Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

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

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Jack Buchanan

Posted on October 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

 Jack Buchanan 1891 – 1956 Jack Buchanan was Fred Astaire before Fred Astaire was Fred Astaire. Jack was tall, handsome, a great “make it look easy” song and dance man, and, as his friend and frequent costar Bea Lillie noted, … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo – How to Wear a Hat Edition

Posted on October 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Erich von Stroheim’s ‘Paprika’

Posted on October 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

A copy of Erich von Stroheim’s “Paprika” inscribed to Hugo Ballin has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $1,250. Famed director/actor Erich von Stroheim faced financial disaster in the mid-1930s. After directing such visual powerhouses as “Foolish … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery fellow – with a bow tie! Courtesy of Steven Bibb

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 41 Comments

Highway Patrol Day: 10-4!

Posted on October 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s a salute to one of my favorite childhood TV shows. Remember: “Leave your blood at the blood bank, not on the road. For ‘Highway Patrol,’ this is Broderick Crawford.”

Posted in Television | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

I thought it would be fun to have a little change of pace from Steve’s collection. Enjoy!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 27 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

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

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

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

Victor Segno: Success Wave!

Posted on October 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

Prof. A. Victor Segno and a success wave (artist’s concept). My latest column for The Times deals with my favorite L.A. con man, Prof. A Victor Segno.

Posted in Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, History | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Eve Golden / Queen of the Dead: Valaida Snow

Posted on October 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Valaida Snow 1904 – 1956 I am a huge Bix Beiderbecke fan; I prefer him to Louis Armstrong, and as far as I’m concerned, jazz died with Bix in 1931. But a close second to Bix in my heart is … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Music, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Philippe de Lacy and ‘Cinerama Holiday’

Posted on October 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Child stars often face harsh realities as they age. The public doesn’t find them as cute, roles stop coming, and life can become cruel. For every talented child actor that goes on to a successful career as an adult like … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Theaters | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Philippe de Lacy and ‘Cinerama Holiday’

Found on EBay: The Ma Duncan Trial

Posted on September 28, 2012 by lmharnisch

Rare (or r@re) is terribly overused on EBay, but this time it’s accurate. A LP from clandestine recordings made at the murder trial of Elizabeth “Ma” Duncan, has been listed. Bidding starts at $5. The Duncan case (she was convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in 1958, Found on EBay, Homicide | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on September 28, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb. Here’s our mystery guy and I love the name of the mystery film.

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

Another Good Story Ruined: The Black Dahlia

Posted on September 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: <<Le Dahlia Noir>>  Once again, Elizabeth Short’s bogus middle name appears in a story about the Black Dahlia – proof that mistakes take on a life of their own. In reality, she had no middle name. She was erroneously … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on September 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on September 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

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

Reading Los Angeles: Glen Creason

Posted on September 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Murder at the Sleepy Lagoon” by Eduardo Obregón Pagán. In interviewing Los Angeles Public Library map librarian Glen Creason, I asked about his favorite books on Los Angeles. There wasn’t space to include the list with the story, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on September 25, 2012 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

America Losing War, Navy Official Says

Posted on September 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1942: Assistant Secretary of the Navy Ralph Bard says that America is losing the war because it has been blinded by “an insufferable and materialistic pride,” a feeling that prevents Americans from realizing the “desperate fury” of Nazi … Continue reading →

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