Norris J. Nelson
Encyclopedia
Norris J. Nelson was a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1939 to 1943, after which he served in Europe with the U.S. Army.
. He was married on October 2 or 22, 1922, to Adele M. or Edel Marie Nicolaysen of Wisconsin
. They had one child, Norris Jerome Jr. The elder Nelson was sued for divorce in 1941, but a reconcilement was effected in 1942, the same year that Nelson joined the Army. He attended a Civil Affairs Training School at Yale and saw service in Scotland and Norway
. "His last duty was the disposition of approximately 100,000 persons sent by the Germans into Norway as slave labor."
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The Nelsons finally separated in April 1946, and a divorce trial opened in September 1948. Norwegian actress Asta Bertels was mentioned in the testimony, Nelson relating that he brought her from Norway the same month, April 1946, that he separated from his wife and that he was acting as her agent in furthering a Hollywood career; she signed a contract with showgirl
impresario Earl Carroll
. Superior Judge William J. Palmer granted the divorce to Mrs. Nelson, calling the broken marriage "a wartime casualty."
Nelson moved to California in 1926. His residence address was 6306 Ivarene, Hollywood. He was a Presbyterian and a Republican. He died on April 3, 1995, in Maricopa, Arizona
.
Nelson ran for the Los Angeles City Council District 2 seat in 1937 against the incumbent, James M. Hyde
, and was defeated in a close vote, 9,161 to 8,981. In 1939, though, he defeated Hyde easily in the primary election, with no run-off needed, 9,632 to 4,287. In that year Hyde was said to be the victim of a "purge" of the City Council directed by Mayor Fletcher Bowron
. He was reelected in 1941 but decided against running again in 1943 in favor of joining the armed forces.
, south by Melrose Avenue
, east by the 1st Councilmanic District and west by Beverly Glen Boulevard. It also included Griffith Park
.
in 1939 in proposing a combined city-county government with a borough system for Los Angeles.
Mayor. He was appointed to a committee of five council members in May 1940 to call on Mayor Fletcher Bowron
to complain about "persistent and erroneous" remarks the mayor made about the council in his radio addresses.
Dogs. In 1941 Nelson proposed a law stating that dog owners "must not allow their pets to commit nuisances upon sidewalks, lawns, in public buildings, conveyances, apartment houses, beaches, and the like." He said letters had "poured into his office favoring the measure by a ratio of 50 to 1." Later he said he had received some "vicious" letters, threatening that dog owners would band together and defeat him in the next election.
Strike. He submitted a proposal that would make it unlawful "for any person by the use of force or violence or threat of violence, to prevent or to attempt to prevent any person from engaging in any lawful vocation within this city." Regarding the then-current strike against North American Aviation
(1941), he said:
Elections. Also in 1941, he proposed a new voting system that he said would take the "hate" out of city elections because it would do away with the necessity for a primary election followed by a final vote, which he said simply lengthened the period of virulent campaigning..
Clothing. Nelson advocated an ordinance that would outlaw the wearing of zoot suits within the city on the grounds that the high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed, pegged trousers favored by young Hispanic
men in 1943 had become a "public nuisance."
Biography
Nelson, the son of Chris Nelson of Norway and Regina Nelson of Minnesota, was born on January 31, 1905, in Bayfield, WisconsinBayfield, Wisconsin
Bayfield is a city in Bayfield County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 611 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Henry Bayfield, a British Royal Topographic Engineer who explored the region in 1822-23....
. He was married on October 2 or 22, 1922, to Adele M. or Edel Marie Nicolaysen of Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. They had one child, Norris Jerome Jr. The elder Nelson was sued for divorce in 1941, but a reconcilement was effected in 1942, the same year that Nelson joined the Army. He attended a Civil Affairs Training School at Yale and saw service in Scotland and Norway
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
. "His last duty was the disposition of approximately 100,000 persons sent by the Germans into Norway as slave labor."
The Nelsons finally separated in April 1946, and a divorce trial opened in September 1948. Norwegian actress Asta Bertels was mentioned in the testimony, Nelson relating that he brought her from Norway the same month, April 1946, that he separated from his wife and that he was acting as her agent in furthering a Hollywood career; she signed a contract with showgirl
Showgirl
A showgirl is a dancer or performer in a stage entertainment show. Showgirl is also often used as a term for a promotional model in trade fairs and car shows, etc...
impresario Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll
Earl Carroll was an American theatrical producer, director, songwriter and composer born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.-Career:...
. Superior Judge William J. Palmer granted the divorce to Mrs. Nelson, calling the broken marriage "a wartime casualty."
Nelson moved to California in 1926. His residence address was 6306 Ivarene, Hollywood. He was a Presbyterian and a Republican. He died on April 3, 1995, in Maricopa, Arizona
Maricopa, Arizona
-Surrounding Municipalities:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 43,482 people, 14,359 households, and 11,110 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,356.8 people per square mile . There were 17,240 housing units at an average density of 540.4 per square mile...
.
Elections
See also List of Los Angeles Municipal Election Returns, 1939–41Nelson ran for the Los Angeles City Council District 2 seat in 1937 against the incumbent, James M. Hyde
James M. Hyde
James M. Hyde was a metallurgist who was noted for inventing a process that revolutionized the American mining industry. He was also a member of the Los Angeles, California, City Council from 1931 to 1939.-Biography:...
, and was defeated in a close vote, 9,161 to 8,981. In 1939, though, he defeated Hyde easily in the primary election, with no run-off needed, 9,632 to 4,287. In that year Hyde was said to be the victim of a "purge" of the City Council directed by Mayor Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron was the 35th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from September 26, 1938 until June 30, 1953. Until Thomas Bradley passed his length of service during the 1980s, Bowron held the distinction of having the longest tenure in that position in city history.Bowron was born in Poway,...
. He was reelected in 1941 but decided against running again in 1943 in favor of joining the armed forces.
Geography
In that era, the 2nd District was generally bounded on the north by the Hollywood HillsHollywood Hills
The Hollywood Hills is an affluent and exclusive neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, in the southeastern Santa Monica Mountains. It is bound by Laurel Canyon Boulevard to the west, Vermont Avenue to the east, Mulholland Drive to the north, and Sunset Boulevard to the south.-Hollywood Hills...
, south by Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue
Melrose Avenue is an internationally renowned shopping, dining and entertainment destination in Los Angeles that starts from Santa Monica Boulevard at the border between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood and ends at Lucille Avenue in Silver Lake...
, east by the 1st Councilmanic District and west by Beverly Glen Boulevard. It also included Griffith Park
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. The park covers of land, making it one of the largest urban parks in North America...
.
Controversies
Government. Nelson joined Council Member Arthur E. BriggsArthur E. Briggs
Dr. Arthur Elbert Briggs was a teacher and law school dean who was a Los Angeles, California, City Council member from 1939 to 1941 and the leader of the Ethical Society of Los Angeles in 1953.-Biography:...
in 1939 in proposing a combined city-county government with a borough system for Los Angeles.
Mayor. He was appointed to a committee of five council members in May 1940 to call on Mayor Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron
Fletcher Bowron was the 35th Mayor of Los Angeles, California from September 26, 1938 until June 30, 1953. Until Thomas Bradley passed his length of service during the 1980s, Bowron held the distinction of having the longest tenure in that position in city history.Bowron was born in Poway,...
to complain about "persistent and erroneous" remarks the mayor made about the council in his radio addresses.
Dogs. In 1941 Nelson proposed a law stating that dog owners "must not allow their pets to commit nuisances upon sidewalks, lawns, in public buildings, conveyances, apartment houses, beaches, and the like." He said letters had "poured into his office favoring the measure by a ratio of 50 to 1." Later he said he had received some "vicious" letters, threatening that dog owners would band together and defeat him in the next election.
Strike. He submitted a proposal that would make it unlawful "for any person by the use of force or violence or threat of violence, to prevent or to attempt to prevent any person from engaging in any lawful vocation within this city." Regarding the then-current strike against North American Aviation
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
(1941), he said:
We know how these agitators will act. The Army will guard the plant all right, but how about the homes, the wives and the children of the workmen? I tell you, these men who wish to work are scared stiff. If they go back to work they will be in deadly peril of their lives and their futures. They know these agitators will go to their homes and beat them up and threaten them. . . . We should take this action to stiffen their morale . . . .
Elections. Also in 1941, he proposed a new voting system that he said would take the "hate" out of city elections because it would do away with the necessity for a primary election followed by a final vote, which he said simply lengthened the period of virulent campaigning..
Under its provisions, there would be selection of the two candidates with the highest first-vote choices. The second-choice votes would then be tabulated and the candidate with the most combined first and second-choice votes would be elected.
Clothing. Nelson advocated an ordinance that would outlaw the wearing of zoot suits within the city on the grounds that the high-waisted, wide-legged, tight-cuffed, pegged trousers favored by young Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
men in 1943 had become a "public nuisance."