Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

July 17, 1907: Hollywood Organizes to Catch Serial Arsonist

Posted on July 17, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 17, 1907:
A serial arsonist has been at work in Hollywood, setting six fires in the last three weeks. The community’s small volunteer fire department has been overwhelmed by the crimes. Continue reading →

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July 16, 1947: L.A. County Tired of Paying Welfare, Pays Brink Family to Go Back to Oklahoma

Posted on July 16, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 16, 1947: Los Angeles County fixes the Brink family’s car and pays their expenses to go back to Oklahoma, which officials prefer to paying them $278 a month in relief. Continue reading →

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July 15, 1957: The laughter dies; Abbott and Costello break up the act

Posted on July 15, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 15, 1957: Abbott and Costello break up the act. Abbott was going to retire to his ranch in Ojai. Costello was going solo — he wouldn’t work with anyone else. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Sign Built and Illuminated November-December 1923

Posted on July 14, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory has a word for everyone celebrating the Hollywood Sign’s anniversary in July: It was in November-December 1923. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming July 21, 2026

Posted on July 14, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: The next installment of the Black Dahlia Book Club is next Tuesday, July 21, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch Continue reading →

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July 14, 1907: L.A. Prepares to Celebrate 126th Anniversary

Posted on July 14, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 14, 1907: Los Angeles prepares to mark its founding, with celebrations at the Plaza. Gen. Jose Aguilar, nearly 100, will fire the cannon when the flags of Spain, Mexico and the U.S. are raised. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

Posted on July 13, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow. Continue reading →

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July 13, 1908: Attempt to Smuggle Chinese Into U.S. Ends in Gunfight

Posted on July 13, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 13, 1908: Four Chinese men dressed as Mexicans try to cross the bridge over an irrigation canal marking the border, guided by at least one smuggler. Immigration agents and the smuggler exchange shots before the smuggler jumps into water and escapes. The four Chinese are jailed in Los Angeles. Continue reading →

Posted in 1908, Immigration | Leave a comment

July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon Strangled With Stocking

Posted on July 9, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 9, 1947: Rosenda Mondragon is found murdered. The Times and the Examiner have different accounts of the killing and the actions of her husband, Antonio. Continue reading →

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July 9, 1907: L.A. Converts Abandoned Church to House Inmates From Crowded Jail

Posted on July 9, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 9, 1907: The city rents an abandoned church for a temporarily jail. Continue reading →

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July 8, 1908: Woman’s Body Rescued From USC Dissection Lab

Posted on July 8, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 8, 1908: Marion Jones died owing $29.45 in doctor bills (more than $1,000 in 2026 dollars), so her body was sent to the USC dissection lab. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, July 2026

Posted on July 7, 2026 by lmharnisch

My Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case for July 2026. Did filmmakers really find the hidden room where Elizabeth Short was killed? (No, they did not). Continue reading →

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July 7, 1947: 4,000 Bikers in ‘Gypsy Tour’ Wreak Havoc in Hollister

Posted on July 7, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 7, 1947: Hollister, California, cleans up after the Highway Patrol chases thousands of motorcyclists out of town. The occasion was a “gypsy tour” of the American Motorcycle Association. The incident inspired the Marlon Brando movie “The Wild One.” Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Eleanor Jones, Librarian to Hollywood

Posted on July 6, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Eleanor Jones, head of the Hollywood branch library for 18 years. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 6, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow (no worries, it all works out in the end). Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

July 5, 1927: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on July 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1927: The prison warden replies to Christine Collins regarding parole for her husband, Walter. Christine Collins’ tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

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July 5, 1907: Beer Is the Health Drink, Like ‘Liquid Bread’

Posted on July 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1907: See here, you pesky temperance workers, beer is “liquid bread!” It’s good for you! Continue reading →

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L.A. Celebrates the Fourth of July 1889 – 1960

Posted on July 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

The Fourth of July in Los Angeles:
1863: Pic-Nics and fireworks!
1889: Coursing (dogs chasing a live rabbit)!
1907: Cricket matches and a bagpipe contest!
1910: Speeches in Spanish and Italian, race riots over the ‘fight of the century’ between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries. Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, 1907, 1910, 1947, 1957, 1960 | Tagged | Leave a comment

July 3, 1947: Flying Saucers Over Beverly Hills!

Posted on July 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 3, 1947: Flying Saucers Over Beverly Hills! Continue reading →

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July 2, 1947: Man Held in Strangling of Mary Tate

Posted on July 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1947: Oscar Hallgren is held in the killing of Mary Tate at 107 Weller Street, now Onizuka Street in Little Tokyo. Continue reading →

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