Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Film Noir Fest Kapows Gangsters

Posted on April 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

“City Across the River” with a young Tony Curtis, left. Shady dames and slick gunsels are now on screen during the 15th Annual Film Noir Festival spooling at American Cinematheque’s Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood. Usual suspects like “Sunset Boulevard” and … Continue reading →

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

Millennial Moment: Animator in Jail After Oscar Awards Attack on Officers

Posted on April 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

April 12, 1983: Oscar-winning animator Zbigniew Rybczyński, 34, is in custody on charges of battery after he allegedly kicked a security guard in the groin outside the Academy Awards ceremony at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion — and then kicked a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1983, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Millennial Moments | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Japanese Lieutenant Killed at Guadalcanal Went to USC

Posted on April 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

April 11, 1943: And here begins one of my favorite “Li’l Abner” episodes: Zoot Suit Yokum. The Times reports a strange encounter on Guadalcanal in which an unidentified Marine took a rifle from a wounded Japanese lieutenant. According to Torrance … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Comics, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bill Would Bar Japanese From Owning Land

Posted on April 10, 2013 by lmharnisch

April 10, 1913: The Times seems to be featuring a woman artist, but it’s difficult to make out her elaborate signature. Is it N. Tanaga? V. Tanaga? V. Kanaga? Aha! she was Neva Kanaga. Further research indicates she was Neva … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Animals, Art & Artists, Immigration, Stage | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Bill Would Bar Japanese From Owning Land

Noir Fans, Mark Your Calendars

Posted on April 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

Among the events scheduled for the upcoming Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (April 20-21), you may especially enjoy a panel moderated by Patt Morrison titled “The Real L.A. Noir,” featuring reporters Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton — and me. … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Board of Supervisors Plan Toll Road to San Fernando Valley

Posted on April 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

Read the entire April 4, 1863, issue, from the Huntington Library, scanned by USC. April 4, 1863: Most of this issue of the Star is devoted to the Civil War and virulent criticism of the North, Abolitionists, President Lincoln, etc. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Animals, Civil War, San Fernando Valley, Transportation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Board of Supervisors Plan Toll Road to San Fernando Valley

Movieland Mystery Photo – Grant Lockhart Memorial Edition (Updated +++)

Posted on April 8, 2013 by lmharnisch

This is a special shout-out to one of our regular readers, Grant Lockhart. Enjoy, Grant! Sorry about the fuzzy quality. It’s the best I can do. Update: Dear friends, I regret to report the loss of one of our regulars, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 50 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nell Brinkley, Queen of Early American Comics

Posted on April 8, 2013 by lmharnisch

When Americans think of classic illustrators from the early 20th century, names such as Charles Dana Gibson, Harrison Fisher, Haskell Coffin, James Montgomery Flagg, and John Held Jr. spring to mind. Forgotten by almost everyone, but in every way these … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Roger Ebert, Jerry Lewis and Me

Posted on April 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

My Rolodex card for Roger Ebert, c. 1982. In the outpouring of appreciations and reminiscences after the death of film critic Roger Ebert, my little tale is really not much. I am adding it because I believe that even a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Talking With Eve Golden About John Gilbert

Posted on April 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

Eve Golden has given a couple of interviews about her new book on John Gilbert: The first is with Michael G. Ankerich and the second is with Mel Neuhaus. Congrats, Eve!

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

Human Fly Flees Hall of Justice

Posted on April 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

April 4, 1943: Col. Darryl F. Zanuck comes under criticism for trying to return to civilian life. (Zanuck said there wasn’t much chance that he would make more movies of combat.) Sen. Harry Truman (D-Mo.) of the Senate War Program … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Broadway, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Immigration, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

LAPD Chief Wants More Police; Terrible Traffic – 1913

Posted on April 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

April 3, 1913: That is author L. Frank Baum and composer Louis F. Gottschalk, the team behind “The Tik-Tok Man of Oz,” which was a blockbuster in Los Angeles. The Times said it “is the reigning sensation of the local … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Books and Authors, City Hall, LAPD, Stage, Streetcars, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Land Bargain in L.A.: 50 Cents an Acre!

Posted on April 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Read the entire edition online at USC, scanned from a copy at the Huntington Library. March 28, 1863: The city of Los Angeles is selling 2,000 acres “within the eastern boundary of the city” at a minimum price of 50 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, City Hall, Civil War, Native Americans | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated ++++)

Posted on April 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Monday, a mystery woman.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 55 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

Posted on April 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

By the early 1920s, real estate development was booming all around Los Angeles. For decades, the city had boldly advertised itself as a mecca in which average citizens could earn their share of the American dream under glorious sunshine and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Opens

Black Dahlia: STILL Waiting for Soil Test Results From Dr. George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel’s Purported Murder HQ

Posted on March 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

Oh those Brits! The Express has jumped all over the story about Zooey Deschanel and Jamie Linden visiting the Sowden House, Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel’s purported Murder HQ. Naturally, since it’s a better story, they dub it the “Black … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1950, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: STILL Waiting for Soil Test Results From Dr. George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel’s Purported Murder HQ

When L.A. Becomes New York

Posted on March 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

Being in L.A. is like living on a huge movie set. The white trucks are everywhere. Because I work downtown, I’m accustomed to seeing it standing in for – yes – New York. All the time. Here are some recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Film, Hollywood, New York, Spring Street | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mobs Storm Butchers Trying to Beat Ration Deadline

Posted on March 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

People line up outside a meat market at 2100 N. Broadway. 2100 N. Broadway via Google Street View. March 28, 1943: And did the “Greatest Generation” meekly, humbly and patriotically accept meat rationing for the war effort? They did not. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Broadway, Comics, Downtown, Food and Drink, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mobs Storm Butchers Trying to Beat Ration Deadline

Bearthina Is Missing

Posted on March 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 27, 1913: Mrs. C.H. Hampton, 139 S. Olive St., is a woman with a stretch of bad luck. First her husband died, and then in December the former Mrs. Schwartz married a man named Hampton who talked her into … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, LAPD, Olive | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Steamship Hits Rock off Point Fermin

Posted on March 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

March 21, 1863: Now that we’re done with the Black Dahlia/George Hodel transcripts we can return to Los Angeles in the pages of the Star, which was brimming with vitriol against the North in the Civil War. Even when one … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, African Americans, Animals, Civil War | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments