Monthly Archives: December 2010

Paul Coates, Dec. 7, 1960

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 7, 1960: Paul Coates files another piece on his recent trip to the Soviet Union, this time about his Intourist guide. “Like most educated Russians I met, she was either very well-informed or grossly misinformed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 7, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 7, 1940

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

            Dec. 7, 1940: Yes, the bell on traffic semaphores in the old Warner Bros. cartoons wasn’t a joke. Today, we just honk since drivers are usually checking their BlackBerrys when the light turns green. … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated II

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Photograph by the Los Angeles Times   Update: And here’s a mystery photo!  Update II: This is Zasu Pitts and John E. Woodall. Please congratulate Mary Mallory, Karen and Dennis Gilliam for identifying our mystery couple and … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 9 Comments

Autry Gets Angels!

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 7, 1960: The Angels were official. Gene Autry's team would play in Wrigley Field instead of the Coliseum or Rose Bowl, apparently seeing the old minor league ballpark as a better financial deal even though … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

A movie still showing Marya Marco has been listed on EBay. Who is Marya Marco, you ask? She’s one of the women misidentified as Elizabeth Short in Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger.” Bidding starts at $9.99. ALSO “Black Dahlia Avenger” … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 6, 1960

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1960: A sign at a dry cleaners in Arcadia says: “Stop! Blood is hard to remove,” Matt Weinstock says. DEAR ABBY: My little brother learned a Thanksgiving prayer at school and he said it at … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 6, 1960

Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1960: Paul Coates writes about a Soviet woman he calls Tanya and describes the hardships of her daily life. It’s marriage for Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe in Maurice Zolotow’s “The Real Marilyn Monroe.”

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 6, 1940

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Dec. 6, 1940: Latest candidate for the plum lead in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is Ingrid Bergman, who'll get it if boss David O. Selznick says yes, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

         Los Angeles Times file photo    Dec. 17, 1935: The finding by autopsy surgeons last night of evidence that monoxide gas poisoning caused the death of Thelma Todd, blonde motion picture actress whose body was found … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo       Update: Our mystery guest in this photo, published in The Times on Oct. 30, 1927, is former mystery guest Josephine Dunn. Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying her! I … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 4 Comments

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1930:  Fascists in Berlin protest a showing of the German version of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” “Fascists, who were planted in the audience, shouted, ‘Out Jews!’ hurled stench bombs and set white mice … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

From the Vaults: ‘Pillow Talk’ (1959)

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

"I love you." "I know." You know what movie that's from, right? WRONG! Years before Han Solo (and hey, RIP Irvin Kershner), his possibly-most-famous line gets drawled by Rock Hudson, playing a womanizing songwriter in "Pillow Talk." Hudson tosses it … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 9 Comments

L.A. County Cuts Welfare Costs, Pays Immigrants to Go Back to Mexico — Updated

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

December 3, 1941: I have been reading old newspapers for years and very little about Los Angeles history surprises me anymore, but this one amazed me. To reduce the welfare rolls, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approves paying … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Immigration | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 5, 1960

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 5, 1960: Two L.A. gendarmes and a highway patrolman have "retired" after being caught by a vice squad officer in the company of a bad gal, Matt Weinstock says. DEAR ABBY: I just found out that … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 5, 1960

Paul Coates, Dec. 5, 1960

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 5, 1960: Paul Coates writes about the curious contrasts in Soviet society, between the advanced technology in its space program and the shortcomings of its commercial aircraft, and notes the first-rate department stores stocked with fourth-rate … Continue reading →

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

Autry to Get L.A. Club, O’Malley Says

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 5, 1960: Gene Autry would be the owner of Los Angeles' new baseball team, according to none other than Walter O'Malley. Frank Finch's story claimed that O'Malley's priority in the selection of an owner for the American … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Sports | Comments Off on Autry to Get L.A. Club, O’Malley Says

Lakers Draw Small Crowd for Celtics Game

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 5, 1960: The Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, 113-103 at the Sports Arena but the statistic that jumped out was the attendance. The Times' headline noted the presence of 9,224 fans at the Sports Arena, an … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Lakers, Sports | Comments Off on Lakers Draw Small Crowd for Celtics Game

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo         Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: Yes, this is Thelma Todd, above, in “Follow Through.” I’m a bit pressed for time this morning so I’ll be back … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 33 Comments

April 11, 1954, Not So Boring!

Posted on December 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

    A programmer unleashes a computer on the history of the 20th century …       The ads have been infiltrated by Bob Dobbs! Yikes!   …. and discovers that April 11, 1954 ….       Good … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Religion, Sports | 4 Comments

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1960

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 3, 1960: Matt Weinstock says: "People are warming up to our town's pro basketball team, the Lakers. But something will have to be done about that name, which derives from their former home state, Minnesota, with … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates, UFOs | Comments Off on Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1960