Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Documentary: Glen Creason and the ‘Map House’

Posted on March 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

Alec Ernest has made a short documentary for the Los Angeles Review of Books about our friend Glen Creason, the map specialist at the Los Angeles Public Library, and the incredible “map house” of John Feathers. I played a very … Continue reading →

Posted in Libraries, Television | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on March 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1939 MGM picture “The Ice Follies of 1939,” starring Joan Crawford (Friday’s mystery woman), James Stewart (not shown), Lew Ayres (not shown) and Lewis Stone (not shown), directed by Reinhold Schunzel, with a … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Japanese Gardens Bring Serenity to Los Angeles

Posted on March 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

A postcard showing a Japanese garden at the Huntington Hotel, courtesy of Mary Mallory.   Throughout its history, Los Angeles has been blessed with an abundance of beautiful parks and gardens in which to relax. In the early twentieth century, … Continue reading →

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

Daylight Saving Time: A Reminder From Pier Angeli and the Daily Mirror

Posted on March 8, 2015 by lmharnisch

Pier Angeli and her little friend remind Daily Mirror readers that Daylight Saving Time begins today and to set your clocks forward one hour.

Posted in Animals, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Coming Attractions: Marc Wanamaker at the L.A. Breakfast Club

Posted on March 2, 2015 by lmharnisch

I like mine fried upside down. Ham ‘n’ eggs. Flip ’em, flop ’em, flap ’em. Ham ‘n’ eggs. –Los Angeles Breakfast Club’s anthem Noted film historian and photo collector Marc Wanamaker will be speaking about the history of the Los … Continue reading →

Posted in 1925, Coming Attractions, Photography | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on March 2, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1966 camp fest known as “Billy the Kid versus Dracula,” starring John Carradine (Friday’s mystery gent),  Chuck Courtney (Thursday’s mystery gent), Melinda Plowman (Wednesday’s mystery woman), Virginia Christine and Walter Janowitz (Thursday’s mystery … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: George E. Stone, Hollywood’s Two-Bit Hood

Posted on March 2, 2015 by lmharnisch

George E. Stone in a photo courtesy of Mary Mallory. Velvet Smith, Sparrow, Slinky, Dippy, Johnnie the Shark, Spats, Tough Tony, Ropes, McGonigle, Toothpick Charlie: just a few of the wise guy characters that made diminutive character actor George E. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Marion Eisenmann on Etsy

Posted on February 23, 2015 by lmharnisch

Marion Eisenmann, who contributed such wonderful artwork to the Daily Mirror, has opened an Etsy shop. She’s offering a selection of mugs and cups with her artwork (we own two, and the morning grouch has become one of our favorites). … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Artist's Notebook, Food and Drink, Marion Eisenmann | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Marion Eisenmann on Etsy

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 23, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie has been the 1942 Columbia picture “You Were Never Lovlier,”  the second of two movies to feature Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. It stars Adolphe Menjou (not shown), Isobel Elsom (Wednesday’s mystery woman), Leslie Brooks (Tuesday’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 58 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘The Road Is Open Again’ Promotes Optimism

Posted on February 23, 2015 by lmharnisch

  “The Road Is Open Again,” via YouTube.   In times of adversity and challenge, catchy songs or phrases have captured Americans’ imaginations, rallying spirits and action. Though written in 1929, the tune, “Happy Days Are Here Again,” was first … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘The Road Is Open Again’ Promotes Optimism

The Mystery of Jocko the Monkey

Posted on February 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

Eve Golden recently shared this photo of Leatrice Gilbert, the daughter of John Gilbert and Leatrice Joy. The question was the identity of the gentleman with the monkey. Thanks to Mary Mallory, we have a partial answer. The monkey was … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was “The Big Combo,” a 1955 movie released by Allied Artists, starring Cornel Wilde, Richard Conte (Friday’s mystery gent), Brian Donlevy (Thursday’s mystery fellow), Jean Wallace (Friday’s mystery woman), with a young Lee Van Cleef (Thursday’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 52 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Alex Kahle Shoots the Angles

Posted on February 16, 2015 by lmharnisch

Virginia Bruce, courtesy of Mary Mallory. When most people think of motion picture stills photographers, they think of such renowned portraitists as George Hurrell, Ruth Harriet Louise, Clarence Sinclair Bull, and Eugene Richee, who created the glamour and iconography of … Continue reading →

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

Vintage Slides of the Black Dahlia? Probably Not

Posted on February 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

A scan of one of the transparencies being offered on EBay. This is from an unidentified Western. A vendor has listed a lot of about 500 transparencies that were owned by a “Hollywood filmmaker.” A bit of research indicates that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Book Review: ‘Dead to Me’ by Mary McCoy

Posted on February 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

Last week’s mail brought us an advance copy of “Dead to Me” by our longtime friend Mary McCoy of the Los Angeles Public Library, one of the leading lights among those of us who research L.A. history and a past … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, 2015, Books and Authors, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Minus the Black Dahlia and George Hodel: ‘Man Ray and Human Equations’

Posted on February 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

The Washington Post has published an interesting review by Philip Kennicott of an exhibit at the Phillips Collection of Man Ray’s works. And yes, there isn’t a single mention of the ridiculous allegations about Ray, Dr. George Hodel and the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, 1947, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery replacement movie was the 1951 Twentieth Century-Fox picture “Elopement,” starring Clifton Webb (Friday’s mystery feet),  Anne Francis (not shown) Charles Bickford, William Lundigan (Wednesday’s mystery chaps), Reginald Gardiner (Thursday’s mystery gent), Evelyn Varden (Tuesday’s mystery woman) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 48 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Studio City Nightclubs Jazz Up San Fernando Valley

Posted on February 9, 2015 by lmharnisch

The Zomba Cafe in “The Loved One,” about the 1:38 mark. Thanks to its geographic location and its proximity to entertainment industry businesses, Studio City has served as the home for eclectic restaurants and nightclubs providing a variety of amusement … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Nightclubs, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Stewart Stern on ‘Rebel Without a Cause’

Posted on February 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

Eve Golden forwards this interview conducted with the late Stewart Stern, in which he commented on his screenplay for “Rebel Without a Cause”: As he has noted elsewhere, “Rebel Without a Cause” is inspired by [the play “Peter Pan”] — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1955, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

What I’m Reading

Posted on February 6, 2015 by lmharnisch

Yesterday’s mail brought two long-anticipated books. The recently published “Missing Reels” by Farran Smith Nehme and an advance copy of Mary McCoy’s “Dead to Me.” I may do nothing but read this weekend.

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | Comments Off on What I’m Reading