Monthly Archives: July 2014

Florabel Muir’s ‘Headline Happy’

Posted on July 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

A copy of Florabel Muir’s 1950 “Headline Happy” has been listed on EBay for $45 or make an offer. Muir was a newspaperwoman in Los Angeles and discusses the usual suspects, including Bugsy Siegel (she describes the murder scene) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Found on EBay | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Black Mask, Weird Tales, Amazing Stories and Spicy Stories on the Internet!

Posted on July 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

Imagine my surprise to discover that Archive.org has added a large collection of pulp magazines such as this August 1920 issue of Black Mask, the legendary mystery magazine that published so many hardboiled writers, including Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Cornell … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

1944 in Print — Walter Winchell and Louella Parsons, July 31, 1944

Posted on July 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 31, 1944 Walter Winchell says: Times Sq. Ticker: Otto Preminger’s production of Vera Caspary’s hit novel “Laura” gives the villainous role to Clifton Webb, his first film. It’s a racy mystery murder with Gene Tierney in the role Jennifer … Continue reading →

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Another Wikipedia Hoax Exposed

Posted on July 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

A regular reader forwarded the following post to me, regarding our go-to source for misinformation: Wikipedia. Writing in The Daily Dot, E.J. Dickson describes surprise in discovering that a 2009 edit made to a Wikipedia entry as a college prank … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Wikipedia | Tagged , | 6 Comments

1944 in Print — Tom Treanor ‘One Damn Thing After Another’

Posted on July 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1944 Less than a month before Times war correspondent Tom Treanor was killed in France, his book “One Damn Thing After Another” was reviewed in The Times. The book is a collection of Treanor’s columns for The Times. … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 14

Posted on July 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look at the making of the film, which was released in Los … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, July 30, 1944

Posted on July 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1944 The youthful glamour department at MGM is in the hands of two young ladies whose widely divergent careers started about the same time. June Allyson, without five minutes’ training, went to Broadway and got herself a job … Continue reading →

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July 29 — Elizabeth Short’s birthday

Posted on July 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Today is Elizabeth Short’s birthday. She would have been 90.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, July 29, 1944

Posted on July 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 29, 1944 The most sought-after stage play of the year, “The Voice of the Turtle,” goes to Warner Bros. It was flashed from New York that Jack Warner had bought John Van Druten’s Broadway hit, and the news was … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + )

Posted on July 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s movie was “The Earrings of Madame de…” based on the novel by Louise de Vilmorin

Posted in Film, Mystery Photo | Tagged , | 44 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: First National Building Banks On Hollywood’s Future

Posted on July 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

Hollywood First National Bank Building, Courtesy of Mary Mallory. Soaring to the skies, displaying confidence in Hollywood’s unlimited future, the First National Building, constructed and opened in 1928, brought Art Deco-Gothic beauty to Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. Operating as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Maria Ridulph, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Dead Man’s Last Words: ‘Here’s a Good Spot to Shoot, Baby,’ July 25, 1944

Posted on July 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

“Here’s a good spot to shoot, baby” are the probably the last words spoken by William B. Smith, 39, a dental technician (or a shipyard worker, depending on the story) who was confronted by his angry girlfriend, waitress Mildred Cook, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, July 25, 1944

Posted on July 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 25, 1944 George Raft has always hankered after romantic parts. Time after time he has turned down “heavy” roles that have brought fame to other actors. But George has always argued that fans like romance and adventure, so it’s … Continue reading →

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

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, July 24, 1944

Posted on July 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1944 Jennifer Jones, a quiet, 24-year-old movie newcomer, last March startled Hollywood by winning the Academy Award for her performance in “The Song of Bernadette.” In her second major movie, “Since You Went Away,” she gives another warm … Continue reading →

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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 13

Posted on July 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Vera Caspary’s second attempt to turn “Laura” into a play, in  collaboration with George Sklar.     In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, July 24, 1944

Posted on July 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1944 Jeanette MacDonald’s absence from all social activities this summer is explained. She opens with the Chicago Civic Opera Co. in November and she has been studying hard with Lotte Lehman and her teacher of many years, Grace … Continue reading →

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LAPD Parker Center Cop Shop Files: John Doe No. 52 DR 73 478 242

Posted on July 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old press room — the “Cop Shop” — when Parker Center was closed. Today we have an artist’s sketch of John … Continue reading →

Posted in 1973, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, July 23, 1944

Posted on July 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

  July 23, 1944 The conversation I had with Bing Crosby several days ago was not about the world-famous crooner, the man who is already mentioned for this year’s Oscar because of his performance in “Going My Way.” It5 was … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 12

Posted on July 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

The fur coat — all that remains of Vera Caspary’s original story “Easy Living” — lands on Jean Arthur in Preston Sturges’ script. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, July 22, 1944

Posted on July 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1944 Mr. Winkle Goes to War” has set Jack Moss in solid as a producer at Columbia – so solid that his next will be “Pal Joey.” The Broadway stage hit has nothing to do with Pal Joey … Continue reading →

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