Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Feb. 18, 2007: Architectural Ramblings

Posted on February 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 18, 2007 Los Angeles The buildings featured in The Times for this week have been torn down, but in glancing through the listings, I found the sale by the Althouse brothers … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged | Comments Off on Feb. 18, 2007: Architectural Ramblings

Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 16 — A Moment of Silence

Posted on February 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Wednesday was the 61st anniversary of the kidnapping of 6-year-old Rochelle Gluskoter from the frontyard of a home around the corner from where her parents, Abe and Miriam, were preparing to open … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 16 — A Moment of Silence

Feb. 17, 1907: Before Staples Center — City Straightens 12th Street

Posted on February 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Above, a vanished landmark: The Schermerhorn Inn, at Potter Park, a street that has disappeared. Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 17, 1907 Los Angeles West 12th Street between Main and Hoover is maddeningly crooked, but how … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Feb. 17, 1907: Before Staples Center — City Straightens 12th Street

Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 15 — Time for a Reality Check

Posted on February 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. I was all set, or so I thought, for today’s entry. And then something fell in my lap that I simply couldn’t ignore. Let’s suppose you are an established author with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 15 — Time for a Reality Check

Black L.A., 1947: Stylish Men in Harlem Wearing Berets

Posted on February 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

At top, the home at 2443 S. St. Andrews Place is for sale at $16,500 cash or $18,000 “terms.” Above, the 2400 block of South St. Andrews Place via Google Street View. Feb. 13, 1947: Columnist Bill Smallwood says “Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Books and Authors, Fashion, Real Estate | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 14 — Teutonic Thoroughness

Posted on February 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Several years ago, I was interviewed by a writer for the German magazine Stern about the Black Dahlia case. In explaining what was wrong with the various Dahlia books, I said: “They … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 14 — Teutonic Thoroughness

Black Dahlia: Ritual Sacrifice? Now I Have Heard Everything – And My Hair Is On Fire

Posted on February 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

I thought I had heard every possible crackpot idea about the Black Dahlia case (including comments on the blog that aren’t fit for publication). But ritual sacrifice? As Zippy the Pinhead would say: Yow!

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black L.A., 1947: ‘Why Do 14-Year-Old Girls Get Drunk and Fall Into Bed With Men?’ Judge Asks

Posted on February 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

The Sentinel runs a publicity photo of Flora Washington, who released “Broken Hearted” and “If I Ever Cry, You’ll Never Know” on the United Artist label in 1946. Flora Washington sings “Broken Hearted” via Archive.org.   Feb. 13, 1947: Municipal … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Crime and Courts, Music, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Black L.A., 1947: ‘Why Do 14-Year-Old Girls Get Drunk and Fall Into Bed With Men?’ Judge Asks

Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 13 — The Subject Is Roses

Posted on February 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. I always cut my roses on Jan. 15 as a memorial to Elizabeth Short, because I remember that on the night before the body was found a neighbor had a strange encounter … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 13 — The Subject Is Roses

Feb. 14-15, 1907: Gas Explosion in Downtown L.A. Levels Building, Kills 7

Posted on February 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 14-15, 1907 Los Angeles An 11:30 a.m. blast caused by an accumulation of gas shattered the Rawson building at 114 W. 2nd St. in an explosion blamed on a gas company … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Feb. 14-15, 1907: Gas Explosion in Downtown L.A. Levels Building, Kills 7

Black L.A. 1947: Judge Backs Racial Ban, Orders Native Americans Out of West Hollywood Home

Posted on February 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

Feb. 13, 1947: Dorothy Bradley becomes the first African American cashier hired at the Safeway grocery store in Watts. She was hired as the result of a campaign by the Watts Citizens Welfare committee protesting Safeway’s refusal to hired black … Continue reading →

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

Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 12 — I’m My Own Grandpaw

Posted on February 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Page 16 In the Black Dahlia books, all roads lead to William Randolph Fowler and it would be interesting to see how a sociologist would make a graph of the incestuous literary … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 12 — I’m My Own Grandpaw

Feb. 13, 1907: Hotel Alexandria Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Posted on February 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb.13, 1907 Los Angeles An enormous masked ball for the city’s elite was staged on Mardi Gras at Kramer’s Studio and Dancing Academy, 1500 S. Figueroa.

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, City Hall, LAPD, Music, Streetcars | Comments Off on Feb. 13, 1907: Hotel Alexandria Celebrates 1st Anniversary

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood National Bank Watches History Go By

Posted on February 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

  Carol Hughes as photographed by Schuyler Crail, with Hollywood and Cahuenga in the background, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2016. One of the most important and busiest intersections in Hollywood has always been … Continue reading →

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

Black L.A. 1947: Jazz Musicians Outraged by Esquire Jazz Book for 1947

Posted on February 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

Feb. 13, 1947: Coming to the Shrine Auditorium – Esquire Award winners Lester Young, Woody Herman, Benny Goodman, Lucky Thompson, Benny Carter, Dodo Marmarosa, Barney Kessell and Vic Dickenson. Feb. 13, 1947: Esquire magazine began an annual poll in 1943 … Continue reading →

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

Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 11 — The Thrill Is Gone

Posted on February 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Page 14 “Hansen studied the body and the ‘sacred setting’ for some time before he stood up and said to Finis, ‘We won’t know what we’re really dealing with here until we … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 11 — The Thrill Is Gone

Location Sleuth

Posted on February 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

Look what I found while watching the opening of “Some Like It Hot.” Why it’s signage for a 1950s Standard gas station. Hey isn’t that going to be in the shot? Naw, don’t worry about it.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Location Sleuth

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1954 Italian film “Voyage to Italy” or “Journey to Italy,” with George “Georges” Sanders and Ingrid Bergman. It was directed by Roberto Rossellini. The film is available on DVD from the Criterion Collection.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 35 Comments

Feb. 12, 1907: Alhambra Acres and Vermont Avenue Square

Posted on February 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 12, 1907 Los Angeles Imagine the surprise of Mrs. Robert Jackson, who was about to move into her new home on Vernon Avenue and discovered that the contractor had built it … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Feb. 12, 1907: Alhambra Acres and Vermont Avenue Square

Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 10 — The Riddler

Posted on February 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Pages 12-15 Here’s a riddle: Let’s suppose for a moment that you are writing a historical piece; nothing terribly esoteric for a scholarly journal but something for the average reader. You have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Blogging "Black Dahlia Files" Part 10 — The Riddler