Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Restaurant Manager Turns Tables on Robbers

Posted on October 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

Oct. 25, 1943: Three bandits who hit a handful of businesses met their match at a cafe at 1306 S. Main St. when they tried to hold up assistant manager Joe D. Poindexter. Two of them came into the cafe … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Comics, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Main Street, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Turn Off the Sunshine’ by Timothy Turner

Posted on October 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

A copy of Timothy G. Turner’s “Turn Off the Sunshine” has been listed on EBay. Turner, you may recall, was the Times columnist who worked with artist Charles Owens on Rediscovering Los Angeles. Bidding on this copy of the book … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Books and Authors, Broadway, Downtown, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

The ‘Masked Marvel Murder’ — Part 8

Posted on October 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

David Bacon, seven years before he was killed, in a publicity photo for the Hasty Pudding show at Harvard. In case you just tuned in, we are looking at the unsolved Sept. 12, 1943, killing of actor David G.G. Bacon. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Cold Cases, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Through Witzel’s Lens: Edward Everett Horton

Posted on October 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

A portrait of Edward Everett Horton by the Witzel studio has been listed on EBay. Witzel was one of the leading portrait studios in Los Angeles in the early part of the 20th century and took many publicity photos for … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Chinese Massacre – Oct 24, 1871

Posted on October 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

At top, an account of the massacre in the Daily Southern Cross of Auckland, New Zealand, Dec. 9, 1871, Above, a detail of a Los Angeles map displayed in the Globe Lobby of the Los Angeles Times Building showing the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1871, Crime and Courts, Downtown | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Chinese Massacre – Oct 24, 1871

The ‘Masked Marvel Murder’ – Part 7

Posted on October 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, we are looking at the unsolved Sept. 12, 1943, killing of “Masked Marvel” actor David G.G. Bacon. And we have regular L.A. Daily Mirror reader Steven Bibb to thank for this puzzle. Steven provided … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Cold Cases, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Rediscovering Los Angeles – The Plaza

Posted on October 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 9, 1935: For the sixth installment, Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy G. Turner visit the old Plaza. Turner says: “Historically, it was never much, never a really Mexican plaza with parking and a kiosk for a municipal … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Art & Artists, Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo, Preservation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Traffic, 1915 Edition

Posted on October 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

My Los Angeles Times colleague Scott Harrison does wonderful work going through The Times photo archives. Here’s his latest post on a “new”method of directing traffic in which police stopped using whistles. This is Officer F.M. Wilson at Broadway and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Downtown, LAPD, Photography, Transportation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Traffic, 1915 Edition

Movieland Mystery Photo — Amazing Recovery Edition (Updated + + +)

Posted on October 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

So far, I have prevailed over various technical issues. Wish me luck.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 79 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Richfield Building Jazzes Up Los Angeles’ Skyline

Posted on October 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

  The Richfield Building in an undated postcard. After years of deprivation, darkness and worry during World War I and its aftermath, America was ready to look toward a shining future of prosperity and sunshine in the 1920s. Overnight, fashion, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Downtown, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – DVD Malfunction Edition (Updated)

Posted on October 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

Sorry, folks. No mystery movie this week. Everything should be back to normal next week. But wait! I think I’ve fixed it!

Posted in Mystery Photo | Tagged | 2 Comments

Downtown Los Angeles: Broadway

Posted on October 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

This postcard, marked 1909, showing Broadway, looking north just below 4th Street, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $8.95. And for comparison, here’s what it looks like on Google Street View. Let’s take a closer look.

Posted in Broadway, City Hall, Downtown, Found on EBay, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Errol Flynn Named in Paternity Suit

Posted on October 18, 2013 by lmharnisch

Oct. 18, 1943: Los Angeles is in the middle of a paternity suit brought by Shirley Evans Hassau, 21, against Errol Flynn. Hassau charged that Flynn was the father of her daughter Marilyn, who was 3. Hassau was seeking $1,750 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mystery Film Location

Posted on October 17, 2013 by lmharnisch

Look what I found! Anyone recognize this film location? Let’s get a closer look.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

The ‘Masked Marvel Murder’ — Part 6

Posted on October 17, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, we are looking at the unsolved Sept, 12, 1943, killing of actor David G.G. Bacon, who appeared in Republic’s “Masked Marvel” serial. In Part 1, witnesses described Bacon driving erratically on Washington Boulevard, then … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

The ‘Masked Marvel Murder’ — Part 5

Posted on October 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

David Bacon’s secret getaway, from the Sept. 18, 1943, Los Angeles Herald-Express, courtesy of Steven Bibb. In case you just tuned in, we are looking at the unsolved Sept, 12, 1943, killing of actor David G.G. Bacon, who appeared in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Cold Cases, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Through Witzel’s Lens: Jackie Saunders

Posted on October 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

A Witzel studio photo of what appears to be silent film actress Jackie Saunders has been listed on EBay. Witzel was one of the leading portrait studios in Los Angeles and took many publicity photos in the early days of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Through Witzel’s Lens: Jackie Saunders

Rediscovering Los Angeles — El Capricho de los Dorados

Posted on October 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 2, 1935: In this installment of Rediscovering Los Angeles, Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy Turner visit El Capricho de los Dorados, a tiny Mexican restaurant on Aliso “below Alameda Street.” Turner says: “These little places are generally … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Architecture, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Downtown, Food and Drink, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Rediscovering Los Angeles — El Capricho de los Dorados

Movieland Mystery Photo — Newsboy Cap Edition XIII (Updated + + +)

Posted on October 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

I know, I know. I just did newsboy caps. But I couldn’t resist. Look: It’s an actual newsboy wearing a newsboy cap. I’ll bet you can guess the studio just from this crowd scene. How to Wear a Hat — … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 41 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Film Truth Tells It Like It Is

Posted on October 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

Note: Due to a technical problem, this post was published without the final paragraphs. These have been added. The movie-going public has always craved learning fascinating tidbits about their favorite movies and motion picture stars. Any fact, however obscure or … Continue reading →

Posted in 1920, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments