Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

How to Wear a Hat – Noir Edition

Posted on November 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

One thing that drives me crazy about the current crop of period films is that men usually don’t know how to wear hats. “The Black Dahlia” (with costume design by Jenny Beavan) is a particularly excruciating lesson in unfortunate hat … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 1947, Black Dahlia, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Found on EBay – Mae Murray

Posted on November 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

A 1923-24 guide to Metro pictures, published for theater managers, has been listed on EBay. Full-color printing was quite expensive in this era, and it’s always interesting to see how much mileage a commercial artist could get from two colors. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

When Hollywood Goes Wrong — ‘The Black Dahlia’

Posted on November 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

There are so many things that Brian De Palma got wrong in “The Black Dahlia” that a list of mistakes would fill a long book. I had forgotten that the movie starts out with what is purportedly the Zoot Suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++]

Posted on November 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s today’s mystery lady…. Update: This is Cobina Wright Jr., who recently appeared in Eve Golden’s Queen of the Dead.

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

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on November 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 1997 Cadillac hearse for sale on EBay. Bidding starts at $3,800. Queen of the Dead—dateline November 14, 2011 •  Family Circus has long been one of those legacy comics you love to hate. But I was sad when creator … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Eve Golden, Fashion, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Sports | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

W.C. Fields and the Los Angeles Public Library — Mystery Photo

Posted on November 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Last night, I was watching “The Bank Dick,” as I have  many times before, but this was the first with my new plasma TV, so I was much more aware of the detail. I spotted a photo of what looked … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Location Sleuth, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

U.S. Prepares to Round Up Japanese in Event of War, Nov. 13, 1941

Posted on November 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 13, 1941: An FBI investigation into the Los Angeles Japanese Chamber of Commerce and the Central Japanese Assn. reveals monthly donations of $4,000 to $5,000 to the Japanese government “for the army and navy,” The Times says. Atty. Gen. … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

Update: This is Eve Miller (d. 1973). Here’s a mystery woman, courtesy of Steven Bibb.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Crowds Line Broadway for Armistice Day Parade, Nov. 12, 1941

Posted on November 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

We just don’t get deep thoughts in comics anymore. Nov. 12, 1941: Crowds line Broadway in downtown Los Angeles for the annual Armistice Day parade, which marked the end of what used to be called the Great War or the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, A Kinder, Simpler Time, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Streetcars, Theaters, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Scientists to Build Computer From 1830s Drawings

Posted on November 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The lobby of La Concha Motel, designed by Paul Revere Williams. Credit: The Neon Museum The first in a planned series of monthly lectures in the newly reopened Globe Lobby is sold out. The next lecture is Dec. 8, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Chicago, Crime and Courts, Museums, Music, Preservation, World War II | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Scientists to Build Computer From 1830s Drawings

A Casebook on ‘Los Angeles Plays Itself’

Posted on November 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

A user named smithrs has uploaded Thom Andersen’s elusive film essay “Los Angeles Plays Itself” to YouTube. The two-part film is something of a cult item in Los Angeles because Andersen made it without licensing the hundreds of clips he … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, History, Hollywood, Native Americans, Nightclubs | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – ‘Justice for the McNamaras’

Posted on November 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

A “Justice for the McNamaras” pin, referring to the 1911 trial of the McNamara brothers in the 1910 bombings of the Times Building and the Llewellyn Iron Works, has been listed on EBay.  Bidding on this button starts at $24.99.

Posted in 1910, 1911, Crime and Courts, Found on EBay | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – ‘Justice for the McNamaras’

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery fellow, courtesy of Steven Bibb.

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

Man Says He Shot Wife With ‘Unloaded’ Rifle

Posted on November 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The 600 block of West 87th Street via Google’s Street View. Nov. 10, 1941: A week after Kenneth and Betty met at a malt shop, the 20-year-olds drove to Yuma, Ariz., to get married. They moved in with his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Religion | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Ambassador Hotel

Posted on November 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

This postcard of the Ambassador Hotel has been listed on EBay. Wouldn’t it be neat to go there? Oh wait – we let L.A. Unified tear it down. Bidding starts at $5.

Posted in Architecture, Found on EBay, Preservation | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

In Praise of Libraries

Posted on November 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Take a moment to read Steve Lopez’s column about his son, a librarian working to restore services that were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina: The notion that libraries could be replaced by Google is tantamount to suggesting that Americans are better … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Libraries | Tagged | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery chap, courtesy of Steven Bibb.

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

Roosevelt Declares Early Thanksgiving

Posted on November 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 9, 1941: Amid the gathering clouds of World War II, President Roosevelt declares what will be the last peacetime Thanksgiving. Noting American aid to nations fighting the Axis, Roosevelt says: “Let us ask the divine blessing of our decision … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Bullock’s Wilshire

Posted on November 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

This St. John dress from Bullock’s Wilshire has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $199.

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

L.A. Detectives Meet New York Mobster’s Plane at Burbank Airport

Posted on November 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 8, 1941: Waxey Gordon, whose real name was Irving Wexler (d. 1952, Alcatraz), lands at Lockheed Air Terminal (now Burbank Airport), where he is greeted by detectives from the district attorney’s office, the LAPD and airport police. Gordon, accompanied … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Aviation, Chicago, City Hall, LAPD, San Francisco, Suicide, Theaters, Tom Treanor, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment