Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Feb. 2, 1907: Zoo Operator Charged With Abusing Animals

Posted on February 2, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2007. Feb. 2, 1907 Los Angeles 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 … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging Donald Wolfe’s ‘Black Dahlia Files,’ an Encore From 2006

Posted on February 1, 2018 by lmharnisch

Starting Saturday, I’ll begin reposting all 88 entries that I wrote in 2006 when I blogged in real time as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s awful “The Black Dahlia Files,” a book that refutes Piu Eatwell’s claim in “Black Dahlia, … Continue reading →

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Feb. 1, 1907: A Look at Lynchings

Posted on February 1, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2007. Feb. 1, 1907 Los Angeles I was all set to write about Leroyxez, “The Human Pincushion,” being nailed to a cross promptly at 4 p.m. at Chutes Park, and then a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, African Americans, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Streetcars | 1 Comment

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

Posted on January 31, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. 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. Aggie Underwood, … Continue reading →

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

Posted on January 31, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2007. Jan. 31, 1907 Los Angeles Showing once again that Los Angeles is out of touch with Sacramento, local health officials are fighting an education bill that would lift mandatory smallpox vaccinations … Continue reading →

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Jan. 30, 1947: Salesman on Main Street Corner Sets Off Riot

Posted on January 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. The rewrite desk in action: The Examiner: Free Cash, Nylons and Gum— Then They Took Him Away! Dollar bills, nylons and bubble gum pelted persons at 6th and … Continue reading →

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Jan. 30, 1907: Driver Abandons Wagon Stuck in Pothole at 1st and Spring

Posted on January 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 30, 1907 Los Angeles Recent rains have left the city’s streets in terrible shape, as The Times shows in a photo taken at 1st Street and Spring. This wagon, pulled by … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Four African Americans File for City Council 7th District Race

Posted on January 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

Jan. 30, 1947: An ad in the Sentinel announces a preview of a model home in Carver Manor, a housing development designed by Paul R. Williams at 135th Street and Avalon Boulevard. Stanford Avenue in Carver Manor, via Google Street … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1956 Allied Artists film “Crime in the Streets,” a Lindbrook production. With James Whitmore, Sal Mineo, Mark Rydell, Virginia Gregg, Peter Votrian, Will Kuluva, Malcolm Atterbury, Denise Alexander, Dan Terranova, Peter Miller, Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

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

Posted on January 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. Wanted: Thief Who Took 3 Snakes SAN GABRIEL, Jan. 28—Chief Frank L. Carpenter sent out a police broadcast tonight for capture of the boldest and most daring thief … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Du Barry Apartments – S. Charles Lee French Normandy Creation

Posted on January 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

  The Du Barry Apartments via Google Street View. S. Charles Lee’s design for the Du Barry Apartments, March 10, 1929.   Still attracting admiring looks after 89 years, the classy Du Barry Apartments located at 458 S. Catalina St. … Continue reading →

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Jan. 28, 1947: Man Leaps From Top of Empire State Building, Lands on Iowa Woman

Posted on January 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. Yet another of the kind of story that would never see Page 1 of The Times, but was featured on the front of the Examiner, with a picture … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Comics, Suicide | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Jan. 28, 1907: William Jennings Bryan, No Longer a Fiery Orator, Visits L.A.

Posted on January 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 28, 1907 Los Angeles William Jennings Bryan stepped from the Owl train to be greeted by a long-waiting crowd. “In appearance, Mr. Bryan has changed but little since he was last … Continue reading →

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Jan. 28, 1907: Meet Gen. Homer Lea, L.A.’s Gift to China

Posted on January 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan 28, 1907 Los Angeles “If my career seems strange to you, it seems stranger and more incredible to me,” Gen. Homer Lea once said. And indeed it was, for Lea’s life … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1912, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, LAPD, Obituaries, Religion, Streetcars | 1 Comment

Jan. 27, 1907: L.A. Studies Elevated Trolley Line to Ease Traffic

Posted on January 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 27, 1907 Los Angeles One thing you can say about Angelenos: We love to talk about traffic. The only thing we love more is to commission studies and draft plans to … Continue reading →

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Jan. 26, 1947: 2 Murders, 83 Assaults in Weekly Toll of Crime in L.A.

Posted on January 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. L.A. Crime Total 1,229 During Week In the last week 1,229 crimes were committed in Los Angeles. They were: 553 thefts 337 burglaries 83 robberies 83 assaults with … Continue reading →

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Jan. 26, 1907: Chinese Man Held in Immigration Case Says He Was Born in the U.S.

Posted on January 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 26, 1907 Los Angeles Chin Man Can (or Kan) is in jail on charges of being an illegal immigrant. The young man says he is nothing of the sort, but unable … Continue reading →

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Jan. 25, 1947: Shadows in Photograph Clear Man Convicted of Molesting Girl

Posted on January 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. He said he didn’t do it. He said he didn’t lure the little girl into his garage on her way home from school. But he was convicted of … Continue reading →

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Jan. 24, 1947: Electrical Engineer Seeks to Unlock Secret of Mind Reading

Posted on January 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. Savant seeks key to mental telepathy in radar, light waves PORTLAND, Ore, Jan. 24—(U.P.) An electrical engineer said today he thought the answer to mental telepathy might be … Continue reading →

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Jan. 24, 1907: L.A. Church May Ordain Woman!

Posted on January 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 24, 1907 Los Angeles Meet a tough little lady who gave her life to helping the poor, needy children of Los Angeles. She built a church and school starting with a … Continue reading →

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