Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

1944 in Print — Hollywood by Sidney Skolsky, April 1, 1944

Posted on April 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

April 1, 1944 Meet Sidney Skolsky (d. 1983), a Hollywood-based gossip columnist. Let’s give him a month and see if he’s a keeper. HOLLYWOOD, April 1 — It doesn’t matter who your favorite movie critic is, you can’t ignore those … Continue reading →

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

1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons

Posted on April 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

April 1, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, March 31 — If Olivia de Havilland can straighten out her affairs and if there are no legal complications, she will do “Made in Heaven” at RKO. Charles Koerner just bought the comedy from — and … Continue reading →

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LAPD Parker Center Cop Shop Files (Updated)

Posted on April 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

In 2013, 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on March 31, 2014 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 66 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Poor Pauline,’ Parody Sheet Music

Posted on March 31, 2014 by lmharnisch

  “Poor Pauline,” courtesy of Indiana University. While sheet music was sold and manufactured beginning in the 1700s, only in the late 1880s did its sales truly take off, when Tin Pin Alley music companies began springing up. By 1900, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Music | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

March 2014 Reader Survey

Posted on March 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here are the results as of Saturday. I’m guessing the figures may change a bit, but not too much.

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Mary Mallory, Radio | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

1944 on the Radio — ‘First Nighter’

Posted on March 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 29, 1944: “The Chinese Gong” on “The First Nighter” with a script by Arch Oboler. Sponsored by Campana! Courtesy of otronmp3.com.

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1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 29, 1944

Posted on March 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 29, 1944 The Private Papers of a Cub Reporter The following is an editorial from the St. Louis Star-Times titled: “Dies Committee’s Un-American Investigation of Winchell” … “The Dies committee to investigate Un-American activities, in the course of its … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Politics, Radio | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

1944 on the Radio — Brian Aherne on ‘Burns and Allen,’ March 28, 1944

Posted on March 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 28, 1944 It’s Tuesday in  1944, which means we have: — Brian Aherne is the guest on “Burns and Allen.” Listen for the Frank Sinatra jokes. Courtesy of Otrrlibary.org via Archive.org. — The Great Gildersleeve visits “Fibber McGee and … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 28, 1944

Posted on March 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 28, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, March 27 — If you’ve seen “Oklahoma” you’ll remember the red-haired American named Marc Platt, who dances with the grace of Fred Astaire. Well, Marc has been signed by Columbia and is heading for Hollywood to … Continue reading →

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

1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 28, 1944

Posted on March 28, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 28, 1944 Notes of an Innocent Bystander The Magic Lantern: “See Here, Private Hargrove” is loaded with familiar comedy gags, but it’s got so doggone much good feeling that you skip the stencils. Besides, it’s got a pair of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Take the L.A. Daily Mirror Survey

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

Now that I have your attention, please take a little survey on where the blog goes from here.

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Mary Mallory: Film Noir Fest Visits The Dark Side

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

A lobby card for “Too Late for Tears,” listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $75. For 16 years at Hollywood’s Egyptian Theatre, the Film Noir Foundation has been presenting Noir City, a dedicated look at the evil underbelly … Continue reading →

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

1944 in Print — Life Magazine, March 27, 1944

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1944: Landing craft 220 transports troops to an Italian beach, while LCI 226 lands troops in New Guinea and New Britain, the subject of a profile by John Hersey. Universal movie studios photographer Ray Jones gives a lesson … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 27, 1944

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, March 26 — A lawsuit that may completely upset one of M-G-M’s most important pictures, starring Susan Peters and Robert Young, looms potent on the horizon. Today, by wire, Pauline Leader Brand, former wife of Millen … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 27, 1944

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1944 Broadway Alien She was once taken to a New York nightclub on New Year’s Eve and didn’t enjoy herself … She believes everything she reads in the movie mags… The only time she stays up all night … Continue reading →

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In 1944 in Print — Walter Winchell vs. Rep. Martin Dies

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1944 Rep. Martin Dies (D-Texas), the head of the House un-American Activities Committee, goes on the radio to accuse Walter Winchell of being used by “one of the most sinister forces this nation ever faced.” Dies called this … Continue reading →

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New LAPD Chief Calls for Openness With News Media

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1949 Former Marine Maj. Gen. William A. Worton becomes Los Angeles police chief. On his way to his office with Mayor Fletcher Bowron, he visits the press room: “I cannot do this job without the press. The public … Continue reading →

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L.A. Becomes N.Y. — Again

Posted on March 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

I wandered down to “New York Street” (Spring Street between 4th and 6th in downtown Los Angeles) last night and saw this Hollywood version of an NYPD patrol car. L.A. Becomes N.Y. Million Dollar Theatre | Street Scene |  CSI: … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

1944 on the Radio — Fred Allen and Jack Benny, March 26, 1944

Posted on March 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 26, 1944 It’s Sunday in 1944, which means we have: — Rochester sings the current hit song “Besame Mucho” on “The Jack Benny Show.” Courtesy of Otrrlibrary.org via Archive.org. — Ed Gardner of “Duffy’s Tavern” is Fred Allen’s guest … Continue reading →

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