Monthly Archives: September 2020

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Eastern Columbia Brings Style to Shopping

Posted on September 28, 2020 by lmharnisch

One of Los Angeles’ most glorious examples of architecture merging glamour and commerce, downtown’s Eastern-Columbia building turned 90 years old September 12. Designed by Claud Beelman and erected in 1930, it symbolizes the City of Angels’ ascendance to the pinnacle … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Architecture, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 28, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movies were the 1937 Warner Bros. picture “Confession” and the 1935 German film “Mazurka.” “Confession” stars Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, Basil Rathbone, Jane Bryan, Donald Crisp, Mary Maguire and Robert Barrat. “Mazurka” stars Pola Negri, Albrecht Schoenhals, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, 1937, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights, Ernest Torrence

Posted on September 21, 2020 by lmharnisch

Photo: Ernest Torrence and Greta Nissen in “The Wanderer,” listed on EBay at $34.95. Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Long remembered for playing both villainous and comic supporting roles in silent films, Ernest Torrence achieved big success … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Obituaries | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 21, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1935 Warner Bros. film “The Girl From 10th Avenue,” with Bette Davis, Ian Hunter, Colin Clive, Alison Skipworth, John Eldridge, Phillip Reed, Katharine Alexander, Helen Jerome Eddy, Gordon (Bill) Elliott, Edward McWade, Adrian Rosley … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Cineconline Brings Entertainment in Troubling Times

Posted on September 14, 2020 by lmharnisch

After isolating through the pandemic, sweltering summer, and blazing fires, Cineconline brought a respite of lighthearted , breezy entertainment. While Cinecon 55 occurred only online, it succeeded beyond its wildest dreams in providing rare films to thousands of film fans. … Continue reading →

Posted in 2020, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 14, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1959 Allied Artists film “The Atomic Submarine,” with Arthur Franz, Dick Foran, Brett Halsey, Paul Dubov, Bob Steele, Victor Varconi, Joi Lansing, Selmer Jackson, Jack Mulhall, Jean Moorhead, Richard Tyler, Sid Melton, Ken Becker, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 58 Comments

Black Dahlia: My 24 Years With L.A.’s Coldest Cold Case

Posted on September 10, 2020 by lmharnisch

UC Irvine professor Miles Corwin, an old friend from the L.A. Times, spent months interviewing me about the Black Dahlia case. Here is Miles’ deep dive, published in the Delacorte Review, into my decades-long journey exploring the life and death … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Labor Day in Los Angeles, 1886

Posted on September 7, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Sept. 7, 1886: The Times publishes a roundup of events marking  Labor Day, but there are no reports of any celebrations in Los Angeles. On the jump, Labor Day, 1891, is celebrated … Continue reading →

Posted in 1886, 1891, 1895, Labor, Transportation | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Ethel Barrymore Dons Blackface for ‘Scarlet Sister Mary’

Posted on September 7, 2020 by lmharnisch

Ethel Barrymore in “Sister Scarlet Mary” Stage legend Ethel Barrymore continually sought challenges to advance her craft through her many decades in the theater. In the late 1920s, she took on perhaps her biggest challenge, portraying the lead character in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Stage | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 7, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1953 Twentieth Century-Fox film “Vicki,” with Jeanne Crain, Jean Peters, Elliot Reid, Richard Boone, Casey Adams, Alex D’Arcy, Carl Betz and Aaron Spelling. Screenplay by Dwight Taylor from a novel by Steve Fisher. Music … Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 63 Comments

Black Dahlia: Annual Halloween Reminder

Posted on September 3, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This encore post from 2018 is still timely. Alas. Somewhere, somebody is already thinking about a Black Dahlia costume for Halloween, so here is my annual reminder: Dressing up like the victim of a grotesque murder is not the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment