Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Maxey’s Singapore Spa – A Sign of the Times

Posted on July 31, 2017 by lmharnisch

    “The menu is to the mood of a restaurant what the tie is to the dress ensemble…a small detail but the most noticeable of all!” –“Menu Profit Maker,” Restaurant Management, 1936 –Josh Kun “To Live and Dine in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: Another Entry in the George Hodel ‘Black Dahlia Avenger’ Franchise

Posted on July 28, 2017 by lmharnisch

Variety announces “One Day She’ll Darken.” While the rest of the world was consumed with the Senate vote on a “skinny repeal” of Obamacare, my inbox exploded with news of a purported “Black Dahlia TV series.” Oh dear. This one … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 2017, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 24, 2017 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1935 RKO film “She,” with Helen Gahagan, Randolph Scott, Helen Mack and Nigel Bruce, directed by Irving Pichel and Lansing C. Holden. With adaptation, continuity and dialogue by Ruth Rose, additional dialogue by … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 58 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Junius Estep and Alfred Lindstedt, Early but Forgotten Stills Photographers

Posted on July 24, 2017 by lmharnisch

Bessie Eyton by Junius Estep, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2015 In the early days of silent film production, moving picture companies promoted their brand names to consumers, selling films around the quality and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 17, 2017 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1933 MGM picture “Fast Workers,” with John Gilbert, Robert Armstrong, Mae Clarke, Muriel Kirkland, Vince Barnett, Virginia Cherrill, Muriel Evans, Sterling Holloway, Guy Usher, Warner Richmond and Robert Burns, based on the play … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 55 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood’s ‘Five-Finger Plan’ Aids Traffic in the 1920s-30s

Posted on July 17, 2017 by lmharnisch

  A postcard of the Cahuenga Pass showing the cross erected in 1923 in memory of Christine Witherill Stevenson, one of the prime movers in establishing the Hollywood Bowl. Listed on EBay for $6.50. Throughout the history of Los Angeles, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bastille Day 1889: Los Angeles Celebrates Centennial of French Liberty

Posted on July 14, 2017 by lmharnisch

July 16, 1889: the Los Angeles Times uses drawings to illustrate reports on the centennial celebration of Bastille Day in Los Angeles.   The streets through which the procession was to pass had been handsomely decorated, those in the French … Continue reading →

Posted in 1889, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on July 13, 2017 by lmharnisch

The Hollywoodland Sign, in a photo published in the Los Angeles Evening Herald, Dec. 8, 1923. Note: Today (July 13) is commonly mistaken for the “birthday” of the Hollywood Sign. An encore post from Mary Mallory sets the record straight. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Sign Built and Illuminated November-December 1923

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Garden Court Apartments Offer Luxurious Living on Hollywood Boulevard

Posted on July 10, 2017 by lmharnisch

A postcard of the Garden Court Apartments, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $9.99. Note: This is an encore post from 2014 For decades, the elegant Garden Court Apartments represented high-class living for both aspiring and successful residents … Continue reading →

Posted in 1917, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Garden Court Apartments Offer Luxurious Living on Hollywood Boulevard

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 10, 2017 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1945 Michael Powell – Emeric Pressberger film “I Know Where I’m Going!” Unfortunately, I cant do justice to the ingenious opening title sequence, but it should settle once and for all the recent … Continue reading →

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

L.A. Celebrates the Fourth of July

Posted on July 4, 2017 by lmharnisch

July 4, 1944: Uncle Sam in a cartoon by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale for the Los Angeles Examiner and republished in the Milwaukee Sentinel.   Here’s a look at how Los Angeles has celebrated Independence Day over the years.

Posted in 1863, 1907, 1910, 1947, 1957, 1960 | Tagged | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘I’m the Guy’ – Rube Goldberg as Comic Performer

Posted on July 3, 2017 by lmharnisch

  The cover of “I’m the Guy” as a refrigerator magnet, available on EBay for $4.99. Long before newspaper humorists like Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry came on the scene, there was Rube L. Goldberg, Renaissance Man of entertainment. Cartoonist, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1912, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘I’m the Guy’ – Rube Goldberg as Comic Performer

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 3, 2017 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1935 MGM film “Mad Love,” based on the Maurice Renard novel “Les Mains d’Orlac,” translated and adapted by Florence Crewe-Jones, with Peter Lorre, Frances Drake, Colin Clive, Ted Healy, Sarah Haden, Edward Brophy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 26, 2017 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1958 Anthony Mann film “God’s Little Acre,” starring Robert Ryan, Aldo Ray, Buddy Hackett, Jack Lord, Fay Spain, Vic Morrow, Helen Westcott, Lance Fuller, Rex Ingram, Michael Landon, Russell Collins, Davis Roberts, Janet … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Japanese Gardens Bring Serenity to Los Angeles

Posted on June 26, 2017 by lmharnisch

A postcard showing a Japanese garden at the Huntington Hotel, courtesy of Mary Mallory.   Note: This is an encore post from 2015 Throughout its history, Los Angeles has been blessed with an abundance of beautiful parks and gardens in … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Parks | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Inside L.A.’s Movie Palaces

Posted on June 22, 2017 by lmharnisch

Gary Martin, one of the members of the Brain Trust, writes to tell us that the Theatre Historical Society of America will meet in Los Angeles next week and offer tours of many theaters.

Posted in 2017, Architecture, Coming Attractions | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Inside L.A.’s Movie Palaces

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Tsuru Aoki, Lotus Flower of the Cinema

Posted on June 19, 2017 by lmharnisch

  Tsuru Aoki, in Sunset magazine. Though long in the shadow of her more well known husband, Tsuru Aoki achieved just as great a fame as Sessue Hayakawa, with a life story as fascinating as any novel. Born in Japan … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 19, 2017 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1957 MGM film “Until They Sail,” with Jean Simmons, Joan Fontaine, Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, Charles Drake, Sandra Dee, Wally Cassell, Alan Napier, Ralph Votrian, John Wilder, Tige Andrews, Adam Kennedy and Mickey … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 43 Comments

Black Dahlia: Don’t Spend Money on the FBI Files

Posted on June 14, 2017 by lmharnisch

Every so often, some EBay vendor gets the clever idea of selling the FBI’s files on the Black Dahlia case. In this instance, it’s someone in the UK selling Part 1 | and Part 2. Of course, you can download … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Los Angeles Tennis Club, Society Racket

Posted on June 12, 2017 by lmharnisch

  The Los Angeles Tennis Club, Modern Screen, 1931-32.     Long a favorite activity of high society, tennis has been a way to fashionably exercise and enjoy time with friends for centuries. Los Angeles “in crowd” flocked to tennis, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Sports | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments