Monthly Archives: August 2010

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 31, 1940

Posted on August 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 31, 1940: Paulette Goddard, who couldn't afford the loss, dropped seven pounds during her "Second Chorus" dances with Fred Astaire, Jimmie Fidler says.  And Hedda Hopper (I know you have been missing her!) says Orson Welles filmed every scene … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Pages of History

Posted on August 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

Isn’t this a great cover? I love the lettering. I’m going through the transcripts of jury selection in the McNamara trial, which is dull, tedious,  fascinating work. It’s difficult to convey the experience of having a 1911 typewritten manuscript – … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, books | Leave a comment

Found on EBay – Batchelder Tile

Posted on August 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

This Batchelder tile of a peacock at left has been listed on EBay. Interestingly enough, it’s a different design than these two at the right, which were listed earlier.  Bidding on the tile at left starts at $100.  As with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists | Leave a comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 30, 1940

Posted on August 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor, who died covering World War II for The Times, files a report on Catanzaro, Italy.    Aug. 30, 1940: Hollywood After Dark: Ann Rutherford losing a set of artificial fingernails when an autografiend snatches at her hand as … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Leave a comment

Barry Goldwater, Aug. 30, 1960

Posted on August 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 30, 1960: Perhaps you saw David Klinghoffer’s recent piece about changes in the conservative movement (“From neocons to crazy-cons”) or Jonah Goldberg’s rebuttal. If so, you might like to read some of Barry Goldwater’s thoughts for yourself, from 1960. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Comics, Obituaries, Politics | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Los Angeles Times file photo Photograph by George Lacks / Los Angeles Mirror  OK, here’s another picture of our mystery woman. And yes, the photo is from the Mirror files. Update: On the jump, the identity of our mystery … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Mystery Photo, Photography, Stage, Suicide | 6 Comments

From the Vaults: ‘Anna Boleyn’ (1920)

Posted on August 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

There's not much reason to watch Ernst Lubitsch's silent historical epic "Anna Boleyn" (which Netflix informs me is also called "Deception"), unless you're, say, a movie blogger who has set herself the cussed task of watching only films from 1920, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 5 Comments

On Assignment

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Clarence Darrow addresses jurors during his trial on charges of jury tampering. have spent the last few days at the Huntington Library going through transcripts of the trial of James B. McNamara in the 1910 … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, books | Leave a comment

Another Good Story Ruined: Gen. Otis’ Armored Car [2nd Update]

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Behold the war machine of Gen. Harrison Gray Otis! A 1910 Franklin Model H landaulet!  Virtually no one who writes about The Times and Gen. Harrison Gray Otis can resist referring to a cannon mounted on his car. Otis is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Another Good Story Ruined, Transportation | 7 Comments

Cards Beat Dodgers on 9th-Inning Home Run by Joe Torre

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 29, 1970: Joe Torre made the difference in the Dodgers' 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. This wasn't the case of a managerial goof. This was Torre the Cardinals' power-hitting third baseman, whose ninth-inning home run against Don … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 29, 1940

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 29, 1940: Add strange mishaps: The hundreds of dollars of damage done to furnishings in the Beverly manse of Ann Sothern's mamma when Ann's dog fell into a bucket of paint and ran wild through the house, Jimmie Fidler … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Leave a comment

On the Frontiers of Literature

Posted on August 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 28, 1910: If you’re a fan of mystery books, you may have heard of S.S. Van Dine, who wrote "The Greene Murder Case," "The Canary Murder Case" and other Philo Vance stories. Van Dine was the pen name … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

          Los Angeles Times file photo    Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 71 Comments

The Bull Pen

Posted on August 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 27, 1960: The Dodgers' apparent refusal to sell their future made for an interesting if confusing story. The team apparently turned down $1.8 million for Frank Howard, Willie Davis, Ron Fairly and three other players. "They are not for … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers | Leave a comment

Paul Coates, Aug. 25, 1960

Posted on August 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 25, 1960: Tons of steel fall onto Wilshire Boulevard from a building under construction … Richard Bergholz makes a rare appearance as a columnist and Paul Coates analyzes a bill from Los Angeles County for cutting down a … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | Leave a comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 25, 1941

Posted on August 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Aug. 25, 1941: Fred Astaire is building a private golf course on his San Diego County ranch, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock Is on Vacation, Aug. 24, 1960

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1960: Matt Weinstock is on vacation. Dear Abby: I am 19 and work in a large store. One of my supervisors started taking me out for coffee breaks and lunches and then it got serious. I knew he … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Leave a comment

Paul Coates, Aug. 24, 1960

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1960: The Mirror reports a shouting match between Mayor Norris Poulson and Police Chief William H. Parker over a proposed police cadet program. It sounds like a great item, but alas, so many stories and only one Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, From the Vaults, LAPD, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 24, 1941

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Tom Treanor files a report from Rome on an unusual way to get iron ore from beach sand. Aug. 24, 1941: That "rustic little cabin" Wally Beery purchased in Jackson Hole, Wyo., won't be "little long." Wally's adding six more … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Leave a comment

San Francisco Labor Leaders Visit Los Angeles

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 25, 1910: In vastly different ways, The Times and the Herald report the arrival of San Francisco labor leaders. The Times said: "The worthies registered at the Hayward, and almost immediately the big boss who pulls the strings which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing | Leave a comment