Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

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

An 1890s Thanksgiving in the Kitchen

Posted on November 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a traditional roast turkey recipe from the “Every-Day Cook-Book and Family Compendium,” written about 1890 by Miss E. Neill. Be sure your fire is bright and clear and watch out for the gall-bag.

Posted in 1890, Food and Drink, From the Stacks | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

On the Frontiers of Science – The Virgin Rabbit

Posted on November 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 23, 1941: Dr. Herbert Shapiro of the Hahnemann Medical College of Philadelphia has discovered that if you place a bag of ice cubs on the side of a rabbit for 90 minutes, the rabbit may become pregnant. “The ice … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Animals, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Medicine | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

From the Stacks – ‘Death Valley the Facts’

Posted on November 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Is it wrong to buy a book on the basis of one map? I suppose it is, but I couldn’t resist. I found this copy of W.A. Chalfant’s “Death Valley the Facts” the other evening at the Last Bookstore and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Art & Artists, From the Stacks, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , | Comments Off on From the Stacks – ‘Death Valley the Facts’

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s today’s mystery chap, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

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

Times on Spinelli Execution: ‘Good Riddance’

Posted on November 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

 Nov. 22, 1941: Here is Times reporter Tom Cameron’s description of the execution of Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli: Eight cyanide “eggs” under the chair dropped into a bucket of sulfuric acid and distilled water. Nothing happened. The Duchess, her back … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Tagged , | Comments Off on Times on Spinelli Execution: ‘Good Riddance’

Found on EBay – San Quentin

Posted on November 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

In keeping with the theme of the 1941 execution of Juanita “the Duchess” Spinelli, here’s a souvenir brick from San Quentin that has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $49.95.

Posted in 1852, 1980, Crime and Courts, Found on EBay | Tagged , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – San Quentin

Duchess Spinelli, Doomed to Gas Chamber: ‘No Christian Will Kill!’

Posted on November 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 21, 1941: Juanita “The Duchess” Spinelli arrives at San Quentin to be executed in the gas chamber – the first woman legally executed in California’s history. “No one who is a Christian will kill!” the 52-year-old mother of three … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Religion | Tagged , | Comments Off on Duchess Spinelli, Doomed to Gas Chamber: ‘No Christian Will Kill!’

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on November 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: A model of a 1959 Cadillac hearse, listed on EBay for $599.99. Queen of the Dead—dateline November 21, 2011 •  “The Baroness Huntingtower died on the 8 th inst.,” said Lady Prudence Fairfax. “Not Katherine Grant of Rothiemurchus, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Eve Golden, Fashion, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Found on EBay – Florentine Gardens

Posted on November 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

This photo of the “Greatest Generation” at play at the Florentine Gardens, c. 1944, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $15.99.

Posted in 1944, Found on EBay, Nightclubs, Photography, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Florentine Gardens

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on November 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery chap, courtesy of Steven Bibb. [Update: This is Robert Beatty. Please congratulate Don Danard and Rotter for identifying him. Here’s his obituary in the Los Angeles Times | New York Times ]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

California Prepares to Execute Juanita ‘The Duchess’ Spinelli, Nov. 20, 1941

Posted on November 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 20, 1941: California prepares to execute Juanita “The Duchess” Spinelli at San Quentin. Spinelli, her boyfriend Mike Simeone, Gordon Hawkins and Albert Ives were convicted of drugging and drowning Robert Sherrard to keep him from informing on them about … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Found on EBay – Tattooed Woman

Posted on November 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

A reprint of a c. 1907 photo of a tattooed woman from the Plaza Gallery in Los Angeles has been listed on EBay. The photo is listed as Buy It Now for $8.99. On the jump, the tattooing craze, from … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Fashion, Found on EBay | Tagged , | 1 Comment