Monthly Archives: December 2009

Christmas, 1919

Posted on December 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Harry Carr writes: “Christmas in New York this year is to all practical purposes a giant shell game. Modern civilization has never seen its parallel for vulgar, wild extravagance.” Dec. 25, 1919: John D. Rockefeller gives $100 million [$1.2 … Continue reading →

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Christmas Day, 1909

Posted on December 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 25, 1909: Food and Christmas trees for the needy, church services and auto racing at Ascot Park with Barney Oldfield.

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 24, 1959

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  A Christmas Story     Forty-one years ago a young attorney named Patrick J. Cooney came to Calexio from Chicago.  One of his first clients was Jimmy Wong, who had 5,000 acres in cotton on the Mexican side of the … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 24, 1959

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  A Christmas Carol of Olden Day, 1959     The stockings are hung, the scented evergreen gaily adorned and the eggnog's about gone, so gather 'round the hearth, children, while I tell you a Yuletide tale of yore.     It … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 3 Comments

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 24, 1961: Bobby Darin says,  "If I were a drinker I wouldn't have to come out like a blockbuster. But I don't drink and come on in a nightclub cold sober to entertain a crowd that's invariably high. … Continue reading →

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Random Shot – Amelia Earhart, 1936

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo I recently went through The Times’ photographs from Amelia Earhart’s 1937 flight; the one on which she disappeared. I think this is one of my favorites. She’s posing with the airplane as it’s being built … Continue reading →

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It Happens in the Best-Regulated Families

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

  “It Happens in the Best-Regulated Families” by Clare Briggs    Dec. 24, 1919: Then there was the day Snow Flake Sodas decided to rethink its logo.

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The Times Takes a Dim View of Interracial Marriage

Posted on December 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

    March 11, 1909: Helen Gladys Emery and Gunjiro Aoki announce their engagement. The Times notes that a marriage between them would be illegal in California. March 27, 1909: Emery and Aoki travel to Seattle in their attempt to … Continue reading →

Posted in Eurasians, Religion | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 23, 1959

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Erring Blacklisters Sorry     A week after it was disclosed, the strange case of Louis Pollock is still the big talk among Hollywood writers.     Pollock has written a dozen screenplays and 30 television plays in the past five … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 23, 1959

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

  A Refugee From Terrible Infamy     I talked to a man-come-out-of-hiding last night, a man who's been living precarious inches out of notorious headlines.     He's 33 years old now, but since the age of 7 he's been living … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 23, 1960: “Mary Martin invited the sons and daughters of radio and TV writers to a rehearsal of ‘Peter Pan.’ They were assembled on stage and she flew down to greet them. ‘Why, you're a girl!’ said one … Continue reading →

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San Marino Pelted With Furs From Mystery Airplane

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1959: "Thousands of dollars worth of fur pelts were mysteriously jettisoned from a low-flying airplane over San Marino and San Gabriel yesterday. One large gunny sack of the valuable pelts crashes through a patio roof at 1070 Kendall … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Sports | 3 Comments

Man Accused of Killing Girlfriend Says He Was Insane

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

A tip on decorating the Christmas tree, but don’t use candles. Harry S. New Jr. and his pet rattlesnake. I realize this is unreadable, but the headline is wonderful. Dec. 23, 1919: Harry S. New Jr., known as “Nutty New,” … Continue reading →

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Young Woman Plays a Somber Reverie, Then Kills Herself

Posted on December 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 23, 1909 — Here’s a little more proof that the past wasn’t really a kinder, simpler time; there’s death in almost every line. Esther Bauer, 22, of San Francisco plays sad music at the piano before hanging herself … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Dec. 22, 1959

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

  World Refugee Year     As she sorted out her memories on her return from a pleasure trip around the world many months ago, actress Marsha Hunt found herself deeply troubled by recollection of endless hordes of refugees in Hong … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Dec. 22, 1959

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Payola Suspected in Fourth Grade     NEWS ITEM:  WESTBURY, N.Y., Dec. 21 — Teachers here have been warned against students who try to curry favor with "Christmas payola."     Supt. of Schools Cecil I. Rice sent teachers a memorandum indicating … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Dec. 22, 1959: “Frank Sinatra went to see the Pat Wymore show in Vegas and immediately signed her for ‘Oceans 11.’ ”

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A Mystery Photo That Is Not Arnold Stang

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo I have been told that this mystery photo from 2007 has been circulating on the Internet as Arnold Stang. Notice that when I originally posted the photo I said “Hint:  He’s not Arnold Stang.” This … Continue reading →

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Firefighters Set Blazes to Draw Attention to Old Equipment

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

  NEW QUEEN — The shah of Iran and bride Farah pose after their marriage in a Muslim ritual at his palace in Tehran. She is third wife of the shah, who divorced others after they failed to bear an heir. … Continue reading →

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51 Held in Gambling Raids

Posted on December 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

  “Oh, Man” by Clare Briggs. Dec. 22, 1919: Detectives with the help of the “purity squad” raid several fan tan games and arrest 51 people. Notice the detectives’ names, especially that of McAfee, who is the infamous Guy McAfee.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, LAPD, Obituaries | 1 Comment