Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

An Anniversary for Musso & Frank

Posted on July 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

Oct. 11, 1919: Frank’s Cafe at 6669 Hollywood Blvd. is meeting with fine success, from Holly Leaves. July 28, 1923: The opening of Musso & Frank Grill, in Holly Leaves, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Mary Mallory notes that Musso & … Continue reading →

Posted in 1919, 1923, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Posted on July 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Monday, a mystery vehicle.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 31 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hats Off to Black-Foxe Military Institute

Posted on July 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

Long before there were Tiger Moms, many parents stressed discipline and hard work to their school-age children. Boys were often enrolled in military prep schools to learn discipline, rigor and fortitude through both schoolroom work and athletic pursuits. Several Los … Continue reading →

Posted in 1929, Education, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 18 Comments

Black Dahlia: About Your ‘New’ Theory on the Killer

Posted on July 26, 2013 by lmharnisch

Every so often, I get emails or phone calls from people who want to share their Black Dahlia theories with me. I am a patient man. I always listen to what they say and I always read their emails. EVEN … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Action by FDR Averts Streetcar Strike!

Posted on July 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

July 25, 1943: President Roosevelt intervenes in the planned Pacific Electric Railway strike, saying that he did not want to use Army trucks to transport war supplies. The strike centered on a raise of 13 cents an hour, which has … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Columnists, Labor, Streetcars, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Streetcar Strike Could Paralyze Los Angeles!

Posted on July 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1943: Labor problems threaten to paralyze mass transportation in Los Angeles. The Times says that 3,000 Los Angeles Railway workers have ended a 24-hour walkout while 2,500 Pacific Electric workers are scheduled to strike. Marion “More Curves Than … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, Aviation, Comics, Labor, Main Street, Streetcars, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Streetcar Strike Could Paralyze Los Angeles!

Black Doctor in Divorce Case Says Wife Tried to ‘Masquerade’ as White

Posted on July 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

July 23, 1923: The centennial of the Monroe Doctrine is celebrated at Exposition Park in the American Historical Revue and Motion Picture Exposition.. The U.S. Mint in San Francisco issued commemorative half dollars for the occasion. The Times says: “One … Continue reading →

Posted in 1823, 1923, African Americans, Art & Artists, Broadway, Comics, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Fires, Hill Street, Hollywood, Theaters | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated ++++)

Posted on July 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Monday……

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 28 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Virgil Apger, MGM’S Classic Portrait Photographer

Posted on July 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

  Virgil Apger, photo courtesy of Mary Mallory Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studios excelled in most areas of film production, including that of still portrait photography. Several of its head portrait photographers, like Ruth Harriet Louise, George Hurrell and Clarence Sinclair Bull, are … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Man Shoots Companion in Search for Prowler

Posted on July 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

   Nancy and Sluggo in all their vintage glory. July 19, 1943: The Times publishes a list of casualties from the Army and Navy. Francis Joseph Montclair was a motor machinist second class and is buried in Honolulu. Lt. Cmdr. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Columnists, Comics, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Arabella Huntington Marries Nephew in Paris

Posted on July 17, 2013 by lmharnisch

The Times takes a dim view of Mexican revolutionaries.   July 17, 1913: Arabella D. Huntington, widow of the late Collis P. Huntington, marries his nephew, Henry E. Huntington, in Paris at the American Church in the Rue de Berri.  … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Architecture, Art & Artists, Broadway, Downtown, History, Suicide | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Arabella Huntington Marries Nephew in Paris

Battle of Gettysburg — Exaggeration and Falsehood!

Posted on July 16, 2013 by lmharnisch

The entire July 11, 1863, issue of the Los Angeles Star is available from USC, scanned as jpgs from a copy at the Huntington. It is also available in pdf form at the California Digital Library. The link to the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Animals, Civil War | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

A Night at the Florentine Gardens, 1943

Posted on July 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s another item from the Florentine Gardens: A 1943 photo of people that has been listed on EBay for 99 cents.

Posted in 1943, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on A Night at the Florentine Gardens, 1943

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Posted on July 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

And for Monday, a mystery woman.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 56 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Glass Slides, Motion Pictures’ First Coming Attractions

Posted on July 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

A magic lantern slide for the Gloria Swanson film “Her Gilded Cage”  (1922), listed on EBay with bids starting at $89. Before movie studios employed trailers to raise audiences’ awareness and interest in attending films, they used lantern glass slides … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Pacoima Man Killed With Jack Handle in Gang Fight

Posted on July 15, 2013 by lmharnisch

Benito Mendivil Jr., 19, 10606 El Dorado Ave., had left his Pacoima gang for a rival one in San Fernando. On the night of Sunday, July 14, 1963, he had just driven away from his home in a car carrying … Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, LAPD, Latinos, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Pacoima Man Killed With Jack Handle in Gang Fight

The Florentine Gardens Meets Cecil B. De Mille

Posted on July 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

A copy of Nils T. Granlund’s “autobiography,” written with Sid Feder and Ralph Hancock, has been listed on EBay. What makes this copy somewhat unusual is that it was apparently owned by Cecil B. De Mille. Granlund was impresario at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Florentine Gardens Meets Cecil B. De Mille

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywoodland Sign Premieres November 1923

Posted on July 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 6, 1924: The Times publishes a photo of an Oakland car that was driven up to the Hollywood sign. Parade magazine claimed in its July 7, 2013, issue that the completed Hollywoodland sign premiered July 13, 1923, but provided … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, 1924, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Loew’s State Theater Under Construction

Posted on July 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

This 1921 architectural photo of Loew’s State Theater under construction at 7th Street and Broadway has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $24. Notice the signage for Bullock’s in the background.

Posted in 1921, Architecture, Broadway, Downtown, Found on EBay, Theaters | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Loew’s State Theater Under Construction

Anne Knudsen Memorial

Posted on July 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

A celebration of the life of Anne Baldwin Knudsen, the former Herald Examiner photographer who died of cancer in May, is being held at 10 a.m. July 28 at Huddart County Park, 1100 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside, Calif. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , | 1 Comment