Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 1

Posted on May 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

The May 15, 1944, post by Louella Parsons about Rouben Mamoulian asking to be released as the director of “Laura” made me think that it would be worth taking a closer look at the production of the 20th Century-Fox film, … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip, Louella Parsons, May 27, 1944

Posted on May 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Carole Landis and William Eythe play cards. May 27, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 26 — Ingrid Bergman is one of the few actresses who has all hits, all runs and no errors to her credit, so I am not surprised that … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo — The TCM Singing Cowboy … SOLVED!

Posted on May 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Credit to Mike Hawks. This is Joe Morrison in “La Fiesta de Santa Barbara.” I know everybody who reads the Daily Mirror has seen our friend the TCM Singing Cowboy. Whoever does the introductions for “TCM Extras” loves the singing … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Sidney Bracy: Hollywood’s No. 1 Butler

Posted on May 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sidney Bracy in an undated photo. Courtesy of Mary Mallory. What makes one person a star, why another languishes in tiny parts or obscurity? Is it charisma, sex appeal, luck, opportunity, that pushes them over? And what about someone who … Continue reading →

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

1944 on the Radio — ‘The First Nighter’

Posted on May 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 24, 1944: “The First Nighter” in a show titled “Speak Ever So Gently.” Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 23, 1944

Posted on May 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 23, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 22 — Fr. Flanagan’s “Boys Town” was a big money maker. So it is no surprise to hear that MGM has bought the rights to film a movie around the idea of “Boys Ranch,” the … Continue reading →

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LAPD Parker Center Cop Shop Files: Celina Renee Manning, Missing Teenager

Posted on May 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 23, 1974 In case you just tuned in, I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old Cop Shop at the LAPD’s Parker Center and I’m slowly going through the files. Our subject is … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 22, 1944

Posted on May 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 22, 1944 America is waiting breathlessly for the impending invasion of Europe. In Dallas, churches promised to ring their bells and open their sanctuaries for prayer as soon as the invasion was announced. With the South hit by flooding … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip, May 22, 1944

Posted on May 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 22, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 21 — Joan Bennett laughed when I mentioned that I had heard on the Twentieth lot that she was to co-star with Fred MacMurray in “Nob Hill.” “It looks,” said Joan, “as if I am … Continue reading →

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Phlange Welder Lives Again

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

When the Daily Mirror was at latimes.com, I did some digging into the many adventures of “Phlange Welder,” a fictitious name that was slipped into The Times beginning in 1961. The Los Angeles Examiner had its own fictitious person, Victor … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 21, 1944

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 21, 1944 Louella Parsons asks Olivia De Havilland: “Do you feel your court battle with Warners will affect your chances of getting back to the screen and good pictures?” “Certainly not,” she said. “I won and am now reading … Continue reading →

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

Books From the Slush Pile: ‘Carsick’ by John Waters

Posted on May 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

Rejected review copies molder in bins. Avert thine eyes, aspiring authors! I have a millennial friend who thinks hitchhiking is a fine idea. Having lived through the 1970s, when thumbing a ride was considered cool, I told her about my … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Medical Arts Building

Posted on May 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mary went on a field trip to visit the Toluca Plaza building (formerly the Medical Arts Building) for her latest post, but some of her photos got caught in my spam filter. Here they are. This is “Aunt Nell” “trying … Continue reading →

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Out of the Past: An LAPD Cold Case From 1948

Posted on May 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

The northwest corner of Central and Manchester avenues, as shown on Google Earth. Notice the alley behind the stores. In nine years of blogging about Los Angeles, I have learned that families often launder the past and, understandably, murder is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

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

Posted on May 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 20, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 19 — Don Ameche and Twentieth Century-Fox are parting company. After a series of conferences failed to bring about an agreement, Don decided to move to another studio. His contract expires the last of June. … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + + )

Posted on May 19, 2014 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 68 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — 4418 Vineland Ave. Yesterday and Today

Posted on May 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

Over the decades, towns and cities undergo great change as they evolve from agrarian societies into metropolitan areas. Multi-unit residential properties, modern office buildings and skyscrapers replace older buildings and styles of architecture, now considered too old-fashioned by some. Many … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Medicine, Preservation | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Books From the Slush Pile: ‘The Selected Letters of Elia Kazan’

Posted on May 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

The bins of rejected review copies. Aspiring authors, avert thine eyes! Note: I have been rummaging through the bins of review copies put out for the staff, trying to pick out books that are related in some fashion to the … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 16, 1944

Posted on May 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 16, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, May 15 —  A year ago Dick Haymes sat on a park bench in New York and wondered how he was going to support his wife and baby. Today he is to have the lead opposite … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’: The Making of a Classic Film Noir – Adventures in Research

Posted on May 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” has inspired a long detour into the production of the film – beginning with Vera Caspary and her 1942 novel. Given the typical state … Continue reading →

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