1954 billboard cleaning

• Posted By: Scott Harrison
• Posted On: 12:11 a.m. | November 2, 2016

May 9, 1954: Members of the Hollywood Young Republicans clean a Mildred Younger billboard after vandals smeared it with mud. From left: Walter Fruewald, Doris Black, Leonard Stout and Betty Learned.

This photo appeared in the May 10, 1954, Los Angeles Times. A non-byline short story reported:

Defacing of a billboard of Mildred Younger, candidate for state senator, aroused indignation among the candidate’s supporters yesterday.

The billboard is in the vicinity of Figueroa St. and Sunset Blvd. and mud has been flung against it. The mischief stirred up members of the Hollywood Young Republicans, who, acting as individuals, announced that they would organize a cleanup committee.

“We don’t know who perpetrated this un-American action,” said Leonard Stout, president of the Hollywood Young Republicans.

“We Young Republicans are indignant over such low practices and that’s why we’re pledging ourselves to Mildred Younger to act as a cleanup crew,” he said.