Monthly Archives: May 2014

Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on May 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie is “Ziegfeld Girl.”

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 69 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘The Epic of Everest’ Scales New Heights

Posted on May 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

An image from “The Epic of Everest,” listed on EBay for $9.99.   Britain ruled the seas and world in the early 20th century, organizing expeditions to forlorn and distant lands like the poles and Mt. Everest to show British … Continue reading →

Posted in 1924, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: Photos and Newspaper Clippings on EBay

Posted on May 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

A large lot of Black Dahlia material, including newspaper clippings, several magazines, newspaper photos, etc., has been listed on EBay. Bidding is currently 99 cents but I’m sure it will go much higher before the auction concludes. An unattached front … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Too Much Johnson’ Introduces Orson Welles’ Talent

Posted on May 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Joseph Cotten, left, in “Too Much Johnson.” The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Los Angeles County Museum of Art opened their salute to Orson Welles Saturday, May 3, 2014, by screening the first films ever made … Continue reading →

Posted in 1938, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Woman’s Body Found in Trunk at Union Station, May 6, 1944

Posted on May 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

  May 6, 1944 An old trunk wrapped with wire and tied with rope arrives at Union Station, where people noticed that it was leaking — and smelled. Sent to the repair department for inspection, the trunk was opened by … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 8, 1944

Posted on May 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

The glittering suit worn by Lynn Davis bears the label of Hattie Carnegie, America’s No. 1 fashion designer. May 8, 1944 This week’s movie: “The Adventures of Mark Twain.”   The Ohio Reformatory for Women puts on a show. On … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

‘While the City Sleeps’ — John Bengtson Edition

Posted on May 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

John Bengtson, who has researched and written so much about early movie locations in Los Angeles, sends this Spence Air Photo of the Civic Center and weighs in on “While the City Sleeps.” Hi Larry – thank you for the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, City Hall, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The ‘Greatest Generation’ — What Causes ‘Sissies,’ May 8, 1944

Posted on May 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 8, 1944 Many factors contribute to the “sissification” of youth: White flour, not getting your teeth cleaned,  sugar, being a sports fan instead of a player, riding in a vehicle, smoking and drinking, and wearing too much clothing. From … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, World War II | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons

Posted on May 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 8, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 7 — Susan Hayward’s radiant happiness at playing the lead in “Dark Waters” was short lived, for Susie is out and Merle Oberon is in. This is the way it happened. Before Susan was so … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

From the Vaults — ‘While the City Sleeps,’ Part V

Posted on May 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

This is the last in our series of posts on the 1928 Lon Chaney film “While the City Sleeps.” We have previously looked at the history of the film, the plot (convoluted), the reviews (mixed) the condition of this print … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, City Hall, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

From the Vaults — ‘While the City Sleeps,’ Part IV

Posted on May 6, 2014 by lmharnisch

  In the three previous posts on the 1928 Lon Chaney film “While the City Sleeps,” we took a brief look at the production history and the plot, the critical reaction (mostly mixed) and the curious condition of the print, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, City Hall, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + )

Posted on May 5, 2014 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 69 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Wiltern Theatre Jazzes Up Movie Theater Construction

Posted on May 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

The grand opening of what was then the Warner Western Theater, courtesy of Mary Mallory.     The history of one street corner can often show the growing pains of a burgeoning city. What started out as a rural location … Continue reading →

Posted in 1931, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Remembering Dr. Glen Stassen: From the Pulpit

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

While we are on the subject of obituaries, here’s a sermon by the late Dr. Glen Stassen, “The Ten Commandments,” delivered in 2008 at First Baptist Church of Pasadena. Here’s a sermon from 2007 titled “God Is Green: Do We … Continue reading →

Posted in 2007, 2008, Obituaries, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: RIP Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who died yesterday at the age of 95, is better remembered for “77 Sunset Strip” and “The F.B.I.”  He’s probably even better remembered for “The Chapman Report.” But yes, he did portray LAPD Det. Harry Hansen in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

1944 on the Radio — ‘The First Nighter’

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 3, 1944: “The First Nighter” in a show titled “Mother’s Angel Children.” Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

Posted in 1944, Radio | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: ‘Not Elizabeth Short’ For Sale on EBay

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. An EBay vendor has listed this hand-colored picture with bids starting at $99.99, stating that…. Well, read it in their own words: AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF RESEARCH AND COMPARING OTHER ELIZABETH SHORTS … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, Photography | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Black Dahlia: 1947 L.A. Examiner Front Page Sells for $500+

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Someone bought this front page of the Jan. 17, 1947, Los Angeles Examiner, with the story about the identification of Elizabeth Short, for $511.01. Not the entire paper. Just the front page. The seller was Timothy Hughes: Early and Rare … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

From the Vaults — ‘While the City Sleeps,’ Part III

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

The previous two posts gave a brief production history and plot summary of the 1928 Lon Chaney film “While the City Sleeps” and a sample of the reviews. Today, we’ll look at some of the more unusual aspects of this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 2, 1944

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 2, 1944 THE MANY AND ASSORTED RUMORS that James Cagney has signed with this or that studio are all denied by his brother Bill, who says five stories are lined up to star Jimmy for his independent company. Says … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments