Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

February 28, 1959: Dodger Dome?

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 29, 1959: Could Dodger Stadium be renamed the Dodger Dome? Keith Thursby takes a look. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Architecture, Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, Obituaries, Sports | Leave a comment

February 28, 1959: Ex-Teamsters Boss Sentenced to Prison

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 28, 1959: Former Teamsters boss Dave Beck is sentenced to five years in prison. Beck died in 1993 at the age of 99. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Architecture, Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, Obituaries, Sports | Leave a comment

Voices — Christine Collins, February 27, 1932

Posted on February 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 27, 1932: Parole is denied for Walter Collins, a blow to Christine Collins, whose life inspired the Clint Eastwood film ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Leave a comment

1944 on the Radio — Jack Benny and Groucho Marx, February 26, 1944

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1944: On the radio dial, Jack Benny visits Groucho Marx. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Music, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Feb. 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ Inspires ‘Dopey’ Dance

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ inspires the ballroom craze: The ‘Dopey’ Dance! Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is March 3

Posted on February 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@lmharnisch) next Tuesday, March 3, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Have questions? Leave them in the comments. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Miriam Matthews, Pioneering Black Librarian, Advocate of L.A. History

Posted on February 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Miriam Matthews, Los Angeles’ first Black certified librarian, who was an advocate for Los Angeles history. Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Libraries, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious woman and Back of the Head Guy. Continue reading →

Posted in 1962, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

Voices — Christine Collins, February 21, 1928

Posted on February 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 21, 1928: George Anderson of the Los Angeles Railway writes to Christine Collins regarding possible for parole for her husband, Walter. Christine Collin’s life was the inspiration for the Clint Eastwood film “Changeling.” Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Leave a comment

L.A. Times Recants 1942 Editorials on Internment of Japanese Americans

Posted on February 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 21, 1942: The Times reports President Roosevelt’s executive order on the evacuation of Americans of Japanese ancestry. In 2017, The Times recanted it editorials strongly promoting the internment. Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 2017, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

February 21, 1907: Mystery Killer Poisons Dogs and Cats in Angeleno Heights

Posted on February 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 21, 1907: A mysterious poisoner is killing dogs and cats in Angeleno Heights. The killer preys on purebreds rather than mongrels, The Times says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Leave a comment

February 18, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1959: Actor Paul Fierro grew a beard in hopes of being cast as Fidel Castro. His ploy finally worked — somewhat. He’s cast as a police officer and has to shave off the beard but is keeping the mustache, Matt Weinstock says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Leave a comment

February 18, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1959: A divorcee over 40, once an executive secretary, can’t get hired because of her age, Paul Coates writes. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Leave a comment

1944 in Print — ‘Walter Winchell on Broadway,’ February 18, 1944

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1944: Herr Goering’s first name, Herman, came from a Jewish doctor, Herman Eppstein, of Tyrol, Austria, Walter Winchell says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, New York, Nightclubs, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

February 18, 1908

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1908: A woman falsely claims to be a famous author, and a man has delusions of great wealth. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1908, Front Pages, Transportation | Leave a comment

February 18, 2007: Architectural Ramblings

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 2007: In exploring neighborhoods from 1907, I visited La Salle Street. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia Book Club for February 2026

Posted on February 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

The second session of the Black Dahlia Book Club is on YouTube.com/LMHarnisch. This time, I discussed books by four journalists involved in the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1948, Black Dahlia, Black Dahlia Book Club, books, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

February 17, 1907: Before Staples Center — City Straightens 12th Street

Posted on February 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 17, 1907: People on West 12th Street argue about straightening out the street between Main and Hoover. Some say it would raise property values, others counter that it would ruin homes and bring costly assessments. The street was later wiped out and is home to a certain sports arena. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Leave a comment

1944 in Print — ‘Walter Winchell on Broadway,’ February 17, 1944

Posted on February 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 17, 1944: “Alfred M. Landon stated: Fascism is here in America and its name is the New Deal,” Walter Winchell reports. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

February 16, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on February 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 16, 1959: A woman’s freelance writing jeopardizes her eligibility for welfare, Matt Weinstock says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Leave a comment