Random Cutting - Soho Midnight (1958)

June 22nd 1958

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Rock'n'Roll has become associated with Teddy Boys but the characters in these pictures are, to use the word coined only a couple of months earlier, beatniks, who tended to go in for cool jazz and reading Kerouac.

Random Ad - Cocaine. A story for Today (1921)

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The novel Cocaine was published by George Newnes in 1921 and I think the 'recent case' referred to was that of the death of actress Billie Carleton who died of an overdose after attending a Victory party at the Royal Albert Hall in 1918.

Random Cutting - The Klu Klux Klan (1924)

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This is a cutting from the Children's Newspaper dated 13th September 1924. 

The original Klu Klux Klan was organized by ex-Confederates after the American Civil War but had died out by the mid-1870's. In 1915 D W Griffith's epic silent film 'Birth of a Nation' seemed to create a revival of the Klan, who now adopted the costume and regalia shown in the film, white cloaks and pointed hoods. The original Klan looked more as they were depicted in Quentin Tarrantino's film 'Django Unchained'. By 1924 they were claiming 4 to 5 million members but by 1930 this had dropped to 30,000.

The Democrat candidate for the 1924 Presidential Election, John W Davis lost the race to the White House to Republican Calvin Coolidge.

Random Cutting - Hermoine Baddely Death Threat (1926)

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Born in 1906, Hermoine Baddely began her stage career at 8, playing a page in The Marriage of Figaro. She went on to appear in plays, musicals and revues in London's West End. She also appeared in over 90 film and TV productions, including a memorable performance as the kindly barfly Ida in the 1947 'Brighton Rock', which starred Richard Attenborough. In 1960 she was nominated for a Best Actress in a Supporting Role Oscar for her part in 'Room at the Top' 

Random Ad - CB Radio Rig (1982)

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Originating in the USA Citizen band Radio was popularised in the UK by films like 'Convoy' and 'Smokey and the Bandit'. "What's your handle, good Buddy? I'm knocking on your back door and I've got the pedal to the metal. Ten Four."

Random Cuttings - Kenya Crime, Witches and Gold (1998)

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This was Kenya on 10th October 1998. Kenya had, and still has, the death penalty for murder, treason and armed robbery but no-one has actually been hanged since 1987.  In East Africa the traditional belief in the powers of witchcraft is widespread and witch hunts continue to result in police action or, more frequently, the murder of suspects by the accusers. A Kilo of pure 24 carat gold - free!. For the life of me I can't see the catch, but there must be one. Mustn't there?

Random Cuttings - Motoring (1938)

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These cutting are from February 9th 1938. As the number of vehicles on our roads increased during the 1930's so did the need for legistration and control. Since 1925 it had been an offence to be found drunk in charge of any mechanically propelled vehicle on any highway, but no legal drink driving limit was set until 1967. The annual MOT test, which includes specific brake efficiency measurement, was introduced in 1960.

Random Ad - 3D Film (1973)

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If you thought 3D films were something new then you obviously hadn't seen 'Supersonic Super Girls' back in New York in 1973. Google this title and you find a story in the Austin (Texas) Chronicle that it was amongst a pile of 'lost' trash films found in a warehouse in 2001, so you may get to see it yet. 

Random Cutting - Pro-Soviet letter by Sean O'Casey (1939)

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This letter by Irish dramatist Sean O'Casey was published in the Reynold's News dated the 1st October 1939. In August 1939 Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany had signed a non-aggression pact and had divided Poland into Soviet and German regions. The USSR would finally join the Allies against Germany in 1941. Sean O'Casey a life long Socialist seems, with hindsight, to have had a terribly naive view of life under Stalin, although it must be admitted that even those who knew what was going on in Russia turned a blind eye after 1941.

Random Cutting - Kennedy on crutches (1961)

June 9th 1961

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It is now common knowledge that John F Kennedy had suffered from back pain since 1938 and normally wore a corset or back brace, but this and other information about his health issues had been kept secret throughout his campaign and election to the White House. JFK also had Addison's disease and hypothyroidism.

Random Ad - Pyrex cookware (1930's)

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Pyrex kitchenware originated in the USA in 1915 and was introduced to the UK under license in the early 1920's. I'm not sure that the Trading Standars mob would be happy with the '3 for the price of 1' claim - 1: the dish with the lid, 2: the dish without the lid and 3: the lid turned upside down.

Random Cutting - Mick Jagger (1979)

4th May 1979

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The Rolling Stones' singer, Mick Jagger had married Nicaraguan born Bianca Pérez-Mora Macias in 1971, but she filed for divorce in 1978 when she accused him of adultery with model Jerry Hall whom he married in 1990. The $1 million settlement was peanuts compared to the one when he split from Jerry Hall in 1999. 

Random Cutting - Escaped Gunman (1958)

July 15th 1958

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James McKensie who was serving a 3 year sentence for armed robbery escaped from Wormwood Scrubs on July 13th 1958 along with 2 other men. I can't find out if he was caught.