Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s movie has been the 1937 Warner Bros.’ picture “Call It a Day,” with Olivia De Havilland (Friday’s guest), Ian Hunter (not shown), Anita Louise (not shown), Alice Brady (Wednesday’s guest), Roland Young (Thursday’s guest) and Frieda Inescort (not … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 47 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Los Angeles Bans ‘The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari’ (Updated)

Posted on December 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

A still from “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari from “The Movies Come From America.” Update: A reader on the film site, Nitrateville, pointed out that novelist Upton Sinclair wrote about the protest at “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari” in his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, 1922, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Not on Netflix: ‘Batman’ and ‘Day the Earth Stood Still’

Posted on December 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

The Joker isn’t kidding this time. Batman really is disappearing! “Batman” will join the Not on Netflix brigade starting Jan. 1, according to Moviefone. Also disappearing from Netflix’s streaming service are “12 Angry Men,” “Carrie,” “The Day the Earth Stood … Continue reading →

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

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: The Harvey Wallbanger

Posted on December 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

A vintage 1972 iron-on transfer of Harvey Wallbanger himself, on EBay for $12. Note: This is a repost from 2013. We have been looking at some historic drinks for this holiday season. To the millennials in the audience: This is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1971, Food and Drink, Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: The Harvey Wallbanger

Ray Bradbury’s Unrealized Opera: ‘Leviathan ‘99’

Posted on December 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Since Ray Bradbury died in 2012, I have been rummaging around the Daily Mirror archives in a frustrating search for a copy of his libretto for an opera titled “Leviathan ’99,” which I obtained many years ago when I was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1984, Books and Authors, Music | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Los Angeles Celebrates Christmas, 1913

Posted on December 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

Dec. 25, 1913: The Times carries a biblical passage across the nameplate (notice the artwork of the new and old Times buildings) and a Page 1 cartoon by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale. “Cartoonist Gale” frequently drew a character known as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Art & Artists, Food and Drink, Medicine | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Mayor Garcetti Fires Up the Lindbergh Beacon

Posted on December 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

And yes, here is the Lindberg beacon atop City Hall, illuminating the skies over Los Angeles for Christmas Eve 2014.

Posted in 2014, City Hall, Downtown | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Lindbergh Beacon to Be Lit

Posted on December 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mayor Eric Garcetti has announced that he will fire up the Lindbergh beacon atop City Hall tonight and that it will remain lit through Jan. 5. I’ll post photos later.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Lindbergh Beacon to Be Lit

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: A Brief History of the Tom and Jerry

Posted on December 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

A recipe for the Tom and Jerry from the San Francisco Call, June 30, 1912. Note: This is a repost from 2013. Over on Facebook, Christopher McPherson asked whether the Tom and Jerry was named for the MGM cartoon characters. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1862, Books and Authors, Food and Drink | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Final suggestion: “Missing Reels,” by Farran Smith Nehme, who writes so wonderfully about films on the Self-Styled Siren. “Missing Reels” is available from Amazon. Locally, it’s listed at Book Soup (“on our shelves now”), Skylight Books (“ships to store in … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 42

Posted on December 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

An image from the Broadway play “In Time to Come,” directed by Otto Preminger, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $32.75. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, World War I, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide

Posted on December 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

A set of five Tom and Jerry mugs listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $20. Note: This is a repost from 2013. We don’t keep a bottle of Scotch in our desk in the city room of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1945, Food and Drink | Tagged , | 3 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Yes, “Hellzapoppin’ ” is actually out on DVD. It’s available from Amazon UK for £7.99 (about $12.50). But there’s a catch: It’s a Region-2 DVD. I’m told by someone who bought a copy that it’s a sharp print and will … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 41

Posted on December 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Otto Preminger makes his film debut as an actor in 1942 in “The Pied Piper.” Preminger said in a 1970 interview in On Film: “Although I’m Jewish, I can look like a Nazi if I shave my head.” The film … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 1943, 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Stage | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

If you are running a bit late in your holiday shopping, you might consider an advance order of “Dead to Me,” a YA (young adult) novel to be issued by Disney-Hyperion in March. “Dead to Me” is by Mary McCoy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Hollywood | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1942 MGM film “Tennessee Johnson” with Van Heflin (Friday’s mystery guest), Lionel Barrymore (Thursday’s mystery guest), Ruth Hussey (Tuesday’s mystery guest), Marjorie Main, Regis Toomey and J. Edward Bromberg (not shown). The screenplay was … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Riding Stable First of Its Kind in Los Angeles

Posted on December 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

When it announced its opening for business on March 31, 1923, the Hollywoodland real estate development promised quality homes, upscale amenities now considered de rigueur in gated communities, and beautiful surroundings to discerning homebuyers. The first to construct a business … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

This Norden bomb sight has been listed on EBay with bids starting at $1.950. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated thoroughly before submitting a bid.

Posted in World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

The Shrinking U.S. Newspaper, 1896 – 2014

Posted on December 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Here’s an issue of the San Francisco Call from 1896 compared to a recent page from the 2014 Los Angeles Times.

Posted in 2014 | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 18, 2014 by lmharnisch

So far, most of the retro gift suggestions have been books. But what if your significant other isn’t much of a reader? Well, then, how about this 1964 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz convertible owned by Charles Bronson? It’s listed at $34,500 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1964, Transportation | Tagged , | 1 Comment