Photograph was edited for publication purposes. Barbara Burns was the daughter of famed American comedian Robin "Bob" Burns. He was a musical comedian appearing on radio and in movies in the 1930s and 1940s, and also wrote a homey newspaper column from 1936-1940. Burns invented a novelty musical instrument which he called a "bazooka." During World War II, the Army's handheld anti-tank rocket launcher, also known as "stovepipe" was nicknamed the "bazooka." He had four children and died in 1956. Barbara Burns was a troubled teenager who began using hard drugs by the time she was eighteen. She attempted suicide several times and finally died of an overdose in January 1962. Photograph caption dated January 8, 1958 reads "Bob Burns' 'ugly duckling' daughter points to needle marks on hand, names peddler." She is holding a cigarette in one hand, holding both hands up. There is a pack of Pall Mall cigarettes and a book of matches on her lap. She was held at the Los Angeles City Jail for Women in the Lincoln Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Type
image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Burns, Bob,--1890-1956--Family Burns, Bob,--1890-1956--Family--Trials, litigation, etc Los Angeles City Jail (Los Angeles, Calif.) Children of celebrities--United States Crime--California--Los Angeles Criminals--California--Los Angeles Narcotic habit--California--Los Angeles Drug abuse--California--Los Angeles Smoking--California--Los Angeles Cigarettes--California--Los Angeles Women--California--Los Angeles Jails--California--Lincoln Heights (Los Angeles) Lincoln Heights (Los Angeles, Calif.) Los Angeles Evening Herald Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
