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 June 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

This postcard of a Cuban hearse has been listed on EBay, listed as Buy It Now  at $20. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 18, 2012 •   Production designer J. Michael Riva, 63, died on June 7. Modern filmgoers … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Sports Edition

Posted on June 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Easy, but a fun picture

Posted in Mystery Photo | 11 Comments

Judge Cites ‘Right of Battle’ in Sentencing Conscientious Objector

Posted on June 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 16, 1942:  Robert Lee Allen is sentenced to five years in federal prison for refusing to enlist in the Army. Judge Jeremiah Neter, 80, noted that Allen had not used the available provisions to file for conscientious objector status … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Music, Religion, Stage, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mexican Workers Sought to Fill California’s Farm Labor Shortage

Posted on June 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 15, 1942:  The Japanese who operated farms have been evacuated to internment camps, many farm workers have taken defense jobs and still more have been drafted. So to get farm labor, California turns to …  guess where: Mexico! Times … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Immigration, World War II | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Gang Member Held in Shooting That Sparked Coliseum Riot

Posted on June 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 14, 1942:   Police arrest Oscar Fierro, 18, an alleged member of the East First Street Gang, in the shooting of Frank Torres, a purported member of the Clanton Street Gang, who was wounded in the head while leaving the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Coming Attractions: Mary Mallory Signs ‘Hollywoodland’

Posted on June 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory, who writes Hollywood Heights for the L.A. Daily Mirror, will be signing copies of her book “Hollywoodland” on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Costco at 1051 Burbank Blvd. in Burbank. All profits from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on June 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

What happened to our mystery guest? Update: This is O.J. Simpson and Melissa Michaelsen in “Goldie and the Boxer.” I’m especially impressed that so many readers recalled this opus:  Gary Alexander (1), Michael Ryerson (2), Periwinkle (3), Barbara Klein (4), … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Westlake Park Renamed in Tribute to Gen. MacArthur

Posted on June 12, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 13, 1942:Westlake Park is being renamed as part of the city’s observances to honor Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commemorating the day he entered the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Marines at Camp Elliott are shocked to see women … … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, City Hall, Comics, Parks, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Now Hiring: Douglas Aircraft of Santa Monica

Posted on June 12, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 12, 1942: The Douglas plant in Santa Monica is hiring men – and women! Betty Rowland, the Ball of Fire, is at the Follies Theatre. Lionel Atwill refuses to testify before the Los Angeles County Grand Jury about charges … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1942, Art & Artists, Aviation, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Theaters, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on June 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

Two hats from Oviatt’s have been listed on EBay by the same vendor. Bidding on each hat starts at $175. As with anything on EBay, an item and seller should be evaluated thoroughly before submitting a bid.

Posted in Fashion, Found on EBay | Tagged , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 1938 Packard hearse has been listed on EBay at $40,000. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 11, 2012 •   It’s an oddity of these YouTube days that you can become famous (or re-famous) not only for an … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

32 Taverns and Bars Declared Off-Limits

Posted on June 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 7, 1942: The Navy declares 32 bars and taverns off limits in Los Angeles. Most of them are on Main Street and East 5th with a few in Hollywood. The posts on the Zoot Suit Riots have more information … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Aviation, Comics, Food and Drink, Hollywood, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on June 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb! Update: This is Ian Hunter with Deborah Kerr in “Edward, My Son.”

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

Young Author Ray Bradbury Publishes ‘Dark Carnival,’ 1947

Posted on June 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1947: Young Ray Bradbury publishes a book of short stories titled “Dark Carnival.” Notice that he used to sell newspapers at Norton Avenue and Olympic Boulevard. Yes, that’s the same Norton Avenue where the Black Dahlia was found, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Nazi Spy Convicted!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 5, 1942: Dr. Hans Helmut Gros is convicted of being a Nazi spy. And radio stations along the Pacific Coast went off the air at 9 p.m. so their signals couldn’t be used as beacons in case of a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Nazi Spy Convicted!

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A stereo picture of the hearse carrying the body of President McKinley has been listed on EBay at  $18.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 4, 2012 Just back from Paris, my dears, and what you’ve heard is … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Doolittle Visits North American Plant, Praises Workers for Bombers Used in Tokyo Raid

Posted on June 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 2, 1942: In a visit to the North American aircraft plant, Brig. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle praises workers who built the bombers used in his raid on Tokyo. Otis W. Hall is accused of killing his estranged wife and sending … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Aviation, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Doolittle Visits North American Plant, Praises Workers for Bombers Used in Tokyo Raid

On Assignment

Posted on May 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

Posted in History | Comments Off on On Assignment

John Barrymore Dies at 60

Posted on May 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 30, 1942:  Actor John Barrymore, known as “the Great Profile,” dies at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital 10 days after collapsing during a rehearsal for Rudy Vallee’s radio program. He was 60 and was suffering from liver and kidney problems, plus … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Stage | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Louis B. Mayer, Clark Gable Lead in U.S. Salaries

Posted on May 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 29, 1942: The highest-paid executive in America is Louis B. Mayer, who earned $704,426.60 ($11,025,713.90 USD 2012) in 1941. The next-highest is Clark Gable, who earned $357,500 ($5,595,604.59 USD 2012) and Nicholas M. Schenck is third at $334,204.54 ($5,230,983.10 … Continue reading →

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