Seven Secret Indy 500 Remnants-- Part 8: Umbrella Mike's Garage

UMBRELLA MIKE'S GARAGE, 1701 GENT STREET.

After decades of neglect this building had deteriorated badly, but in the 1920s and 1930s it was the headquarters of one of the most successful racing teams in Indianapolis 500 history, the Boyle Racing Team.  The boss was "Umbrella" Mike Boyle, a shadowy labor leader from Chicago who twice did prison time, once for jury fixing, once for violating an anti-trust law.

Motorsports website Speedway Sightings said that Boyle "walked the fine line between crooked politicians and the Chicago Mob."

Still, his was a top-notch race team, employing as its driver the great Wilbur Shaw, a three-time Indy winner.

--CooterMob

Top Ten Giant Movie Monsters-- Part 2: Beware the Kraken!

5.  UNKNOWN--  "Cloverfield" (2008)  All that found footage.

4.  GAMERA--  "Gamera the Invisible" (1965)  Who'd have ever figured a giant flying turtle?

3.  THE KRAKEN--  "Clash of the Titans" (1981)  Hey, what about good ol' Capt. Jack?

2.  KING KONG--  "King Kong" (1933)  The big lug falls for te pretty little blonde.

1.  GODZILLA--  "Godzilla" (1954)  Ravaging Japanese cities for 61 years.

They didn't list my favorite, "The Beginning of the End" (1957)  Those giant grasshoppers who ate Chicago.

Godzilla Vs. King Kong.  --Cooter

Death of Henry Coleman in 2012

HENRY COLEMAN, 89, died November 7, 2012.

I never heard of him, but he sure had a hand in many of my favorite TV shows.  He was the producer of "The Love Boat."  He was also involved with "Hawaii-Five-0" (the original), "Green Acres," "The Beverly Hillbillies," "Lucy," "The Odd Couple" (original), "Mannix," "Love American Style" and did the pilot for "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis."

Thanks for the TV.

Bathing is Compulsory in 1922-- Part 1: In the Jailhouse Now

From the Nov. 2, 2012, Shorpy "Bathing is Compulsory 1922."

1922.  Washington, D.C. "Women's Bureau The House of detention display at the Social Hygiene exhibit.

The photo shows four people at a table, three women and one man.  They are reading pieces of paper.  The sign behind them reads "WOMEN'S BUREAU-- METROPOLITAN POLICE DEPARTMENT--  WASHINGTON, D.C.

Citizens are asked to notify the presence of:

I.  Any friendless, homeless or incorrigible girls or boys.

II.  Any condition making for a person's causing delinquency

III.  Any girl or woman who is violating the law.

More to Come.  --Cooter

Japanese "Hell Ships"

While doing the research on the USS Grouper, I came across mention that the Lisbon Maru, which was carrying 1800 British POWs from Hong Kong was called a "Hell Ship."

I had never heard that specific term before, so looked it up in Wikipedia.

It turns out that a "Hell Ship" was given that name because of particularly horrible conditions and crew cruelty.

They had a list of "Hell Ships"

Junye Maru
Tango Maru
Perrello Maru
Arese Anson Maru
Koshu Maru
Montevideo Maru
Lisbon Maru
Shinyo Maru
SS Rakuyo Maru
Suez Maru
Shinyu Maru
SS Kachidoke Maru
SS Oryoku Maru

No Pleasant Cruising on These. --Cooter