Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Black L.A. 1947: Huge Blast Kills 17, Show Dangers of Industry Moving Into Black Neighborhoods

Posted on February 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Feb. 20, 1947: An aerial view of the devastation from the explosion at the O’Connor Electroplating Corp.,  926 E. Pico Blvd.  Los Angeles Public Library Herald Examiner collection. The site of the O’Connor Electroplating explosion via Google Satellite View. The … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging ‘Black Dahlia Files’ Part 27 — The Pinata Collecting Our Thoughts

Posted on February 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. The two-minute executive summary: In analyzing Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles,” we have spent the last week on the … Continue reading →

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Feb. 27, 1907: Downtown Fire Kills Secretary Who Stopped to Call Boss

Posted on February 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 27, 1907 Los Angeles A thick cloud of smoke from a raging fire in the basement swept through the Germain building on South Spring Street at lunch hour, engulfing businessmen and … Continue reading →

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Black L.A., 1947: Husband Suspected of Killing Mary Tate

Posted on February 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

  Feb. 27, 1947: Terry Tate, of 123 N. San Pedro Street, is arrested in the death of his wife, Mary, at 107 Weller Street, described by the Sentinel as a rooming house or hotel. Tate was strangled and beaten … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1955 Warner Bros. film “Tall Man Riding,” with Randolph Scott, Dorothy Malone, Peggie Castle, Bill Ching, John Baragrey, Robert Barrat, John Dehner, Paul Richards and Lane Chandler. The screenplay was by Joseph Hoffman, … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Moving Picture Hero of My Heart’ Promotes Movies

Posted on February 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

  From its beginnings, the motion picture industry developed adept advertising and promotional concepts to spread the word of its film products and stars. Quick to develop cross-promotions and partnerships with magazines and newspapers, the film industry grew new fans … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 26 — Missing Man Formation

Posted on February 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Our story so far: I am blogging—in real time—as I read Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files.” It’s been slow going and this is an especially tedious part because I’m examining … Continue reading →

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In Indiana, There Is No Beer

Posted on February 26, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 14-26, 1907 Los Angeles The Rev. Ervin S. Chapman, a Presbyterian minister who heads the Anti-Saloon League of California, has won a victory through an address that persuaded an Indiana judge … Continue reading →

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

Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 25 — Loyalty

Posted on February 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Just out of curiosity, I did a Google image search for “loyalty.” I got Johnny Cash flipping the bird (turned into a mock motivational poster); another poster for the Army on its … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 24 — He Walked by Night

Posted on February 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Much has been written about poor crowd control at the Black Dahlia crime scene. Here’s an example of LAPD crowd control from the 1948 film “He Walked by Night,” which was the … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 23 — The Pinata

Posted on February 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. So what’s your point, Harnisch? Isn’t there a little schadenfreude here in dismantling Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files: The Mob, the Mogul and the Murder That Transfixed Los Angeles”? Didn’t … Continue reading →

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Feb. 24, 1907: Samuel Tilden Norton Designs Eagle Rock Bank Building

Posted on February 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Eagle Rock bank building designed by Samuel Tilden Norton, via Google Street View. Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 24, 1907 Eagle Rock Architect Samuel Tilden Norton has designed a bank building for Townsend Avenue and Colorado … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 22 — The Funny Papers

Posted on February 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oh dear…. oh dearie, dearie, dear. Just out of curiosity, I decided to check the address Wolfe gave as his home when Bugsy Siegel was killed. This was 803 N. Roxbury Drive … Continue reading →

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Feb. 23, 1907: Scotch Thistles Beat English Victorias in 1st L.A. Soccer Game of 20th Century

Posted on February 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 23, 1907 Los Angeles The Scotch Thistles beat the English Victorias 3-2 in Southern California’s first soccer game since the Caledonians and the Pasadena team met at Agricultural Park in 1890, … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 21 —The Cloudy Crystal Ball

Posted on February 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. I have a poor track record with movie screenings, being one of the few people to walk out halfway through a sneak preview of “Boogie Nights,” which I thought was terrible. Of … Continue reading →

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Feb. 22, 1907: Rainstorm Inspires Lyricism From Times Reporter

Posted on February 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 22, 1907 Los Angeles Here’s how The Times weather stories read a century ago: “For all the daylight hours yesterday, the rain drizzled down, much of the time like a heavy … Continue reading →

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Black L.A., 1947: Willie Earle Lynched by South Carolina Mob

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Feb. 20, 1947: The lynching of Willie Earle drew nationwide attention. Here is the New Yorker’s 1947 account of the trial in which 28 men were acquitted.

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Billy Graham Brings ‘Canvas Cathedral’ to Los Angeles, 1949

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Billy Graham brings his “canvas cathedral” to Los Angeles in 1949. Via YouTube. .

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Black Dahlia: Blogging “Black Dahlia Files” Part 20 —The FBI Story

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. There is an individual on ebay who sells copies of Elizabeth Short’s FBI file for $22 and some bidders drive the price even higher. The fact that the files are available online … Continue reading →

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

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 21, 1907 Los Angeles Someone who hates animals is at work in Angeleno Heights, having poisoned 10 valuable dogs and several cats, The Times says.

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