Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

LAPD Central Police Station – Found on EBay

Posted on July 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

This photo labeled as the Central Police Station has been listed on EBay as part of a collection of photos from the estate of former Deputy Chief Cleveland Heath, who died in Phoenix in 1956 at the age of 71. … Continue reading →

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Los Angeles Celebrates the Fourth of July With Pic-Nics and Fire-Works

Posted on July 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

The complete July 4, 1863, issue of the Los Angeles Star is available from USC, which scanned  a copy at the Huntington. July 4, 1863: Los Angeles plans to celebrate the Fourth of July with a 34-gun salute and a … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay – Masterpiece of 1940s Kitsch!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

This kitsch masterpiece from the 1940s has turned up on EBay. This is one of the Abbotwares radios, which were made in Los Angeles. Abbotwares produced a whole series of these bronze figurines with radios, but my favorite is the … Continue reading →

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Our Decadent Era!

Posted on July 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

The latest in women’s apparel at Hale’s Good Goods, 541, 543, 545  S. Broadway. Young women, you are slaves to fashion! 541-545 S. Broadway via Google Street View. July 3, 1913: A rabid dog runs through the streets of Tucson, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Animals, Fashion | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Godless San Bernardino!

Posted on July 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

The entire Los Angeles Star for June 27, 1863, is online at USC’s digital library, scanned from a copy at the Huntington. Jan. 27, 1863: As usual, this issue is mostly devoted to the Civil War. But the Star reports … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Religion | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

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

Posted on July 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

I can hear you saying “But we just did newsboy caps!” I know. I popped the DVD into the player and voila! There he was. What else could I do? How to Wear a Hat — Newsboy Cap Edition How … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 35 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — ‘The Diamond From the Sky’ Shines Light on Marketing

Posted on July 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

“Like a Diamond From the Sky,” by Leo Bennett and Leo Wood, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Thanks to “What Happened to Mary?” (Edison, 1912), “The Adventures of Kathlyn” (Selig, 1913) and “The Perils of Pauline” (Eclectic/Pathé, 1914), serials skyrocketed in … Continue reading →

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L.A. County Jail’s New Piano Should Be an Instrument of Torture!

Posted on June 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jun2 28, 1921: Mrs. K.T. Lindy of Inglewood thinks jails are for punishment. Now that someone has given women prisoners a piano, she hopes they have to practice chromatic scales and not that evil jazz! Lindy says: “I hope this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, Comics, Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Silent Film Festivals, Then And Now

Posted on June 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

  Northern California plays host to two wonderful silent film festivals in the next few weeks, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum’s Bronco Billy Silent Film Festival, and the San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Both celebrate the art of silent … Continue reading →

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C.C. Pierce — Found on EBay

Posted on June 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

C.C. Pierce, one of our favorite photographers, not only sold photos and glass lantern slides – he also produced postcards, like this one, which has been listed on EBay. It’s listed as Buy It Now for $5.99.

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Teen Convicted in Bloody Killing of Girl, 12

Posted on June 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1943: The “Greatest Generation” isn’t getting enough “bulk.” Let’s rename Bunker Hill as Angels’ Terrace. Or not. The Courtemanche family lived in the old Sepulveda place at 751 N. Palos Verdes St., on a hill above the Wilmington-San … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Los Angeles Stands in for London

Posted on June 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

Spring Street and 4th in downtown Los Angeles is one of the most popular film locations in the city. It recently stood in for New York, complete with an NYC bus and a subway entrance. Last night, we had the … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia — L.A. Magazine Gets It Wrong

Posted on June 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Black Dahlia crime scene in Leimert Park gets a visit from Denise Hamilton for Los Angeles magazine. Los Angeles magazine does its “first-ever” crime issue. I’m curious about several statements (Did Harold Lloyd really cling to the “Italianate columns” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Stonewall Jackson Dies! Los Angeles Star, June 20, 1863

Posted on June 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles Star, from the Huntington Library and scanned by USC, is available on USC’s website. June 20, 1863: The Star, a strong advocate for the Confederacy, puts the Richmond Whig’s account of Stonewall Jackson’s death on the front … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Civil War, Downtown, Parks | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

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

Posted on June 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

The opening credits for our mystery film have … newsboy caps! How to Wear a Hat — Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat — ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo — Newsboy Cap Edition I Movieland Mystery … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 33 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Ivan Mosjoukine, the Man With the Piercing Eyes

Posted on June 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

Ivan Mosjoukine, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Not as well known as other silent film stars like Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, Buster Keaton or Rudolph Valentino, the recently rediscovered Russian motion picture actor Ivan Mosjoukine ranks among the greats for his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1924, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Einar Petersen Mural From the Rosslyn Hotel — Found on EBay

Posted on June 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

An Einar Petersen mural from the Rosslyn Hotel. A vendor on EBay has listed what is apparently one of Einar Petersen’s long-lost murals from the Rosslyn Hotel — in rather sorry condition. The price is Buy It Now for $5,000. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Hollywood Heights, Main Street, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

The Death of Ted Healy — Part 15

Posted on June 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 28, 1937: Betty Braun Healy meets with Dist. Atty. Buron Fitts over her allegations about the death of Ted Healy. At the conclusion of the conference, she agreed that Healy had died of natural causes. (Los Angeles Examiner, Dec. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Film, History, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Wikipedia | Tagged , , , , | 37 Comments

The Death of Ted Healy — Part 14

Posted on June 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 28, 1937: Dist. Atty. Buron Fitts has a conference with Betty Braun Healy and her attorney to answer her allegations about Ted Healy’s death. (Los Angeles Herald-Express) In case you just tuned in, we are nearing the end of … Continue reading →

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The Death of Ted Healy — Part 13

Posted on June 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 24. 1937: Betty Braun Healy disputes the autopsy results in the death of Ted Healy. In case you just tuned in, we are nearing the end of a long journey that began in April, when I stumbled across a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments