Monthly Archives: February 2012

Bowling for Victory! Keglers vs. the Axis!

Posted on February 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 16, 1942: America’s 16 million bowlers are being asked to help promote physical fitness and mental alertness for the nation’s fighting men in their war against the Axis, and to provide relaxation for defense workers!  No effort will be … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo – Architecture Edition

Posted on February 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

The more intriguing mystery of “The Public Enemy” is the department store used in the early part of the film. Recall that our young ruffians run through an unidentified department store, committing all sorts of mischief and aggravated mopery. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

Lawmakers Urge Roosevelt to Order Immediate Evacuation of All Japanese

Posted on February 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 14, 1942:  West Coast legislators abandon plans to register “enemy aliens,” a process that would allow them to remain in defense zones. Instead, the congressmen ask President Roosevelt to order the “immediate evacuation” of “all persons of Japanese lineage.” … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

And for Monday, we have another photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on February 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A coffin snuff box listed on EBay at $2,200. Queen of the Dead – dateline February 13, 2012 •  It is dangerous to call someone “the last living” whatever, as you will invariably be proved wrong. So I will … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, World War I | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition II [Updated]

Posted on February 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s two young mystery lads in newsboy caps. And the movie would be? How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat –  ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition How … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , | 17 Comments

‘Hellzapoppin’ " Opens in Los Angeles

Posted on February 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 10, 1942:  The Hawaii Theater at Hollywood and Gower becomes a first-run theater (adios, Charles Foster Kane) with “Hellzapoppin.’ ” The “Congaroos” are “colored performers” who do “snappy dances.” “Stand-ins of the Hollywood stars” sounds like a gag, but … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, Theaters, World War II | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Help the Los Angeles Public Library!

Posted on February 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dear Brain Trust: Our friends at the Los Angeles Public Library photo collection are trying to identify this photo. I know you can do it!

Posted in Architecture, Libraries, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Over Protests of Racism, ‘The Clansman’ Opens in Los Angeles

Posted on February 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 9, 1915: The Los Angeles premiere of D.W. Griffith’s “The Clansman” (later retitled “The Birth of a Nation”) provokes protests and an attempt to prevent Clune’s Auditorium from showing the film, which was based on Thomas Dixon’s “The Clansman.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Theaters | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

U.S. Moves to ‘War Time’

Posted on February 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 9, 1942: It’s a sad day at the Daily Mirror HQ. No more Jimmie Fidler. The U.S. moves to Daylight Saving Time “for the duration,” which will last until six months “after the day America wins the war,” The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Religion, World War II | Tagged | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this movie would be?  I know, too easy, right?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

FBI Continues Raids on Japanese Homes

Posted on February 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 8, 1942: FBI agents lead local law enforcement in the continuing raids on Japanese communities.  “Trunks and storerooms were ransacked, suspicious areas of newly turned earth were dug into and all buildings were carefully investigated,” The Times said. After … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Washington, World War II | Tagged | Comments Off on FBI Continues Raids on Japanese Homes

Me vs. Wikipedia

Posted on February 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

I drew a range of reactions with my recent post “A World Without Wikipedia: Not Such a Bad Idea,”  in which I said “I don’t know a single serious researcher who considers it anything other than a joke.”That isn’t precisely … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Libraries | Tagged , | 29 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on February 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

Image: President Lincoln’s Funeral at the White House, listed on EBay at $375. Queen of the Dead – dateline February 6, 2012 •  The Prettiest Girl in All of Turkey has died: 98-year-old Keriman Halis Ece, on January 28. She … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

I was watching this movie the other day and thought:  that’s….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged | 32 Comments

Body of Kidnapped Girl Found in Riverbed

Posted on February 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 4, 1942: “As Coroner R.E. Williams and his aides bore the pitiful little body, still clad in her gay blue and white striped red school dress, toward town for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, the hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, A Kinder, Simpler Time, Art & Artists, Cold Cases, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Jimmie Fidler, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Glen Boles. Please congratulate Mike Hawks and Mary Mallory for identifying him!]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

L.A. County Board Recommends Roundup of All Japanese

Posted on February 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 3, 1942: The FBI, police and sheriff’s deputies round up 336 “alien Japanese fishermen” on Terminal Island. “Operating with machine-like efficiency, the FBI agents, headed by J.W. Vincent, in charge of operations, had prepared lists of the names and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Angry Butcher Cuts Wife’s Throat

Posted on February 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

Betty Rowland at the Follies! Photo: 6152 Agra St. Credit: Google Street View. Feb. 2, 1942: Lewis Buell Chase dialed the sheriff’s substation in Firestone Park and told a deputy: “I have just murdered a woman.” He had gone to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Jimmie Fidler, Sports, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

William Desmond Taylor Shot!

Posted on February 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory points out that this is the 90th anniversary of William Desmond Taylor’s death. I did several posts when the Daily Mirror was at The Times: William Desmond Taylor, Mystery Guest | Crime scene photos

Posted in 1922, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged | 7 Comments