Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

A Relic of the Past: Horse Flop Found in Downtown Los Angeles!

Posted on December 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

In the 21st century, one can still find horse flop on Spring Street near City Hall in downtown Los Angeles. So much for the predictions of yesteryear,  in which we would be living in domed cities, get our power from … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, City Hall, Downtown, History, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Christmas in Los Angeles, 1913

Posted on December 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 13, 1913: Santa Claus visits the 400 students at Castelar Street School and “spoke six languages,” according to The Times. Several little girls who had never possessed dollies before in their short lives were the recipients of lovely ones, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Downtown, Education, Hill Street | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Christmas in Los Angeles, 1913

The L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide

Posted on December 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

A set of five Tom and Jerry mugs listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $20. We don’t keep a bottle of Scotch in our desk in the city room of the L.A. Daily Mirror. In fact, we are … Continue reading →

Posted in 1945, Food and Drink | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Millennial Moment: Man Killed in Toilet Tank Murder

Posted on December 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Starting tomorrow: “Silkwood.” At 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11, 1983, a maid cleaning rooms at the Inn at Laguna on Coast Highway found the body of Ronald Jay Murphy. Murphy, 22, who worked for an oil company in Santa … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Millennial Moments | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Millennial Moment: Man Killed in Toilet Tank Murder

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Photographer Tells of Fighting on Tarawa

Posted on December 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 12, 1943: Times columnist Tom Treanor, who will be killed in August 1944 covering the liberation of France, files a story about fighting between U.S. and Nazi troops around Filignano, Italy, about 100 miles southeast of Rome.   Crawling in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Animals, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Photography, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

Glen Creason’s book on maps of Los Angeles shows the many ways people have viewed the city over the years. I interviewed him for The Times in 2012 and fortunately for all concerned, the column was seen by a real … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, Books and Authors, Libraries | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

LAPD: Parker Center Cop Shop Files

Posted on December 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

In going through the jumbled mass of pictures, press releases, artist sketches and tattered maps of the LAPD Parker Center Cop Shop Files, I found this photograph. And then a few more. And a few more. Was she a city … Continue reading →

Posted in 1980, Film, Homicide, LAPD, Parker Center Cop Shop Files, Television | 10 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 10, 2013 by lmharnisch

You might have to hunt a bit for Don Normark’s 1999 book “Chavez Ravine, 1949,” but your search will be rewarded. The photos are terrific and the residents’ recollections make the book even better. Copies can be found via bookfinder.com.

Posted in 1949, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Rediscovering Los Angeles — The Hopperstead House

Posted on December 10, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 27, 1936: Times artist Charles Owens and columnist Timothy Turner visit the Hopperstead home, which was built at Hill and Court streets in 1880. When Turner wrote this column, family members were still living in a portion of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1880, 1936, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Rediscovering Los Angeles — The Hopperstead House

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

In 1989, Billy Wilder sold much of his art collection. The works are gone, but the auction catalog lives on. If you’re a hard-core Billy Wilder fan (and I am) it’s fun looking through the catalog – I was fortunate … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious young man with a beard.

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Einar Petersen and His ‘Aladdin and His Lamp’ Murals

Posted on December 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

One of Einar Petersen’s murals at the Spring Street Guaranty Building and Loan Assn., courtesy of Mary Mallory Fame is fleeting. An individual might go unrecognized while creating great art while alive, only for the works to be considered masterpieces … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Spring Street | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Times ebook on the Titanic is a crossroads of old and new. Archival stories on a tablet. The book, unfortunately, was lost in the mass of Titaniciana on the centennial, but it’s a solid piece of work (I should … Continue reading →

Posted in 1912, Books and Authors | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

‘Bonnie and Clyde’ — Oh Dear

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

I don’t expect much from period productions these days. But my goodness, get a load of these two.

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Television | Tagged , , , , | 27 Comments

Dec. 7, 1959: Paul Coates Interviews Tokyo Rose

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

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!

Posted on December 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

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’

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

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

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

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

Posted on December 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

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

Posted on December 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

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