Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

A model of the Jaguar XKE hearse from “Harold and Maude” has been listed on EBay with bids starting at 125 GBP. Queen of the Dead – dateline July 16, 2012 •  I’m a real bear on architectural preservation, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Museums, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Seeing L.A. Through the Lens of History – C.C. Pierce’s Photos

Posted on July 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

My latest column for The Times is on early L.A. photographer C.C. Pierce.

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

Movieland Mystery Photo – Film Within a Film Edition [Updated ++]

Posted on July 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this would be?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 1999 Cadillac hearse listed on EBay with bids starting at $1, or Buy It Now for $10,995.  Queen of the Dead – dateline July 9, 2012 •   Andy Griffith (who died at 86, on July 3), I thought, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on July 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

‘Casablanca’ Cast Honors Michael Curtiz’s 15 Years in U.S.

Posted on July 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 7, 1942:Twin brothers Walter and Sol Brundo, jazz musicians, join a military band stationed at Camp Haan in Riverside County.   I can’t find any trace of Sol and Walter. I wonder what became of them. “The Magnificent Ambersons”opens at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Music, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

On Assignment

Posted on July 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

I’m on assignment this week, so posting will be light.

Posted in History, Libraries | Comments Off on On Assignment

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

This gag postcard of a hearse has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at  $19.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline July 2, 2012 •  Don Grady, the hottest of My Three Sons, died on June 27; he was 68. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Keaton Sons Change Names to Talmadge

Posted on June 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1942: Buster Keaton’s sons Robert, 18, and James, 20, legally change their last names to Talmadge after a petition to the court by Keaton’s ex-wife Natalie Talmadge. Lee Gilcrease, 29, kills his wife, Ethel, and commits suicide in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Keaton Sons Change Names to Talmadge

Man Held as ‘Orchid Bandit’

Posted on June 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1942: James D. Hannah liked orchids. He liked them so much that he usually gave several of them to his girlfriends to put in their hair, a habit that led to his arrest when robbery victim  Elva Sieburg … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Man Held as ‘Orchid Bandit’

Drunken Brawl at Errol Flynn’s Birthday Party

Posted on June 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1942: A brawl at Errol Flynn’s  32nd birthday party involves Barbara Hutton’s butler – Eric Gosta Hadler —  and Flynn’s secretary and stand-in, James Fleming. Hadler says: “It all happened so suddenly I can’t remember what happened.” Judging … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb! Update: This is Billy House. Please congratulate Arye Michael Bender (1), Mike Hawks (2), Jenny M (3), Bob Levinson (4), Herb Nichols (5) and Don Danard via email for identifying … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

A motorcycle hearse listed on EBay at $10,000. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 25, 2012 •  Remember a couple months ago when Thomas Kinkade died and there were all these debates about “was he a worse painter than … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Eurasian Held on Suspicion of Being Japanese

Posted on June 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

    June 23, 1942: Meet Stanwood Gertz Jr., who was arrested because he was suspected of being Japanese. Gertz told detectives he was German, Chinese and Hawaiian – and his dyed hair presumably made him even more suspicious. The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Hedy Lamarr’s Sarong: S’awright!

Posted on June 22, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 22, 1942: Hedda Hopper says: Joan Crawford got a mighty entertaining picture in “They All Kissed the Bride.” I’ve always liked Joan. She says, “I love being a star and everything that goes with it. I love the work, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Update +]

Posted on June 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

And here’s Thursday’s mystery chap! Update: This is Ben Blue. Please congratulate Gary Martin (1), Don Danard (2), Mary Mallory (3), Bob Levinson (4), Mike Hawks (5), Greg Clancey (6), William (7), Jenny M (8), Dewey Webb (9), Gregory Moore … Continue reading →

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

Women Abandon Housework for Overalls and Higher Pay

Posted on June 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 21, 1942: Women are taking jobs formerly held by men, and they prefer them, especially the higher wages, The Times finds. “How do they like exchanging summer frocks for overalls and aprons for masculine livery? The collective and undisputed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Comics, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Women Abandon Housework for Overalls and Higher Pay

Church Organist Accused of Killing Parents

Posted on June 20, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1942: Officials of San Diego’s streetcar system are dismayed that the 20 surplus cars obtained from New York are in worse shape than the ones San Diego scrapped two years earlier. San Diego acquired the cars in an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Streetcars, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Church Organist Accused of Killing Parents

Saving L.A. History, One Page at a Time

Posted on June 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: The LAPD Daily Police Bulletin for Jan. 16, 1947, the day after the Black Dahlia’s body was found. Notice that the Dahlia isn’t mentioned. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror   My latest column for The Times is about Joan Renner and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, LAPD | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments