Monthly Archives: February 2011

Pages of History – Morrow Mayo’s ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on February 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Morrow Mayo didn’t do terribly well in the first page of his chapter on the 1927  Marion Parker case (“Strange Interlude”) in “Los Angeles.” Let’s see if the next page is any better. We find that once again, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Marion Parker, Pages of History | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 15, 1961

Posted on February 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Feb. 15, 1961: Matt Weinstock has an item about hospital care 50 years ago.  Read it and remind yourself that this was supposedly a “kinder, simpler time.”  CONFIDENTIAL TO BROWN EYES: Don't confess "all" to a man who … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 15, 1961

Paul Coates, Feb. 15, 1961

Posted on February 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Feb. 15, 1961: Paul Coates writes about a house for rent, “an ornate, slightly garish Mediterranean-style home on a hill overlooking Hollywood” built in the ‘20s by a movie star. “Never heard of her,” says one prospective … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 15, 1941

Posted on February 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Feb. 15, 1941: Tom Treanor, who died covering World War II for The Times, has an interesting and, in fact, prophetic piece about the difficulty of any attack on the oilfields of Romania to keep the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 15, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is director James Goldstone and George Segal filming “Rollercoaster” in a photo taken Dec. 2, 1976. ] I blacked out the slate so this photo won’t be too easy….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 16 Comments

Back in the News: Fred Otash

Posted on February 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Feb. 15, 1961: Remember Fred Otash’s alleged involvement in the doping of racehorses? The private detective (and former LAPD officer) got probation.  ALSO Fred Otash on the Daily Mirror

Posted in #courts, 1961, Animals, art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off on Back in the News: Fred Otash

Found on EBay – Matt Weinstock

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

  Matt Weinstock’s “My L.A.” and “Muscatel at Noon” have been listed on EBay. “My L.A.” is fairly common and is available in a modern reprint, but “Muscatel at Noon” is a little more difficult to find. Notice that “Muscatel” … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, Feb. 14, 1961

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Feb. 14, 1961: A valentine to Matt Weinstock from a longtime reader: "Back in 1947 a romance developed between myself and a man with no more auspicious beginning than his sharing your column with me at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 14, 1961

Paul Coates, Feb. 14, 1961

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Feb. 14, 1961: Officials of Birmingham College of Advanced Technology in England approved a fund-raiser for women's athletic programs in which male students could win a female student for the night. But the male students rejected the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Columnists, Education, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Sports | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 14, 1941

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

          Feb. 14, 1941: “Gasoline Alley” celebrates the 20th anniversary of the arrival of Skeezix Wallet. And here’s a mystery for cartoon historians: Although the anniversary is usually listed as Feb. 14, 1921, the actual publication … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, 1941, art and artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is the filming of “Walker,” in a photo taken April 5, 1987. And no, we’re not on an Ed Harris theme even though we had “Swing Shift” yesterday. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 3 Comments

Alcala Appeals Conviction for Murder of Girl

Posted on February 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 14, 1981: Rodney James Alcala appeals his death sentence in the killing of Robin Samsoe, 12, of Huntington Beach. Alcala, a former typist in The Times composing room, was convicted of kidnapping Robin after approaching her and a friend … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1981, Crime and Courts, Homicide | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 13, 1961

Posted on February 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Feb. 13, 1961: An employee at a missile component company was studying Russian and while on a trip to New York decided to buy a Soviet newspaper to test his skill. Then he took the newspaper to … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, 1961, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 13, 1961

Paul Coates, Feb. 13, 1961

Posted on February 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

         Feb. 13, 1961: It’s not easy being a columnist in Los Angeles. Paul Coates writes about some of the calls and letters he gets that never end up in print … until now.

Posted in 1961, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 13, 1941

Posted on February 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Feb. 13, 1941: Tom Treanor says that watching America from overseas is something like seeing yourself in a home movie. “You're quite surprised at how you look, a little displeased and completely fascinated,” he says. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 13, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo       [Update: This is the set of “Swing Shift” published March 20, 1983, for a feature on a day in the life of Hollywood.] Here’s a street scene that has … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 14 Comments

Communists Use Porn to Attack U.S. Morals, Sociologist Says

Posted on February 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Feb. 13, 1961: Who is this sociologist who warns that pornography “is part of a Communist-inspired effort to break down American character?” Alas, The Times doesn’t identify him — or her. And details are sketchy … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 12, 1941

Posted on February 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Feb. 12, 1941: Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times, writes about his experiences in Romania. “Poor old beautiful, callous, hard-luck Rumania, a happy-go-lucky country trying not to be … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 12, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo         Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is “What’s Up Doc?” with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal, as most people realized. ] For all those Daily Mirror … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 19 Comments

Editor Falls to His Death From Hollywood Landmark

Posted on February 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

        6331 Hollywood Blvd., now the Scientology HQ, via Google maps’ street view.           Nothing about Norman Siegel’s death made any sense. The former publicist, now working as the West Coast editor of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1961, Crime and Courts, Hollywood, Suicide | 1 Comment