Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on July 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

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

Mickey Cohen on the Record – Talking With Author Tere Tereba

Posted on July 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Tere Tereba’s “Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster.”   Note: I have been talking with author Tere Tereba about her book “Mickey Cohen: The Life and Crimes of L.A.’s Notorious Mobster.” Was he nothing more  … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

One Woman’s Vision of Saving Black History

Posted on July 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

My latest column  is about the Mayme A. Clayton Library and Museum in Culver City. Cheers to Executive Director Larry Earl Jr., Archivist Cara Adams and volunteer Sandra Lindsey for their help.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on One Woman’s Vision of Saving Black History

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

A customized 1973 Oldsmobile hearse, listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $13,500. Queen of the Dead – dateline July 23, 2012 •   I adored Celeste Holm (who died on July 15, at 95) as an actress—she was warm … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Hollywood, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on July 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

Posted in Film, Mystery Photo, Television | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Lana Turner Elopes!

Posted on July 18, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 18, 1942: Lana Turner elopes to Las Vegas with Stephen Crane in a marriage performed by the same judge who did her marriage to Artie Shaw in 1940. Turner is 22 and Crane is 27. It is the second … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, African Americans, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Lana Turner Elopes!

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on July 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s today’s mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb! This is a still from “Power” showing Frank Vosper, who disappeared from an ocean liner in 1937.

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 16, 2012 by lmharnisch

A model of the Jaguar XKE hearse from “Harold and Maude” has been listed on EBay with bids starting at 125 GBP. Queen of the Dead – dateline July 16, 2012 •  I’m a real bear on architectural preservation, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Museums, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Seeing L.A. Through the Lens of History – C.C. Pierce’s Photos

Posted on July 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

My latest column for The Times is on early L.A. photographer C.C. Pierce.

Posted in History, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo – Film Within a Film Edition [Updated ++]

Posted on July 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this would be?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 1999 Cadillac hearse listed on EBay with bids starting at $1, or Buy It Now for $10,995.  Queen of the Dead – dateline July 9, 2012 •   Andy Griffith (who died at 86, on July 3), I thought, … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on July 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

‘Casablanca’ Cast Honors Michael Curtiz’s 15 Years in U.S.

Posted on July 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 7, 1942:Twin brothers Walter and Sol Brundo, jazz musicians, join a military band stationed at Camp Haan in Riverside County.   I can’t find any trace of Sol and Walter. I wonder what became of them. “The Magnificent Ambersons”opens at … Continue reading →

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

On Assignment

Posted on July 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

Posted in History, Libraries | Comments Off on On Assignment

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

This gag postcard of a hearse has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at  $19.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline July 2, 2012 •  Don Grady, the hottest of My Three Sons, died on June 27; he was 68. … Continue reading →

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

Keaton Sons Change Names to Talmadge

Posted on June 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1942: Buster Keaton’s sons Robert, 18, and James, 20, legally change their last names to Talmadge after a petition to the court by Keaton’s ex-wife Natalie Talmadge. Lee Gilcrease, 29, kills his wife, Ethel, and commits suicide in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, San Fernando Valley, Suicide | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Keaton Sons Change Names to Talmadge

Man Held as ‘Orchid Bandit’

Posted on June 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1942: James D. Hannah liked orchids. He liked them so much that he usually gave several of them to his girlfriends to put in their hair, a habit that led to his arrest when robbery victim  Elva Sieburg … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Man Held as ‘Orchid Bandit’

Drunken Brawl at Errol Flynn’s Birthday Party

Posted on June 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1942: A brawl at Errol Flynn’s  32nd birthday party involves Barbara Hutton’s butler – Eric Gosta Hadler —  and Flynn’s secretary and stand-in, James Fleming. Hadler says: “It all happened so suddenly I can’t remember what happened.” Judging … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb! Update: This is Billy House. Please congratulate Arye Michael Bender (1), Mike Hawks (2), Jenny M (3), Bob Levinson (4), Herb Nichols (5) and Don Danard via email for identifying … Continue reading →

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

A motorcycle hearse listed on EBay at $10,000. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 25, 2012 •  Remember a couple months ago when Thomas Kinkade died and there were all these debates about “was he a worse painter than … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments