Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on November 9, 2026 by lmharnisch

Shifty-eyed man in three-piece suit.
For Monday, we have a mysterious villain.

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, November 2026

Posted on November 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

This is my live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case for November 2026.

In this session, I read an open letter to Michael Connelly regarding Alex Baber, answered a question from Baber (the jailhouse snitch of “true” crime) and discussed the Behind the Scenes making of James Ellroy’s Feast of Death.

The next Black Dahlia Book Club is November 17. The next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case is December 1.

Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia Book Club for October 2026

Posted on October 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

 

Welcome to the 10th session of the Black Dahlia Book Club!

I finally got tired of talking about George Hodel and Steve Hodel (at this point, I know Steve’s monologues from memory) so I decided to spend some time looking at portrayals of the murder and the investigation. I consider myself first and foremost a historian of the Black Dahlia case, and think it’s important to examine the source material in detail to emphasize the challenges of researching the murder of Elizabeth Short.

Reminder: Don’t Dress Up Like the Black Dahlia for Halloween!

This time, I discussed the 1959 episode of the Deadline TV show, titled The Blue Dahlia. It’s also available on Amazon Prime and the Roku Channel. Note: The “Blue Dahlia” character is named Mary Lawlor.

Next month: Black Dahlia Ask Me Anything, November 3 on YouTube.

I also discussed: Continue reading →

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Nov. 9, 1907: ‘We Are Revolutionists!’ Supporters Call for Release of Ricardo Flores Magon

Posted on November 9, 2026 by lmharnisch


Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

November 9, 1907
Los Angeles

Local sympathizers, anarchists and socialists are organizing a mass meeting to protest the imprisonment of Ricardo Flores Magon, Librado Rivera, Antonio Villareal and L. Gutierrez De Lara, who are being held on charges of trying to overthrow the Mexican government.

After years of avoiding capture, Magon, Rivera and Villareal were arrested Aug. 23 at 111 E. Pico St. after a brawl with Thomas Furlong of the Furlong Secret Service Bureau of St. Louis, along with Los Angeles Police Detectives Felipe Talamantes, [Thomas F.?] Rico and two deputies. De Lara was arrested by U.S. marshals at 420 W. 4th St. on Sept. 27.

Continue reading →

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November 2, 1907: Beautification Campaign Would Make a Garden Spot of the L.A. River

Posted on November 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.

Nov. 2, 1907
Los Angeles

As part of a new city beautification campaign, Boyle Heights residents have suggested turning the Los Angeles River into a garden spot.

The plan calls for “a long, winding strand of posies and greenery—a narrow, picturesque parking, which will be viewed by practically every passenger who arrives or leaves Los Angeles on any of the transcontinental railroads,” The Times said.

Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

2026_1107_main_title

This week’s mystery movie was the Christmas Day 1962, episode of the TV series Combat titled The Prisoner, with Rick Jason, Vic Morrow, Shecky Greene, Pierre Jalbert, Sasha Harden, Adam Williams, Richard Bakalynn, John Alonzo, Dick Peabody and Keenan Wynn. Continue reading →

Posted in 1962, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Daylight Saving Time Ends: A Reminder From Pier Angeli and the Daily Mirror

Posted on November 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

Pier Angeli

Pier Angeli and her adorable little friend remind Daily Mirror readers that Daylight Saving Time ends today and to turn your clocks back one hour. Hi Eve!!

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Harry Houdini: An Interview by Marcet Haldeman-Julius, October 1925

Posted on October 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

October 1925, Interview with Houdini

Note: In honor of the centennial of Harry Houdini’s death, we are reposting this interview from 1925.

We have been collecting issues of Haldeman-Julius Monthly for several years, but one issue was particularly elusive: The October 1925 number featuring an interview with Harry Houdini, written by Marcet Haldeman-Julius, which was published a year before his death and is apparently keenly desired by collectors.

A copy of this issue was recently added to the archives and we are pleased to present the interview, which appears nowhere else online, refuting the argument that “everything is on the Internet.”

The paper is old and brittle and would not stand up to a scanner, so I photographed the article (Pages 387-397) instead. The images are watermarked because of prevalent practice of swiping pictures on the Internet without attribution or acknowledgement of a source. Pinterest and  Skyscraperpage.com, this means you.

Haldeman-Julius Monthly was published by Emanuel Haldeman-Julius with the motto “Make the World Unsafe for Hypocrisy.” It changed names to “The Debunker” in 1928 and apparently ceased publication about 1931.

Emanuel Haldeman-Julius loved to debunk charismatic religious figures of the  day and Louis Adamic wrote a series of articles for the magazine about Los Angeles evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson’s mysterious disappearance and miraculous return in 1926. In this vein, the bulk of the Houdini interview is devoted to the charlatans of the day posing as mediums who could communicate with the dead and frequently duped grieving and gullible survivors.  There is also a detailed of description Houdini’s New York brownstone, which was crammed with books and memorabilia, and a cameo appearance by Mrs. Houdini.

Previously in the L.A. Daily Mirror
Aimee Semple McPherson’s Fight With Satan
C.B. DeMille: Movie Evangelist

Enjoy.

Continue reading →

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October 31, 1957: Trick or Treat Murder

Posted on October 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times

The “Trick-or-Treat Murder” house, 13236 Community St., October 27, 2007.

October 31, 1957
Los Angeles

They had planned the murder for months as the vague wish turned into a solid, horrible truth. They played out each variation in the script again and again until every detail was polished and perfect. They thought of everything. One was the brains behind the killing and the other was the willing, gullible stooge. Neither could have done it
alone, but the odd chemistry formed a murderous bond between the two women.

The first step took more than a month as Joan laid the groundwork for the killing, continually telling Goldyne that the victim deserved to die. “She painted him as a vile, evil man who wanted to destroy all people around him,” Goldyne said. “Although I had never seen him, I built up an intense hatred for him.”

Next, they had to choose a method. They decided they couldn’t use poison or a knife. They needed a gun.

With a male friend, Goldyne went to a Pasadena gun shop to select a .38 Smith & Wesson “for home protection.” Three days later, Joan took her to the store and gave her the money to buy the revolver and two bullets. Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, 1957, Homicide, LAPD, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

October 28, 1956: Charlton Heston on the ‘Ten Commandments’

Posted on October 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

October 28, 1956: Ten Commandments

We had our religion writer Dan Thrapp interview Charlton Heston about his role as Moses in “The Ten Commandments.” Fortunately, Thrapp was not from the “over a salad and mineral water at the Polo Lounge” or “speaking by phone from Paris, where he is at work on his next picture” schools of celebrity interviewers, but he got something of substance.

Quote of the Day: It is interesting to note that once Moses climbs Mt. Sinai and talks to God there is never contentment for him again. That is the way it is with us. Once we talk to God, once we get his commission to us for our lives we cannot be again content. We are happier. We are busier. But we are not content because then we have a mission — a commission, rather.”

— Charlton Heston

This is adapted from an earlier post on Heston’s death >>>

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October 28, 1938: Mayor investigates honorary LAPD badges

Posted on October 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

Old style LAPD badgeAbove, Police Chief James Davis turns over a list of more than 7,800 people who have received honorary badges from the Los Angeles Police Department. Recipients include Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, Louis B. Mayer, Joe E. Brown, King Vidor, Bela Lugosi and Leo Carrillo.

So many old-style badges like one the at left and the one in the Daily Mirror sidebar were handed out that the department replaced them with the current design and these are tightly restricted.

The old badges (usually with the rank of captain or chief) can sell for a fair amount of money, even though thousands of them were given away.

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics | Leave a comment

October 28, 1907: Former LAPD Chief Calls It ‘Most Detestable Job Ever Created’

Posted on October 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006.
October 28, 1907
Los Angeles

You know the song even if you’ve never seen “Pirates of Penzance”: A policeman’s lot is not a happy one” and that is doubly true for one anonymous former LAPD chief.

The ex-chief has nothing but complaints: “It is the most detestable job ever created.” He can’t get enough men and when he does, many of them are political appointees who have friends in high places but nothing upstairs.

Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

Main title: Letters over a long shot of two people walking on the beach.

This week’s mystery movie was the 1943 RKO film I Walked With a Zombie, with James Ellison, Frances Dee, Tom Conway, Edith Barrett, James Bell, Christine Gordon, Teresa Harris, Sir Lancelot, Darby Jones and Jeni LeGon. Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

October 23, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

October 23, 1959: Spiked Heels

Dispatched

Matt WeinstockA man driving here from Chicago became confused the other day as he neared Los Angeles.  His car is equipped with two-way radio so he called the local dispatcher, who is on the same wave length.  He identified himself as Chicago 287 and explained his problem.  He was coming in on the Santa Ana Freeway and wanted to get to an address near Olympic and La Cienega Blvds.  What should he do?

The dispatcher instructed him to continue to the interchange, then turn onto Harbor Freeway and take Olympic Blvd. turnoff.

Soon Chicago 287 reported in again.  He was becoming more confused by the minute. Continue reading →

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October 22, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 22, 2026 by lmharnisch

October 22, 1959: Comic panel, woman says "I Can't Believe It!"Brace Yourself

Matt Weinstock  As you have read, Gov. Brown announced the other day that he was through with proclamation business.  Too much time and energy were expended, he said, in calling attention to such inspirational events as Don’t Race Your Motor Month, Pelican Appreciation Week and Don’t Beat Your Wife Day.

From now on, he said, only those proclamations required by law — about a dozen a year – will emanate from his office.

It’s too bad Gov. Brown’s declaration of policy can’t be made retroactive and interstate.

Chopping up the calendar for sweet publicity’s sake has reached a ridiculous nadir. Continue reading →

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October 21, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 20, 2026 by lmharnisch

Above and Beyond

Matt WeinstockFor sacrifice above and beyond the call of duty, a colleague asks a typographical paean for Jerry Leshay, associate director of the George Gobel TV program.  An associate director’s job is to make the show go.  Working from a booth, he co-ordinates all the action.  He signals performers to cut or stretch.  He cues the orchestra.  He alerts those who go on next.  He cuts in the commercials.  Everything is timed to the second.  Above all else, the show must end on time.

Last week, as the program finished on a high happy note — Gobel was in fine form — and the credits were being run off, Jerry saw he was a few seconds over.  Here was a crisis.  Credits may be a bore to watchers but they’re the lifeblood of a TV staff. Continue reading →

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October 19, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

October 19, 1959: Christine Jorgensen at the Interlude

Desert Beachcomber

Matt WeinstockAfter a long time, I crossed orbits again the other day with Peter O’Crotty, writer, beachcomber and enthusiastic fugitive from civilization.  Pete, a fun-loving, charming gentleman to whom crazy things are always happening — with his help, it must be added — disappeared into the desert below Tucson about five years ago.

The last I heard he had built a adobe house and announced he was holing up in it until the world came to its senses.  He calls his place Rancho Despoblado, which means deserted spot or wilderness.

What was Pete, a man with a talent for being happy though broke, doing back in L.A. in of all places, a luxurious bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel? Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 19, 2026 by lmharnisch

Main title with letters imitating stones of a temple.

This week’s mystery movie was the 1936 film Revolt of the Zombies, with Dorothy Stone, Dean Jagger, Roy D’Arcy, Robert Noland, George Cleveland, E. Alyn (Fred) Warren, Carl Stockdale, William Crowell, Teru Shimada, Adolph Millard and Sana Rayya. Continue reading →

Posted in 1936, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

October 17, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

Earthquake Weather

Matt WeinstockThursday, when a pink gloom caused by the brush fire and the smog engulfed the city, a man on Broadway remarked, “Hey, this is almost like earthquake weather!”

It’s a phrase rarely heard these days, and evoked memories of March, 1933, when the big one hit, centering in Long Beach.

    Of course, there’s no such thing as earthquake weather.  Quakes remain unpredictable.  The term has come to describe a certain eerie, end-of-the-world atmospheric stillness, perhaps something like the aftermath of an atom bomb explosion.
Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock | 2 Comments

November 12, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on October 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

Nov. 12, 1959: Mirror CoverThe Mirror follows the Lillian Lenorak story. Below, Paul Weeks profiles suspect Tord Ove Zeppen-Field. Continue reading →

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