Monthly Archives: May 2014

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip, May 22, 1944

Posted on May 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 22, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 21 — Joan Bennett laughed when I mentioned that I had heard on the Twentieth lot that she was to co-star with Fred MacMurray in “Nob Hill.” “It looks,” said Joan, “as if I am … Continue reading →

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Phlange Welder Lives Again

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

When the Daily Mirror was at latimes.com, I did some digging into the many adventures of “Phlange Welder,” a fictitious name that was slipped into The Times beginning in 1961. The Los Angeles Examiner had its own fictitious person, Victor … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 21, 1944

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 21, 1944 Louella Parsons asks Olivia De Havilland: “Do you feel your court battle with Warners will affect your chances of getting back to the screen and good pictures?” “Certainly not,” she said. “I won and am now reading … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Books From the Slush Pile: ‘Carsick’ by John Waters

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

Rejected review copies molder in bins. Avert thine eyes, aspiring authors! I have a millennial friend who thinks hitchhiking is a fine idea. Having lived through the 1970s, when thumbing a ride was considered cool, I told her about my … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Medical Arts Building

Posted on May 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mary went on a field trip to visit the Toluca Plaza building (formerly the Medical Arts Building) for her latest post, but some of her photos got caught in my spam filter. Here they are. This is “Aunt Nell” “trying … Continue reading →

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Out of the Past: An LAPD Cold Case From 1948

Posted on May 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

The northwest corner of Central and Manchester avenues, as shown on Google Earth. Notice the alley behind the stores. In nine years of blogging about Los Angeles, I have learned that families often launder the past and, understandably, murder is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 20, 1944

Posted on May 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 20, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 19 — Don Ameche and Twentieth Century-Fox are parting company. After a series of conferences failed to bring about an agreement, Don decided to move to another studio. His contract expires the last of June. … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on May 19, 2014 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 68 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — 4418 Vineland Ave. Yesterday and Today

Posted on May 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

Over the decades, towns and cities undergo great change as they evolve from agrarian societies into metropolitan areas. Multi-unit residential properties, modern office buildings and skyscrapers replace older buildings and styles of architecture, now considered too old-fashioned by some. Many … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Medicine, Preservation | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Books From the Slush Pile: ‘The Selected Letters of Elia Kazan’

Posted on May 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

The bins of rejected review copies. Aspiring authors, avert thine eyes! Note: I have been rummaging through the bins of review copies put out for the staff, trying to pick out books that are related in some fashion to the … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 16, 1944

Posted on May 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 16, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 15 —  A year ago Dick Haymes sat on a park bench in New York and wondered how he was going to support his wife and baby. Today he is to have the lead opposite … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’: The Making of a Classic Film Noir – Adventures in Research

Posted on May 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” has inspired a long detour into the production of the film – beginning with Vera Caspary and her 1942 novel. Given the typical state … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Libraries | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 15, 1944

Posted on May 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 15, 1944 On the cover, George Rodger’s photo of Sir Bernard Montgomery. This week’s movie:  “The Hitler Gang,” starring Robert Watson as Hitler. And a photo essay by Andreas Feininger on war production in the U.S. Courtesy of Google … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ and Jennifer Jones

Posted on May 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 15, 1944 Louella Parsons says: Rouben Mamoulian has asked to be released from directing “Laura” and Otto Preminger, the producer of this much discussed movie, will direct the picture. The trouble is a difference of opinion of the psychological … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Zodiac: Most Dangerous Animal — Oh Not Again!

Posted on May 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

A “true” crime book that was “written in secret” evokes “Black Dahlia Avenger” and it’s intriguing that “The Most Dangerous Animal of All” treads the same territory as Steve Hodel’s “Most Evil.” In case you don’t recall, retired LAPD Det. … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Nazis Prepare for Invasion of Europe, May 14, 1944

Posted on May 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 14, 1944 The invasion of Europe is less than a month away. Even the Germans admit it. On the jump: Movies in production: “Farewell, My Lovely,” “The House of Fear” and “A Stranger in Our Midst.” Best Sellers: “The … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 14, 1944

Posted on May 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 14, 1944 Joe E. Brown pioneered entertainment in Alaska and the South Pacific, and only Don Barclay beat him to China. Bill Gargan, who was with Paulette Goddard in China, says the name Barclay is known to every serviceman … Continue reading →

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The Old Daily Mirror Is Back Online

Posted on May 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

Some of the collateral damage from the redesign of latimes.com was the disappearance of the old Daily Mirror. It’s back online at the same old place. Google hates broken links, so I’m not sure what the outage did to its … Continue reading →

Posted in History, LAPD, Preservation | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 13, 1933

Posted on May 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 13, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 12 — The warm admiration David Wark Griffith has for Preston Sturges and his delight in “The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek” will shortly result in a business association. D.W. wrote a motion picture version of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

LAPD Parker Center Cop Shop Files: Jane Doe, Sept. 5, 1973

Posted on May 13, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: Last year I was given a box of news releases, photographs and random pieces of paper from the old press room at Parker Center. I’m gradually posting the material. These are the earrings and the label from a pair … Continue reading →

Posted in 1973, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments