Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

‘Enemy Aliens’ Farms Ideally Located to Sabotage L.A., Times Says

March 4, 1942: In what must surely be a classic example of war hysteria, The Times publishes a master map of land owned or leased by “enemy aliens” that constitutes ideal locations to conduct espionage, operate signaling outposts and stage … Continue reading

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo, Theaters, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on ‘Enemy Aliens’ Farms Ideally Located to Sabotage L.A., Times Says

Ansel Adams – Images of Los Angeles

Photo: “The Pup.” Notice that it served French dip sandwiches! Credit: Los Angeles Public Library. I stopped by the reception for the Ansel Adams show at drkrm, 727 S. Spring St., on Wednesday night to see the photos of Los … Continue reading

Posted in Coming Attractions, Libraries, Nuestro Pueblo, Photography, World War II | Tagged , | 6 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 7

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. What is it about “Full Service” that inspires people to get … Continue reading

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transportation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on ‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 7

Hollis Mulwray House – Update

Back in July, I posted a photo showing renovations on the house at 1315 S. El Molino that was used in “Chinatown.” Here’s how it looks today.

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , | 1 Comment

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 6

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. In our last installment, I didn’t do all that well on … Continue reading

Posted in 1945, 1946, 1947, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, World War II | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Found on EBay – ‘Bert Williams: Son of Laughter’

Note: This post has been corrected. A rather bedraggled copy of “Bert Williams: Son of Laughter,” a tribute to the  vaudeville entertainer,  has been listed on EBay at $300. Although that might seem high, this is a fairly rare edition … Continue reading

Posted in 1923, African Americans, Books and Authors, Found on EBay, Libraries, Stage | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 5

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I could probably spend another day on the intersection of Hollywood … Continue reading

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Academy Awards Edition [Updated +++]

I went into the archives at the Daily Mirror HQ for a special Academy Awards edition of mystery photos, figuring the Brain Trust would have fun guessing the venue, the year and possibly the mystery person on stage. [Update: I … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , | 46 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Photo: A Hot Wheels model of a customized 1963 Cadillac hearse listed on EBay at $6.50. Queen of the Dead – dateline February 27, 2012 •  Do you collect Instant Disaster books? I do. I have same-year accounts of the … Continue reading

Posted in Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Music, Queen of the Dead, San Francisco, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

An EBay Mystery – Earl Carroll’s Inner Circle

One of the more intriguing mysteries I’ve come across in years of delving through EBay surfaced the other day, but the auction ended before I could write about it (so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch). The item was a … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

UCLA Provost Calls for a Return to Basics in Education

Feb. 25, 1942: UCLA Provost Earle Hedrick (d. 1943) describes the prevailing disdain for the “three Rs” as “the Pearl Harbor” of American education. Charging that American education is ruled by an elite clique, Hedrick says: “I propose that we … Continue reading

Posted in 1942, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Education, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 4

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. Yesterday, in Part 3, I was exploring the history of Hollywood … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transportation | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Random Shot: N.Y. = L.A.

Look what I found last night outside the Last Book Store at 5th and Spring.

Posted in Books and Authors, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 3

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. You want to know about all the hot gossip in this … Continue reading

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 2

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. Pages XI to X of “Full Service” set the scene on … Continue reading

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Libraries | Tagged , | 24 Comments

Times Editorial Praises Japanese Evacuation

Feb. 21, 1942: The Times editorial page praises the Japanese evacuation while scolding the government for its slow response. I think this is my favorite quote: … it is important to remember in case any situations of the kind arise … Continue reading

Posted in 1942, Front Pages, World War II | Tagged , | Comments Off on Times Editorial Praises Japanese Evacuation

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 1

“Full Service,” by Scotty Bowers with Lionel Friedberg. One of the guiding principles at the Los Angeles Daily Mirror is that history is not the exclusive domain of straight, white, Protestant males. As long as I have been blogging about … Continue reading

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Libraries | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Photo: 1947 Cadillac hearse listed on EBay at $1.950. Queen of the Dead — dateline February 20, 2012 I am no longer eating candy (ten pounds to go!), but when I did, I was rather fond of Lemonheads. I learned … Continue reading

Posted in Eve Golden, Fashion, Film, Music, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Japanese Evacuation: Images of Executive Order 9066

Scott Harrison, my colleague on The Times photo desk, has posted a gallery of images from the evacuation of Japanese Americans in 1942. He plans to add to these photos, so check back for more.

Posted in 1942, Photography, World War II | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++]

And this movie would be?

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , | 49 Comments