Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

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

Happy Birthday, Buster Keaton!

Posted on October 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

And in honor of Buster Keaton’s birthday yesterday, here’s a link to Buster’s scrapbook, which is online at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Here’s the link. Happy birthday, Buster!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Libraries | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Happy Birthday, Buster Keaton!

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1930 version of the First National picture “Dawn Patrol,” which was renamed “Flight Commander” when Warner Bros. sold the film to TV to prevent confusion with the 1938 remake starring Errol Flynn. according to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 49 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Roy Harlow’s Pump Room Fills Up Studio City Residents

Posted on October 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

A postcard of Roy Harlow’s Pump Room, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Ventura Boulevard has been the dining and entertainment mecca of Studio City residents back to 1927, when the area was still part of North Hollywood. Originally a main highway … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + +)

Posted on September 30, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s movie has been the 1946 Columbia picture “Johnny O’Clock,” starring Dick Powell and Evelyn Keyes. The movie was directed by Robert Rossen, with Lee J. Cobb, Ellen Drew, Nina Foch, S. Thomas Gomez, John Kellogg, Jim Bannon, Mabel … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 71 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated)

Posted on September 28, 2015 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mystery lad.  

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Erich von Stroheim Unlocks Suspense With the Devil’s Passkey

Posted on September 28, 2015 by lmharnisch

  A poster for “The Devil’s Passkey.” Riding high on the wave of great reviews and huge box office for “Blind Husbands,” his first film as director, artistic Austrian Erich von Stroheim expanded his horizons with his second film, “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Erich von Stroheim Unlocks Suspense With the Devil’s Passkey

Black Dahlia: Halloween Costumes to Die For

Posted on September 25, 2015 by lmharnisch

Halloween is coming next month and somewhere, someone is already planning a Black Dahlia costume and working out the makeup. Just stop yourself. Really, folks, dressing up like the victim of a brutal, gruesome murder is not a good idea. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Fashion | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been First National Pictures’ 1931 film “Safe in Hell.” It was directed by William A. Wellman. Curiously, the credits come at the end of the film.  It starred Dorothy Mackaill, Donald Cook, Ralf Harole, John … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Jesse L. Lasky, Music Man

Posted on September 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jesse Lasky on the cover of “We’ve Had a Lovely Time, So Long, Good Bye,” Courtesy of Mary Mallory. Best known as one of Hollywood’s early motion picture moguls, native Californian Jesse L. Lasky also excelled at radio and theatrical … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments