Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Coming in January — 1944: The Year in Radio

Posted on December 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 19, 1943: A new Philco radio cost the equivalent of of $1,721.07 in 2013 dollars. I had such an interesting time exploring Archive.org in search of radio broadcasts for Christmas 1943 that I have decided to try adding radio … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Radio | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

Our mystery movie is indeed “City Streets,” directed by Rouben Mamoulian, with cinematography by Lee Garmes, which is quite a remarkable film. As far as I can tell, it’s not in commercial release (except in a Region 2 version in … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 43 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Nostalgic View Of Hollywood’s Santa Claus Lane

Posted on December 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

Carol Hughes as photographed by Schuyler Crail, courtesy of Mary Mallory. For decades, motion picture studios churned out thousands of motion picture still photographs — candids, scene stills, off-camera shots, and portraits — to employ as free advertising for films … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas on the Radio — ‘Fibber McGee and Molly’

Posted on December 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

A photo of Fibber McGee (Jim Jordan) and Molly (Marian Jordan) listed on EBay at $9.99. While we are twirling the radio dial looking for Christmas shows, here are some episodes from “Fibber McGee and Molly.” From 1941 (Dec. 16, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1944, 1949, 1953, Radio | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Christmas on the Radio — ‘Fibber McGee and Molly’

Christmas on the Radio — Lionel Barrymore in ‘A Christmas Carol’

Posted on December 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

Another staple of the radio era was a production of “A Christmas Carol” starring Lionel Barrymore as Ebenezer Scrooge. From Christmas Eve, 1939, courtesy of Archive.org.

Posted in 1939, Hollywood, Radio | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Christmas on the Radio — Dragnet ‘.22 Rifle for Christmas’

Posted on December 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

From the radio version of “Dragnet,” Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough) on the case of a missing 9-year-old boy in “.22 Rifle for Christmas.” From 1949 | From 1950 | From 1951 | From 1952 (with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, LAPD, Radio | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mason Opera House

Posted on December 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

This program from the Mason Opera House for a 1920 performance of “The Mikado” has been listed on EBay, with bids starting at $5.50. The Mason was one of the leading theaters on Broadway. It was demolished in the 1950s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920, Architecture, Broadway, Downtown, Food and Drink, Found on EBay, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

For someone interested in the earlier history of Los Angeles, that is, outside the traditional Raymond Chandler/noir era that draws the most interest, you might consider Paul Bryan Gray’s “A Clamor for Equality,” another example, like Christina Rice’s “Ann Dvorak” … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Latinos | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Highland Park Sketchbook

Posted on December 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

We stopped by Cafe de Leche in Highland Park to pick up some coffee today and found this sketchbook. It’s a project of the 50NYork Gallery. Here’s some of the artwork:

Posted in Art & Artists | Tagged , | Comments Off on Highland Park Sketchbook

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Friday, a mystery guitarist, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

‘I Took the Gun and Shot Him Once in the Leg, Just for Fun’

Posted on December 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

Maybe it was murder. Maybe it never happened at all. Was she telling the truth or was it all a lie? Early on the morning of Nov. 20, 1953, acting on a tip, LAPD Detectives John Olsen and P.R. Brooks … Continue reading →

Posted in 1953, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Homicide, LAPD, Main Street | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: The Harvey Wallbanger

Posted on December 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

A vintage 1972 iron-on transfer of Harvey Wallbanger himself, on EBay for $12. We have been looking at some historic drinks for this holiday season. To the millennials in the audience: This is what mom and dad used to drink … Continue reading →

Posted in 1971, Food and Drink, Music | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

And here’s a mystery woman for Thursday, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Los Angeles Prepares to Celebrate a Wartime Christmas

Posted on December 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 19, 1943: Los Angeles prepares to celebrate Christmas with a focus on service members, while U.S. troops fight the Nazis in hand-to-hand combat for the Italian town of San Pietro.  The Times story by James Warnack (d. 1958) begins:  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Film, History, Hollywood, Religion, Sports, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Los Angeles Prepares to Celebrate a Wartime Christmas

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

Several people have suggested that “Never Built Los Angeles,” which has yet to be added to the Daily Mirror library, would be an excellent holiday gift. The book by Sam Lubell and Greg Goldin with a forward by Thom Mayne … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Futurism | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s a mystery fellow for Wednesday, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files — Mystery Guest No. 1

Posted on December 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I was given a box of material cleaned out of the press room at Parker Center that was crammed with photos, artist sketches, press releases and some tattered maps. I have organized the material … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 17, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Tuesday, a mystery woman, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Rediscovering Los Angeles — Tortilleria Jalisco

Posted on December 17, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy Turner did a weekly series on some of the old landmarks in Los Angeles, many of them doomed by the impending construction of Union Station. Unlike the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1936, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Food and Drink, Main Street, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s a little stocking stuffer: A 1929 Duesenberg Model J. Dual Cowl Phaeton, which is being auctioned next year in Scottsdale, Ariz. The estimated sale price, according to Gooding & Co. is $2 million to $2.3 million.

Posted in 1929, Transportation | Tagged | 2 Comments