Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

“The Los Angeles Book,” with text by Lee Shippey and photos by Max Yavno is one of my favorite books on Los Angeles – but only for Yavno’s photographs. The text is forgettable and, in fact, Yavno said he paid … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Septerhed on Display at Starbucks

Posted on December 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

Nov. 25, 2014. Septerhed’s latest drawing at Starbucks. Since I encountered them more than a year ago, I have been a fan of Septerhed’s drawings, a recurring feature at the Starbucks at Spring and 6th streets in downtown Los Angeles.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 2014, Art & Artists, Downtown | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

In February, I ran a series of posts by James Curtis about producer David Lewis. This isn’t a new book but I found it remarkably insightful. “The Creative Producer” can be found via Bookfinder.com, with copies starting as low as … Continue reading →

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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 37

Posted on December 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

Detective Mark McPherson (played by Dana Andrews), confronts Shelby Carpenter (played by Vincent Price) about a shotgun that might be the murder weapon. 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 | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 37

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mark A. Vieira and Cecilia B. de Mille Presley will be making a personal appearance for the launch of the opulent volume “Cecil B. De Mille The Art of the Hollywood Epic” on Friday at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 … Continue reading →

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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 36

Posted on December 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) confronts a sleeping Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) in “Laura.”   I have been using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 36

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post from 2013 in which we chatted with author Christina Rice. The book is available for $22.99 for the Kindle, $36.17 in hardback from Amazon or $40 at local independent bookstores such as Vroman’s, which is … Continue reading →

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

Taking a Sabbatical in 2015

Posted on December 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

A lesson about time: Laura Hunt’s antique clock has an unfortunate encounter with Waldo Lydecker’s shotgun in “Laura.” As I have said here before: So many stories, only one Larry Harnisch. In September, I put aside a long series of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

In 1982, Jim Romenesko, then a young reporter, compiled coroners’ reports on unusual deaths. Jim now runs the JimRomenesko.com blog and notes that he still has a few copies of his self-published book. He is selling them for $15, including … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Mayor Garcetti: Where’s the Lindbergh Beacon?!

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

A not great photo by me showing the Lindbergh beacon in December 2006. Update: Mayor Eric Garcetti says: Checking on it right now–I love the beacon and will be sure it gets lit if it hasn’t been. Dec. 9, 2014: … Continue reading →

Posted in 2006, City Hall | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Don’t these Art Deco kitty bookends look somewhat familiar from some other movie title? Obviously this movie is “Green Mansions” (MGM 1959).  No, it’s “Little Women” (RKO 1933).  OK, it’s “Man of Two Worlds” (RKO 1934). Or how about … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 57 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Erich von Stroheim’s ‘Paprika’

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

A copy of Erich von Stroheim’s “Paprika” inscribed to Hugo Ballin has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $875. Note: This is a post that originally appeared in 2012. Famed director/actor Erich von Stroheim faced financial disaster … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Firsthand History Lesson on Pearl Harbor

Posted on December 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2011. In 1962, I was a seventh-grader at Washington Junior High School in Naperville, Ill. On Dec. 7, Mr. Humbert, our social studies teacher, put aside the regular curriculum to give his young pupils … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Education, History, World War II | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

1944 on the Radio — Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge

Posted on December 6, 2014 by lmharnisch

Dec. 6, 1944: Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge. Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

Posted in 1944, Music, Radio | Tagged , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — Kay Kyser’s Kollege of Musical Knowledge

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Glen Creason’s book on maps of Los Angeles shows the many ways people have viewed the city over the years. I interviewed him for The Times in 2012 and fortunately for all concerned, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, Books and Authors, Libraries | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Campo de Cahuenga, California’s Birthplace

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

The 2014 luminaria festival will be held at Campo de Cahuenga Dec. 7 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Admission is free. Note: This is a repost from 2012. This year’s luminaria festival will be held Sunday. Driving south down … Continue reading →

Posted in 1847, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Campo de Cahuenga, California’s Birthplace

Coming Attractions: Hollywood Time Machine

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

I will be among the guests on Saturday’s broadcast of “Hollywood Time Machine” with Alicia Mayer. The program will air live at http://www.LATalkRadio.com (channel 2) at 6 p.m. EST and will available later as a podcast. I’m one of several … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, LAPD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Great TCM Experiment

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

A portion of the bounty from the Great TCM Experiment of 2014. From mid-August to early November, I conducted the “Great TCM Experiment,” in which I recorded everything on TCM. Yes, everything as in everything.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 20 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. You might have to hunt a bit for Don Normark’s 1999 book “Chavez Ravine, 1949,” but your search will be rewarded. The photos are terrific and the residents’ recollections make the book even … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Georgette Bauerdorf, an Unsolved Murder, Part 31

Posted on December 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Georgette Bauerdorf, National Police Gazette, August 1946. At long last, we finish our examination of the Georgette Bauerdorf case with many questions unanswered. Without more information, we can only speculate about many aspects of the killing. For that matter, we … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments