Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Black Dahlia Book Club – Coming March 17, 2026

Posted on March 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: The third session of the Black Dahlia Book Club will meet March 17 at 10 a.m. on YouTube. This time I’ll look at a two-part retrospective on the case, published in 1949 in the Los Angeles Mirror in its “Someone Knows! series, and the radio show “Somebody Knows” from 1950. Continue reading →

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March 10, 1914: LAPD Cracks Down on Non-Asian Women Working in ‘Oriental Cafes’

Posted on March 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 10, 1914: The LAPD cracks down on non-Asian women working in ‘Oriental cafes.’ Continue reading →

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March 10, 1907: Religious Leader’s Last Words ‘I Will Return in 1,000 Years’

Posted on March 10, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 10, 1907: The world loses two religious leaders: Mary Baker Eddy and John Alexander Dowie, founder of Zion, Ill. Dowie’s last words were “I will return in a thousand years.” Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on March 9, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a very mysterious fellow. With a gun. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Daylight Saving Time: A Reminder From Pier Angeli and the Daily Mirror

Posted on March 8, 2026 by lmharnisch

Pier Angeli and her little friend with a reminder about Daylight Saving Time. Continue reading →

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March 5, 1959: Blinded by Bullet, Officer Shoots Gunman Who Killed Partner

Posted on March 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 5, 1959: Police Officer Ector A. Garcia, known for his skill in sketching crime suspects, kills the man who shot his partner despite being blinded by gunfire. Garcia became a noted police artist, publishing the book “Portraits of Crime.” Continue reading →

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March 4, 1959: Lou Costello Dies!

Posted on March 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 4, 1959: Lou Costello, a partner in one of the greatest comedy duos, dies at the age of 52. Continue reading →

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March 4, 1907: L.A. Streetcars — Another Look

Posted on March 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 4, 1907: Despite its saintly image, the Los Angeles streetcar system was problematic, as shown by a 1907 accident in San Pedro in which the car jumped the tracks, injuring 10 people. Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, March 2026

Posted on March 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case includes a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a possible appearance on Michael Connelly’s podcast. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on March 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have two mysterious fellows. Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 34 Comments

March 1, 1907: L.A. Businesses Running Out of Space to Dump Garbage

Posted on March 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 1, 1907: Downtown businessmen are at a complete loss over what to do with the garbage from their operations and want the city to either take it or designate a dump they can use. Continue reading →

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February 29, 1932: Body Found in Closet of Vacant Home

Posted on March 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 29, 1932: Nailed up in the closet of an unoccupied house at 2318 Pontius Ave.., West Los Angeles, the body of Tomas Moreno (or Towas Morino), 43-year-old Japanese, was discovered yesterday by friends. Continue reading →

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February 28, 1959: Dodger Dome?

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 29, 1959: Could Dodger Stadium be renamed the Dodger Dome? Keith Thursby takes a look. Continue reading →

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February 28, 1959: Ex-Teamsters Boss Sentenced to Prison

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 28, 1959: Former Teamsters boss Dave Beck is sentenced to five years in prison. Beck died in 1993 at the age of 99. Continue reading →

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Voices — Christine Collins, February 27, 1932

Posted on February 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 27, 1932: Parole is denied for Walter Collins, a blow to Christine Collins, whose life inspired the Clint Eastwood film ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

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1944 on the Radio — Jack Benny and Groucho Marx, February 26, 1944

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1944: On the radio dial, Jack Benny visits Groucho Marx. Continue reading →

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Feb. 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ Inspires ‘Dopey’ Dance

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ inspires the ballroom craze: The ‘Dopey’ Dance! Continue reading →

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Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is March 3

Posted on February 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@lmharnisch) next Tuesday, March 3, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Have questions? Leave them in the comments. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Miriam Matthews, Pioneering Black Librarian, Advocate of L.A. History

Posted on February 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Miriam Matthews, Los Angeles’ first Black certified librarian, who was an advocate for Los Angeles history. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious woman and Back of the Head Guy. Continue reading →

Posted in 1962, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments