Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

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

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

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 + + + +)

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

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

  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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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!

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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Jan. 23, 1947: Four Held for Trial in ‘Red Hibiscus Murder’

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. Murder Four held for Trial in ‘Hibiscus’ Slaying After a weeklong preliminary hearing, four of five youths arrested in the Lincoln Park “hibiscus” murder case were today held … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Comics, Crime and Courts, Music | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Jan. 23, 1907: Felix Chavarino — Lemon Fiend

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 23, 1907 Los Angeles Pity, for a moment, Felix Chavarino, caught in the grips, not of opium, morphine or heroin, but of citrus, for he is a “lemon fiend.” He was … Continue reading

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Black Dahlia: D.A.’s Final Report Says Elizabeth Short Was Never at Aster Motel

The Aster Motel, 2901 S. Flower, via Google Street View. Elizabeth Short was never here, according to the district attorney’s files, regardless of claims made in Piu Eatwell’s “Black Dahlia, Red Rose.”  In response to continuing questions about the Aster … Continue reading

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Jan. 22, 1947: Police Hunt ‘Large Nose Bandit’

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. ‘Large Nose’ Seek Bandit in $28,000 L.A. Bank Holdup “Large Nose,” a bandit who claims “heroes die young,” was sought by police today for the $28,000 robbery of … Continue reading

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Comics, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1932 Warner Bros. picture “Winner Take All,” with James Cagney, Marian Nixon, Guy Kibbee, Dickie Moore, Virginia Bruce, Alan Mowbray, Esther Howard, Clarence Muse, Clarence Wilson, Ralf Harold and John Roche. The film … Continue reading

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

Jan. 22, 1907: The Bible Explained — for $1,000

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Jan. 22, 1907 Los Angeles Since his teens, James Lauer has been studying the Bible. Where others have struggled to parse its meanings, he has found clarity. He wants to write a … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | 2 Comments