Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

China Bans Traditional Clothing for Western Fashions

Posted on January 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 3, 1913: The Chinese government issues an edict against traditional clothing in favor of Western fashions. Women were called upon “to abandon their trousers for the occidental skirt and men to give up their comfortable loose clothes for the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Crime and Courts, Education, Fashion, Film, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on China Bans Traditional Clothing for Western Fashions

Emancipation Proclamation: Lincoln’s Outrage!

Posted on January 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Read all of the Jan. 3, 1863, Los Angeles Star at USC’s digital library. Jan. 3, 1863: Of all that you may know about the Emancipation Proclamation, I doubt you have read anything negative (unless you’re a historian), so the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Education, Los Angeles Star, Medicine, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – The Florentine Gardens

Posted on January 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

A Sept. 16, 1944, photo from the Florentine Gardens – with souvenir lipstick prints – has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $25. The lot includes souvenir photos from Ace Cain’s, 1369 N. Western Ave., and the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – The Florentine Gardens

Coming Attractions: January – February 2013

Posted on January 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

The March 1936 issue of Black Mask magazine includes Raymond Chandler’s “The Man Who Liked Dogs.” Jan. 19: “The Tall T,” part of the Autry museum’s What Is a Western? film series.  $11/$7/$5 1:30 p.m. Jan. 23: The Simple Art … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Libraries, Stage | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: January – February 2013

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Mae Murray

Posted on January 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

I hope you don’t mind if I use my column to plug a friend’s book, Michael Ankerich’s new Mae Murray biography, The Girl With the Bee Stung Lips (OK, so he did dedicate it to me. But you needn’t dedicate … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Downtown Los Angeles – Broadway and 2nd

Posted on December 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

Broadway and 2nd Street via Google’s Street View. This picture showing the YMCA and the California Bank at the southwest corner of Broadway and 2nd Street has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $69.95.

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Posted on December 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here are some mystery folks in a mystery movie.

Posted in African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Mystery Photo, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , | 38 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Pickford Headlines 1933 Rose Parade

Posted on December 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Mary Pickford in the 1933 Rose Parade. Credit: Courtesy of Mary Mallory Tomorrow sees the 124th annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena,  welcoming the new year with magnificent garlands of fresh flowers. It also acts as the 80th … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Pasadena | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Downtown Los Angeles – 427 S. Broadway

Posted on December 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

This postcard of the Pin-Ton candy store, 427 S. Broadway, has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $29.97. March 4, 1909: How about an ice cream and a stop at the occult bookshop? The Pin-Ton appears to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1909, Architecture, Downtown, Food and Drink, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Schaber’s Cafeteria and Einar Petersen

Posted on December 28, 2012 by lmharnisch

This remarkable postcard postmarked 1941 of Schaber’s Cafeteria at 620 S. Broadway, showing an Einar Petersen mural,  has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $6.99. The Schaber Cafeteria at 620 S. Broadway was built in 1928 by … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Food and Drink, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Found on EBay – The Florentine Gardens

Posted on December 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

A photo of a group of happy people at the Florentine Gardens on Sept. 18, 1943, has been listed on EBay. It’s listed as Buy It Now for $8.99. The Florentine Gardens has a connection to the Black Dahlia case … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Black Dahlia, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, World War II | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Union Forces Massacred at Fredericksburg, December 1862

Posted on December 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

I recently had lunch with Paul Bryan Gray, the author of a terrific new book “A Clamor for Equality,” a biography of Francisco P. Ramirez, who edited the Los Angeles Spanish-language weekly El Clamor Publico (1855-1859). Gray is the subject … Continue reading →

Posted in 1862, Books and Authors, Civil War | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Christmas in Los Angeles, 1912

Posted on December 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dec. 26, 1912: The Times makes the rounds of Christmas celebrations among the less fortunate and discovers that the emergency wards are full – but readers are assured that no women or girls are among the victims.

Posted in 1912, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Food and Drink, LAPD, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Christmas 1942

Posted on December 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

Merry Christmas, Storekeeper Third Class Norman Krause, Marine Private  John  Porter and Water Tender Clyde Lund, wherever you are.

Posted in 1942, World War II | 6 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Betty Grable

Posted on December 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

A 1938 publicity photo of Betty Grable listed on EBay with bids starting at $25. Betty Grable Betty Grable is so damned adorable. Her oft-repeated self-assessment does not do her justice: “As a dancer I couldn’t outdance Ginger Rogers or … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated +++)

Posted on December 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

This will be a bit different… A mystery location.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Celebrities in Bloom

Posted on December 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

  Photo: Mary Pickford admires a namesake orchid. Courtesy of Mary Mallory. Flowers, like actors, sometimes have short-lived celebrity. Once their aura of uniqueness fades, many languish or fall by the wayside. Some disappear. Others continue to thrive because of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Celebrities in Bloom

On Assignment

Posted on December 20, 2012 by lmharnisch

I’m busy with a project…. Check back Monday!

Posted in 1924 | Comments Off on On Assignment

Millennial Moment: Soviets at Stalemate in Afghanistan, U.S. Economy Worst in Four Decades

Posted on December 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

Licorice Pizza! Michael Jackson’s “Thriller!” Men at Work! Kenny Loggins! Stray Cats! J. Geils Band! Foreigner! Dec. 19, 1982:  In the lead story, Times reporter Tyler Marshall says: “Despite three years of increasingly intense military operations and deepening political involvement, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Film, Hollywood, Millennial Moments, Music, Politics, Washington | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead – Polly Walters

Posted on December 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

A photo of Polly Walters that has been listed on EBay at $49.95.   Polly Walters My friend Mel Neuhaus and I have been singing the praises of the Say Girls lately—those wise-cracking dames who flourished in the pre-Code era … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead, Stage | Tagged , , , , , | 11 Comments