Monthly Archives: October 2011

Calle de los Negros – A Vanished Landmark

Posted on October 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: 1946 Thomas Bros. Guide showing “Negro Al” The recent controversy over the name of a hunting camp used by Texas Gov. Rick Perry and his family sent me to the Daily Mirror archives for a 1946 Thomas Bros. Guide, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1871, African Americans, Chinese Massacre, Downtown | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Buddy Rogers Denies Rift With Mary Pickford

Posted on October 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 12, 1941: Tom Treanor writes about the era when mourners could board a special funeral car that also carried the casket to the cemetery. C.V. Means, general traffic agent of the Los Angeles Railway, says that anyone can still … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Stage, Streetcars, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Exhibit Celebrates Rescue of Chilean Miners

Posted on October 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The rescue capsule emerges, carrying the first of the trapped Chilean miners. Credit: RussiaToday. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History is marking the first anniversary of the 2010 rescue of 33 trapped Chilean miners with “Against All Odds: … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, Food and Drink, Latinos, Museums, Television | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Exhibit Celebrates Rescue of Chilean Miners

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 11

Posted on October 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Harry Arnheim of the Hollywood Tropics, 1525 N. Vine St., protests being placed off-limits by the Navy. Credit: National Archives at Riverside. To recap briefly, I have been digging into the historical basis of the movie “Zoot Suit,” which … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, Food and Drink, History, Hollywood, Stage, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Coming Attractions: ‘Spencer Tracy: A Biography’

Posted on October 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror HQ just acquired “Spencer Tracy: A Biography,” by James Curtis, who recently shared his Dick Lane interview in L.A. Voices. The book isn’t officially out yet, but James did a prerelease book signing last week in conjunction … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Selig-Polyscope Projector

Posted on October 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

This early Selig-Polyscope 35-millimeter movie projector has been listed on EBay. Imagine cranking an early – flammable nitrate – film through this apparatus. It’s no wonder that early projection booths were encased in steel in the event of a fire. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++++]

Posted on October 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Martha Sleeper (d. 1983)] Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

A Vanished Neighborhood Endures in Memory

Posted on October 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nate Schweber of the New York Times writes about a reunion of people who lived in a New York neighborhood that was obliterated during urban renewal. The demolition of the neighborhood is also the subject of a documentary, “The Tragedy … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, New York, Preservation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Vanished Neighborhood Endures in Memory

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on October 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Rolls-Royce hearse at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com Queen of the Dead—dateline October 10, 2011  •  Mystery Science Theater 3000 fans were saddened to learn this week of the death on May 25 of musical-comedy starlet Betty Luster, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Coming Attractions: This Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Posted on October 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

On Monday, Eve Golden has a roundup of unusual obituaries in Queen of the Dead, and in Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory takes a look at the Clover Club, a 1930s casino on Sunset Boulevard. On Tuesday, there’s another installment of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1931, 1942, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, LAPD, Latinos, Libraries, Mary Mallory, Queen of the Dead, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: This Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Found on EBay – Batchelder Tile

Posted on October 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

This truly impressive Batchelder tile, 12 inches square, has been listed on EBay. This is not a pattern that I recall seeing before. Bidding starts at $1,600. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated thoroughly … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Batchelder Tile, Found on EBay, Interior Design | Tagged , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Batchelder Tile

Coming Attractions: Los Angeles Archives Bazaar [Updated]

Posted on October 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The 2010 Archives Bazaar at Doheny Memorial Library. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com [Update: This is today! Mary Mallory says she’ll be at the Hollywood Heritage table from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., so if you’re there be sure to say … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Education, Film, History, Latinos, Libraries, Music, Photography | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: Los Angeles Archives Bazaar [Updated]

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on October 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Karin Booth (d. 2003)] Here’s our mystery gal, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Boston Policeman Killed Trying to Disarm Former Officer, 1921

Posted on October 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

The National Air and Space Museum in Washington is closed after antiwar demonstrators try to enter to protest an exhibit on  drones. The crowd dispersed after being pepper-sprayed by a security guard coming to the rescue of another guard. Washington … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Museums, Washington | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Boston Policeman Killed Trying to Disarm Former Officer, 1921

Restoration at Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Posted on October 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Wilshire Boulevard Temple, interior. Credit: Jim Winstead On the 140th anniversary of the Chicago fire, it’s a time to celebrate the city’s libraries. Rick Kogan explains in the Tribune’s Sidewalks blog. Jay Jones, writing for the Los Angeles Times, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Chicago, Crime and Courts, Downtown, History, Interior Design, Libraries, Mary Mallory, Museums, Preservation, Religion | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Restoration at Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Found on EBay – Julian Eltinge

Posted on October 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

This rather bedraggled postcard of Julian Eltinge in “The Fascinating Widow” has been listed on EBay. Hm. Eltinge Cold Cream is a new one on me. Eltinge was one of the most famous female impersonators of his day and built … Continue reading →

Posted in Found on EBay, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Stage | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on October 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Dorothy Jordan (d. 1988). Please congratulate Mike Hawks, Mary Mallory, Bob Hansen and Don Danard for identifying her! ] Here’s today’s mystery photo – courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

John Wayne Gacy Victim to Be Exhumed for DNA Tests

Posted on October 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 27, 1978: Four more bodies are found under the home of John Wayne Gacy. Adam Nagourney of the New York Times reports on the slow process of bringing a 21-foot granite boulder to the Los Angeles County Museum of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1978, Architecture, Art & Artists, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Museums, Obituaries, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Woman Jailed for Driving Too Slowly

Posted on October 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 7, 1941: You’re probably wondering how fast Blanche Roberts was driving. The story doesn’t say anything more specific than “an exceedingly low rate of speed” on the Calabasas Grade. Apparently no one thought to query the reporter — the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Woman Jailed for Driving Too Slowly

Killer in 1964 ‘Kitty’ Genovese Case Up for Parole

Posted on October 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

March 28, 1964: New Yorkers shrugged as Catherine “Kitty” Genovese was killed. Winston Moseley, convicted in the infamous 1964 killing of Catherine “Kitty” Genovese, is up for parole and Sam Favate takes a look in the Wall Street Journal’s Law … Continue reading →

Posted in 1964, Art & Artists, Chicago, Crime and Courts, History, Museums, New York | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Killer in 1964 ‘Kitty’ Genovese Case Up for Parole