Category Archives: Politics

Feb. 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ Inspires ‘Dopey’ Dance

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ inspires the ballroom craze: The ‘Dopey’ Dance! Continue reading →

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February 12, 1909: Los Angeles Celebrates Lincoln’s Birth

Posted on February 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 12, 1909: The Times celebrates Lincoln’s birthday by honoring Lincoln and featuring the city’s Black community. Continue reading →

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February 11, 1958: As L.A. Grows, Segregation Takes New Forms, Black Official Says

Posted on February 11, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 11, 1958: New patterns of segregation may be forming in L.A., the head of the National Council of Negro Women says. Continue reading →

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January 12-13: Soviet leader visits Los Angeles

Posted on January 12, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 12-13: Soviet leader Anastas Mikoyan spends two days in Los Angeles, where he meets… Jerry Lewis! Continue reading →

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December 23, 1968: N. Korea frees crew of U.S. spy ship Pueblo

Posted on December 23, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 23, 1968: North Korea releases the crew of the Navy spy ship Pueblo after 11 months of captivity. Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Current Affairs, Front Pages, Politics | 1 Comment

December 1, 1938: California prepares to execute two killers at San Quentin

Posted on December 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 1, 1938: California prepares to use the new gas chamber for two executions rather than the previous method of hanging. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1938, @news, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Politics, Religion, Sports | Comments Off on December 1, 1938: California prepares to execute two killers at San Quentin

November 26, 1904: UFO over Los Angeles

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 24, 1906: No, this isn’t a flying saucer on a stick. It’s an early attempt at carbon arc street lighting. Continue reading →

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October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

Posted on October 28, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 28, 1938: Mayor Fletcher Bowron calls for an investigation into so-called juice badges given to celebrities and others by the LAPD. This eventually resulted in an overhaul of the badge to its current design. Continue reading →

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October 27, 1968: Wilt Chamberlain and Richard Nixon

Posted on October 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 27, 1968: “I’ve never gotten involved in politics before. But you have to get off the fence and declare yourself sometime and this is the time for me. I’ve known Nixon and been impressed by him for 10 years and I decided to join him. It’s intriguing to know that I might have some hand in shaping the future of this country,” Wilt Chamberlain says. Continue reading →

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October 19, 1947: Times Political Editor Kyle Palmer Waves the Banner for Earl Warren

Posted on October 19, 2025 by lmharnisch

October 19, 1947: Kyle Palmer was an institution at The Times for many years, the embodiment of a reporter as backstage powerbroker and kingmaker, and his front-page story and opinion column were the opening salvos of his campaign to put Earl Warren in the White House. Continue reading →

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September 25, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 25, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 25, 1959: Paul Coates on the tragic story of Barbara Burns, the daughter of entertainer Bob “Bazooka” Burns. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Politics | 1 Comment

September 5, 1944: Left in Car While Mother Goes Dancing, Boy, 6, Drinks Fatal Shot of Whiskey

Posted on September 5, 2025 by lmharnisch

September 5, 1944: Maria Fierro goes dancing with Robert Fierro and Robert Gomez. Her children weren’t allowed in the cafe, so she left them in the car. Her daughter, Stella, went to get a bottle of soda, but her son, Rudolfo, found a bottle of whiskey and drank enough to kill him.
Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Life Magazine, August 21, 1944

Posted on August 21, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 21, 1944: Life magazine has Alfred Eisenstaedt’s photo essay on European immigrants arriving in America. Continue reading →

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August 11, 1941: Van Nuys Plane Crash Kills 2

Posted on August 11, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 11, 1941: Two men are killed when their plane goes into a spin during a flying lesson and crashes into a bean field. Plus Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood. Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Lee Shippey, Politics, San Fernando Valley, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on August 11, 1941: Van Nuys Plane Crash Kills 2

Flying Saucers Over L.A.!

Posted on August 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 2, 1960: Newspapers are full of stories about flying saucers over Los Angeles! Continue reading →

Posted in JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon, UFOs | Comments Off on Flying Saucers Over L.A.!

Republicans Expand Policy on Civil Rights

Posted on July 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 27, 1960: At the Republican National Convention, Vice President Richard Nixon wins some – but not all – of what he wants on a civil rights plank for his 1960 presidential campaign.

Arizona Sen. Barry Goldwater says: “If a liberal civil rights plank is adopted, the South will leave the party this year. I don’t know what Nixon is thinking of. I don’t think he can get elected if he keeps on doing what he is doing.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1960 Republican Convention, Photography, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Republicans Expand Policy on Civil Rights

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Committee for the First Amendment Defends Free Speech

Posted on January 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

In this week’s encore post, Mary Mallory looks at Hollywood’s Committee for the First Amendment, formed in 1947 in response to the House Un-American Activities Committee. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Upton Sinclair’s EPIC Race for Governor vs. the Studios and News Media

Posted on July 30, 2024 by lmharnisch

Epic Answers: How to End Poverty in California. 90 years ago, author and former Socialist Upton Sinclair entered the race for Governor of California as a Democrat, hoping to better the lives of common people and the unemployed. Upset at … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 11, 2021 by lmharnisch

Gladwin Hill’s “Dancing Bear: An Inside Look at California Politics,” published in 1968, is a new addition to my annual holiday gift suggestions. I’m generally cool toward books on California politics (the result of reading a zillion stories out of … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2020 by lmharnisch

Gladwin Hill’s “Dancing Bear: An Inside Look at California Politics,” published in 1968, is a new addition to my annual holiday gift suggestions. I’m generally cool toward books on California politics (the result of reading a zillion stories out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Politics, Ronald Reagan | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide