Monthly Archives: January 2011

Movieland Mystery Photo — [Updated]

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: As everybody realized, this is from “Meet John Doe” … ] Here’s another old, beat-up print from our file of movie sets. Let’s take a closer look….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 15 Comments

USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 13, 1911: The population of Los Angeles is 319,198, The Times says. In our bustling city, USC fraternity pledges are caught stealing spittoons from hotels …  a post office official is accused of taking items … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Crime and Courts, Education, Fashion | Comments Off on USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 12, 1961

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Jan. 12, 1961: TWO YOUNGSTERS from a junior high school in the San Fernando Valley, winners of a Community Chest contest, came downtown the other day and, with Suburbia editor John Cornell as guide, were taken on a … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Transportation | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Jan. 12, 1961

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Jan. 12, 1961: Paul Coates faces readers who are angry over his treatment of Parkey Sharkey and Jack Oakie! And Coates hears from Parkey Sharkey himself.

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 12, 1961

Philip K. Scheuer, Town Called Hollywood, Jan. 12, 1941

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 12, 1941: Fantasound — by its own name or any other name — is here to stay, and Walt Disney is going right ahead with plans for it. I had a long talk with him … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — [Updated]

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: As most people realized, this is “The Conqueror” on location in St. George, Utah. Original caption information on the jump….] Here we are on a mystery location shoot….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Posted on January 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 12, 1981: Vernon Butts, a suspect with William Bonin in the Freeway Killer case, hangs himself with a towel in his cell at the Los Angeles County Jail. He was 23.  People are struggling to … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Homicide | Comments Off on L.A. Serial Killer Suspect Kills Himself in Jail

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 11, 1961

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 11, 1961: Matt Weinstock has an item on a student’s problems with driver’s ed. CONFIDENTIAL TO JAMES: Go east, young man.

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Paul Coates, Jan. 11, 1961

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 11, 1961: Paul Coates has the story of  Richard, a man who has been battling drug addiction for years.  He’s been out of jail for eight weeks. Still no job, but at least he is clean, … Continue reading →

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 11, 1941

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 11, 1941: When Orson Welles resigned as director of Connecticut's Stony Creek Theater, he was succeeded by one William Castle, a very young man with definite ideas of Art, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — [Updated]

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying our mystery woman! This is Dorothy Phillips in 1925, apparently working on “Every Man’s Wife.”  Keep reading for more.] Here’s today’s mystery photo…. more … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 12 Comments

Dashiell Hammett Dies, Jan. 11, 1961

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 11, 1961: Dashiell Hammett dies at the age of 67. A Times editorial the next days wonders about a “slight odor of Communist mentality” in “The Maltese Falcon.” No, really! Also from The Times’ editorial … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 2 Comments

Times Columnist Harry Carr Dies

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 11, 1936: Harry Carr, longtime columnist of “The Lancer” and one of the best-known writers in the history of The Times, dies of a heart attack at the age of 58. Carr’s death brought … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Columnists, Politics, Sports | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — ‘Mother Goose-Step’

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

I watch for books from Lymanhouse, the Los Angeles publisher of “They Call Them Camisoles,” a graphic first-person account of being hospitalized at Camarillo. Lymanhouse also published “What Actors Eat — When They Eat.” Another Lymanhouse book, “Mother Goose-Step,” by … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books | Comments Off on Found on EBay — ‘Mother Goose-Step’

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 10, 1961

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Jan. 10, 1961: Matt Weinstock has an item on “Jenkinson’s law,” a two-word explanation for all human behavior. DEAR MISS VAN BUREN: You recently joined an anonymous correspondent in reproving a minister for portraying a drunken, profane character … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 10, 1961

Paul Coates, Jan. 10, 1961

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Jan. 10, 1961: Author Dashiell Hammett dies… Paul Coates didn’t get invited to the John F. Kennedy inaugural…. notice the Page 1 story on Frank Sinatra’s wardrobe for the Kennedy bash! 

Posted in books, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 10, 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 10, 1941

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 10, 1941: HOLLYWOOD AFTER DARK: Aviation enthusiasts Bob Taylor and Jimmy Stewart sketching proposed air excursions on a Brown Derby tablecloth, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 10, 1941

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

It is deceptively difficult to write with any degree of accuracy about the Black Dahlia case. Here’s a recent example of a mangled account by Scott McCabe of the Washington Examiner: On this day, Jan. 9, 1947, Elizabeth Short, anaspiring … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Yorty Runs for Mayor!

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

   Jan. 10, 1961: Incumbent Norris Poulson and  challenger Sam Yorty are about to get into a nasty campaign for mayor. Should I mention the $2-million slander suit? The Times editorial headlined “Either Poulson or Calamity?” (So much for the … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Politics, Richard Nixon | 3 Comments

From the Vaults: ‘The Eyes of Laura Mars’ (1978)

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Like all right-thinking people, I cherish "The Empire Strikes Back," and was saddened by the death of director Irvin Kershner. But I didn't realize until reading his one of his obits that he also directed the acclaimed thriller "Eyes of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 3 Comments