Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Today Is Jan. 15 — The Daily Mirror Sabbatical Begins (Updated)

Posted on January 15, 2015 by lmharnisch

As I wrote in 2014, this year I’m taking a sabbatical from blogging. The mystery photos will continue and Mary Mallory will be writing Hollywood Heights as usual. But the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death seemed to be an appropriate … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | 37 Comments

Al Martinez, a Dying Boy and Some Peaches

Posted on January 14, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jim Romenesko, for those who aren’t in the news business, runs an essential blog that serves as a clearing house for information, gossip, bad headlines and assorted gaffes. A Jan. 6 post dealt with former Times columnist Al Martinez, who … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1958, Books and Authors, Columnists | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 48

Posted on January 14, 2015 by lmharnisch

“Oklahoma!” directed by Rouben Mamoulian, plays for 2,212 performances on Broadway. Let’s take a brief detour and look at what else was happening in the early 1940s that would affect the production of “Laura.” In March 1943,  Ring Lardner Jr., … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Al Martinez — ‘Jigsaw John’

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

While people are remembering former Times columnist Al Martinez, it’s good to mention his 1975 book “Jigsaw John,” about LAPD Detective John St. John, who was one of the caretakers of the Black Dahlia case at Robbery-Homicide. Copies are available … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Laura’ – The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 47

Posted on January 13, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jay Dratler in a photo from the jacket of his novel “The Pitfall,” listed on EBay at $245. In his discussion of the making of “Laura” in “Behind the Scenes,” film scholar Rudy Behlmer quickly dispenses with Jay Dratler, who … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, 1938, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

  This week’s mystery movie has been the 1934 RKO picture “Bachelor Bait,” with Stu Erwin (Friday’s mystery guest), Rochelle Hudson (Wednesday’s mystery guest), Pert Kelton (Thursday’s mystery guest), Skeets Gallager (Friday’s mystery guest) and Burton Churchill (not shown). It … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Dale Fuller, Comic Cutup to Von Stroheim Drama Queen

Posted on January 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

Dale Fuller, Exhibitors Herald, June 24, 1922. Best remembered today for her melodramatic character parts in Erich von Stroheim films, actress Dale Fuller possessed a wide range of skills, displaying talent singing, mugging, and performing dramatic roles. Not beautiful in … Continue reading →

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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 46

Posted on January 8, 2015 by lmharnisch

Joseph “Jay” Dratler in a photo from the cover of his 1947 novel “The Pitfall,” listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $245.   Joseph “Jay” Dratler, who received the first screenwriting credit on “Laura,” is a somewhat obscure … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 46

Not on Netflix in February 2015: Dr. Who

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

Best of Netflix reports that Classic Dr. Who (1964-1989) and Dr. Who (2005-2012) will be removed from Netflix streaming in February 2015.

Posted in Television | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 45

Posted on January 7, 2015 by lmharnisch

The cover of the shooting script for “Laura,” with the names of screenwriters Jay Dratler, Ring Lardner Jr., Samuel Hoffenstein and Betty Reinhardt.  Although he did not receive credit, Jerome “Jerry” Cady rewrote the last portion of the script with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 45

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 44

Posted on January 6, 2015 by lmharnisch

Let’s begin this series of posts on the making of “Laura” with the sale of the screen rights to Twentieth Century-Fox in June 1943 and check in with all our major figures. The Making of “Laura” Part 1 | Part … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 44

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

This week’s movie has been the 1949 film “Obsession,” or as it is sometimes known “The Hidden Room.” It was directed by Edward Dmytryk in England while he was blacklisted in Hollywood and stars Robert Newton (Friday’s mystery chap), Sally … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 56 Comments

Alexa Foreman: Available for Research

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

Alexa Foreman, an early member of the L.A. Daily Mirror brain trust, writes that after 20 years at TCM, she is now available to do research projects. Alexa, a researcher and producer at TCM since it began in 1994,  writes … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Libraries | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Alexa Foreman: Available for Research

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Los Angeles Elks’ Temple Highlights Importance of Fraternal Organizations

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

The Elks Temple in an undated photo. Long a glamorous, outstanding example of Neo-Gothic Architecture and the powerful force of fraternal organizations, Los Angeles’ Elks’ Temple #99 still stands proudly at 607 S. Park View St. across from MacArthur Park. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Holocaust Denial at Archive.org

Posted on January 1, 2015 by lmharnisch

“The Director of the Holocau$t – Khazar Expatriate Billy Wilder” at Archive.org.   For years, I have been looking for the early Billy Wilder film “Menschen am Sonntag.” I finally found it on Archive.org, but along with the film, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — Pisco Punch

Posted on December 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Just in time for New Year’s, we’ll take a look at a “lost drink,” making a brief inquiry into San Francisco’s Pisco Punch, made famous by Bank Exchange saloon owner Duncan Nicol (often … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, 1934, 1939, Food and Drink, San Francisco | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

War Cancels Rose Parade, Dec. 14, 1941

Posted on December 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post from 2011. Dec. 14, 1941: The Rose Parade is canceled and the Rose Bowl – between Duke and Oregon State – is moved to Durham, N.C. The streets of Pasadena were oddly quiet on New … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Tom Treanor, World War II | 4 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — The Bronx Cocktail

Posted on December 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Dec. 20, 1934: In case you doubted me (but you wouldn’t, would you?), here’s a recipe for the Bronx Cocktail, from the Amsterdam Evening Recorder, courtesy of FultonHistory.com. In case you plan to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Food and Drink, Suicide | Tagged , | 1 Comment

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 43

Posted on December 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

When we watch “Laura” today, all we see is the finished film: The fluid camera work and complex lighting, the elegant production design, the fashionable costumes, the sharp dialogue and the generally first-rate performances, especially by Clifton Webb. Nothing betrays … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — The Brooklyn Cocktail

Posted on December 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Yes, the Manhattan cocktail once had competition from drinks named for the other boroughs. Here’s a recipe for the Brooklyn Cocktail, from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 7, 1937. The Brooklyn Cocktail as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Food and Drink | Tagged , | 3 Comments