A long jump into the past:Spring Street...

A long jump into the past:

Spring Street was transported back to 1952 for the shooting of the movie “L.A. Confidential,” complete with period cars as well as guys and gals in period costumes (they were guys and gals back then). What perplexed us about the scene, though, was that the L.A. Times news rack was covered with camouflage. Apparently the movie makers feared that the headlines would be out of date. Hey, didn’t Carl Lewis win a gold medal that year, too?

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GOT HAMILTON: Milk sales in the state are up 4.5% this year and the California Milk Processor Board credits its “Got Milk” ad campaign.

One of the ads, you may recall, depicts a wild-haired guy whose residence is a shrine to Alexander Hamilton. Just as the Hamilton fan takes a huge bite out of a peanut butter sandwich, his phone rings and a caller offers him $10,000 if he can name who shot Hamilton. Because the sandwich eater can’t find any milk, the only sounds that come out of his stuffed mouth are “Aawwan Buhh, Aawwan Buhh.” No prize for him.

We mention all this because Tom LaBonge of L.A. just returned from Philadelphia where he spotted a reference to the ad in an unlikely place: a display of historic dates at Independence Hall (see photo).

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DEPT. OF REDUNDANCY DEPT.: First, there were the penile surgery ads that said, “For men only.” Now, Gail Anderson of Redlands has come across the female equivalent (see excerpt).

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OUR JAW DROPPED: You can never be too careful these days. Tom Collins of Granada Hills noticed that his “power plaque remover” contains the warning: “Never use while sleeping or drowsy.”

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BEACH VOLLEYBALL--THE PAINFUL YEARS: Watching Karch Kiraly and company performing in the sand before the cheering fans at the Olympics, you might have thought that the beach sport has always been fun and games. Not so. We need only refer you to 1984, also known as . . .

The Year the Beach Volleyballers Went on Strike.

Shocking but true. Kiraly and other members of the Assn. of Volleyball Professionals boycotted the Jose Cuervo World Championships at Redondo Beach, demanding more prize money, more control over the sport and a softer ball.

“They changed the brand of ball without the players’ approval,” Kiraly complained to The Times’ Paul Feldman. “This ball is really heavy and it’s caused injuries to some players’ arms.”

The sore-armed strikers, who dressed in shorts, sandals and sunglasses, occasionally took a well-deserved break from their picketing and rested in chairs.

Beach chairs, of course.

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METHOD ACTORS NEED NOT APPLY: An ad in Daily Variety says, “Wanted--Body Double: A male right arm, with two fingers missing, for use as a body double. Please call Mark Soper at Dream Quest Images.” The ad is under the category of “Auditions.”

miscelLAny:

The 77-pound rubber Godzilla outfit used in many of the big lizard’s movies will be honored on the south steps of City Hall Friday morning. No, it’s not appearing in “L.A. Confidential.” Toho Co. Ltd. loaned the costume to organizers of Little Tokyo’s Godzilla Film Festival, which is Saturday. The costume, which is insured for $30,000, is staying at an undisclosed location.