Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

L.A. Fourth of July, 1863: Pic-Nics and Fire-Works

Posted on July 4, 2016 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post from 2013 The complete July 4, 1863, issue of the Los Angeles Star is available from USC, which scanned  a copy at the Huntington. July 4, 1863: Los Angeles plans to celebrate the Fourth of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Crime and Courts, San Francisco | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Fourth of July, 1863: Pic-Nics and Fire-Works

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Bell & Howell Building Then and Now

Posted on July 4, 2016 by lmharnisch

716 N. La Brea Ave., via Google Street View, from 2014. Simple and elegant, 716 N. La Brea Ave. today remains little changed on the exterior as to how it looked when finished in 1931. It stands as a beacon … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 27, 2016 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1928 MGM silent picture “West of Zanzibar,” with Lon Chaney, Lionel Barrymore, Mary Nolan, Warner Baxter, Jacqueline Gadsdon, Roscoe Ward, Kalla Pasha and Curtis Nero. It was directed by Tod Browning. The film … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Steve ‘Broken Nose’ Murphy Slays Them in the Movies

Posted on June 27, 2016 by lmharnisch

  Steve “Broken Nose” Murphy” in “Sherlock Jr.”       Some people succeed in films because of great notoriety, talent, or beauty. Others flourish because of unusual skill or looks, such as Steve “Broken Nose” Murphy. A stand out … Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Sports | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: Bizarre Outsider Art of Elizabeth Short on EBay

Posted on June 24, 2016 by lmharnisch

Fortunately, I saw this image before I had breakfast. This is a combo of a postcard of the Biltmore Hotel and an image of Elizabeth Short. It was done by Perry Johnson and is listed as Buy It Now for … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 20, 2016 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1934 MGM picture “Sadie McKee,” with Joan Crawford, Gene Raymond, Franchot Tone, Edward Arnold and Esther Ralston. The movie was produced by Lawrence Weingarten from a screenplay by John Meehan, adapted from … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland’s First House

Posted on June 20, 2016 by lmharnisch

  2716 Woodhaven Drive as shown in a Studebaker promotional brochure, courtesy of Steve Vaught’s Paradise Leased blog.   On March 31, 1923, publicists trumpeted the news that a great sub development known as Hollywoodland had begun operation at the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Black Dahlia: A Crime Graphic Novel by James Ellroy, David Fincher, Matz and Miles Hyman

Posted on June 13, 2016 by lmharnisch

Take a close look: “The Black Dahlia ™.” Does that mean the publisher is trying to trademark “The Black Dahlia?”  Good luck with that.   I picked up a copy of the new graphic novel version of James Ellroy’s “The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 13, 2016 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery production has been the TV series “Johnny Staccato,” starring John Cassavetes, which aired 27 episodes on NBC in the 1959-1960 season. The mystery episode was “Fly Baby, Fly,” featuring Cassavetes,  Gena Rowlands (his wife), Howard Freeman, Dort … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 39 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Julian Eltinge Says ‘I’m at Your Service, Girls’

Posted on June 13, 2016 by lmharnisch

  One of the most famous female impersonators of all time, but now also one of the most forgotten, Julian Eltinge stood as one of the most successful headliners of the early 1900s, setting attendance records at vaudeville and theatre … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Stage | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Julian Eltinge Says ‘I’m at Your Service, Girls’

Black Dahlia: Can You Identify the Black Dahlia? (Updated)

Posted on June 8, 2016 by lmharnisch

I thought an animated gif of the two images would make it easier to see the similarities or differences between the two photos. Which woman in the above images is Elizabeth Short? 1. Woman No. 1 is Elizabeth Short. 2. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Black Dahlia: Can You Identify the Black Dahlia? Part 2

Posted on June 7, 2016 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo comparison. And be sure to take a good look.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 2016 S.F. Film Festival Offers Appetizing Selection

Posted on June 7, 2016 by lmharnisch

“Beggars of Life,” courtesy of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.   The just concluded Twenty First Annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival featured a strong weekend of thoughtful and powerful films and music from all over the world. The … Continue reading →

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

ALLIES INVADE FRANCE! JUNE 6, 1944; Complete Radio Coverage

Posted on June 6, 2016 by lmharnisch

The headline and map by Charles Owens from The Times. June 6, 1944: Complete radio coverage of the D-Day Invasion. This was pool coverage using correspondents from various news organizations. By 10 a.m., CBS had resumed regular programming with news … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ALLIES INVADE FRANCE! JUNE 6, 1944; Complete Radio Coverage

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 6, 2016 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1937 MGM picture “Night Must Fall,” with Robert Montgomery, Rosalind Russell, Dame May Whitty, Alan Marshal, Merle Tottenham and Kathleen Harrison, ominous music by Edward Ward, photographed by Ray June, directed by Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 57 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: First National Studios, Now Warner Bros., Turns 90

Posted on June 6, 2016 by lmharnisch

  An aerial view of First National Studios in Burbank, Motion Picture News, 1926.   First National Studios, now known as Warner Bros. Studios, celebrates its 90th birthday on June 15, 2016. Basic construction was completed on the original studio … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: First National Studios, Now Warner Bros., Turns 90

Mary Mallory/ Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Cafes Then and Now

Posted on May 30, 2016 by lmharnisch

  The Hi-Land Kwik Lunch, 1714 Highland Ave., courtesy of Mary Mallory.   Thanks to vintage photograph, films, and ephemera, buildings still live on, even if eventually they were demolished and/or replaced. Sometimes thankfully they still survive. Here is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 30, 2016 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1934 Universal picture “Imitation of Life,” with Claudette Colbert, Warren William, Rochelle Hudson, Ned Sparks, Louise Beavers, Fredi Washington, Baby Jane, Alan Hale, Henry Armetta and Wyndham Standing. The film was directed … Continue reading →

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

Black Dahlia: Can You Identify the Black Dahlia? (Updated)

Posted on May 28, 2016 by lmharnisch

OK, let’s have some fun. Does either of these photographs show Elizabeth Short? 1. The woman on the left is Elizabeth Short. 2. The woman on the right is Elizabeth Short. 3. Both women are Elizabeth Short. 4. Neither woman … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

Black Dahlia: Dr. George Hodel, Here We Go Again

Posted on May 28, 2016 by lmharnisch

The latest on Steve Hodel’s allegations, in the Guardian. There are several thousand things I would rather do that poke holes in Steve Hodel’s “theories” once again. As long-time readers know, I have been fact-checking Steve Hodel’s “case” against his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments