Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

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

Posted on June 6, 2015 by lmharnisch

The headline and map by Charles Owens from The Times. Reposting from 2014. 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 … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory/Hollywood Heights: San Francisco Silent Film Festival Celebrates 20 Years

Posted on June 4, 2015 by lmharnisch

“When the Earth Trembled,” courtesy of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. The San Francisco Silent Film Festival offered a little something for everyone during their recently concluded 20th anniversary festival. From presentations by renowned historians and archivists to screenings … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Francisco | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Zoot Suit Riots, June 1943

Posted on June 3, 2015 by lmharnisch

A hipster duck wears a zoot suit in Disney’s  “The Spirit of ‘43.” In 2011, I took a look at the official Navy documents on the Zoot Suit Riots. Here they are: “Zoot Suit” and History, Part 1| Part 2 … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 1, 2015 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1966 Czech film “Closely Watched Trains,” which won the Academy Award for foreign film in 1968. It was directed by Jiri Menzel and written by Menzel and Bohumil Hrabal from a novel … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 27 Comments

Harry Houdini: An Interview by Marcet Haldeman-Julius, October 1925

Posted on June 1, 2015 by lmharnisch

We have been collecting issues of Haldeman-Julius Monthly for several years, but one issue was particularly elusive: The October 1925 number featuring an interview with Harry Houdini, written by Marcet Haldeman-Julius, which was published a year before his death and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1925, Another Good Story Ruined, From the Stacks | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Los Angeles Breakfast Club Dines on History

Posted on June 1, 2015 by lmharnisch

Leading up to the twentieth century, few social organizations existed, except for those of wealth or higher class, or working for a charitable organization. Most people attended a religious organization of some kind. Military veterans honored those who died in … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 25, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1930-31 Warner Bros. pre-code film “Illicit,” starring Barbara Stanwyck (Friday’s mystery woman) with James Rennie (Thursday’s mystery chap), Ricardo Cortez (not shown), Natalie Moorhead (Tuesday’s mystery woman), Charles Butterworth (Wednesday’s mystery chap), Joan Blondell … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 33 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: San Francisco Silent Film Festival Celebrates 20 Years

Posted on May 25, 2015 by lmharnisch

“Sherlock Holmes” starring William Gillette, courtesy of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Conceived by Melissa Chittick and Stephen Salmons as a way to share the beauty of early cinema with the world, The San Francisco Silent Film Festival celebrates … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Francisco | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: ‘Black Dahlia’ Composer Bob Belden Dies at 58

Posted on May 21, 2015 by lmharnisch

Adam Parker of the Post and Courier is reporting the death of composer Bob Belden, who wrote the orchestral suite “Black Dahlia,” which was released on CD in 2001. If you’re not familiar with the suite, here’s a selection. I … Continue reading →

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Why Don’t Asians Wear Vintage?

Posted on May 20, 2015 by lmharnisch

We went through a vintage clothing phase in 1974 while at the University of Arizona and working on the Invisible Theatre play “Mad Dog Coll,” which was set in New York in the 1930s. Our vintage suits went back to … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 18, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1915 picture “The Coward,” written by Thomas Ince and directed by Ince and Reginald Barker. It was shown in Los Angeles at Clune’s Auditorium in November 1915 with  Dorothy Gish and Wallace Reid … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Griffith Observatory Celebrates 80 Years of Reaching for the Stars

Posted on May 18, 2015 by lmharnisch

The cover of an undated brochure about Griffith Observatory, courtesy of the Los Angeles Public Library Originally a dream of Los Angeles benefactor and convicted murderer “Colonel” Griffith J. Griffith, Griffith Observatory now stands as one of the city’s preeminent … Continue reading →

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

Another Good Story Ruined: Vintage Eateries in L.A.

Posted on May 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

Fair Oaks Pharmacy’s neon sign, which was restored and re-mounted on the building after years of languishing in obscurity. A recent post by the Los Angeles Beat of vintage Los Angeles restaurants included Fair Oaks Pharmacy in South Pasadena.

Posted in 1915, Another Good Story Ruined, Food and Drink | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on May 11, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1962 film “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die”  best known in its “Mystery Science Theater 3000” version. MST3K version 1/9 MST3K version 2/9 MST3K version 3/9 MST3K version 4/9 MST3K version 5/9 MST3K version … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Colleen Moore’s Dollhouse Supports Children’s Charities

Posted on May 11, 2015 by lmharnisch

Colleen Moore’s doll house in a frame grab from CBS “Sunday Morning.” From the beginning of time, people have been collectors. Objects as diverse as paintings, stamps, shells, rocks, postcards, photographs, baseballs, or even furniture have been compiled for the … Continue reading →

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

Cafe Frankenstein, When a Cappuccino was 70 Cents

Posted on May 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

Here’s something truly awesome: A menu for the Cafe Frankenstein in Laguna Beach with artwork by Burt Shonberg, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $125.  I wrote about Cafe Frankenstein in 2011 when a group of slides was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1958, Art & Artists, Food and Drink, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 4, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1957 MGM picture “Edge of the City,” which was Martin Ritt’s debut as a film director. It starred John Cassavetes (Tuesday’s Back of the Head Guy), Sidney Poitier (Friday’s mystery guest), Jack Warden … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: L.J. Burrud: Hollywoodland Publicity Man and Western Adventurer

Posted on May 4, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jan. 6, 1924: The Times publishes a photo of an Oakland car that was driven up to the Hollywood sign. Southern California and Los Angeles exploded into the public zeitgeist thanks to imaginative advertising and publicity from area supporters and … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on April 27, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1948 Eagle-Lion picture “Hollow Triumph,” also known as “The Scar.” The movie stars Paul Henreid (Friday’s mystery guest), Joan Bennett (Thursday’s mystery guest) and Eduard Franz (Wednesday’s mystery guest). It was written by … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 60 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood’s Pig’n Whistle Draws Film Fans

Posted on April 27, 2015 by lmharnisch

A souvenir postcard for the Pig’n Whistle, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Famous for decades as an upscale destination for sweet treats and light bites, Hollywood Blvd.’s Pig’n Whistle soda fountain and candy shop featured elegant surroundings and lighthearted family atmosphere, … Continue reading →

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