Young actress Ada Williams Ince, 21, divorces her husband of 5 years, William "W.T." Ince, on claims of abuse due to her husband's violent temper. Williams was granted the divorce in Superior Judge Edmond's court, and attributed it to the date of Friday the 13th, her "lucky number", contrary to popular convention.
An unknown man applying false eyelashes to Elsie the Borden Cow, the unofficial mascott for Borden dairy products. After appearing at the New York World's Fair, Elsie was chosen by R.K.O. producer Gene Towne to star in the 1940 film "Little Men," based on the novel by Louisa May Alcott. Elsie arrived in Los Angeles on July 12, 1940
Unidentified man in court for the murder trial of crossing guard Albert Dyer. Dyer had lured three Inglewood girls into the hills, where he strangled them with rope and his hands. He was eventually found guilty and executed.
A $50,000 Derby day at the Santa Anita racetrack on February 22, 1937. The crowd in attendance was estimated at 45,000 spectators. Twenty-three horses raced that day, beating out the Kentucky Derby's record of twenty-two starting horses at that time. The $50,000 purse was won by the horse Fairy Hill.
Soldiers in old military uniforms stand next to others wearing the new "streamlined" style during a military show for National Defense Week. The show was held at the Los Angeles Airport and more than 60 officers and men participated.
Laundry hanging in a slum. Part of the housing study carried out by the State Emergency Relief Administration. County officials were asked to make a study of housing conditions in their city.
Admiral William F. Halsey ended his 45-year naval career aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota in the Los Angeles Harbor. He commanded the Third Fleet during the Pacific War against Japan. The ceremony consisted of the changing of his four-starred flag to the two-starred flag of his successor, Rear-Admiral Howard F. Kingman. The ship's entire company was present during the brief ceremony. After the ceremony, Halsey left the battleship on a crash boat and the U.S.S. South Dakota fired a 17-gun salute.
A man surveys the newspapers available for reading at an open-air public library in Pershing Square, downtown Los Angeles. The Pershing Square outdoor library was opened in December of 1936, and was staffed by W.P.A. workers. Visitors to the library could choose to borrow a book by simply leaving their name. The library was quite popular, circulating 24,000 books in its first six months of operation, and spawning other outdoor libraries in Los Angeles.
An unidentified lawyer approaching Robert S. James as he sits in the witness stand. A map of his home is visible behind him. He was most likely testifying in his own defense for the murder trial of his wife Mary Emma James. He purportedly had an affair with his niece, which spurred him to tie down his wife and have a rattlesnake bite her, and then later drown her in their fish pond. He was supposedly helped by his friend, ex-sailor Charles H. Hope, who was also charged with murder.
The mural, funded by the WPA (Works Project Administration), was controversial especially because of the depictions of nudity and references to war in the central panel. The central panel was removed from the Frank Wiggins Trade School lobby (now LA Trade Tech) and returned to the Public Works Administration in 1935 and the other two panels were returned in 1939.
Most likely related to the yearly mud battle between first and second year students and the first time female students took part. Students unknown. LAJC is now known as Los Angeles City College located near Vermont and Santa Monica Blvd.
