Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Black Dahlia: Publicity Hounds Wag the Dog Over Purported Death Scene

Posted on February 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

It’s been interesting to watch the news media’s reaction to Buster the cadaver dog’s cavorting at the Sowden House.  Most of the coverage is single-source or two-source reporting with no counterbalance. I haven’t seen any reaction from  the LAPD or … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Smallpox Epidemic – Los Angeles, Feb. 7, 1863

Posted on February 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

Read the entire Feb. 7, 1863, edition of the Los Angeles Star from the Huntington Library, scanned by USC. Feb. 7 1863: The coroner holds an inquest in the killing of Christian Hutt. George Wright, the father of accused killer … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Animals, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Medicine | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on February 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s our mystery chap for Monday…

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Charles Butterworth, Professional Silly Ass

Posted on February 4, 2013 by lmharnisch

Comedy in films has evolved in over a century of production. Beginning with rather crude and slapstick humor, easily understood by immigrants, the film industry developed increasingly sophisticated styles of comedy as it matured. Drawing-room comedies of the mid- to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Black Dahlia: The Non-Smoking Gun – George Hodel Files

Posted on February 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Much has been written about the transcripts of the law enforcement bugging of Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel’s house, but the material is actually pretty dull. Here are some sample pages, chosen at random, published in their entirety. There’s more. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1950, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: Can’t Anybody Get This Story Right?

Posted on February 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

Writers who are unfamiliar with the Black Dahlia case have a terrible time keeping the facts straight, as shown in the latest coverage by Christine Pelisek in the Daily Beast. There are the common mistakes and one can almost track … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia – Another Good Story Ruined (Updated)

Posted on February 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Let me say this again. This photo is a fake. The actual Daily News front page for Jan. 15, 1947,  looks like this.

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel and the Black Dahlia – Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on February 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Look who fell for the fake Daily News front page. Yes, it’s a fake. There are about a thousand things I would prefer to do besides shoot holes in the latest installment of the Dr. George “Evil Genius” Hodel franchise. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Architectural Rambling on Lemoyne Street in Echo Park

Posted on February 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

Above: 1548 Lemoyne St. via Google Street View. A vendor has posted photos of 1548 Lemoyne St. in Echo Park on EBay. Personally, I prefer the way it looked in 1911. Bidding starts at $12.99.

Posted in 1911, Architecture, Found on EBay | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Architectural Rambling on Lemoyne Street in Echo Park

C.C. Pierce — Found on EBay

Posted on January 31, 2013 by lmharnisch

A vendor has listed a good number of C.C. Pierce photos on EBay. As I have written before, Pierce was a prolific photographer who added work by other photographers to his own collection. What I find particularly interesting about them … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on C.C. Pierce — Found on EBay

How Not to Wear a Hat – Film Noir Edition (Updated ++)

Posted on January 29, 2013 by lmharnisch

This mystery gent has a rather crushed chapeau.

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 33 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

Today’s mystery folks are from the collection of Mary Mallory. Thanks, Mary! Please congratulate Bob Hansen, Mike Hawks and Tim Doherty for identifying our mystery gal. And thanks to Mary for sharing a mystery photo.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Pressbooks to Sell Movies

Posted on January 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

From the beginning of the motion picture industry, film companies devised all types of advertising to entice consumers to buy movie tickets. Posters, lobby cards and window displays, glass slides, sheet music and photographs could be employed by exhibitors to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

LAPD Officer Kicks News Photographer, Delays Beebe Inquest

Posted on January 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1943: The inquest in the death of Stanley H. Beebe, who was fatally injured in a beating by LAPD officers, is halted when Officer John Yates kicks Herald-Express photographer Edward Phillips in the groin. Recall that it was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

On Location: The May Co.

Posted on January 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

A little of Loretta Young (featured this month on TCM) goes a long way at the Daily Mirror HQ, but I noticed these shots of a department store in “Employees’ Entrance” and they reminded me of the sequence in “Public … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Architecture, Broadway, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Seals Juggle, Walk Rope, Plus Little Miss Manicure at the Pantages!

Posted on January 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jan. 23, 1913: Juggling, rope-walking seals! Little Miss Manicure and the Scarecrow Man! On the jump, a couple of juicy divorces and Carl Warr, the dynamiter.

Posted in 1913, Animals, Crime and Courts, Stage | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Rain in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 1863

Posted on January 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

Read the entire Jan. 24, 1863, issue of the Los Angeles Star, scanned by USC from an original copy at the Huntington. Jan. 24, 1863: Most of the Los Angeles Star is devoted to details about the progress (or lack … Continue reading →

Posted in 1863, Civil War, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Rain in Los Angeles, Jan. 24, 1863

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition VI (Updated +++)

Posted on January 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

Here’s a mystery lad in a newsboy cap! How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat — ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition I Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Charlie Chaplin Comes to Hollywood

Posted on January 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

Oct. 16, 1917: An architect’s rendering of Chaplin’s studios in The Times Ninety-five years ago, comedian Charlie Chaplin constructed the first beautiful studio lot in Hollywood, the first to offer style to filmmaking. What had been merely an industry housed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1917, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Laurel and Hardy Meet Laurel y Hardy

Posted on January 20, 2013 by lmharnisch

I thought it would be fun to compare “Chickens Come Home” and “Politiquerias,” which aired recently on Turner Classic Movies. A shot-by-shot comparison shows that even though they use the same plot and camera setups, the English- and Spanish-language versions … Continue reading →

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