Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

1944 in Print — ‘Walter Winchell on Broadway,’ Feb. 3, 1944

Posted on February 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 3, 1944: Walter Winchell devotes his entire column to an organization called Peace Now.  He did not approve. From the St. Petersburg Times.

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

1944 on the Radio — ‘Hop Harrigan’ and ‘Orson Welles’ Radio Almanac,’ Feb. 2, 1944

Posted on February 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 2, 1944 Today we have: — Hop Harrigan in Berlin on “Hop Harrigan.” Courtesy of Archive.org. — Lionel Barrymore is the guest on “Orson Welles’ Radio Almanac.” (Yet another joke about the housing shortage). Courtesy of Archive.org.

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — ‘Hop Harrigan’ and ‘Orson Welles’ Radio Almanac,’ Feb. 2, 1944

1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, Feb. 2, 1944

Posted on February 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 2, 1944: Let’s go to press! Cary Grant is “shopping for a new home in Bel-Air” stirring rumors about a rift with Barbara Hutton! “Another movie star and his wife apparently are on the verge. He’s squiring Evelyn Carmel … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

1944 in Print — ‘Walter Winchell on Broadway,’ Feb. 1, 1944

Posted on February 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1944: “The Duke in the Darkness,” a starrer for Philip Merivale, drew regrets that the author of “Angel Street” had used a rickety typewriter to fashion this one … “The Song of Bernadette,” coming in on a 12-cylinder … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — ‘Walter Winchell on Broadway,’ Feb. 1, 1944

1944 on the Radio — ‘Duffy’s Tavern’ and ‘Fibber McGee and Molly,’ Feb. 1, 1944

Posted on February 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1944 It’s Tuesday in 1944 and today we have: — “Adventures of the Sea Hound.”  Courtesy of Archive.org. — Billie Burke is the guest on “Duffy’s Tavern.” Courtesy of Archive.org. — “Fibber Buys a Diamond Ring” on “Fibber … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — ‘Duffy’s Tavern’ and ‘Fibber McGee and Molly,’ Feb. 1, 1944

Gunman Kills LAPD Officers Endler and Monaghan, Feb. 1, 1964

Posted on February 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1964: Police Sgt. Charles Paul Monaghan and Officer Robert M. Endler of the Wilshire Division are shot to death while investigating a man passing a bad check at the Sears store, 4550 W. Pico Blvd. He was arrested … Continue reading →

Posted in 1964, LAPD | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Gunman Kills LAPD Officers Endler and Monaghan, Feb. 1, 1964

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, Jan. 31, 1944

Posted on January 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 31, 1944: The cover photo shows Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur William Tedder, G.C.B., chosen as Gen. Eisenhower’s deputy commander for the invasion of Europe. The featured movie is “Lifeboat” and Life pays a visit to the Florentine Gardens. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Film, History, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — Life Magazine, Jan. 31, 1944

1944 on the Radio — ‘Random Harvest’ on ‘Lux Radio Theater,’ Jan. 31, 1944

Posted on January 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 31, 1944 Today we have: —“Random Harvest” with Ronald Colman and Greer Garson on Lux Radio Theater. Courtesy of Archive.org.

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — ‘Random Harvest’ on ‘Lux Radio Theater,’ Jan. 31, 1944

1944 on the Radio — ‘The Jack Benny Show,’ Jan. 30, 1944

Posted on January 30, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 30, 1944 It’s a Sunday in 1944 and today we have: — “Marjorie the Actress” on “The Great Gildersleeve,” starring Harold Peary. Courtesy of Archive.org. —Mark Hellinger is the guest on a program promoting “The Horn Blows at Midnight” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — ‘The Jack Benny Show,’ Jan. 30, 1944

Black Dahlia and the Cecil Hotel — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on January 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

I don’t know how this nonsense gets started. There is nothing to show that Elizabeth Short ever set foot in the Cecil Hotel, as claimed by KABC-TV Channel 7.

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

The Oviatt Tie

Posted on January 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Leave it to Marc Chevalier to come up with this. Marc took the image of one of the glass panels from the Oviatt Building and turned it into a custom necktie, via Zazzle. The tie is $29.95. You can even … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Fashion, Hollywood | Tagged , | 2 Comments

1944 on the Radio — ‘Nick Carter, Master Detective,’ January 29, 1944

Posted on January 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 29, 1944 It’s Saturday in 1944 and today we have — “The Unwilling Accomplice” on “Nick Carter, Master Detective.” Courtesy of Archive.org

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — ‘Nick Carter, Master Detective,’ January 29, 1944

Sinatra Makes Film Debut, Jan. 29, 1944

Posted on January 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 29, 1944: The Times reports Frank Sinatra’s film debut in “Higher and Higher”: A generous quota of young girls attended the first showings and their ecstatic whinnyings recorded each and every appearance of their hero. In one house, at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, African Americans, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

A Pete Seeger Song Bag

Posted on January 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a few Pete Seeger songs I pulled together in his memory. “Frankie and Johnny” sung by Pete Seeger. Courtesy of Archive.org. “John Henry” with Big Bill Broonzy and Pete Seeger. Courtesy of Archive.org. “Pete Seeger Marathon” from 1969. Courtesy … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Obituaries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Rediscovering Los Angeles — The Melrose

Posted on January 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 9, 1936: Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy Turner visit the Melrose tourist hotel on Grand between 1st and 2nd streets, which was connected to the old Rowan mansion. Turner paints wonderful portraits of life in Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1936, Art & Artists, Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Concrete Ideas on Architecture in Pasadena

Posted on January 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

After watching a crew build the forms and a couple of cement trucks pouring the concrete, I finally saw the completed concrete house at 747 S. Los Robles Ave. in Pasadena. Unfortunately, it’s not clear who designed the house. And … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013, Architecture, Pasadena | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + +)

Posted on January 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

And for Monday, we have a mystery gent. Update: One of the many things that is notable about Akira Kurosawa’s “I Live in Fear” (1955) is how much the actors disappear into their characters. Burt Lancaster, for all his talent, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 27 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Gibbons-Del Rio House: Like Stepping Into a Dream

Posted on January 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

The Cedric Gibbons home, via Google Street View. Celebrity has often been the cachet for creating style, fashion and cultural trends, especially with the advent of films. Stars wearing a particular designer’s couture, driving a certain car, or a female … Continue reading →

Posted in 1931, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Flo Ash — The ‘Cutest Little Nudist’ — Gets a Divorce

Posted on January 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 26, 1944: “Flo Ash” is one of my favorite names from 1940s Los Angeles.  In 1940, she sued the Florentine Gardens and producer Nils T. Granlund over use of the nickname “Cutest Little Nudist.”

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Crime and Courts, Hollywood, Nightclubs, World War II | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

1944 on the Radio — ‘Orson Welles’ Almanac,’ Jan. 26, 1944

Posted on January 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 26, 1944 It’s Wednesday in 1944 and today we have: — “The Adventures of Mr. and Mrs. North,” sponsored by Woodbury’s Facial Soap, for “the skin you love to touch.” Courtesy of Archive.org. — Groucho Marx on the first … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Film, Hollywood, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — ‘Orson Welles’ Almanac,’ Jan. 26, 1944