Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on June 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another photo from the collection of Steven Bibb! Update: This is Ian Hunter with Deborah Kerr in “Edward, My Son.”

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 28 Comments

Young Author Ray Bradbury Publishes ‘Dark Carnival,’ 1947

Posted on June 6, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1947: Young Ray Bradbury publishes a book of short stories titled “Dark Carnival.” Notice that he used to sell newspapers at Norton Avenue and Olympic Boulevard. Yes, that’s the same Norton Avenue where the Black Dahlia was found, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Nazi Spy Convicted!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 5, 1942: Dr. Hans Helmut Gros is convicted of being a Nazi spy. And radio stations along the Pacific Coast went off the air at 9 p.m. so their signals couldn’t be used as beacons in case of a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Nazi Spy Convicted!

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on June 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A stereo picture of the hearse carrying the body of President McKinley has been listed on EBay at  $18.95. Queen of the Dead – dateline June 4, 2012 Just back from Paris, my dears, and what you’ve heard is … Continue reading →

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

Doolittle Visits North American Plant, Praises Workers for Bombers Used in Tokyo Raid

Posted on June 2, 2012 by lmharnisch

June 2, 1942: In a visit to the North American aircraft plant, Brig. Gen. Jimmy Doolittle praises workers who built the bombers used in his raid on Tokyo. Otis W. Hall is accused of killing his estranged wife and sending … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Aviation, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Doolittle Visits North American Plant, Praises Workers for Bombers Used in Tokyo Raid

On Assignment

Posted on May 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

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

Posted in History | Comments Off on On Assignment

John Barrymore Dies at 60

Posted on May 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 30, 1942:  Actor John Barrymore, known as “the Great Profile,” dies at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital 10 days after collapsing during a rehearsal for Rudy Vallee’s radio program. He was 60 and was suffering from liver and kidney problems, plus … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Stage | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Louis B. Mayer, Clark Gable Lead in U.S. Salaries

Posted on May 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 29, 1942: The highest-paid executive in America is Louis B. Mayer, who earned $704,426.60 ($11,025,713.90 USD 2012) in 1941. The next-highest is Clark Gable, who earned $357,500 ($5,595,604.59 USD 2012) and Nicholas M. Schenck is third at $334,204.54 ($5,230,983.10 … Continue reading →

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on May 27, 2012 by lmharnisch

Death Takes a Holiday Your faithful correspondent is in Paris this week, touring the morgue and the catacombs, having absinthe with bohemians, and going for a fitting at M. Dior’s.

Posted in Eve Golden, Queen of the Dead | 1 Comment

Met Takes Masterworks Off Display for the Duration

Posted on May 26, 2012 by lmharnisch

When Milton Caniff hasn’t filled up the panel with dialogue balloons – which is most of the time – he’s quite a dramatic artist. May 26, 1942: Edwin Schallert visits New York and writes about a promotional tour for “Yankee … Continue reading →

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

The Dark Side of Rosie the Riveter

Posted on May 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 25, 1942: Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II, visits a munitions factory and writes about women in the workplace. Interviewing a foreman, Treanor says: I asked him him how he stood it bossing 150 women doing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Nuestro Pueblo, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++++]

Posted on May 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

Our mystery guest, at left, with a mystery companion, who had a nasty experience with an artist’s paintbrush. Update: As most people realized, this is Frank Albertson with Sally O’Neil in “The Brat.”

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

Thursdays @ The Globe

Posted on May 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

We had a nice turnout yesterday for the Thursdays at the Globe discussion of the downtown renaissance and vintage crime. Several guests were longtime Angelenos and shared their recollections of the city’s history, including the architecture, the streetcars and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Nightclubs, Preservation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Hollywood Notes

Posted on May 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 24, 1942: Duesenberg for sale (sigh). Read Kendall has the story of Pvt. Kenneth Arlen, a screen extra whose final job involved getting a kiss from Judy Garland as she finished singing “Over There” in “For Me and My … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Hollywood Notes

Japanese Man’s Suicide Note: ‘My Country Goes Greatly Wrong’

Posted on May 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 23, 1942: Iyamma Satos uses three neckties to hang himself in Elysian Park. His suicide note reads: “My country goes greatly wrong. I cannot face my good friend America anymore, so I had to die. Please bury me quietly.”

Posted in 1942, Parks, Suicide, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Accused Killer, Shot in Courtroom, Convicted as He Dies

Posted on May 22, 2012 by lmharnisch

May 22, 1942: As the prosecutor finished his closing arguments in the trial of Mazo Shepherd, accused of killing a taxi driver, the victim’s nephew walked up to Shepherd and shot him in the head. Shepherd was taken from the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Comics, Homicide | Tagged | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++]

Posted on May 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb! [Update: This is Claire Luce. Please congratulate Dewey Webb and Mike Hawks for identifying her.]

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on May 21, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: A 2003 Cadillac hearse listed on EBay, with bids starting at $18,900. Queen of the Dead – dateline May 21, 2012 •   Restaurateur (The Forge and The Glen in Tulsa), racecar driver, military historian and coffee heir (McLaughlin’s Coffee … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Music, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | 5 Comments

Guest Mystery Photo

Posted on May 20, 2012 by lmharnisch

Graeme Fernie, a reader in Australia, sends along this mystery photo that he found in an album that includes images of San Francisco. He says it’s labeled San Juan. Other scans from the photo album are here.

Posted in Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged | 9 Comments

Coming Attractions – Vintage Crime, May 24

Posted on May 19, 2012 by lmharnisch

I’m going to be appearing in next week’s Thursdays @ The Globe gathering at The Times at noon on May 24. Jessica Gelt and Julie Makinen are going to talk about the downtown hipster renaissance. I will be on hand … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Coming Attractions, LAPD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment