California Clippin'

"All the leaves are brown and the sky is gray..."

Serendipity: 
   As you look for one thing, you often find all sorts of interesting items in the process.

   I had been searching through California newspaper archives for some information and stumbled over the following clippings, each of which I found unusual and worth displaying just for its own sake.

   I found this in the "San Francisco Call" for Dec. 18, 1892
   The companion articles below it came from "San Francisco Call" for Dec. 4, 1892 and Dec. 14, 1892 respectively.
   I was struck by the incongruity of hosting a Living Chess Game during a Baby Show.  The festivities also included the International Candle Contest.

   Living Chess games must have been somewhat popular in Northern California.  I found the blend of classic Greek and Scottish Highlanders interesting along with the statement that the game lasted both 30 and 40 minutes.  The following appeared in the "San Francisco Call" May 22, 1908.



     The composite image below came from the Palm Springs "Desert Sun" Jan. 27, 1984 (top) and May 18, 1957 (bottom).  The photograph in the top picture, however, was taken in 1956.  There are more "Desert Sun" articles mentioning the giant chess set from the Racquet Club so  I imagine it must have been a novelty back then.

Also from the Palm Springs "Desert Sun," but from May 6, 1954 is the following photo of Sonja Graff. Notice her California Women's Championship trophy.

    High chess drama. - Clifford Sherwood was the chess editor for the "L.A. Times" from 1927 until his suicide. This article appeared in the "Madera Tribune" on June 20, 1933.  His death launched the editing career for Hollywood Herman Steiner who took over the position from 1933 until his own death, by heart attack, in 1955.  Isaac Kashdan succeeded Steiner with the "L.A. Times."

   Speaking of Herman Steiner... from the Feb. 17, 1933 issue of the "San Bernardino Daily Courier."

   But chess could also be skeletal as this macabre article from the "Madera Tribune" of Jan. 18, 1928 reveals.

    Chess isn't all death and destruction. According to this clipping from  the "Madera Tribune" from Sept 1,1950,  chess plays a bit part in repairing the lives of these movie star sisters.

   Speaking of movie stars - from the "San Pedro News Pilot," April 7, 1925

   The "San Bernardino Sun" of Jan 15, 1935 serves up a bunch of misinformation on Ajeeb, confusing it with the Turk  (see here for better information). Frank Frain and Jesse Hanson, a checkers champion, bought  Ajeeb in 1932 from Hattie McKeever and took it on tour of the United States Canada. Ajeeb did, in fact, play Frank Marshall and the result was a draw.

   Even Dear Abby, the Ajeeb of Advice, makes an appearance - this was clipped from the Palm Springs "Desert Sun," March 26, 1986.

   Jim McKone, then the sportswriter for the "San Bernadino Sun" (this article is from the Aug 6, 1961 edition) who periodically covered chess, gives a somewhat sensationalist portrayal of young Bobby Fischer.  I'm sure others would substitute "accurate" for "sensationalist."  
   It's all in one's perspective.

   The "Santa Cruz Evening News" of Dec. 28, 1934 supplies us with this information while touting the Santa Cruz Chess Club,  I'd never come across the name "J. Bett" before. Presumably he either played in a lot of simuls or reveled in tall tales.