Monthly Archives: March 2013

Black Dahlia: STILL Waiting for Soil Test Results From Dr. George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel’s Purported Murder HQ

Posted on March 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

Oh those Brits! The Express has jumped all over the story about Zooey Deschanel and Jamie Linden visiting the Sowden House, Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel’s purported Murder HQ. Naturally, since it’s a better story, they dub it the “Black … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

When L.A. Becomes New York

Posted on March 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

Being in L.A. is like living on a huge movie set. The white trucks are everywhere. Because I work downtown, I’m accustomed to seeing it standing in for – yes – New York. All the time. Here are some recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mobs Storm Butchers Trying to Beat Ration Deadline

Posted on March 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

People line up outside a meat market at 2100 N. Broadway. 2100 N. Broadway via Google Street View. March 28, 1943: And did the “Greatest Generation” meekly, humbly and patriotically accept meat rationing for the war effort? They did not. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Broadway, Comics, Downtown, Food and Drink, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Bearthina Is Missing

Posted on March 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1913: Mrs. C.H. Hampton, 139 S. Olive St., is a woman with a stretch of bad luck. First her husband died, and then in December the former Mrs. Schwartz married a man named Hampton who talked her into … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, LAPD, Olive | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Steamship Hits Rock off Point Fermin

Posted on March 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 21, 1863: Now that we’re done with the Black Dahlia/George Hodel transcripts we can return to Los Angeles in the pages of the Star, which was brimming with vitriol against the North in the Civil War. Even when one … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, African Americans, Animals, Civil War | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Posted on March 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

And here is Monday’s mystery fellow.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 71 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Flapper Speaks to American Women

Posted on March 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Flapper – via Wikipedia. Life changed quickly in the United States post-World War I. Nowhere was this more evident than in the role and actions of young women emancipating themselves from the corseted way of life to more boldly … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Millennial Moment: Officer Kills Boy, 5, Holding Toy Gun

Posted on March 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 3, 1983: Patrick Andrew Mason was too sick to go to school, and his mother Patricia Ridge, 29, had no one to care for him while she went to her job charging car batteries at a Sears store in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, Crime and Courts, Millennial Moments | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

AFSCME Seeks to Organize LAPD

Posted on March 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 20, 1943: The AFSCME sets up a local for LAPD officers, an action opposed by Police Chief Clemence “C.B.” Horrall and Deputy Chief Joe Reed.  The Los Angeles Police Protective League, established in the 1920s, began bargaining on behalf … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Film, Hollywood, Labor, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

LAPD in Standoff With Mad Gunman

Posted on March 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

The 900 block of South Francisco Street via Google Street View. March 19, 1913: F.C. Fredericks presents the LAPD with a difficult situation in the days before tear gas and swat teams (or indeed before negotiations by telephone). Fredericks was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Downtown, LAPD | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Posted on March 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

And here is Monday’s mystery guest.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Earl Carroll’s Swanky Sunset Boulevard Theater

Posted on March 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

Photo: Earl Carroll at the groundbreaking for his nightclub, with Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor and W.C. Fields. Courtesy of James Curtis. In the late 1930s, Earl Carroll reigned as Broadway’s exotic showman, producing splashy musical revues featuring statuesque, sultry showgirls. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1938, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Earl Carroll’s Nightclub

Posted on March 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

Movie stars’ signatures in concrete on the exterior of Earl Carroll’s nightclub. I am occasionally asked what became of the concrete tablets with movie stars’ names that were installed on the old Earl Carroll nightclub. Some of The Times stories … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, History, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: George Hodel Murder HQ Soil Tests Overdue – Week 5

Posted on March 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

And in case you have forgotten…. Let me remind you that Christine Pelisek wrote in the Daily Beast on Feb. 3, 2013, that test results on soil taken from the Sowden House (George “Evil Genius” Hodel’s purported murder HQ) would … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: The Non-Smoking Gun – George Hodel Files Part 37

Posted on March 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1950: All quiet. Good nite. And with that, the LAPD and the district attorney’s office ended their surveillance of the purported Murder HQ of Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel. At least a few of you have read every … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Black Dahlia: The Non-Smoking Gun – George Hodel Files Part 36

Posted on March 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sounded like Hodel said something about Black Dahlia!!!! March 25, 1950: Hodel says he wants money and power — talking about China — talking about selling some of Hodel’s paintings or something. Hodel talking about picture police have of him … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Coming Attractions: Denise Hamilton

Posted on March 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Author and former Times reporter Denise Hamilton will be speaking about her book “The Last Embrace,” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave. Hamilton will also talk about Los Angeles’ influence on her … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: The Non-Smoking Gun – George Hodel Files Part 35

Posted on March 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 24, 1950: Another day of typing, peeing and ringing phones at the purported Murder HQ of Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel. Only four days left! The George Hodel files Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Folsom Prison Break 1893 – Found on EBay

Posted on March 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

A photo showing the guns and individuals involved in an unsuccessful escape attempt at Folsom prison in June 1893 has been listed on EBay. The photo is listed as Buy It Now for $699. As with anything on EBay, an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1893, Crime and Courts, Found on EBay, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: The Non-Smoking Gun – George Hodel Files Part 34

Posted on March 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 23, 1950: No, the police did not suddenly and inexplicably abandon the investigation. They ran away before they died of boredom. The George Hodel files Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment