Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Aggie Underwood and Women City Editors on the Frontiers of Journalism

Posted on November 6, 2015 by lmharnisch

Underwood’s autobiography, “Newspaperwoman,” written with Foster Goss. It is full of colorful stories, but like all autobiographies it should be taken with a grain of salt. It’s probably a good time to bring a little clarity to the Aggie Underwood … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

John Bengtson on Silent Films and Hollywood History

Posted on November 3, 2015 by lmharnisch

John Bengtson, who does so much amazing research into tracking down the sites where early films were shot, is giving a luncheon talk and book signing Nov. 16 at the Ebell of Los Angeles, 741 S. Lucerne Blvd. The event … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo: Brain Trust Guest Edition (Updated + + +)

Posted on November 2, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery photos are courtesy of guest host Earl Boebert, who says: I was laid up for a bit recuperating from some heavy-duty dental work, and being constitutionally incapable of sitting idle I worked up this mystery photo series … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 48 Comments

James Curtis: William Cameron Menzies — The Shape of Films to Come

Posted on November 2, 2015 by lmharnisch

We had lunch recently with James Curtis, who showed us a copy of his upcoming biography: “William Cameron Menzies: The Shape of Films to Come,” to be released Nov. 17. James is justly proud of his book, which is the … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Margaret Bourke-White, Motion Picture Photographer

Posted on November 2, 2015 by lmharnisch

Margaret Bourke-White and Michael Curtiz during filming of “The Adventures of Robin Hood.” Renowned photojournalist Margaret Bourke-White fearlessly documented battles on land, air, and sea, surviving combat zones, strafing during a bombing run, torpedoing at sea, and the bombardment of … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Halloween 2015

Posted on October 31, 2015 by lmharnisch

Judging by Instagram, there are some people in the world who see nothing wrong with dressing up as the victim of a vicious, brutal murder.

Posted in 1947, 2015, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Daylight Saving Time Ends — A Reminder From the Daily Mirror

Posted on October 31, 2015 by lmharnisch

Pier Angeli and her little friend remind you that once again it’s time to turn back your clocks tonight.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Pordenone Screens the Best of Silent Films

Posted on October 27, 2015 by lmharnisch

A PDF of the film festival’s 240-page catalog can be downloaded here. Note: Mike Hawks recently returned from the Pordenone Silent Film Festival and this is what he tells Mary Mallory. By Mike Hawks as Told to Mary Mallory For … Continue reading →

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‘Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays’ by Karie Bible and Mary Mallory: Coming Soon to Your Bookstore

Posted on October 26, 2015 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory and Karie Bible (whom we profiled at The Times) have collaborated on a new book, “Hollywood Celebrates the Holidays,” which goes on sale starting Wednesday. The book is published by Schiffer and includes 200 images from the silent … Continue reading →

Posted in 2015, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 26, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1948 Warner Bros. film “April Showers,” directed by James V. Kern, with Jack Carson, Ann Sothern, Robert Alda, S.Z. Sakall, Robert Ellis, Richard Rober, Joseph Crehan, Billy Curtis, John Gallaudet and Philip Van Zandt. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 69 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Chateau des Fleurs Provides Elegant French Style

Posted on October 26, 2015 by lmharnisch

6626 Franklin Ave., via Google Street View. Hollywood, California, exploded in population during the late 1910s and early 1920s with the influx of moving picture companies arriving in town and people looking to work in the industry following suit. Originally … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Black Dahlia Halloween Costume: Just Say No

Posted on October 22, 2015 by lmharnisch

Halloween is drawing closer and that means people are working on their costumes. Let us say again: You can do better than dressing up as the victim of a brutal murder. Really you can. You might consider, for example, Mad … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Dear Steve Hodel Fan 24.125.XXX.XXX

Posted on October 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

You may rant all you want about being “East Hollywood,” but your reverse ISP geolocation shows you to be a Comcast customer in Ashland, VA. Thanks for the crazy post. It was the best one I have seen in a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 19, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1948 film “Raw Deal,” released by Eagle-Lion Films, starring Dennis O’Keefe, Claire Trevor, Marsha Hunt, John Ireland, Raymond Burr, Curt Conway and Chili Williams. It was written by Leopold Atlas and John C. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 63 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Your Girl and Mine’ Promotes Women’s Suffrage

Posted on October 19, 2015 by lmharnisch

“Your Girl and Mine,” Moving Picture World. From the 1840s on, many women in the United States fought to vote. Considered merely chattel, like slaves, women were forced to endure horrible marriages, see their children taken away, and forbidden to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Houdini on TCM: ‘The Grim Game’

Posted on October 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

Harry Houdini in “The Grim Game.” Update: TCM is airing “The Grim Game” on Oct. 18. Set your DVRs! Here is Mary Mallory’s post on the film. Long considered mostly lost, Harry Houdini’s second film, “The Grim Game,” re-premieres in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1919, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1933 Paramount picture “The Story of Temple Drake,” with Miriam Hopkins, William Gargan, Jack La Rue, Florence Eldridge, Sir Guy Standing, Irving Pichel, Jobyna Howland and William Collier Jr. It was directed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , | 36 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: La Belle Tour Provides Classic Appeal

Posted on October 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

6208 Franklin Ave., via Google Street View. Hollywood’s population exploded during the early 1920s as motion picture production soared, thanks to studios moving their production facilities westward from New Jersey. Land values soared, and businesses and developers rushed to keep … Continue reading →

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

Wikipedia: A Fact-Checker’s Shooting Gallery

Posted on October 8, 2015 by lmharnisch

Well, it works for me. I wanted a quick answer to the date of Aaron Copland’s “El Salon Mexico,” and sure enough, at the top of the Google search there was my old nemesis Wikipedia. I usually exclude Wikipedia from … Continue reading →

Posted in Wikipedia | Tagged | 3 Comments

L.A.’s Transportation Past Found in Broadway Excavation

Posted on October 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

  This work site at Broadway and 2nd Street is fenced off, but a gate was left open Friday long enough for me to snap a picture. The ongoing excavation  for the Metro station has revealed railroad ties apparently set … Continue reading →

Posted in Broadway, Downtown, Transportation | Tagged , , | 4 Comments