Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

A World Without Wikipedia: Not Such a Bad Idea

Posted on January 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

Wikipedia can stay dark permanently as far as I’m concerned. It’s a sinkhole of rumors and errors run by coding tweakers, factoid zealots and folks with tinfoil hats — and yes, Wikipedia has an entry on tinfoil hats. I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, History | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Lombard a ‘Shining Mark’ in Hollywood

Posted on January 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

What do you know! Ernie Bushmiller could actually draw. Jan. 18, 1942: Times artist Charles Owens draws a terrific map of the crash that killed Carole Lombard. Edwin Schallert reflects on Lombard’s life, adding her to the tragic deaths of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Obituaries | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Carole Lombard Among 22 Dead in Crash; Gable Charters Plane for Las Vegas

Posted on January 17, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Clark Gable and Carole Lombard at home with their pet Siamese cats. Jan. 17, 1942: Carole Lombard, who was returning from a campaign to sell defense bonds; her mother, Elizabeth K. Peters; and MGM publicist Otto Winkler are among … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Animals, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Transportation | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on January 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Look what I found! Why if it isn’t…. Uh-oh. New YORK? [Update 2: Yes, this is the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles in “The Killer That Stalked New York.” I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw the shots of … Continue reading →

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on January 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: 1937 Oldsmobile customized hearse listed on EBay at $7,550. Queen of the Dead – dateline January 16, 2012 •  Singer and actress Betty Jane Rhodes, 90, died on December 26. A radio and recording success as a child, she … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold Cases, Eve Golden, Film, Food and Drink, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Music, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

The Black Dahlia at 65

Posted on January 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Lobby of the Biltmore Hotel, Jan. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m. Credit: Larry Harnisch/L.A. Daily Mirror. I wandered over to the Biltmore on Monday night to keep my annual appointment. I’m not compulsive about being there, and I don’t bother … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Donald Wolfe, Downtown, Film, History, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , | 24 Comments

The Bradbury Building and the Mystery of ‘China Girl’ [Updated +]

Posted on January 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

This is an establishing shot from the 1942 feature “China Girl,” which was obviously filmed in the Bradbury Building. Or was it? [Update: If this is a set, as it appears to be, where did Twentieth Century-Fox build it? People … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Uncategorized | Tagged | 26 Comments

The Black Dahlia: Princess Whitewing Follies

Posted on January 13, 2012 by lmharnisch

OK. Princess Whitewing fans, pay attention.

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Crime and Courts | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

We have mystery chaps in a (not) mysterious location…..

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 36 Comments

The Black Dahlia: Biltmore Hotel

Posted on January 11, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo 1: Biltmore Hotel, Jan. 9, 2012, 6:30 p.m. Credit: Larry Harnisch Photo 2: Biltmore Hotel, 1940s The top photo shows the old lobby of the Biltmore on Monday as it was on the anniversary of the night Elizabeth Short … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Donald Wolfe, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Interior Design, LAPD | Tagged , | 19 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on January 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s a bit of fun trivia from a little documentary that aired on TCM the other day. It’s an early version of the directional signs used by movie crews. And “TWT” stands for? Photo: CSI:NY filming in downtown Los Angeles. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged | 12 Comments

Pearl Harbor Survivor Kills Himself

Posted on January 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Can’t draw? You too can be a famous cartoonist.   Jan. 10, 1942:  Pearl Harbor survivor William Parks kills himself in San Francisco after going AWOL. “His note to his wife indicated that the bombardment he underwent had upset him,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Immigration, Religion, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on January 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: This 1929 Cadillac hearse, exported to Argentina,  is listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $35,000. Queen of the Dead – dateline January 9, 2012 •  Illustrators are right up there with starlets and socialites on the “people … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Environment, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Found on EBay – Hotel Alexandria

Posted on January 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

A pitcher from the Hotel Alexandria at Spring and 5th streets has been listed on EBay. In the early 20th century, the Alexandria was one of Los Angeles’ most distinguished hotels. It has withstood several cycles of poverty and restoration, … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Found on EBay, Interior Design | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Hotel Alexandria

Found on EBay – ‘Gwangi’

Posted on January 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Gwangi! Gwangi! I’m a sucker for any movie that has cowboys, dinosaurs and Freda Jackson warning “Gwangi! Gwangi!” So imagine my surprise to discover what an EBay vendor says is Willis O’Brien’s large preproduction model for an unproduced film … Continue reading →

Posted in 1969, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – ‘Gwangi’

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 8, 2012 by lmharnisch

… and this movie would be?

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

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this movie would be? Perhaps you would like a hint….

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

Girl ‘11 or 12’ Taken From 62-Year-Old Husband

Posted on January 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

Jan. 7, 1942: Whenever people give me this nonsense about the past being “a kinder, simpler time,” I always think of stories like Joe Downs and his “wife.” President Roosevelt delivers his annual State of the Union address, which was … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Politics, Religion, Tom Treanor, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

I was watching this movie the other night and thought: “Hey! Wait a minute. That’s…..” The film shouldn’t be too hard to identify. But the location …  hmmmmmm. As I often say, living in Los Angeles is like living in … Continue reading →

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