Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition II [Updated]

Posted on February 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s two young mystery lads in newsboy caps. And the movie would be? How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition How to Wear a Hat –  ‘Grapes of Wrath’ Edition Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition How … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , | 17 Comments

‘Hellzapoppin’ " Opens in Los Angeles

Posted on February 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 10, 1942:  The Hawaii Theater at Hollywood and Gower becomes a first-run theater (adios, Charles Foster Kane) with “Hellzapoppin.’ ” The “Congaroos” are “colored performers” who do “snappy dances.” “Stand-ins of the Hollywood stars” sounds like a gag, but … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, Theaters, World War II | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Help the Los Angeles Public Library!

Posted on February 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Dear Brain Trust: Our friends at the Los Angeles Public Library photo collection are trying to identify this photo. I know you can do it!

Posted in Architecture, Libraries, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Over Protests of Racism, ‘The Clansman’ Opens in Los Angeles

Posted on February 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 9, 1915: The Los Angeles premiere of D.W. Griffith’s “The Clansman” (later retitled “The Birth of a Nation”) provokes protests and an attempt to prevent Clune’s Auditorium from showing the film, which was based on Thomas Dixon’s “The Clansman.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Theaters | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

U.S. Moves to ‘War Time’

Posted on February 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 9, 1942: It’s a sad day at the Daily Mirror HQ. No more Jimmie Fidler. The U.S. moves to Daylight Saving Time “for the duration,” which will last until six months “after the day America wins the war,” The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Religion, World War II | Tagged | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this movie would be?  I know, too easy, right?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 24 Comments

FBI Continues Raids on Japanese Homes

Posted on February 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 8, 1942: FBI agents lead local law enforcement in the continuing raids on Japanese communities.  “Trunks and storerooms were ransacked, suspicious areas of newly turned earth were dug into and all buildings were carefully investigated,” The Times said. After … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Washington, World War II | Tagged | Comments Off on FBI Continues Raids on Japanese Homes

Me vs. Wikipedia

Posted on February 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

I drew a range of reactions with my recent post “A World Without Wikipedia: Not Such a Bad Idea,”  in which I said “I don’t know a single serious researcher who considers it anything other than a joke.”That isn’t precisely … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Libraries | Tagged , | 29 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on February 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

Image: President Lincoln’s Funeral at the White House, listed on EBay at $375. Queen of the Dead – dateline February 6, 2012 •  The Prettiest Girl in All of Turkey has died: 98-year-old Keriman Halis Ece, on January 28. She … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

I was watching this movie the other day and thought:  that’s….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged | 32 Comments

Body of Kidnapped Girl Found in Riverbed

Posted on February 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 4, 1942: “As Coroner R.E. Williams and his aides bore the pitiful little body, still clad in her gay blue and white striped red school dress, toward town for an autopsy to determine the cause of death, the hundreds … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, A Kinder, Simpler Time, Art & Artists, Cold Cases, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Jimmie Fidler, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Glen Boles. Please congratulate Mike Hawks and Mary Mallory for identifying him!]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

L.A. County Board Recommends Roundup of All Japanese

Posted on February 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 3, 1942: The FBI, police and sheriff’s deputies round up 336 “alien Japanese fishermen” on Terminal Island. “Operating with machine-like efficiency, the FBI agents, headed by J.W. Vincent, in charge of operations, had prepared lists of the names and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Angry Butcher Cuts Wife’s Throat

Posted on February 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

Betty Rowland at the Follies! Photo: 6152 Agra St. Credit: Google Street View. Feb. 2, 1942: Lewis Buell Chase dialed the sheriff’s substation in Firestone Park and told a deputy: “I have just murdered a woman.” He had gone to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Jimmie Fidler, Sports, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

William Desmond Taylor Shot!

Posted on February 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory points out that this is the 90th anniversary of William Desmond Taylor’s death. I did several posts when the Daily Mirror was at The Times: William Desmond Taylor, Mystery Guest | Crime scene photos

Posted in 1922, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged | 7 Comments

Stravinsky Premieres ‘Danses Concertantes’ in Los Angeles

Posted on February 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Feb. 1, 1942: The Times serializes Hallett Abend’s “Japan Unmasked.” Abend (d. 1955) was The Times city editor from 1920 to 1924 and was later a Far East correspondent for the New York Times.  (Note: An interesting line from his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Books and Authors, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Newsboy Cap Edition [Updated +]

Posted on February 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Almost everybody wears a newsboy cap in this film. What could it be? [Please congratulate Dewey Webb, Mike Hawks, Don Danard, Mary Mallory and Rotter for identifying the movie — or our mystery fellow in the incredible sweater. ]

Posted in Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

U.S. Urged to Evacuate Japanese Immediately

Posted on January 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

Jan. 31, 1942: Members of Congress from the West Coast call on the U.S. to expedite the evacuation of “enemy aliens,” a term that includes native-born people of Japanese ancestry. Officials concede that some of them may be loyal – … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Politics, Richard Nixon, Streetcars, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on U.S. Urged to Evacuate Japanese Immediately

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb! [Update: This is Emlyn Williams. Please congratulate former Mystery Photo star B.J. Merholz, Mike Hawks and Mary Mallory for identifying him! ]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on January 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 1986 Pontiac Bonneville hearse listed on EBay with bids starting at $3,350. Queen of the Dead – dateline January 30, 2012 •  I was never a Star Trek fan—so pompous so serious. I preferred the high-camp vaudeville antics … Continue reading →

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