Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Guards Shoot at Car Refusing to Halt Outside Army Camp; Man Near Death

Posted on April 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

April 5, 1942: Sentries fire at a car that refused to stop on a street leading to the Army camp in Alondra Park.  Ralph W. Spaulding, 26, was hospitalized after being shot in the head. Bessie Edwards, who suffered a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Fashion, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Making Sense of the 1940 Census

Posted on April 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Kerry Bartels of the National Archives in Riverside will give a presentation at the downtown Los Angeles Public Library on Thursday on the newly released 1940 census material. The presentation is at 12:15 p.m. in Meeting Room A. Bartels will … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940, Libraries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 23

Posted on April 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I’m examining the history of 1110 Benedict Canyon Drive, where, as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Libraries | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 22

Posted on April 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I’m examining the history of 1110 Benedict Canyon Drive, where, as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Eve Golden on ‘The Best of Everything’

Posted on April 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

Oct. 9, 1959: “The Best of Everything” opens at the Chinese Theatre. If you’re an Eve Golden fan (and aren’t we all?) you’ll enjoy reading her article on “The Best of Everything” in The Modern.

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition IV [Updated +++]

Posted on April 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

Yes, it’s another newsboy cap edition of the mystery photo. 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 26 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 21

Posted on April 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I am still on Bowers’ account of his first purported tryst … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on April 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

A 1984 Cadillac hearse, which the vendor says may be haunted, has been listed on EBay at $520 – with a reserve. Queen of the Dead – dateline April 2, 2012 •  This damn well better not be an obit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Eve Golden, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Found on EBay – Batchelder Fireplace

Posted on March 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

A (mostly) complete Batchelder fireplace that was salvaged – if that’s the right term – from a Catholic school in Wisconsin has been listed on EBay. The vendor says: “There were a few ornate carved animal 4″x4″ tiles that i … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Batchelder Tile, Found on EBay, Preservation | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Downtown L.A., 1946

Posted on March 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

View Down to Earth in a larger map After yesterday’s post on the Black Dahlia and downtown Los Angeles at night, I pulled together a map while watching the process shots filmed for “Down to Earth.” Google, unfortunately, wiped out … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on March 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

This will be too easy, but after Geene Courtney, I thought I should pick something everybody will recognize. Yes, everyone recognized this as Janet Gaynor’s feet in “A Star Is Born.” Ed was first, followed by Michael Ryerson, Mary Mallory, … Continue reading →

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

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, MIA Edition

Posted on March 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

You might be wondering: Where’s the next post on Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service?” I have been busy with other tasks. I was asked to write a column for The Times and was happy to profile Ed Fuentes. Here’s the story: … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The Black Dahlia and Downtown L.A. at Night, 1946

Posted on March 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Man with a slate in footage shot for “Down to Earth.” My friends over at the 1947project have found some process footage that was filmed about April 1946 for the Columbia feature “Down to Earth.” It’s unfortunate that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Explosion in Caltech Secret Project Kills 1, Injures 6

Posted on March 28, 2012 by lmharnisch

March 28, 1942: A fiery explosion during a secret experiment at the Kellogg Radiation Laboratory kills Raymond L. Robey and injures six others. Robey was thrown 50 feet by the force of the explosion, which scorched the four-story building, The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Abortion, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Hollywood | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Eve Golden and John Gilbert, a Research Odyssey

Posted on March 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

Larry thought that some of you fellow research nerds might be interested in my trip to the Library of Congress to see four John Gilbert films for my upcoming biography. First, I must tell you I could not have picked … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Libraries | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

Found on EBay – the Tick Tock

Posted on March 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Tick Tock (d. 1988) has gone to the great watchmaker in the sky. It was the kind of Hollywood place where Pee-wee Herman and Charles Phoenix might have had their own booths. But it lives on in this postcard, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1988, Food and Drink, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on March 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

A photo of a funeral procession in Dragonea, Italy, listed on EBay at $40.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline March 26, 2012 •  I love Little Me, one of the funniest books ever written. Grab it. Now. The photos—period … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Comics, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Suicide, Television | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Next Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Posted on March 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

Coming up next week: In addition Mary Mallory’s Hollywood Heights column and Eve Golden’s Queen of the Dead…. Eve has a special post that I think you’re going to adore: She’s working on a biography of John Gilbert and has … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Queen of the Dead | Comments Off on Next Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on March 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

And here’s a mystery lady from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 22 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 20

Posted on March 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I’m sure you’re thinking: “Part 20 and you’re still on Pages … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 1 Comment