Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Japan Ready to Reject U.S. Terms

Posted on December 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 5, 1941: There’s almost too much interesting news on Pearl Harbor Day minus 2. Josephine Trout Barnes is reunited with her baby girl Camelia/Camellia/Carmelia (newspapers in the Linotype era sometimes had a fluid sense of spelling when it came … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Tom Treanor, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on December 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 1955 Cadillac hearse, listed on EBay at $7,500. Queen of the Dead—dateline December 5, 2011 •  With Loretta Young and Clark Gable as parents, Judy Lewis was bound to be a knockout—and since she looked like a Photoshop mash-up … Continue reading →

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

Found on EBay – ‘Salome’

Posted on December 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

What is advertised as original still No. 25-17 of Theda Bara from the lost film “Salome” has been listed on EBay. I have seen enough of these photos to confirm that the production code begins with “25-XX.” The Witzel studios … Continue reading →

Posted in 1918, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Witzel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on December 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Mona Barrie.] Here’s another mystery lady from the collection of Steven Bibb. There’s a new photo on the jump!

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

Peace Talks Between U.S., Japan on Verge of Collapse

Posted on December 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 4, 1941:Dr. Richard A. Carter, head of the Carter Neurological Clinic in Garden Grove, is accused of negligence in administering a fatal dose during insulin shock treatments for Virginia Lamb, 22, of Anaheim for dementia praecox. It’s unclear from … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Medicine, Tom Treanor, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Peace Talks Between U.S., Japan on Verge of Collapse

Back online

Posted on December 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror HQ lost power for two days after the Santa Ana winds hit Southern California. It will be a while before I get caught up.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Back online

L.A. County Pays Immigrants on Welfare to Go Back to Mexico

Posted on December 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 3, 1941: Here’s how Los Angeles County once handled immigration. Officials paid families on welfare $100 ($1,464.25 USD 2010) over 10 months to go back to Mexico. Since 1930-31, more than 4,000 families had gone back to Mexico under … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Immigration, Jimmie Fidler, Tom Treanor, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. County Pays Immigrants on Welfare to Go Back to Mexico

Found on EBay – Harrison Gray Otis

Posted on December 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

An interesting bit of Los Angeles Times memorabilia has turned up on EBay. This is a Sept. 4, 1911, letter from Harrison Gray Otis (notice that he didn’t use his military title) to Drayton Pitts, acknowledging the receipt of a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910, 1911, 1912, Downtown, Found on EBay | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Army Is Prepared, but Needs to Toughen Up for War, General Says

Posted on December 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 1, 1941: With the attack on Pearl Harbor six days away, Lt. Gen. Lesley J. McNair says U.S. troops are ready to fight, but would suffer heavy losses with only six months of field training. “Properly trained units cannot … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Music, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Army Is Prepared, but Needs to Toughen Up for War, General Says

Found on EBay – Bullock’s Wilshire

Posted on November 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

This rather remarkable pair of vintage shoes from the Collegienne department at Bullock’s Wilshire has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99.

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

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo from the amazing collection of Steven Bibb! [Update: This is Natalie Thompson, who appeared in “The Vanishing Virginian.” ]

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

How to Wear a Newsboy Cap – Marc Chevalier Edition

Posted on November 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Regular reader Marc Chevalier sends along his version of the proper way to wear a newsboy cap. He says it helps to have an authentic period cap: “The caps made in the ’20s and ’30s have a somewhat different shape … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Dying Man Found on Main Street

Posted on November 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 30, 1941:President Roosevelt says the U.S. may be at war in a year – actually, it was a week later. Bartender Eddie Watton was closing up at the Theatre Cafe, 324 S. Main St., and wanted the man at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

How to Wear a Hat – Newsboy Cap Edition

Posted on November 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Jack Huston in “Boardwalk Empire.” Credit: Macall Polay HBO via the Los Angeles Times. I was watching “Emperor of the North” and thought a post on newsboy caps might be a good follow-up on How to Wear a Hat … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, 1973, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged | 4 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on November 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

   Photo: Postcard for J.D. Naftzinger, funeral director and embalmer, listed on EBay, as Buy It Now for $150. Queen of the Dead—dateline November 28, 2011 •  I am going to get “More, More, More (How Do You Like It?),” … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

November 27, 1941: Streetcar Companies Ask Council to End Bus Ban in Downtown L.A.

Posted on November 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1941: The Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railways ask the City Council to repeal a ban against buses operating in downtown Los Angeles. Pacific Electric officials said the ban prevented them from routing the line from Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Streetcars, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Man Takes Fight Over Dog License to U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on November 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The 1200 block of Innes Avenue, home of the George F. Harrington/Kitty HQ, via Google Street View. Nov. 26, 1941: Kitty may not be a typical name for a dog – but then George F. Harrington is an unusual … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Animals, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Man Takes Fight Over Dog License to U.S. Supreme Court

Movieland Mystery Photos – Special Edition [Updated]

Posted on November 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: I thought it might be helpful if I enlarged the faces of our mystery gents. My hunch is that the fellow on the right is Laurence Olivier. [I have also received three more photos and I now suspect that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1952, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Politics | Tagged , | 23 Comments

From the Stacks: James Richardson’s ‘Spring Street’

Posted on November 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: James Richardson, city editor of the Los Angeles Examiner.  Credit: Cover of “For the Life of Me.” I incurred the wrath of Fibber some time ago with my post about James Richardson and “For the Life of Me.” Fibber … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Found on EBay, From the Stacks | Tagged , | Comments Off on From the Stacks: James Richardson’s ‘Spring Street’

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a mystery couple!

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