Monthly Archives: September 2014

Georgette Bauerdorf: An Unsolved Murder, Part 1

Posted on September 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

The unrecommended reading list. Not shown: Donald Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files,” Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service,” Howard Blum’s “American Lightning,” Wikipedia, etc. These are curious times to be a diligent researcher in Los Angeles history. There is more of Los … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

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

Posted on September 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 30, 1944   Danton Walker says: Government officials want 20th Century-Fox to release “Winged Victory” on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor day, as a boost to the country’s morale. Lucille Ball, since her separation from Desi Arnaz, has gone to … Continue reading →

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James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Online

Posted on September 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Google Books is offering a extensive preview of James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” for those who may be curious about it.  Amazon is also offering a preview. I have to say I’m not reassured by the first lines, ostensibly a radio broadcast … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie is “Fast Company,” a 1938 MGM film written by Marco Page (Harry Kurnitz) and Harold Tarshis from a book by Page, directed by Edward Buzzell and photographed by Clyde Devinna.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 63 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Garden Court Apartments Offer Luxurious Living on Hollywood Boulevard

Posted on September 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

A postcard of the Garden Court Apartments, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $9.99. For decades, the elegant Garden Court Apartments represented high-class living for both aspiring and successful residents of Hollywood. Located just west of the thriving … Continue reading →

Posted in 1917, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Georgette Bauerdorf (Updated)

Posted on September 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Georgette Bauerdorf, from the New York Sun, Oct. 13, 1944, via Fultonhistory.com. In the readers’ choice between “Laura” and Georgette Bauerdorf, the response has been almost universal in favor of looking into the Bauerdorf killing of October 1944. As longtime … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Three on a Match’ — Ann Dvorak’s Duesenberg

Posted on September 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

I finally saw “Three on a Match,” which was on TCM yesterday. And I’m crazy about Ann Dvorak’s Duesenberg town car. What a set of wheels. In this shot, Joan Blondell and Bette Davis are drooling over it.

Posted in 1932, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

1944 on the Radio — Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge

Posted on September 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 27, 1944: Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge, with Phil Harris filling in for Kyser. Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

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Daily Mirror Reader Survey

Posted on September 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a quick question as we head into October: I can keep doing the posts on the making of “Laura.” Or I can cover the unsolved killing of Georgette Bauerdorf (Oct. 13, 1944). But I cannot do both. Which would … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | 41 Comments

Man Kidnaps Woman in Attempted Murder-Suicide

Posted on September 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

  738 S. Mariposa Ave., via Google Street View. Sept. 26, 1944 Mrs. Lilliam Bohny, 35, of 738 S. Mariposa Ave. was in her nightgown and housecoat, being shown some sweaters by sweater salesman Robert Lang when William E. Andrews, … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Sept. 26, 1944

Posted on September 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1944 Walter Winchell says: Many of the staffers at Time-Life are said to be “tired of anonymity” and are taking sides… The big musical hit in town, “Song of Norway,” advertises Milton Lazarus as adapting the book … … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Life Magazine, Sept. 25, 1944

Posted on September 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1944 Claire Poe of Miami Beach, Fla., appears on the cover of Life’s special issue “A Letter to GIs,” because she is the kind of good-looking American girl that a lot of GIs know and would like to … Continue reading →

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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 35

Posted on September 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

The film of “Laura” makes heavy use of David Raksin’s now-famous theme song. The tune running through Vera Caspary’s novel is “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” from the musical “Roberta.” This copy of the sheet music is for sale on … Continue reading →

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

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

Posted on September 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1944 Walter Winchell says: Capt. J. Patterson (or his double), according to startled staffers, made visits to the Times publisher several times last week. What’s cookin? … Morton Downey and Molly Vanderbilt are the town’s most serious romance … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 34

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

The opening lines of Vera Caspary’s “Laura,” as narrated by newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker. 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 … Continue reading →

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

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1944 Louella Parsons says:  Why is young Van Johnson the idol of the bobby sox brigade and at this moment crowding Frank Sinatra and Alan Ladd for top honors? Van isn’t handsome,he hasn’t a striking physique and he … Continue reading →

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James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Update

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

We’re waiting to buy a used copy for the Daily Mirror library, so I haven’t read James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” but I thought it would be interesting to see how it’s doing. “Perfidia” has yet to penetrate the New York Times … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: San Francisco Silent Film Festival’s Inaugural Autumn Fest Big Success

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Vilma Banky and Rudolph Valentino in “Son of the Sheik,” courtesy of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Earning enthusiastic praise and reception from thrilled audiences, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival’s inaugural Autumn Fest Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014, introduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Francisco | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 33

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Waldo Lydecker, played by Clifton Webb in the film version of “Laura.”  In the novel, Waldo is considerably taller and much heavier. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 23, 1944 Dear Martha Foster: I’m not such an old-fashioned biddy as to believe that the standards of our Puritan forebears can be held up as a way of life in this hardboiled age, but it frightens me sometimes … Continue reading →

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