Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Next Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Posted on October 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 24, 1871: Riot and Massacre of Chinese in Los Angeles. Daily Southern Cross of Auckland, New Zealand, Dec. 9, 1871 Coming up this week on the Daily Mirror: On Monday,  Eve Golden has a roundup of unusual obituaries in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1871, Chinese Massacre, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

An EBay Lesson – Part 2

Posted on October 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: A happy couple in the Zanzibar Room of the Florentine Gardens, Sept. 6, 1944. In case you’re wondering, I contacted the vendor of the bogus EBay picture I recently acquired. He said he got it from an estate in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, African Americans, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography | Tagged , | Comments Off on An EBay Lesson – Part 2

Occvpy Mvsevms? (How’s that for a non-SEO hed?)

Posted on October 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Maura Judkis of the Washington Post writes about a new trend in the Occupy movement: Occupy Museums. Protesters had planned demonstrations Thursday at the Museum of Modern Art, the Frick Collection and New Museum. Philip Boroff and Katya Kazakina of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold Cases, Museums | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Occvpy Mvsevms? (How’s that for a non-SEO hed?)

Movieland Mystery Photo – Witzel Edition

Posted on October 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

This unidentified Witzel photo has been listed on EBay. The vendor has no idea who this actress is, which makes it a perfect mystery photo. Bidding, by the way, starts at $9.99.

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Witzel | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – 1910 Times Bombing

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

W.W. Robinson is probably my favorite Los Angeles historian. He isn’t as flashy as some writers but he is scrupulously accurate – and that counts for a lot. “Bombs and Bribery” is a small volume on the 1910 Times bombing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910, Books and Authors, Found on EBay | Tagged , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – 1910 Times Bombing

Coming Attractions: ‘Of Scrap and Steel’

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1949: “Of Scrap and Steel” is shown at the Union Rescue Mission. Aug. 2, 1952: “Of Scrap and Steel” is shown at San Gabriel Union Church. March 26, 1960: “Of Scrap and Steel” is shown at the Church … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Coming Attractions, Downtown, Film | Tagged , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: ‘Of Scrap and Steel’

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance and Rob Wagner (d. 1942) in Hawaii in 1918, courtesy of …. Rob Wagner, who provided us with this photograph of his great-grandfather, who was Chaplin’s publicist. He was later the publisher of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Court Dispute Highlights Kevorkian’s Artwork

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Johann Sebastian Bach by Dr. Jack Kevorkian, in one of his paintings that doesn’t involve death and – apparently — wasn’t painted with his own blood. Washington Post education writer and columnist Jay Mathews has an interesting piece on … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Education, Museums, Suicide | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Librarian Glen Creason Gives a Research Lesson

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a fun video showing Los Angeles Public Library map expert Glen Creason giving some assistance to a patron. This is particularly useful to dispel the view – held by certain termed-out law ‘n’ order city councilmen – that all … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, Libraries | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Former Mystery Guest Barbara Kent Dies at 103

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Former mystery guest Barbara Kent has died at the age of 103. Los Angeles Times | New York Times

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Obituaries | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 14

Posted on October 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Cover letter on the June 22, 1943, report on the Zoot Suit Riots. Credit: National Archives at Riverside. To recap briefly, I have been digging into the historical basis of the movie “Zoot Suit,” which I saw this summer … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Theaters, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Times to Reopen Globe Lobby!

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Hugo Ballin mural in Los Angeles Times Globe Lobby. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com The Times has announced that it will reopen the Globe Lobby on Oct. 24, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Very cool news.

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Earl Carroll’s

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s an unusual item from Earl Carroll’s in Hollywood – a two-deck set of playing cards. I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like this. I’m still hunting for a five-suit deck like the one I wrote about several years … Continue reading →

Posted in Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Tagged , | 2 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 13

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

May 4, 1995: Portions of the June 10, 1943, report on the Zoot Suit Riots have been redacted and placed in a parallel file. This is due to privacy concerns because the individuals may still be alive, an archivist explained. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, African Americans, Fashion, Film, LAPD, Latinos, Stage, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Steve Hodel and James Ellroy

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Images: James Ellroy’s inscribed copies of “Black Dahlia Avenger” are sold on EBay. Classy, no? Several people have written to me about James Ellroy’s onetime support of Steve Hodel and the whole “Black Dahlia Avenger” nonsense. Here’s the story: I … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Marion Eisenmann: Artist’s Notebook

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

“Coke Beetle” by Marion Eisenmann. Marion Eisenmann sends along a sketch she calls “Coke Beetle,” a Volkswagen painted Coca-Cola red that was at the swap meet in Pomona last weekend. Marion originally sent it to me as a black and … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Artist's Notebook, Coming Attractions, Marion Eisenmann, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Marion Eisenmann: Artist’s Notebook

Franchot Tone Marries Jean Wallace, 1941

Posted on October 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 19, 1941: Franchot Tone marries Jean Wallace in Yuma, Ariz. Wallace and Tone divorced in 1948 and in 1951 Tone was badly injured in a fight with Tom Neal at the home of Tone’s ex-fiancee, actress Barbara Payton. Tom … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Franchot Tone Marries Jean Wallace, 1941

Black Dahlia Scavenger

Posted on October 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

“Black Dahlia Avenger” CSI forensics edition! I was in Vroman’s in Pasadena, my favorite independent bookstore, and when I wandered by the “true” crime section, I noticed that Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger” was – rather quaintly, I thought — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Parole Rejected for ‘Onion Field’ Killer

Posted on October 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Board of Parole Hearings has recommended against releasing Gregory Powell, who was convicted in the 1963 “Onion Field” killing of Officer Ian Campbell. Powell, who has prostate cancer, was seeking a compassionate release, reserved for inmates with serious illnesses. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Shakespeare, ‘Anonymous’ and Nonsense

Posted on October 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Trailer for “Anonymous.” In a New York Times op-ed piece, Columbia English professor James Shapiro challenges the premise of Roland Emmerich’s upcoming film “Anonymous,” which presents Edward de Vere as the true author of (wait for it) all of … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Libraries, Museums, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments