Lou Costello’s Mama Gets Robbed

December 1, 1947
Studio City

It was 2 am, but the lights were blazing in Mrs. Helen Cristillo’s home at 4037 Coldwater Canyon. Helen and her sister Mrs. Alma Kelly were in the kitchen, preparing gifts for the Lou Costello Jr. Foundation Benefit Bazaar, when they heard a noise in a guest room and discovered the furniture in disarray. A ladder propped outside the window and the missing screen made it clear that they were dealing with thieves, not poltergeists, and the cops were called.

When houseguests Mr. and Mrs. Louis Failla came home soon after, Mrs. Failla discovered her jewelry box and its contents valued at $3715 was missing. And Helen Cristillo found that her purse, which had contained eight hundred dollar bills and a $7000 pair of diamond and platinum earscrews (a gift from Helen’s proud son, comic Lou, last Christmas), was also missing.

Not a bad haul for a few minutes work, but assuredly the act of someone without any holiday spirit. Phooey!

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Kim Cooper

Kim Cooper is the creator of 1947project, the crime-a-day time travel blog that spawned Esotouric’s popular crime bus tours, including The Real Black Dahlia. She is the author of The Kept Girl, the acclaimed historical mystery starring the young Raymond Chandler and the real-life Philip Marlowe, and of The Raymond Chandler Map of Los Angeles. With husband Richard Schave, Kim curates the Salons and forensic science seminars of LAVA- The Los Angeles Visionaries Association. When the third generation Angeleno isn’t combing old newspapers for forgotten scandals, she is a passionate advocate for historic preservation of signage, vernacular architecture and writer’s homes. Kim was for many years the editrix of Scram, a journal of unpopular culture. Her books include Fall in Love For Life, Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth, Lost in the Grooves and an oral history of Neutral Milk Hotel.

2 thoughts on “Lou Costello’s Mama Gets Robbed”

  1. PARTITION OF PALESTINE
    VOTED BY U.N. ASSEMBLY

    Arabs Threaten Uprising
    Against Plan That Gives
    Jews Independent State

    NEW YORK, Nov. 29 (AP)—Partitioning of Palestine into Jewish and Arab countries was approved by the United Nations Assembly late today.

    Arabs promptly threatened general opposition and uprisings against any attempts to carry out the Assembly’s decision.

    The six Arab nations represented here walked out of the crowded Assembly hall in protest after charging bitterly that the U.N. charter had been “murderedâ€Â by the majority verdict.

    The Assembly’s final vote approving the “Soviet-Americanâ€Â proposal to set up independent Jewish and Arabic countries in the Holy Land by next Oct. 1 was 33 to 13.

    Palestine to Be Cut Up
    Just Like Crazy Quilt

    NEW YORK, Nov. 29. (AP) Palestine is to be cut up like a crazy quilt under the partition plan approved tonight by the United Nations General Assembly.

    Part will become a Jewish country, part an Arab country. Near the center, a tiny portion, roughly circular and taking in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, will become an international zone.

    The Holy Land is a little larger than Vermont. On the map it looks like a scimitar blade with the edge facing eastward.

    Jewish Leaders
    Here Gratified
    by U.N. Action

    Julius Fligelman, chairman of the United Palestine Appeal of Southern California: “This act of elementary justice on the part of the United Nations is a good omen for future world peace. It is profoundly encouraging to know that the world powers were able to find common ground on which to settle peacefully this great issue. As for the homeless and, up till now, hopeless Jews in the D.P. (displaced persons) camps of Europe, partition now presents the only tangible hope for a decent, constructive future.â€Â

    IRAQ PREMIER PREDICTS
    MASSACRE IN MIDEAST

    BAGHDAD (Iraq) Nov. 29 (AP) Salih Bey el Jabur, premier of Iraq, today said partition of Palestine would mean “the most horrible and greatest massacre ever witnessed, embracing the whole Mideast.â€Â
    “The Iraqi people and army are wholly prepared to wage unlimited conflagration,â€Â the premier of Iraq told reporters. “Palestine will not be partitioned before our total annihilation. Let responsible officials realize we mean what we say.

    “Responsible American figures, who are pressuring other countries while they themselves are under Zionist influence, will regret their action before any others. The Zionists will certainly regret they refused and now have lost Arabs’ fair offer to settle the Palestine question.â€Â

    Countries voting for partition:
    Australia, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, White Russia, Canada, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Iceland, Liberia, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, Soviet Ukraine, South Africa, Soviet Russia, United States, Uruguay and Venezuela.

    Against partition:
    Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey and Yemen.

    Abstaining:

    Argentina, Chile, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Honduras, Mexico, Britain, Yugoslavia.

    Absent: Siam.

    Bonus factoid: Eddie Richenbacker predicts that by 2004, atomic aircraft will be able to circle the globe in an hour.

    Quote of the day: “General principles.â€Â

    Walter E. Davis, who lost his left hand in World War II, explaining why he refused to sign the new loyalty oath required of Federal employees.
    https://www.lmharnisch.com

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