Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Wiltern Theatre Jazzes Up Movie Theater Construction

Posted on May 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

The grand opening of what was then the Warner Western Theater, courtesy of Mary Mallory.     The history of one street corner can often show the growing pains of a burgeoning city. What started out as a rural location … Continue reading →

Posted in 1931, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Remembering Dr. Glen Stassen: From the Pulpit

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

While we are on the subject of obituaries, here’s a sermon by the late Dr. Glen Stassen, “The Ten Commandments,” delivered in 2008 at First Baptist Church of Pasadena. Here’s a sermon from 2007 titled “God Is Green: Do We … Continue reading →

Posted in 2007, 2008, Obituaries, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Remembering Dr. Glen Stassen: From the Pulpit

Black Dahlia: RIP Efrem Zimbalist Jr.

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Efrem Zimbalist Jr., who died yesterday at the age of 95, is better remembered for “77 Sunset Strip” and “The F.B.I.”  He’s probably even better remembered for “The Chapman Report.” But yes, he did portray LAPD Det. Harry Hansen in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

1944 on the Radio — ‘The First Nighter’

Posted on May 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 3, 1944: “The First Nighter” in a show titled “Mother’s Angel Children.” Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

Posted in 1944, Radio | Tagged , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — ‘The First Nighter’

Black Dahlia: ‘Not Elizabeth Short’ For Sale on EBay

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. An EBay vendor has listed this hand-colored picture with bids starting at $99.99, stating that…. Well, read it in their own words: AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF RESEARCH AND COMPARING OTHER ELIZABETH SHORTS … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, Photography | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Black Dahlia: 1947 L.A. Examiner Front Page Sells for $500+

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Someone bought this front page of the Jan. 17, 1947, Los Angeles Examiner, with the story about the identification of Elizabeth Short, for $511.01. Not the entire paper. Just the front page. The seller was Timothy Hughes: Early and Rare … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

From the Vaults — ‘While the City Sleeps,’ Part III

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

The previous two posts gave a brief production history and plot summary of the 1928 Lon Chaney film “While the City Sleeps” and a sample of the reviews. Today, we’ll look at some of the more unusual aspects of this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, May 2, 1944

Posted on May 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 2, 1944 THE MANY AND ASSORTED RUMORS that James Cagney has signed with this or that studio are all denied by his brother Bill, who says five stories are lined up to star Jimmy for his independent company. Says … Continue reading →

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

Union Station Opens in Los Angeles, May 1939

Posted on May 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 29, 1938: Nuestro Pueblo, by artist Charles Owens and writer Joe Seewerker,  depicts the construction of Union Station. Here are some posts that I wrote years ago, including several when Union Station turned 70. — Grand Design for Los … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Union Station Opens in Los Angeles, May 1939

From the Vaults — ‘While the City Sleeps,’ Part II

Posted on May 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

In yesterday’s post, I gave a brief production history of the 1928 Lon Chaney film “While the City Sleeps,” and a summary of the rather complex plot, rendered even more convoluted because substantial portions of the print are missing, either … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on From the Vaults — ‘While the City Sleeps,’ Part II

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 1, 1944

Posted on May 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Navy Lt. Harold Vita shows young Richard Kovacks how to shoot down an enemy plane in this week’s cover story. May 1, 1944 Life magazine looks at the travails of George Yamamoto, who keeps getting running out of town because … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Life Magazine, May 1, 1944

Oklahoma’s Executioner: Rich Owens

Posted on April 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

Oklahoma City Feb. 27, 1948 Note: This 2006 post is worth revisiting after last night’s botched execution of Clayton Lockett in Oklahoma. Ray Parr’s story about Rich Owens, the longtime executioner at McAlester State Penitentiary, has been knocking around my … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Crime and Courts | 1 Comment

From the Vaults: ‘While the City Sleeps’ — Part I

Posted on April 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

It’s worth spending a bit more time on our recent mystery movie “While the City Sleeps” for several reasons. It’s not widely available and most copies seem to be missing large chunks of the film, making the complex narrative even … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, City Hall, Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Salute to Forgotten Heroism, April 30, 1944

Posted on April 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

April 30, 1944 Here’s a story of forgotten heroism. I stumbled across it in the Miami News while digging out a Sidney Skolsky column. Lt. Newell Putnam Wyman waves off rescuers trying to save him and the crew of his … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood by Sidney Skolsky, April 30, 1944

Posted on April 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is the last of the Sidney Skolsky columns for a while. There are no online issues of the Miami News for May 1944, so that’s it until June. What do you think of Skolsky? Is he a keeper? … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, April 30, 1944

Posted on April 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

April 30, 1944 The U.S. loses 63 bombers and 14 fighters in a daylight raid on Berlin. The Nazis lost 88 aircraft. Meanwhile, the RAF made its 16th consecutive nighttime raid on Germany. Louella Parsons interviews Irving Cummings, who received … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, April 30, 1944

LAPD Parker Center Cop Shop Files: The Freeway Rapist

Posted on April 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

I was given a box of material that was cleaned out of the old press room at the LAPD’s Parker Center headquarters, sometimes called “the cop shop.” The box was a jumble of press releases, photographs, artists’ sketches and other … Continue reading →

Posted in 1962, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

1944 in Print — Hollywood by Sidney Skolsky, April 29, 1944

Posted on April 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

April 29, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, April 29 — Irene Dunne is the latest actress to be offered the lead in “Olympia,” but she is waiting until she can read the script … Brenda Marshall doesn’t want to do “Something for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood by Sidney Skolsky, April 29, 1944

1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, April 29, 1944

Posted on April 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

April 29, 1944 We have a deeply embedded notion that the “Greatest Generation” dutifully paid their taxes because it was the patriotic thing to do. This editorial cartoon, by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale of the Los Angeles Examiner, illustrates the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Art & Artists, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, April 29, 1944

Movieland Mystery Photo ( Updated + + + +)

Posted on April 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

Our mystery movie is the 1941 MGM film “Unholy Partners,” which curiously enough has apparently never been released on DVD or even VHS.

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