Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

1944 on the Radio — ‘The Lone Ranger’

Posted on June 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1944: Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear! “The Lone Ranger” with Billy the Kid. Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

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Google Is In Your Neighborhood

Posted on June 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

The Google car (not self-driving) was at 2nd Street and Broadway the other day.

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 25, 1944

Posted on June 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 25, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, JUNE 24 —  A studious appearing quiet young man is gray eyed Alexander Knox, who, out of hundreds of applicants, was chosen by Darryl Zanuck to play “Wilson.” From the Milwaukee Sentinel.

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 7

Posted on June 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I am using Louella Parson’s May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a detour into the making of the film. We have looked at the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Looking at Hollywood by Hedda Hopper, June 24, 1944

Posted on June 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 24, 1944 I rarely run Hedda Hopper, but since Beachgal said Hedda would have never fallen for Warners’ publicity on Dennis Morgan, here she is, leading her column with… guess who. Hedda Hopper says: Dennis Morgan has come up … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Dorothy Manners, June 24, 1944

Posted on June 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 24, 1944 Dorothy Manners, filling in for her boss Louella Parsons, says: HOLLYWOOD, JUNE 23 —  A sudden shuffle in the casting of “Experiment Perilous” brings out some interesting news. George Brent will play the hero role opposite Hedy … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on June 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

This is “City for Conquest,” produced by James Cagney’s brother William.  Directed by Anatole Litvak, with cinematography by Sol Polito and James Wong Howe.  

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 71 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Richard Kline, Physical Instructor to the Stars

Posted on June 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

  “Body Building With Bar Bells and Dumbbells” by Richard Kline, listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $29.99. Long before the advent of personal trainers, workout gyms, weight lifting and cross-training, some movie stars worked out to get … Continue reading →

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

Buy a Rave Review on Yelp … only $30!

Posted on June 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

Did you think Amazon was the only website with fake reviews? Maybe not. Here’s a current ad on Craigslist. And for $40 you can get a review on two other websites as well!

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‘Chinatown’ and That Nose-Slitting Scene

Posted on June 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

One of the most famous scenes in “Chinatown,” which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, occurs when Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) has his nose slit by director Roman Polanski. What many people don’t realize is that something like this actually occurred … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1974, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

‘Boom’ and Busted: Author Admits Amazon Reviews Are Fake

Posted on June 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

“Boom” for sale on Amazon. As if you didn’t already know the truth about Amazon’s “reviews.” Author Tony Horwitz writes in the New York Times. Except there didn’t seem to be a “team,” just an outside publicist who was busy … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged , | 3 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 20, 1944

Posted on June 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, JUNE 19 — Seein’ is believin’ as the saying goes, and the other day I saw figures of the actual breakdown on the Warners fan mail. Lo and behold, leading all the others was Dennis Morgan. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, June 19, 1944

Posted on June 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 19, 1944 Gen. Eisenhower is the cover story in this week’s Life magazine. Life covers the D-day invasion…. And the Hollywood feature is the artwork of director Jean Negulesco. Courtesy of Google Books.

Posted in 1944, Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: Donald Wolfe, ‘The Black Dahlia Files’ and a Faked Document (Revisited)

Posted on June 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

Page 198 of Donald H. Wolfe’s “The Black Dahlia Files.” Someone asked about the fake a document in Donald Wolfe’s “The Black Dalia Files.” Here’s a post I wrote about it on April 14, 2006. Eight years later, I’m still … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 19, 1944

Posted on June 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 19, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, June 18 — (INS) Bing Crosby gets his way — meaning an “unknown” plays the title role in “The Great John L.” Greg McClure is the lucky gent. He’s a 26-year-old Irishman, built like an “ad” … Continue reading →

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Too Modern Times

Posted on June 18, 2014 by lmharnisch

It is really sad when a certain hometown newspaper makes this sort of mistake, especially in a section that covers films. Not only is this famous horizontal photo run as a vertical; it’s also flopped.  

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , | 4 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 18, 1944

Posted on June 18, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, June 17 – On June 21, Leo the Lion will have roared for 20 years, carrying many glamorous and popular stars to fame. When I came to Hollywood 19 years ago, this company was making itself … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 17, 1944

Posted on June 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 17, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, June 16 — My old friend Ralph Wheelright, whom I have known since he was in the MGM publicity department and before that, when he was one of the Los Angeles Examiner’s star reporters, takes another … Continue reading →

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People Who Write in Library Books Should Be Shot

Posted on June 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

I mean really.

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

This is “Shield for Murder,” requested by Julie Merholz, who says that she watched some of the filming when she was a student at Beverly Hills High (scene of the swimming pool sequence). Thanks, Julie!  

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 36 Comments