Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Building Promotes Great Architecture

Posted on February 15, 2016 by lmharnisch

  The Hollywood Chamber of commerce in an undated pamphlet. I n 1925, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce recognized the need for a stylish permanent home in which to promote the business and life of their fair city. Said headquarters … Continue reading →

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ICYMI: ‘Done Is Done’ by Ellen McGarrahan on the Case of Leo Alexander Jones

Posted on February 13, 2016 by lmharnisch

Now that I have left The Times, I am exploring all the papers and articles I put away “for later.” The first piece I am going to share is a 2000 article by Ellen McGarrahan — a reporter turned private … Continue reading →

Posted in 1981 | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rediscovering Los Angeles: Why Are L.A. Streets So Narrow?

Posted on February 11, 2016 by lmharnisch

Nov. 14, 1924: This is the second of two articles I have from the Los Angeles Examiner titled “Rediscovering Los Angeles.” Notice that even in 1924 people were complaining about traffic and congested streets. Reporter W.W. Kane notes:

Posted in 1924, Downtown, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Rediscovering Los Angeles: Pennies Arrive in L.A., 1881

Posted on February 10, 2016 by lmharnisch

In going through my old files, I discovered several copies of a feature that appeared in the Los Angeles Examiner titled “Rediscovering Los Angeles.” These pieces were written by W.W. Kane, apparently based on interviews with early residents. This should … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 8, 2016 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1945 RKO picture “The Enchanted Cottage,” starring Dorothy McGuire, Robert Young, Herbert Marshall, Mildred Natwick, Spring Byington, Hillary Brooke, Richard Gaines, Alec Englander, Robert Clarke and Eden Nicholas. The screenplay was by … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Jack Freulich, Universal Still Man

Posted on February 8, 2016 by lmharnisch

Laura La Plante in a photograph by Jack Freulich, Motion Picture Classic.  History is written by survivors, so those who die young often seem to recede into memory, forgotten or ignored as time passed them by. While often great artists, … Continue reading →

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Mystery Movie Plot

Posted on February 1, 2016 by lmharnisch

Here’s a question for the Brain Trust: Many years ago, as a young kid watching movies on TV, I saw a film set in the Depression. In one scene in a hobo camp, one of the main characters takes his … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , | 15 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 1, 2016 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1921 picture “Seven Years Bad Luck,” starring Max Linder, sometimes called “the Charlie Chaplin of France,” who died in a double suicide with his wife on Oct. 31, 1925.  The movie was his … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Republic Pictures Honors ‘The Little Girl With the Golden Heart’

Posted on February 1, 2016 by lmharnisch

Mabel Normand in a Hartsook portrait, courtesy of Mary Mallory.     Hollywood’s public acts of charity often come with an ulterior motive. Such is the case with Republic Picture’s magnanimous naming of its gigantic new sound stage in December … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

LACMA Acquires Authentic 1940s Zoot Suit

Posted on January 28, 2016 by lmharnisch

LACMA has announced the acquisition of an authentic zoot suit (from New Jersey). Which is a good reason to repost the links to our “ ‘Zoot Suit’ and History” items. “Zoot Suit” and History, Part 1| Part 2 | Part … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940, Fashion, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 53

Posted on January 26, 2016 by lmharnisch

Note: This is the last of the “Laura” posts I had in reserve from last year, when I went on sabbatical. It was a fun project, but my focus on the Dahlia project prevents me from doing any more. Reading … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 53

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 25, 2016 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1961 MGM picture “Ada,” starring Susan Hayward, Dean Martin, Wilfrid Hyde White, Ralph Meeker, Martin Balsam, Frank Maxwell, Connie Sawyer, Ford Rainey, Charles Watts, Larry Gates, Robert S. Simon and William Zuckert. Music … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 54 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Let’s Talk Turkey Cooks Up Promotions

Posted on January 25, 2016 by lmharnisch

  “Let’s Talk Turkey,” 1939.   Motion picture studios and exhibitors dreamed up great exploitation campaigns in the early decades of cinema in order to build interest in a title, increase word of mouth, and hopefully draw larger audiences to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Let’s Talk Turkey Cooks Up Promotions

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 52

Posted on January 22, 2016 by lmharnisch

One important aspect about the script for “Laura,” beyond the filming of the movie, is the complicated agreement that Twentieth Century-Fox had with David O. Selznick in sharing the contract of Jennifer Jones, who was originally cast in the lead … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 51

Posted on January 21, 2016 by lmharnisch

The final shooting script for “Laura,” dated April 18, 1944, with additions as late as July 1944. On Monday, Nov. 1, 1943, Twentieth Century-Fox head of production Darryl F. Zanuck issued his stinging critique of Jay Dratler’s draft of “Laura.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 51

‘Hail Caesar’ and E.J. Fleming’s ‘The Fixers’

Posted on January 20, 2016 by lmharnisch

Josh Brolin as Eddie Mannix in “Hail, Caesar!” the Coen brothers’ fanciful tale about MGM’s purported “fixer.” We’re reluctant to write too much about the upcoming film “Hail, Caesar!” the Coen brothers’ comedy scheduled for release Feb. 4. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 50

Posted on January 20, 2016 by lmharnisch

“Memo From Darryl F. Zanuck,” edited by Rudy Behlmer. On Nov. 1, 1943, Darryl F. Zanuck, the Twentieth Century-Fox head of production, issued a stinging critique of Jay Dratler’s first draft of “Laura.” In this post, we will look at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 1943, 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 50

Midnight Show at the Follies Burlesque — July 29, 1939

Posted on January 19, 2016 by lmharnisch

Somebody bought a ticket for the July 29, 1939, midnight show at the Follies Theatre and got to see Betty Rowland, “the ball of fire.” The ticket stub is listed on EBay for 99 cents.

Posted in 1939, Downtown, Theaters | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

In Memory of Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 19, 2016 by lmharnisch

Over the years that I have been researching the Black Dahlia case, I have seen Elizabeth Short remembered in all sorts of ways. Some people buy “Justice for Beth” buttons on EBay. Others leave cigarettes and bottles of liquor at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , | 7 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 49

Posted on January 19, 2016 by lmharnisch

“Memo From Darryl F. Zanuck,” selected and edited by Rudy Behlmer.   Jan. 19, 2016, update: When I began my “sabbatical” last year, I had a backlog of a few unpublished posts on the making of “Laura.” At the time, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment