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WYKOFF IS KIDNAPPED OFF THE TRAIN
HE IS TOLD TO ... SMILE FOR THE CAMERA
Frank Wykoff is shocked as he is tied, gagged
and carried off the train to the bewilderment of the train conductor,
and over 300 fans awaiting his arrival for a homecoming celebration . . .
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Kidnappers disguised:
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Excerpt from the Los Angeles Examiner - June
21, 1930
DENIED A HERO'S WELCOME!
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"The runner (Frank Wykoff) was preparing himself for a lot of
hip hip hooray at the Central Station (after proving it was no mistake
that he earned the right to a new world record by equaling his
original run at Occidental College on May 10, 1930 within a month at
an NCAA race in Chicago -- 9.4s in the 100 yard dash without starting
blocks), but Junior Chamber of Commerce
members of Glendale barged onto the train, bound, gagged, and
blindfolded the sprinter and kidnapped him into a Curtiss Wright
plane. He was literally and figuratively up in the air for several
hours before he was deposited in Glendale." |
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"NEED HELP, BUDDY?"
"Meanwhile, Glendale's Senior Chamber of Commerce members ,
and Mayor Kimlin of Glendale were all set to give
Frank a great Welcome at the local Central
station."
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NOTE -- Frank is smiling because the man in the background
excitedly uttered-- "It don't look like
it to me that he is going with you willingly ... you need
help, buddy?"
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Excerpts from the Glendale News Press - June
20, 1930
JUST A STUNT!
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"Three officers of the Glendale Junior Chamber of Commerce
added (Maurice Hitchcock, Harry Meltor, and L. H.
"Dutch" Reid) to the excitement to the homecoming by kidnapping Wykoff
from his train at the East Los Angeles station and spiriting him
away from the CROWDS at the Union Station in Los Angeles."
Wykoff figured someone was playing a practical joke on him,
and decided it was better to just go along with their stunt --
however, he worried about his parents; and what they must be
going through with the news of his being abducted.
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WHAT IF SOMEONE CALLS THE COPS?
Frank wanted to know from his abductors if Charley Paddock
talked them into the train snatching prank;
because of
his
pulpit remarks about Paddock earlier that
week.
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Click above photograph to enlarge
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NERVOUS
The pilot? and/or Train station personnel was a little nervous
about the alleged stunt ... Frank, being a good sport, smiled for
photographers as the plane took off for hours.
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FRANK'S FURIOUS MOTHER!
After Wykoff landed safely hours later,
his father, sweetheart and the Mayor of Glendale,
all
pose for a newspaper photographer; but
not his perturbed mother!
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Left to right: Clifford Wykoff, Nellie
Wykoff, Ethel Mae Richardson (Frank's Sweetheart, who in 1933
became his wife); Frank
Wykoff, and C. E. Kimlin, Mayor of Glendale |
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Frank's father, Clifford, sighed with relief that his son was
returned unharmed after told it was a "publicity stunt" -- while his
mother, Nellie, un-amused by such things called "publicity stunts,"
refused to pose for the news reporters... and she told the mayor that
if he was in on it, she wasn't going to vote for him again!
NEWSPAPER COVERAGE |
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