Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Dec. 7, 1959: Paul Coates Interviews Tokyo Rose

On Dec. 7, 1959, Paul Coates published an interview with Tokyo Rose. She says: “What’s the use? What good is it to talk to the press?  Everybody’s mind is made up about me.” A throwback from 2009, when my blog … Continue reading

Posted in 1941, 1959, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Pickford Warns Aspiring Actresses: Bring Your Mothers!

Dec. 4, 1923: Los Angeles celebrates Mary Pickford Day with an appearance by the silent screen star, her mother, Charlotte, and her husband,  Douglas Fairbanks, before a crowd of fans (mostly women, The Times noted) at Pershing Square. Speaking to … Continue reading

Posted in 1923, Downtown, Film, Hill Street, Hollywood, Olive, Parks | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

This is something of a find. “Los Angeles” is one of the most influential — though certainly not one of the most accurate — books ever written about local history and although it’s well known, the author, George “Morrow” Mayo … Continue reading

Posted in 1933, Books and Authors, History | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

Movieland Mystery Photo

Today’s mystery chap is especially tricky because Christopher McPherson, who kindly shared these photos, has no idea about the identity of this gent. He could be someone’s Uncle Freddy, although this does look like a publicity shot. Google’s image search … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 15 Comments

Farewell to Old Los Angeles

The old Plaza area as drawn by Times artist Charles Owens. Along with the demolition to make way for Union Station, historic buildings between the Plaza and Union Station were torn down in February 1951. Oct. 22, 1933: I came … Continue reading

Posted in 1933, 1951, Downtown, Preservation, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

For the steampunk fan on your gift list, you might consider “Walking Your Octopus,” with wonderful illustrations by Brian Kesinger. I had an opportunity to chat with Brian at the Cartoon Expo and scored a signed copy. Available from Brian … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Art & Artists, Books and Authors | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s Thursday’s mystery woman, courtesy of Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

PROHIBITION ENDS!

The Times marks the end of Prohibition with a front page cartoon by Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale, who  quit in 1934 and went to the Examiner in a dispute over The Times’ editorial policies. Dec. 5, 1933: With the passage … Continue reading

Posted in 1933, Art & Artists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Today’s holiday gift suggestion is the latest biography from Eve Golden, “John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars.” The Daily Mirror likes to support its local independent bookstore whenever possible. But if you’re not close to a good … Continue reading

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

Before You Watch ‘Mob City’ — Bugsy Siegel, Mickey Cohen and Chief Parker

Before you watch TNT’s “Mob City” tonight, read these items from The Times about what Police Capt. William H. Parker was actually doing in the 1940s. Parker served in the Army during World War II and was discharged in November … Continue reading

Posted in 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1950, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

And here is Wednesday’s mystery chap, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files

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 1965, 1973, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Whenever I’m asked about my favorite books on Los Angeles, my first recommendation is “Nuestro Pueblo,” a selection of features by Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joseph Seewerker that appeared in The Times. I went through all of them … Continue reading

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated)

And for Tuesday, we have a mystery lady, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson. Yes, Eve, it’s Lilyan Tashman. Honest!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Rediscovering Los Angeles — Sam Kee Laundry

Jan. 20, 1936: For this installment of Rediscovering Los Angeles, Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy Turner visit a Chinese laundry on Figueroa near Temple. Turner writes: It was a busy hive before John Chinaman cut off his pigtail, … Continue reading

Posted in 1936, Architecture, Art & Artists, Columnists, Downtown, Film, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

If you enjoy Mary Mallory’s columns (and our survey shows that readers do) you might like this anthology of Hollywood Heights called “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found.” It’s available for the Kindle, but don’t forget that Amazon has a free … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo

Here’s Monday’s mystery chap, courtesy of writer Christopher McPherson. The annoying black box is where our mystery fellow thoughtfully signed his photo. Update: Yes, this is William Bakewell (d. 1993), who appeared in “All Quiet on the Western Front.”

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Bonner Fruit Co. Cans San Fernando Valley’s Peaches

The San Fernando Valley has experienced a great evolution over the last several centuries from bucolic fields to economic powerhouse. Quiet and peaceful for years, it served as Southern California’s breadbasket for decades until Angelenos looked to its empty vistas … Continue reading

Posted in 1907, Food and Drink, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Bonner Fruit Co. Cans San Fernando Valley’s Peaches

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

We are being bombarded by stories about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with videos of long lines at stores and the attendant consumer frenzy. The L.A. Daily Mirror prefers a more subdued approach to buying gifts during the holiday season. … Continue reading

Posted in 1957, Art & Artists, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Take the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Responses Closed

Jack Webb and William Conrad phone in their answers to the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey. Update 2: Today’s the last day to express your thoughts in the Daily Mirror Reader Survey. And stay tuned for the results. Update: More … Continue reading

Posted in Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mystery Photo, Theaters | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Take the L.A. Daily Mirror Reader Survey — Responses Closed