Monthly Archives: December 2013

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious young man with a beard.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 41 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Einar Petersen and His ‘Aladdin and His Lamp’ Murals

Posted on December 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

One of Einar Petersen’s murals at the Spring Street Guaranty Building and Loan Assn., courtesy of Mary Mallory Fame is fleeting. An individual might go unrecognized while creating great art while alive, only for the works to be considered masterpieces … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Spring Street | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Times ebook on the Titanic is a crossroads of old and new. Archival stories on a tablet. The book, unfortunately, was lost in the mass of Titaniciana on the centennial, but it’s a solid piece of work (I should … Continue reading →

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‘Bonnie and Clyde’ — Oh Dear

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

I don’t expect much from period productions these days. But my goodness, get a load of these two.

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , , | 27 Comments

Dec. 7, 1959: Paul Coates Interviews Tokyo Rose

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

On Dec. 7, 1959, Paul Coates published an interview with Tokyo Rose. She says: “What’s the use? What good is it to talk to the press?  Everybody’s mind is made up about me.” A throwback from 2009, when my blog … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1959, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Pickford Warns Aspiring Actresses: Bring Your Mothers!

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 4, 1923: Los Angeles celebrates Mary Pickford Day with an appearance by the silent screen star, her mother, Charlotte, and her husband,  Douglas Fairbanks, before a crowd of fans (mostly women, The Times noted) at Pershing Square. Speaking to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Downtown, Film, Hill Street, Hollywood, Olive, Parks | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

This is something of a find. “Los Angeles” is one of the most influential — though certainly not one of the most accurate — books ever written about local history and although it’s well known, the author, George “Morrow” Mayo … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

Today’s mystery chap is especially tricky because Christopher McPherson, who kindly shared these photos, has no idea about the identity of this gent. He could be someone’s Uncle Freddy, although this does look like a publicity shot. Google’s image search … Continue reading →

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

Farewell to Old Los Angeles

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

The old Plaza area as drawn by Times artist Charles Owens. Along with the demolition to make way for Union Station, historic buildings between the Plaza and Union Station were torn down in February 1951. Oct. 22, 1933: I came … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, 1951, Downtown, Preservation, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

For the steampunk fan on your gift list, you might consider “Walking Your Octopus,” with wonderful illustrations by Brian Kesinger. I had an opportunity to chat with Brian at the Cartoon Expo and scored a signed copy. Available from Brian … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s Thursday’s mystery woman, courtesy of Christopher McPherson.

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

PROHIBITION ENDS!

Posted on December 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Times marks the end of Prohibition with a front page cartoon by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale, who  quit in 1934 and went to the Examiner in a dispute over The Times’ editorial policies. Dec. 5, 1933: With the passage … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Art & Artists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Today’s holiday gift suggestion is the latest biography from Eve Golden, “John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars.” The Daily Mirror likes to support its local independent bookstore whenever possible. But if you’re not close to a good … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Before You Watch ‘Mob City’ — Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen and Chief Parker

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Before you watch TNT’s “Mob City” tonight, read these items from The Times about what Police Capt. William H. Parker was actually doing in the 1940s. Parker served in the Army during World War II and was discharged in November … Continue reading →

Posted in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

And here is Wednesday’s mystery chap, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files

Posted on December 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old press room at the LAPD’s Parker Center headquarters, sometimes called “the cop shop.” The box was a jumble of press releases, photographs, artists’ sketches and other … Continue reading →

Posted in 1965, 1973, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Whenever I’m asked about my favorite books on Los Angeles, my first recommendation is “Nuestro Pueblo,” a selection of features by Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joseph Seewerker that appeared in The Times. I went through all of them … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated)

Posted on December 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Tuesday, we have a mystery lady, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson. Yes, Eve, it’s Lilyan Tashman. Honest!

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

Rediscovering Los Angeles — Sam Kee Laundry

Posted on December 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 20, 1936: For this installment of Rediscovering Los Angeles, Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy Turner visit a Chinese laundry on Figueroa near Temple. Turner writes: It was a busy hive before John Chinaman cut off his pigtail, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1936, Architecture, Art & Artists, Columnists, Downtown, Film, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

If you enjoy Mary Mallory’s columns (and our survey shows that readers do) you might like this anthology of Hollywood Heights called “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found.” It’s available for the Kindle, but don’t forget that Amazon has a free … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide