Bandits held up Joseph Yovin of 32-50 Seventy-ninth Street, Jackson Heights, manager of the Crescent Theatre at 27-18 Astoria Boulevard, Astoria, yesterday morning and escaped with a $400 payroll after tying Yovin and a 14-year-old boy in the office of the theatre.
Here’s the problem with the Chicago archive-I think it says $400 for 1500 articles. What if you pull up an article and you don’t like it? I guess it counts against your total. I prefer something open-ended. I wish there was some other way to access the Tribune database.
Here is an excerpt from an 8/10/23 article in the NYT:
1 DEAD, 1 WOUNDED IN THEATRE HOLD-UP; Unidentified Man Slain, Manager of Broadway Film House Shot
J. Alton Bradbury, 45 years old, proprietor of the Olympia Theatre on Broadway, between 106th and 107th Streets, was wounded seriously and an unidentified man was shot to death at 10:15 o'clock last night when two hold-up men attempted a raid upon Bradbury’s office in the theatre building, where he had counted the night’s receipts.
Here is a 1944 photo from Life Magazine. Unfortunately the focus was on the blind street musician and not the theater in the background. http://tinyurl.com/6j942j
Here is a November 1949 photo from Life Magazine. The photo was taken during a funeral procession for Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. http://tinyurl.com/5kqn98
Here is an October 1957 photo from Life Magazine. The Criterion marquee is visible in the background. Apologies if this photo has already been posted. http://tinyurl.com/6c3le3
Here’s a puzzling photo from Life Magazine, dated July 1941. I know George Hamid ran the Million Dollar pier, but I don’t recall that pier ever having a theater. The Steel Pier had two theaters, but this doesn’t look like any part of the Steel Pier. The other choice is a separate theater called Hamid’s, of which I don’t have any knowledge. http://tinyurl.com/6lrvsa
Here is part of an article in the LA Times dated 5/26/1917:
PORTLAND (Or) May 25-The trial of D.J. Myrick, manager of the Columbia Theater, charged with felonious assault upon Adele Eils, his pretty girl cashier, came to a dramatic end here today when Myrick’s attorney announced that his client would plead guilty and Myrick confirmed the plea, sobbing aloud as the girl, in a state of hysteria, was led from the courtroom. The attack was made last January in Myrick’s office at midnight.
Here is part of an article in the LA Times dated 2/7/31:
HOAX BANDIT SHOT TO DEATH
Gun-Like Cigarette Case used in Theater Hold-Up Spells Doom to Robber When officer Fires
GLENDALE-A bandit who put his faith in a cigarette case shaped like a pistol unthinkingly pointed the mock weapon tonight at the heart of a policeman who had detected him in a hold-up of the cashier at the California Theater here, and an instant later fell dead on the sidewalk with six bullets from the policeman’s service revolver in his body.
The bandit, with the futile contrivance of shining metal still in his hand, was taken first to Glendale Emergency Hospital and then to the morgue, where he was identified from papers in his pocket as L.J. Wright, apparently about 30 years of age, from Metzger, Oregon.
Here is part of an LA Times article dated 9/12/28:
Police were still searching late yesterday for the asserted partner of James Pattey, 18 years of age. Pattey was captured earlier in the day in the frustration of what police reported was an attempt to hold up officials of the Strand Theater, 4409 South Broadway. Pattey said, according to police, that his “pal” was the one who planned the hold-up and that he met him in a local poil hall.
H.L. Cass, theater janitor, said he was held up by Pattey and his partner and bound hand and foot. When the two went to the front of the theater to wait for the manager, S.C. Mohl, Cass was able to loosen the bonds enough to allow him to walk out of the rear and notify the police.
Here is May 1949 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/5as826
Not the Los Angeles library, that I know of. Maybe I can apply for a Chicago library card with a fake address.
Here is a 1989 Life photo that shows Disney’s ersatz Hollywood Boulevard in Florida. You can see the Chinese at the end of the street. Bleh.
http://tinyurl.com/58qwum
Here is part of a 7/21/35 article from the NYT. I don’t think you can say thugs in a headline anymore. Not PC.
THUGS GET PAYROLL IN THEATRE HOLD-UP; 3 Flee With $400 in Astoria After Binding Manager and Boy and Cutting Wires.
Bandits held up Joseph Yovin of 32-50 Seventy-ninth Street, Jackson Heights, manager of the Crescent Theatre at 27-18 Astoria Boulevard, Astoria, yesterday morning and escaped with a $400 payroll after tying Yovin and a 14-year-old boy in the office of the theatre.
Here’s the problem with the Chicago archive-I think it says $400 for 1500 articles. What if you pull up an article and you don’t like it? I guess it counts against your total. I prefer something open-ended. I wish there was some other way to access the Tribune database.
Here is an excerpt from an 8/10/23 article in the NYT:
1 DEAD, 1 WOUNDED IN THEATRE HOLD-UP; Unidentified Man Slain, Manager of Broadway Film House Shot
J. Alton Bradbury, 45 years old, proprietor of the Olympia Theatre on Broadway, between 106th and 107th Streets, was wounded seriously and an unidentified man was shot to death at 10:15 o'clock last night when two hold-up men attempted a raid upon Bradbury’s office in the theatre building, where he had counted the night’s receipts.
Here is an excerpt from a Chicago Daily Tribune article dated ¼/22:
ARREST THEATER MAN:DOUBT TALE OF $2000 THEFT
C. L. Boyd, treasurer of the Columbia theater, 11 North Clark Street, who told the police yesterday morning that two burglars held him up…
(was lying, apparently, but I don’t have the rest of the article)
The Warner is on the left in this October 1968 photo from Life Magazine:
http://tinyurl.com/55yfp8
I think Earl Warren was running for governor at that time.
Here is another 1942 photo from Life showing the Esquire and the neighboring Telenews theaters:
http://tinyurl.com/5ab9j5
I see. So it was the Embassy showing “Quartet”. Thanks.
OK, thanks.
Here is a 1944 photo from Life Magazine. Unfortunately the focus was on the blind street musician and not the theater in the background.
http://tinyurl.com/6j942j
Sorry about that, Warren. I tried to look at all the previous photos, but this is a pretty extensive list.
On the bottom it says “Back to image details”. You can click on that if you want more information about the photo.
Does anyone know what the Quartet Theater on the right is listed under? I didn’t see it as an AKA. Is it possible that it was a live theater? Thanks.
Here is a November 1949 photo from Life Magazine. The photo was taken during a funeral procession for Bill “Bojangles” Robinson.
http://tinyurl.com/5kqn98
Here is an October 1957 photo from Life Magazine. The Criterion marquee is visible in the background. Apologies if this photo has already been posted.
http://tinyurl.com/6c3le3
Here is another Life photo, this time from 1946:
http://tinyurl.com/5r4d46
I heard that Jerry Lewis was thinking about running in 2012. No announcement yet, though.
Here’s a puzzling photo from Life Magazine, dated July 1941. I know George Hamid ran the Million Dollar pier, but I don’t recall that pier ever having a theater. The Steel Pier had two theaters, but this doesn’t look like any part of the Steel Pier. The other choice is a separate theater called Hamid’s, of which I don’t have any knowledge.
http://tinyurl.com/6lrvsa
Take care, Roger.
Here is part of an article in the LA Times dated 5/26/1917:
PORTLAND (Or) May 25-The trial of D.J. Myrick, manager of the Columbia Theater, charged with felonious assault upon Adele Eils, his pretty girl cashier, came to a dramatic end here today when Myrick’s attorney announced that his client would plead guilty and Myrick confirmed the plea, sobbing aloud as the girl, in a state of hysteria, was led from the courtroom. The attack was made last January in Myrick’s office at midnight.