Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Research Update From 1947

Posted on January 23, 2015 by lmharnisch

For those don’t follow my Twitter feed @latdailymirror: Unz.org is a fabulous repository of historic magazines and I have been reading a variety of 1947 issues to immerse myself in the year. Here’s a thought-provoking essay from the Saturday Review, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Research Update From 1947

Tech Issue

Posted on January 22, 2015 by lmharnisch

Some Mac/Safari users say they get a warning on LADailyMirror.com that the security certificate is missing or that it may be a fake site. Anyone else getting those messages? If possible send me a screen shot. Thanks.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Tech Issue

An Update From 1947

Posted on January 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

I have been immersing myself in 1947 and for those readers who don’t follow my Twitter feed (@LATDailyMirror) or Facebook page, here’s what I have been up to. From January 1947: The American Mercury muses on Arthur Vandenberg’s chances in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on An Update From 1947

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 19, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1957 Twentieth Century-Fox film “A Hatful of Rain,” with Eva Marie Saint (Friday’s mystery guest), Don Murray (Thursday’s mystery guest), Anthony Franciosa (not shown), Lloyd Nolan (Wednesday’s mystery guest) and Henry Silva (Tuesday’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 70 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Venice Miniature Railway, Tourist Attraction and Realty Estate Promotion

Posted on January 19, 2015 by lmharnisch

A postcard showing Venice’s miniature railway, courtesy of Mary Mallory. In the early 1900s, Los Angeles and environs were booming. Ballyhoo from groups like the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, railroads, the Automobile Club, realtors, and civic groups promoting Southern … Continue reading →

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

On the Radio: 1947

Posted on January 18, 2015 by lmharnisch

I’m trying to immerse myself in the period (remember we have been doing 1944 and the 1947project was 10 years ago, so I listened to a few radio programs from January 1947. Jan. 17, 1947: “The Lone Ranger.” Jan. 18, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Radio | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on On the Radio: 1947

Black Dahlia: Wikipedia Fail

Posted on January 17, 2015 by lmharnisch

Here is what’s wrong with Wikipedia: “The Black Dahlia” was a nickname given to Elizabeth Short … Short acquired the moniker posthumously by newspapers in the habit of nicknaming crimes they found particularly lurid. FAIL. Elizabeth Short was nicknamed the … Continue reading →

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

Black Dahlia: Time Magazine and the Death of Research

Posted on January 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

Time magazine, more than a bit late to the party, jumps on the Dr. George Hodel bandwagon on the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death. Time was once famous for having an extensive research department. These days, however, writers  – at least … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Time Magazine and the Death of Research

Today Is Jan. 15 — The Daily Mirror Sabbatical Begins (Updated)

Posted on January 15, 2015 by lmharnisch

As I wrote in 2014, this year I’m taking a sabbatical from blogging. The mystery photos will continue and Mary Mallory will be writing Hollywood Heights as usual. But the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death seemed to be an appropriate … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

Al Martinez, a Dying Boy and Some Peaches

Posted on January 14, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jim Romenesko, for those who aren’t in the news business, runs an essential blog that serves as a clearing house for information, gossip, bad headlines and assorted gaffes. A Jan. 6 post dealt with former Times columnist Al Martinez, who … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1958, Books and Authors, Columnists | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 48

Posted on January 14, 2015 by lmharnisch

“Oklahoma!” directed by Rouben Mamoulian, plays for 2,212 performances on Broadway. Let’s take a brief detour and look at what else was happening in the early 1940s that would affect the production of “Laura.” In March 1943,  Ring Lardner Jr., … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Al Martinez — ‘Jigsaw John’

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

While people are remembering former Times columnist Al Martinez, it’s good to mention his 1975 book “Jigsaw John,” about LAPD Detective John St. John, who was one of the caretakers of the Black Dahlia case at Robbery-Homicide. Copies are available … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Laura’ – The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 47

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jay Dratler in a photo from the jacket of his novel “The Pitfall,” listed on EBay at $245. In his discussion of the making of “Laura” in “Behind the Scenes,” film scholar Rudy Behlmer quickly dispenses with Jay Dratler, who … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1934 RKO picture “Bachelor Bait,” with Stu Erwin (Friday’s mystery guest), Rochelle Hudson (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Pert Kelton (Thursday’s mystery guest), Skeets Gallager (Friday’s mystery guest) and Burton Churchill (not shown). It … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 40 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Dale Fuller, Comic Cutup to Von Stroheim Drama Queen

Posted on January 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

Dale Fuller, Exhibitors Herald, June 24, 1922. Best remembered today for her melodramatic character parts in Erich von Stroheim films, actress Dale Fuller possessed a wide range of skills, displaying talent singing, mugging, and performing dramatic roles. Not beautiful in … Continue reading →

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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 46

Posted on January 8, 2015 by lmharnisch

Joseph “Jay” Dratler in a photo from the cover of his 1947 novel “The Pitfall,” listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $245.   Joseph “Jay” Dratler, who received the first screenwriting credit on “Laura,” is a somewhat obscure … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 46

Not on Netflix in February 2015: Dr. Who

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

Best of Netflix reports that Classic Dr. Who (1964-1989) and Dr. Who (2005-2012) will be removed from Netflix streaming in February 2015.

Posted in Television | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 45

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

The cover of the shooting script for “Laura,” with the names of screenwriters Jay Dratler, Ring Lardner Jr., Samuel Hoffenstein and Betty Reinhardt.  Although he did not receive credit, Jerome “Jerry” Cady rewrote the last portion of the script with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 45

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 44

Posted on January 6, 2015 by lmharnisch

Let’s begin this series of posts on the making of “Laura” with the sale of the screen rights to Twentieth Century-Fox in June 1943 and check in with all our major figures. The Making of “Laura” Part 1 | Part … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 44

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s movie has been the 1949 film “Obsession,” or as it is sometimes known “The Hidden Room.” It was directed by Edward Dmytryk in England while he was blacklisted in Hollywood and stars Robert Newton (Friday’s mystery chap), Sally … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 56 Comments