Charles Farrell

Actor Charles Farrell, who played opposite Janet Gaynor when she won the first Academy Award as best actress and who later starred in the TV sitcom "My Little Margie," died during the weekend. He was 89. Farrell, a former mayor of Palm Springs and founder of the Palm Springs Racquet Club, died Sunday at his home. He was buried here Wednesday beside his wife, actress Virginia Valli. Farrell had asked that no formal announcement be made of his death.

Charles Farrell, whose patrician features placed him among the most luminescent of filmdom's early stars and whose business acumen took him to the barren desert east of Los Angeles where he built a posh tennis club atop scrub brush, has died. Friends said Thursday that the developer and one-time mayor of Palm Springs had died Sunday of heart failure at his Palm Springs home but had asked that news of his death not be announced until after the funeral.

Charles Farrell, whose patrician features placed him among the most luminescent of filmdom's early stars and whose business acumen took him to the barren desert east of Los Angeles where he built a posh tennis club atop scrub brush, has died. Friends said Thursday that the developer and one-time mayor of Palm Springs had died Sunday of heart failure at his Palm Springs home but had asked that news of his death not be announced until after the funeral.

Actor Charles Farrell, who played opposite Janet Gaynor when she won the first Academy Award as best actress and who later starred in the TV sitcom "My Little Margie," died during the weekend. He was 89. Farrell, a former mayor of Palm Springs and founder of the Palm Springs Racquet Club, died Sunday at his home. He was buried here Wednesday beside his wife, actress Virginia Valli. Farrell had asked that no formal announcement be made of his death.

National Bank of La Jolla has promoted Charles F. Farrell to vice president of business development. Also, Ronald A. Cockle was promoted to vice president and office manager of its Kearny Mesa office and Lissa Myers Wilhelm was named vice president of the bank's La Jolla office.

Two Los Angeles-area men and one Bostonian were held in lieu of $100,000 bail after the seizure of more than $250,000 worth of cocaine in the Mattapan section, police said. "It is the largest amount of 'crack' I have seen since the drug first appeared in the area," Detective Sgt. Gil Griffiths said. He described crack as cocaine with a base additive that is compressed to a smokeable hard substance.

Jurors have awarded $3.5 million to the former operators of a Ventura County marina, eight months after a judge ruled that the county illegally took possession of their boating docks. Charles Farrell, one of three plaintiffs to sue the county, said he was thrilled by the jury's decision, reached late Thursday.

Forgive me if I don't join in the celebration regarding Ventura Harbor's renovation that has attracted 17 more long-liners from Florida and Louisiana ("New Jobs Seen With Renovation of Ventura Harbor," Oct. 15). Ventura Harbor desperately needs something to pull them out of their financial woes, but to welcome these long-line fishing boats here with open arms is very short-sighted. They will, no doubt, help the Port District financially in the short run. They will also deplete our offshore fisheries in a few short years as they have done on the East and Gulf coasts.

Frank Powolny, the 20th Century Fox studio photographer who snapped a famous World War II pinup picture of Betty Grable and took one of the last shots of Marilyn Monroe, has died of a heart attack. The Austrian-born Powolny was 84 when he died Sunday in Valencia, said his wife of 46 years, Peggy. The Newbury Park resident had been visiting his daughter when he was stricken.

Dorothy Revier, a blond silent screen femme fatale whose soft voice allowed her to make the transition to talkies, starring opposite both Douglas Fairbanks and his namesake son, has died. She was 89. Miss Revier, who lived in West Hollywood, died Friday at Queen of Angels-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, film historian Richard Lamparski said Tuesday. Born Doris Velegra in San Francisco, Miss Revier became a professional cabaret dancer by the age of 14.

Preservation festival highlights on the AMC cable channel: SUNDAY: "Pigskin Parade," Judy Garland's first feature (6 a.m.). "Boogie Woogie Dream," a Lena Horne short (7:45 a.m.). "The Music Man," letterbox version of 1962 musical (2:45 p.m.). "Ireno" and "Old Man Blues," Ethel Merman shorts (10:30 p.m.). MONDAY: "The Love Parade," a 1929 Ernst Lubitsch musical starring Jeanette McDonald and Maurice Chevalier (12:15 a.m.).

Criminal charges have been filed against the owner and manager of the landmark Sunset Plaza Apartments for the "illegal, improper and dangerous partial demolition" of the 49-year-old complex in July, 1984, a spokesman for Los Angeles City Atty. James K. Hahn announced Friday. Ted Goldstein said five criminal charges were filed against owner Laura Investment Co.