Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

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

‘Ann Dvorak’ — Talking With Author Christina Rice

Posted on December 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

Several weeks ago, the L.A. Daily Mirror had lunch with Christina Rice, author of the new book “Ann Dvorak: Hollywood’s Forgotten Rebel” and it’s always fun when two ardent researchers get together to talk shop. We chatted about various archives, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery fellow, courtesy of author Christopher McPherson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 19 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Henry Armetta, Excitable Support

Posted on December 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

Henry Armetta, courtesy of Mary Mallory. In many films of the 1930s and 1940s, what audiences remember most are the one-of-a-kind supporting players, with vibrant personalities, colorful ways of talking, recognizable tics and dramatic looks. Many of these people came … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Bonnie and Clyde — The FBI Files

Posted on December 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

Speaking of FBI files, here’s an image of Clyde Barrow’s funeral found in his FBI file. Bonnie and Clyde’s FBI files are also online in seven sections.

Posted in 1934, Crime and Courts, Television | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Mob City: Bugsy Siegel’s FBI Files

Posted on December 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

“Bugs” Siegel refers to FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover “in a most degrading and insulting manner.” As long as we’re on the subject of Bugsy Siegel (d. 1947), fans of “Mob City” might consider perusing his FBI files, which are … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, 1947, Television | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mob City: Bugsy Siegel’s FBI Files

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: A Brief History of the Tom and Jerry

Posted on December 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

A recipe for the Tom and Jerry from the San Francisco Call, June 30, 1912. Over on Facebook, Christopher McPherson asked whether the Tom and Jerry was named for the MGM cartoon characters. I said I suspected the opposite was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1862, Books and Authors, Food and Drink | Tagged , , | 2 Comments