Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 17, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1928 MGM film “Across to Singapore,” starring Ramon Novarro (Thursday’s mystery guest), Joan Crawford (Friday’s mystery guest) and Ernest Torrence (Monday’s mystery guest). The film was based on the 1919 novel “All the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 75 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The 233 Club, Hollywood’s Masons

Posted on August 17, 2015 by lmharnisch

Feb. 27, 1926: The proposed building for the 233 Club in the Los Angeles Times. The jazz-mad, high-flying 1920s celebrated adventure, life, and excitement after all the dreariness and death of World War I. New-fangled fads skyrocketed in popularity one … Continue reading →

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

Julian Bond: Video of 1968 Democratic National Convention

Posted on August 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

This is how I think of Julian Bond: At the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago (notice the shots of Mayor Richard J. Daley) being nominated for vice president, but too young to hold the job. (Yes, Bond is talking … Continue reading →

Posted in 1968, Obituaries, Politics, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Watts Riots: Rare Video of Marquette Frye

Posted on August 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

My good friend Tony Valdez aired part of an interview with Marquette Frye last night as part of Fox 11’s coverage of the Watts riots. The arrest of Frye by CHP officers is what touched off the riots in 1965. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1965, African Americans, Television | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Watts Riots: Rare Video of Marquette Frye

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 10, 2015 by lmharnisch

I wanted to do a Michael Curtiz film, so as this week’s mystery movie, I chose the 1959 Mirisch Co. film “The Man in the Net,” starring Alan Ladd (Friday’s mystery guest), Carolyn Jones (Thursday’s mystery guest), Diane Brewster (Wednesday’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 55 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Since Ma Is Playing Mah Jongg’ 1920s Game Craze

Posted on August 10, 2015 by lmharnisch

“Since Ma Is Playing Mah Jongg,” sung by Eddie Cantor, sheet music courtesy of Mary Mallory. In the 1920s, life changed fast and furiously as people celebrated the Jazz Age. Dance mad, adventure-seeking flappers and flaneurs jumped from craze to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: The L.A. Times and the Watts Riots

Posted on August 4, 2015 by lmharnisch

Myth destroyed: The Times publishes a photo Aug. 13, 1965  of Charles Hillinger in the riot area interviewing people. As next week’s anniversary of the Watts Riots draws near, I am once again hearing the old urban myth that the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1965, African Americans, Another Good Story Ruined, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: Will Fowler on South Norton Avenue, October 1996

Posted on August 3, 2015 by lmharnisch

As I mentioned previously, I am slowly digitizing my Black Dahlia files. Here’s a frame grab from a video I shot of Will Fowler on South Norton Avenue in October 1996. Like many people who have written about the killing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 3, 2015 by lmharnisch

A one-page biography of Tom Tyler. This week’s movie has been a double threat: A silent Western. It’s the 1928 Film Booking Offices of America movie “The Texas Tornado,” starring Tom Tyler (Friday’s mystery guest) and child star Frankie Darrow … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 31 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The ‘It’ Cafe, Hollywood’s Swankiest Night Spot

Posted on August 3, 2015 by lmharnisch

The “It” Cafe in the Hollywood Plaza Hotel, courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library. Restaurants go in and out of style in Hollywood just as quickly as go-go boots and bell bottoms, thanks to those following the hip crowd … Continue reading →

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

Another Good Story Ruined: ‘No Irish Need Apply’ Debunker Gets Debunked by Young Scholar

Posted on August 1, 2015 by lmharnisch

Here’s an excellent weekend read by Patrick Young, Esq., in the Long Island Wins, rebutting the contention that “No Irish Need Apply” was mere paranoia and legend. Thanks to Earl Boebert for the tip. ”No Irish Need Apply: A Myth … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Hack Writing and the Birth of Urban Myths

Posted on July 30, 2015 by lmharnisch

Hollywood Citizen-News, Jan. 15, 1947. I’m slowly digitizing my files on the Elizabeth Short killing for easier access, and yesterday I was going through the Hollywood Citizen-News, which is one of the lesser sources on the case.  And, of course, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 27, 2015 by lmharnisch

I wanted to do a Lloyd Bacon movie this week and “The Office Wife” (Warner Bros., 1930) is the earliest one in my collection, and as a bonus, it was the feature film debut of Joan Blondell (one of Friday’s … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 4269 Lankershim Blvd: Evolution of an Address

Posted on July 27, 2015 by lmharnisch

Club Indigo matchbook courtesy of Mary Mallory. While some proprietorships remain in business for decades at one address, most often, occupancy at the site frequently changes due to economic and cultural cycles. Following owners usually continue in the same vein … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music, Nightclubs, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined: Senor Wences and ‘History Is Made at Night’

Posted on July 25, 2015 by lmharnisch

  I received a couple of comments about my statement on the mystery movie “History Is Made at Night” regarding the appearance (or non-appearance) of ventriloquist Senor Wences – or at least the appearance/non-appearance of his left hand. So I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1936, 1937, Another Good Story Ruined, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

California Bans Women as Toll Collectors on Bay Bridge – They Are Unstable

Posted on July 22, 2015 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1947: I’m going through my clips on the Black Dahlia case and here’s an unrelated story from the Santa Barbara News-Press. The state personnel board prohibits women from taking the Civil Service exam for Bay Bridge toll collector … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 20, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was “History is Made at Night,” a 1937 Walter Wanger production released through United Artists starring Charles Boyer and Jean Arthur (Friday’s mystery guests). It also featured Leo Carrillo (Thursday’s mystery guest) and Colin Clive (Wednesday’s … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Junius Estep and Alfred Lindstedt, Early but Forgotten Stills Photographers

Posted on July 20, 2015 by lmharnisch

Bessie Eyton by Junius Estep, courtesy of Mary Mallory. In the early days of silent film production, moving picture companies promoted their brand names to consumers, selling films around the quality and type of pictures produced by their individual companies. … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1931 Radio Pictures pre-code comedy “Peach-O-Reno” by Tim Whelan, starring Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey (Friday’s mystery guests) with Dorothy Lee (not shown) and directed by William A. Seiter. The film also featured Zelma … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 32 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Assistance League Scouts Film Locations

Posted on July 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

Motion Picture Magazine, 1925. In the early days of the motion picture industry, no rules and regulations held down the field’s growth and development as companies basically made it up as they went along. There were no labor rules, no … Continue reading →

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