Peter Falk

In 1966, Peter Falk and Bob Newhart were on board the Progress Express, hitting the campaign trail for Governor Pat Brown. The caption says that's Brown waving, but I believe that's US Representative Augustus Hawkins in the picture, not Brown. Rolland Curtis took the picture, which is from our wonderful library's online collection.

Hawkins was the first African -American congressman from California  (from the 21st District) and authored a lot of important legislation. But I did not know that until I looked up this picture.Here's his obituary; he lived to be 100 years old.

But of course, the real reason for the photo today is the passing of actor Peter Falk.

For the record, the first mention of Falk in the times was May 20, 1956, in a review of a five-hour long play in New York: The Iceman Cometh, by O'Neill.. Jason Robards starred; Falk played the "aggressively sensitive night bartender."