Monthly Archives: June 2012

Keaton Sons Change Names to Talmadge

Posted on June 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1942: Buster Keaton’s sons Robert, 18, and James, 20, legally change their last names to Talmadge after a petition to the court by Keaton’s ex-wife Natalie Talmadge. Lee Gilcrease, 29, kills his wife, Ethel, and commits suicide in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Man Held as ‘Orchid Bandit’

Posted on June 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1942: James D. Hannah liked orchids. He liked them so much that he usually gave several of them to his girlfriends to put in their hair, a habit that led to his arrest when robbery victim  Elva Sieburg … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Drunken Brawl at Errol Flynn’s Birthday Party

Posted on June 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1942: A brawl at Errol Flynn’s  32nd birthday party involves Barbara Hutton’s butler – Eric Gosta Hadler —  and Flynn’s secretary and stand-in, James Fleming. Hadler says: “It all happened so suddenly I can’t remember what happened.” Judging … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb! Update: This is Billy House. Please congratulate Arye Michael Bender (1), Mike Hawks (2), Jenny M (3), Bob Levinson (4), Herb Nichols (5) and Don Danard via email for identifying … Continue reading →

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

A motorcycle hearse listed on EBay at $10,000. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 25, 2012 •  Remember a couple months ago when Thomas Kinkade died and there were all these debates about “was he a worse painter than … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Eurasian Held on Suspicion of Being Japanese

Posted on June 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

    June 23, 1942: Meet Stanwood Gertz Jr., who was arrested because he was suspected of being Japanese. Gertz told detectives he was German, Chinese and Hawaiian – and his dyed hair presumably made him even more suspicious. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hedy Lamarr’s Sarong: S’awright!

Posted on June 22, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 22, 1942: Hedda Hopper says: Joan Crawford got a mighty entertaining picture in “They All Kissed the Bride.” I’ve always liked Joan. She says, “I love being a star and everything that goes with it. I love the work, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Update +]

Posted on June 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

And here’s Thursday’s mystery chap! Update: This is Ben Blue. Please congratulate Gary Martin (1), Don Danard (2), Mary Mallory (3), Bob Levinson (4), Mike Hawks (5), Greg Clancey (6), William (7), Jenny M (8), Dewey Webb (9), Gregory Moore … Continue reading →

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

Women Abandon Housework for Overalls and Higher Pay

Posted on June 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 21, 1942: Women are taking jobs formerly held by men, and they prefer them, especially the higher wages, The Times finds. “How do they like exchanging summer frocks for overalls and aprons for masculine livery? The collective and undisputed … Continue reading →

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Church Organist Accused of Killing Parents

Posted on June 20, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1942: Officials of San Diego’s streetcar system are dismayed that the 20 surplus cars obtained from New York are in worse shape than the ones San Diego scrapped two years earlier. San Diego acquired the cars in an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Streetcars, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Saving L.A. History, One Page at a Time

Posted on June 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: The LAPD Daily Police Bulletin for Jan. 16, 1947, the day after the Black Dahlia’s body was found. Notice that the Dahlia isn’t mentioned. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror   My latest column for The Times is about Joan Renner and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, LAPD | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

This postcard of a Cuban hearse has been listed on EBay, listed as Buy It Now  at $20. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 18, 2012 •   Production designer J. Michael Riva, 63, died on June 7. Modern filmgoers … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Sports Edition

Posted on June 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Easy, but a fun picture

Posted in Mystery Photo | 11 Comments

Judge Cites ‘Right of Battle’ in Sentencing Conscientious Objector

Posted on June 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 16, 1942:  Robert Lee Allen is sentenced to five years in federal prison for refusing to enlist in the Army. Judge Jeremiah Neter, 80, noted that Allen had not used the available provisions to file for conscientious objector status … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Music, Religion, Stage, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mexican Workers Sought to Fill California’s Farm Labor Shortage

Posted on June 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 15, 1942:  The Japanese who operated farms have been evacuated to internment camps, many farm workers have taken defense jobs and still more have been drafted. So to get farm labor, California turns to …  guess where: Mexico! Times … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Immigration, World War II | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Gang Member Held in Shooting That Sparked Coliseum Riot

Posted on June 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 14, 1942:   Police arrest Oscar Fierro, 18, an alleged member of the East First Street Gang, in the shooting of Frank Torres, a purported member of the Clanton Street Gang, who was wounded in the head while leaving the … Continue reading →

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Coming Attractions: Mary Mallory Signs ‘Hollywoodland’

Posted on June 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory, who writes Hollywood Heights for the L.A. Daily Mirror, will be signing copies of her book “Hollywoodland” on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Costco at 1051 Burbank Blvd. in Burbank. All profits from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on June 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

What happened to our mystery guest? Update: This is O.J. Simpson and Melissa Michaelsen in “Goldie and the Boxer.” I’m especially impressed that so many readers recalled this opus:  Gary Alexander (1), Michael Ryerson (2), Periwinkle (3), Barbara Klein (4), … Continue reading →

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

Westlake Park Renamed in Tribute to Gen. MacArthur

Posted on June 12, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 13, 1942:Westlake Park is being renamed as part of the city’s observances to honor Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commemorating the day he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Marines at Camp Elliott are shocked to see women … … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, City Hall, Comics, Parks, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments