Tag Archives: #books

Noir Fans, Mark Your Calendars

Posted on April 9, 2013 by

Among the events scheduled for the upcoming Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (April 20-21), you may especially enjoy a panel moderated by Patt Morrison titled “The Real L.A. Noir,” featuring reporters Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton — and me. … Continue reading →

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Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Mobs Storm Butchers Trying to Beat Ration Deadline

Posted on March 28, 2013 by

People line up outside a meat market at 2100 N. Broadway. 2100 N. Broadway via Google Street View. March 28, 1943: And did the “Greatest Generation” meekly, humbly and patriotically accept meat rationing for the war effort? They did not. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Broadway, Comics, Downtown, Food and Drink, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Coming Attractions: Denise Hamilton

Posted on March 13, 2013 by

Author and former Times reporter Denise Hamilton will be speaking about her book “The Last Embrace,” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave. Hamilton will also talk about Los Angeles’ influence on her … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Coming Attractions, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Douglas Fairbanks, Author

Posted on February 18, 2013 by

Douglas Fairbanks: “Teaching his dog to smile.” Douglas Fairbanks exploded onto the filmmaking scene in 1915 after a successful career on Broadway as a dashing leading man. His jaunty joie de vivre and flashy acrobatics wowed audiences on stage and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1918, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – 1880 History of Los Angeles County

Posted on October 14, 2012 by

A copy of the 1959 reprint of the 1880 “History of Los Angeles County” has been listed on EBay. The book was compiled over five months from newspapers, books, magazines public records and interviews, producing “three large grain sacks” filled … Continue reading →

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Reading Los Angeles: Glen Creason

Posted on September 26, 2012 by

Photo: “Murder at the Sleepy Lagoon” by Eduardo Obregón Pagán. In interviewing Los Angeles Public Library map librarian Glen Creason, I asked about his favorite books on Los Angeles. There wasn’t space to include the list with the story, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Holland Kinkaid – Early Newspaperwoman

Posted on August 14, 2012 by

“The Man of Yesterday” by Mary Holland Kinkaid, has been listed on EBay. Kinkaid, who died in 1948, is forgotten today, but was city editor of the Herald and is probably the first woman city editor of a Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Books and Authors, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Reading ‘Mad Men’ — Mom’s Edition

Posted on April 6, 2012 by

The Daily Mirror HQ is not equipped to receive “Mad Men,” so the TV sensation is lost on us. However, several “Mad Men” reading lists are floating around the Web for possible inclusion on your Zombie Reading List: The New … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Libraries, Television | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

The L.A. Daily Mirror Holiday Gift Guide

Posted on December 16, 2011 by

Here are some recommendations for things that might please a Daily Mirror reader. The out of print books can usually be found on Bookfinder.com. “Spencer Tracy: A Biography,” by Daily Mirror contributor James Curtis. “Hollywoodland,” by Daily Mirror contributor Mary … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Eve Golden, James Curtis, Marion Eisenmann, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

The Best Books on L.A.

Posted on October 6, 2011 by

Photo: “Los Angeles,” by Morrow Mayo. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com Earlier this year, I queried readers about the best books on Los Angeles. It was interesting to see how many people suggested novels – by Raymond Chandler and John Fante – … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Main Street Revisited

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

I picked up “A Southern California Album: Selected Photographs, 1880-1900” at the Last Bookstore the other day and was pleased to discover a number of pictures by C.C. Pierce, including this shot of Main Street looking south from 3rd Street … Continue reading →

Posted in 1880, 1900, Books and Authors, Downtown, Photography, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Found on EBay – ‘Thicker’n Thieves’

Posted on September 22, 2011 by

Every so often, Charles Stoker’s “Thicker’n Thieves shows up on EBay for way too much money. There was a time when you could pick up a copy for $8 or $10 in almost any used book store in Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Coming Attractions: Cheryl Crane

Posted on September 13, 2011 by

Photo: Cheryl Crane and Lana Turner in court. Credit: Los Angeles Examiner collection, USC. April 5, 1958: Cheryl Crane is held in the death of Johnny Stompanato. Mary Mallory points out that Cheryl Crane will be discussing her new book, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1958, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Nazi Swastika on Hollywood Hills!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by

Image: “I guess I’m a fool,” she panted. Credit: This Week magazine, Los Angeles Times Sept. 7, 1941:It’s Sunday in Los Angeles, and although Pearl Harbor is three months away, concern about the impending war is everywhere. Someone even changed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors, Film, History, Hollywood, Music, Radio, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Revival of Wet-Plate Photography

Posted on September 2, 2011 by

Photo: “Heather,” done in a wet-plate process. Credit: Robert Christian Malmberg We will be drinking nothing but clear liquids at the Daily Mirror HQ today in memory of Dr. William Wolff, who helped develop the colonoscopy. Yes, they’re annoying, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Medicine, Obituaries, Photography, San Francisco, Washington | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Smithsonian Plans Exhibit on Paradox of Jefferson and Slavery

Posted on August 31, 2011 by

Photo: “New Native Photography”; “Shiprock Fair, 2009.” Credit: Jinniibaah Manuelito Jacqueline Trescott of the Washington Post writes that the Smithsonian Institution and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello are collaborating on a new exhibit about Jefferson and slavery. “Jefferson and … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Books and Authors, History, Medicine, Museums, Native Americans, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

An Inquiry Into Photographic Truth

Posted on August 27, 2011 by

Image: The Las Vegas Mob Experience. Nancy Trejos of the Washington Post visits the Las Vegas Mob Experience, an interactive museum/theme park,  (tickets $30) at the Tropicana. As I bought my ticket, the young lady behind the counter said, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, History, Museums, Photography | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Rave Review on Amazon, Only $5

Posted on August 21, 2011 by

Photo: Edsel Ford III, left, and Edsel Ford II at the wheel of the Model 40. Credit: Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. David Streitfeld of the New York Times reports on how authors, restaurants and hotels can buy a positive … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Music, Religion, Transportation | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What Are the 50 Best Books About L.A.?

Posted on August 21, 2011 by

I don’t care much for lists because they’re usually nothing but “flame bait.”*  The BBC is an abundant source of these dictums, such as “100 Smashing Top-Drawer Books That Everyone Who Aspires to Cultural Literacy Should Read,” which is second … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Coming Attractions: Culinary Historians Used Cookbook Sale

Posted on August 13, 2011 by

Photo: The Santa Barbara Junior League Cookbook, 1939. Credit: L.A. Daily Mirror archives. The Culinary Historians of Southern California will hold its annual used cookbook sale on Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hollywood Farmers Market, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Food and Drink, History, Hollywood | Tagged , , | Leave a comment