Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Bonnie and Clyde Submachine Gun for Sale

Posted on January 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Thompson submachine gun, serial No. 4208, with detachable stock and ammunition drum. Credit: Mayo Auction and Realty. This .45-caliber Thompson submachine gun 1921A, reputedly seized after a 1933 shootout with Bonnie and Clyde, is being auctioned, along with the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, 1933, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the collection of Steven Bibb! [Update: This is Lois Butler in “The Boy From Indiana.”

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

Examiner, Mirror Fold; L.A. Becomes Two-Newspaper Town

Posted on January 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

Jan. 5, 1962: A dark, painful day in the history of Los Angeles journalism. Virtually overnight, the city becomes a two-newspaper town. The evening Mirror ceases publication Jan. 5, merging with The Times, and the morning Examiner merges with the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1962, Columnists, Front Pages | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Removal of Streetcar Tracks Leaves Ugly Mess in Redondo Beach

Posted on January 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

Jan. 5, 1942: Nazi patrols plow through students protesting in Paris’ Latin Quarter, “firing a warning burst from machine guns over the heads of the crowd” and then proceeding to “clean up the situation,” The New York Times reports. “A … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Environment, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Streetcars, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Removal of Streetcar Tracks Leaves Ugly Mess in Redondo Beach

War Workers Start Day With Prayer

Posted on January 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: The 4200 block of South Olive Street via Google’s Street View. Jan. 4, 1942: William E. Kosdy uses a shovel to dig a two-person bomb shelter in the backyard of his home, 4236 S. Olive St. “I didn’t follow … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, LAPD, Nightclubs, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this movie would be?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged | 14 Comments

Japanese Americans Held After ‘Hissing Roosevelt’ in Theater

Posted on January 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

Jan. 3, 1942: Manila falls to the Japanese. “The Bare Facts of 1942” opens at the Aztec, 251 S. Main. Movie theater patrons Tombio Ambo and Shigeki Kayama are in custody after Winifred J. Stephens accused them of hissing a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Streetcars, Theaters, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this movie would be? [Updated: This is the 1954 film “Dragnet.” Please congratulate Julie Merholz, Robert Howe, Richard Heft and “KMA 367” (that’s the LAPD’s call sign in case you don’t recognize it) for identifying this screen grab. This … Continue reading →

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on January 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A set of mourners (hearse not included) listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $124.99. Queen of the Dead – dateline January 2, 2012 •  Comedy writer Joe Bodolai, 63, killed himself on December 26. No one interviewed … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Another Good Story Ruined, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Found on EBay – Bullock’s

Posted on January 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

This hat from Bullock’s has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $19.99.

Posted in Fashion, Found on EBay | Tagged | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Bullock’s

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on January 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

And this movie would be?

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

Happy New Year From the Daily Mirror

Posted on January 1, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Looking south on Broadway at 3rd Street, via Google’s Street View. Jan. 1, 1942: Downtown Los Angeles is oddly quiet on New Year’s Eve after police and military authorities banned the regular street celebrations. Hotels and nightclubs were sold … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Downtown, World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on Happy New Year From the Daily Mirror

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on December 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a mystery couple – are they celebrating New Year’s? – from the collection of Steven Bibb. [Updated: This is Johnny Sands. Please congratulate Don Danard for identifying him and Dewey Webb for identifying the film! Steven Bibb thought the … Continue reading →

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

Hubble: No Evidence of ‘Big Bang’ Theory

Posted on December 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 31, 1941: Celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Hollywood Palladium with Tommy Dorsey, Buddy Rich AND Frank Sinatra … plus Connie Haines and the Pied Pipers. John P. Varnum has a cute little racket. He pretends to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Music, Nightclubs, World War II | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

OK, it’s an MGM production. But what film uses this green background at the opening?

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

L.A. Women Are Slackers in Fighting the Axis!

Posted on December 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 30, 1941: It seems that local women didn’t get the memo about the being the “Greatest Generation.” They’re a bunch of slackers in the war against the Axis and don’t want to work as air-raid wardens. “Los Angeles women … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Streetcars, Theaters, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay — Silverwoods

Posted on December 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

This Stetson Royal De Luxe from Silverwood’s has been listed on EBay. Silverwood’s was one of the leading menswear stores in Los Angeles, so I’m not sure why the vendor has described this as a woman’s hat. Bidding starts at … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Found on EBay | Tagged , | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Silverwoods

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on December 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s today’s mystery photo from the collection of Stephen Bibb. [Update: This is Hal Le Roy. Plese congratulate Suzanne Annette Stone, Mary Mallory, Dewey Webb, Eve Golden, Don Danard, Mike Hawks, Bob Hansen and Rick Scott for identifying him. ]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

4 Die as Streetcar Crushes Auto

Posted on December 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 115th Street and Hawthorne Boulevard via Google’s Street View. Dec. 29, 1941: A streetcar heading north on Hawthorne Boulevard hits an automobile at 115th Street after the driver, apparently blinded by rain, entered the intersection. “The streetcar struck the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Radio, Streetcars, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 4 Die as Streetcar Crushes Auto

Found on EBay – Witzel Photo

Posted on December 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

This photo of two dancers from Witzel studios has been listed on EBay. Unfortunately, there’s no information on the women’s identities. Bidding on this photo starts at $4.99.

Posted in Dance, Found on EBay, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , | 3 Comments