Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

July 27, 1947: Chinese Author Visits Dr. George Hodel,

Posted on July 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. “Knowledge is desirable, but learning is pleasure.” That is one of the sayings of Author Helena Kuo, who came a long way from her native China … Continue reading →

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July 27, 1907: Mayor Harper Calls for More LAPD Officers, New Library, More Schools

Posted on July 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Above, Mayor Harper’s goals for his administration. Note especially item No. 11–more police officers–and item No. 17: new schools. Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 27, 1907 Los Angeles One of Mayor Harper’s promises in taking over … Continue reading →

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A New Look for the L.A. Daily Mirror

Posted on July 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

If only slightly. The L.A. Daily Mirror is now ad-free. I was nearly out of storage space anyway, so I decided to upgrade my plan. Which means there’s more space for images and — as a plus — no more … Continue reading →

Posted in 2018 | Tagged | 5 Comments

Black L.A. 1947: Honor Student Vesta Belle Sapenter Strangled; Suspect Released

Posted on July 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

5320 Holmes Ave., in the Pueblo Del Rio housing project, via Google Street View.   July 24, 1947: The Sentinel reports that Benjamin Allen, 16, of 5217 McGarry St., is being held in the death of Vesta Belle Sapenter. Benjamin … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

July 26, 1947: Son Cleared of Killing Father During Attack on Mother

Posted on July 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. One night in July, Bernard Robert Monday Jr. finally had enough. The violence had been going on at least a decade, maybe longer. In 1937, when … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Black L.A. 1947: The Story of Jimmie Lunceford’s Death

Posted on July 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Mike’s Waikiki Inn, 3741 S. Western Ave. 3741 S. Western Ave., via Google Street View. July 24, 1947: The Sentinel publishes an account of the death of bandleader Jimmie Lunceford. According to the article by Wendell Green, at dinner before … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

July 25, 1907: Fire Burns Foothill Bridge, Main Route From Monrovia to L.A.

Posted on July 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 25, 1907 Arcadia, Calif. Despite the efforts of 75 volunteer firefighters, a blaze rapidly consumed a 150-foot wooden bridge on Foothill Boulevard over the Santa Anita between Arcadia and Monrovia.

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Black L.A. 1947: No Room on Athletes Plane for UCLA Track Star Lloyd LaBeach

Posted on July 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Berman’s has the new “Rugby Lounge” suit. Only $65 ($737.81 in 2018 dollars). July 24, 1947: L.A. Sentinel columnist Edward Robinson has the story of UCLA track star Lloyd LaBeach, born in Panama to Jamaican parents, who came to Los … Continue reading →

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July 24, 1947: Honor Student Vesta Belle Sapenter, 17, Strangled

Posted on July 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Her name was Vesta Belle and she was 17, an honor student at Jefferson High, a mile and a half from her home at 5320 Holmes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

July 24, 1907: Columbia University Professor Becomes an Explorer of the Occult

Posted on July 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 24, 1907 Los Angeles On a speaking tour of America, former Columbia professor James H. Hyslop is trying to raise interest in a scientific approach to psychic research while deflating the … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay: Justice for the McNamaras

Posted on July 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

A vendor on EBay has listed one of the buttons that was created by the AFL to protest the trial of the McNamara brothers in the 1910 bombing of the Los Angeles Times. According to some accounts (possibly true, possibly … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1949 Warner Bros. picture “The Girl From Jones Beach,” with Ronald Reagan, Virginia Mayo, Eddie Bracken, Dona Drake, Henry Travers, Lois Wilson, Florence Bates, Jerome Cowan, Helen Westcott, Paul Harvey, Lloyd Corrigan, Gary … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 51 Comments

July 23, 1947: British Attacked in New Battle of Jerusalem

Posted on July 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

  Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. British Attacked in New Battle of Jerusalem JERUSALEM, July 22 (AP)—A new “Battle of Jerusalem” roared tonight. Machinegun fire, Molotov cocktails and road mines set … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — ‘The Diamond From the Sky’ Shines Light on Marketing

Posted on July 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

“Like a Diamond From the Sky,” by Leo Bennett and Leo Wood, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Thanks to “What Happened to Mary?” (Edison, 1912), “The Adventures of Kathlyn” (Selig, 1913) and “The … Continue reading →

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July 23, 1907: A Belated Tribute to Heroic Officer

Posted on July 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 23, 1907 Los Angeles John Conroy, a career criminal, planned his work carefully: He would wait until 10 p.m., pry open the skylight of J.C. Fleming’s jewelry store at 531 S. … Continue reading →

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July 22, 1947: TV, Jet Engine, Tucker Car on Display at World Inventors Expo

Posted on July 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. First-prize winner at the inventors exposition was Stanley Hiller Jr., who developed a helicopter in which two blades on a single shaft rotated in opposite directions, … Continue reading →

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July 22, 1907: L.A. Housing Is Expensive

Posted on July 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

This is an encore post from 2006. Note: $90 a month is $1,847.12 USD 2005.

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July 21, 1947: Julie London Marries Jack Webb

Posted on July 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. In the courthouse corridor, just after she received one of the biggest divorce settlements in Los Angeles history, someone asked her: “If you had your choice … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

July 21, 1907: What the President Is Reading

Posted on July 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. July 21, 1907 Los Angeles President Theodore Roosevelt suggests “reading of certain books of pure fiction that have the prime quality of being interesting.”

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July 20, 1947: Wealthy Woman Gives Estate – Including Homeless Camp -– to Santa Barbara

Posted on July 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. This was a follow-up to a post by Kim Cooper. Lillian Child died in 1951 at the age of 75, four years after setting up provisions … Continue reading →

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