Burglar Busts into Bank with a Bench – News Today in 1944

The front page of the weekly El Cerrito Journal for today, July 6, in 1944 reflects a 27-year-old city carrying on civic life under the shadow of World War II. Here are some of the actual headlines from the paper's front page, followed by our brief summaries of the articles:

Burglar Enters
Mechanics Bank
in El Cerrito

A display of currency in the window of Mechanics Bank was too tempting for early Wednesday for a burglar who used a Key System bus-stop bench to break inside and swipe the money. The purloined money included both real and counterfeit bills, worth about $200, and will be hard to use since it was stamped for display, police said. Both the FBI and El Cerrito police took fingerprints. Piled next to the display were Bond dinner prizes, worth a significant amount, but for some reason they were left undisturbed by the intruder.

Capacity Crowd
At El Cerrito
Bond Dinner

The Miami Inn was packed last night for the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce's Fifth War Bond Dinner Rally at the Miami Inn. Bidding was spirited at the auction of prizes donated by local merchants, which included alarm clocks, fine bottled goods, door-bell chimes, Kleenex, chocolates and other hard-to-get prized items. Dean Maddox, known as "Buddha" on the radio, served as emcee, and the after-dinner entertainment including a song-and-dance act by Tommy and Beverly of Universal Studios and the "Lovely Lady of the Networks," Kay Leron Herald. A local touch was added by young Miss Arline DeCamp, known as the "Gypsy Violinist."

55 Per Cent Cast
Ballots In Last
Primary Election

Even though registration was at its lowest in the last eight years, the percentage of eligible voters who cast ballots in the May 16 primary in California – 55.91 percent – was the highest it's been since 1924, or 20 years ago. The race with the most ballots cast was for U.S. Senator, with votes cast by 931,630 Democrats and 718,000 Republicans. Voting in the U.S. Presidential primary with Franklin D. Roosevelt and Earl Warren were 770,222 Democrats and 594,439 Republicans.   

Business Men, Women Of
El Cerrito Sponsor Banquet
To Honor 3 Prominent Men

Three prominent El Cerritans were in for a big surprise – and lavish gifts – Friday evening when they were honored at a banquet attended by more than 250 residents of the city. Especially surprised was former police Judge Louis E. Navellier, who helped plan the banquet in the belief that only two people were being honored, police Judge Joe Martyn Turner and Chief of Police Floyd Gilbert. Navellier received a valuable diamond ring after being lauded for the many quiet ways he had served the community, such as heading a large number of committees, helping youngsters who got into trouble and providing baskets of groceries to families in need. Also praised were Turner, who received a handsome wrist watch, and Gilbert, who had a diamond-studded star pinned to his chest.

El Cerrito Soldier
Wounded in Action

Private Woodrow Grizzle, son of Mrs. Sue Gahan of 260 San Pablo Ave., was wounded in action, the War Department in Washington announced this week. He is the South Pacific theater of the war. 

Click  for other vignettes we've published about El Cerrito history. Click the Keep the Keep me posted button below for alerts to future articles in this series. You can find some back issues of the El Cerrito Journal at the Shadi Historical Room at City Hall, open to the public on the third Thursday of each month, 4:30-6 p.m.