Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

February 5, 2009: Burbank Time Capsule Revisited

Posted on February 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 5, 2009: Burbank opens its 1959 time capsule to discover black and white photos of the city as it was then, plus local newspapers. Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Architecture, City Hall, Education, Environment, Film, Freeways, Real Estate, San Fernando Valley, Science, Transportation | Leave a comment

February 5, 1959: Burbank Finds 1959 Time Capsule

Posted on February 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 5, 2009: Burbank workers find the time capsule implanted in the Magnolia Boulevard bridge in 1959. Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Film, San Fernando Valley | Leave a comment

February 5, 2009: Burbank to Open Time Capsule!

Posted on February 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 5, 2009: One of my favorite stories from 2009 was discovering that Burbank forgot about a time capsule placed in the Magnolia Boulevard bridge in 1959, to be opened February 5, 2009. Continue reading →

Posted in San Fernando Valley, Science, Transportation | Leave a comment

February 4, 1907: Architectural Ramblings — South Pasadena

Posted on February 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 4, 1907: Architectural rambling with “artistic bungalows.” Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars | Tagged | Leave a comment

February 3, 1939: Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on February 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 3, 1939: Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joe Seewerker visit the San Pedro breakwater. Continue reading →

Posted in Homicide, LAPD, Nuestro Pueblo | Leave a comment

Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, February 2026

Posted on February 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case includes a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a brief introduction to the Black Dahlia case. Continue reading →

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

February 3, 1959: Rock Stars Die in Plane Crash

Posted on February 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 3, 1958: Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens are killed in a plane crash. Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll, San Fernando Valley, Television, Transportation | Leave a comment

February 2, 1938: Jelousy slaying

Posted on February 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 2, 1938: After watching The Times twist and turn to avoid saying exactly what the victims in the Paul Wright case were doing when they were shot, we finally get around to it–sort of. Hint: All had been drinking heavily. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

February 2, 1932: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on February 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 2, 1932: Walter Collins, imprisoned husband of Christine Collins writes that he wants to be put on the road crew but can’t until a parole date is set. Continue reading →

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

February 2, 1907: A Trip to the Zoo

Posted on February 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 2, 1907: Conditions at Chutes Park are so bad that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is making a second inspection to see whether operator J.B. Lehigh has made any improvements before his Feb. 20 trial on charges of abuse and neglect. Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

Posted on February 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have two mysterious guests. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

January 31, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1959: Bill Thomas, then a staffer on the Mirror, is assigned to write about American Airlines’ first jet flight to New York. His colleagues buy a life insurance policy. “As the plane goes down it should be comforting to know you are doing a nice thing for your friends,” they say. Continue reading →

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

January 31, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1959: Paul Coates has the story a drug addict who graduates from Synanon and an update on the postmortem drama about the body of Carl “Alfalfa” Switzer, which was stranded at the morgue. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1959, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Paul Coates | Leave a comment

January 31, 1947: Herald-Express Publishes Name and Address of Rape Victim

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1947: It is difficult to believe that there was a time when newspapers published rape victims’ names and addresses, but the Herald-Express had no misgivings about it. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

1944 on the Radio — ‘Random Harvest’ on ‘Lux Radio Theater,’ Jan. 31, 1944

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1944: On the radio, we have the Lux Radio Theater with “Random Harvest,” starring Ronald Colman and Greer Garson. Continue reading →

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

January 31, 1907: L.A. Health Officials Fight Legislature’s Bid to Repeal Mandatory Smallpox Shots

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 31, 1907: L.A. health officials fight a bill that would lift mandatory smallpox vaccinations for schoolchildren. Continue reading →

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

January 1, 1907: Alive!

Posted on January 31, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 1, 1907: Lindsay Hicks goes on the stage to discuss his rescue after being trapped for 15 days by a cave-in. The Kentuckian doesn’t care much for show business and says he wants $3 a day, a pick and a shovel — heading back to Bakersfield. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Food and Drink, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars, Theaters | Leave a comment

1944 on the Radio — ‘Nick Carter, Master Detective,’ January 29, 1944

Posted on January 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 29, 1944: On the radio: Nick Carter, Master Detective! Continue reading →

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

January 29, 1947: Thief Steals Box of Rattlers From Snake Expert’s Car

Posted on January 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 29, 1947: A thief breaks into a car and steals a box containing … three rattlesnakes. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Animals, Comics, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

January 29, 1934: Did Ancient Lizard Cult Hide Gold Tablets in Tunnels Under L.A.?

Posted on January 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

January 29, 1934: In one of my favorite goofball stories about L.A., an engineer says his radio X-rays reveal massive gold tablets buried under the city in an elaborate network of tunnels dug by the Lizard People, The Times says. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown | 1 Comment