Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

James Curtis: L.A. Voices — Dick Lane, Part 3

Posted on August 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

One of the countless gags in Olsen and Johnson’s “Hellzapoppin’ ” This is Part 3 of James Curtis’ 1975 interview with Dick Lane. In this installment, Lane discusses Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, Jack Benny, Howard Hawks and making “Hellzapoppin’ ” … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

‘Grim Sleeper’ 911 Call

Posted on August 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Barbara Ware, killed at the age of 23, whose body was found Jan. 10, 1987. Note: Since the “Grim Sleeper’s”  911 call is back in the news, here’s a post I wrote about it in 2009. I thought it would … Continue reading →

Posted in 1987, Grim Sleeper, LAPD | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on August 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: Please congratulate Don Danard for identifying James Bush (d. 1987). Here he is with Joan Wheeler (d. 2001) in “The Merry Frinks.”]  Here’s another mystery photo courtesy of Steven Bibb!

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

#cold cases, #history, #museums, #religion, 8|2|2011

Posted on August 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: A previous version of this post had a 1972 headline about another hijacking. Thanks to Dewey Webb for pointing out the error.] Nov. 26, 1971: D.B. Cooper bails out with $200,000. Credit: Los Angeles Times SPOTLIGHT Tera W. Hunter … Continue reading →

Posted in 1972, Art & Artists, History, Museums, Politics, Religion, Television | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on #cold cases, #history, #museums, #religion, 8|2|2011

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 6

Posted on August 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats Program for “Zoot Suit” Credit: Jose Legaspi In Part 5, we looked at the story of Joe Dacy Coleman, “patient zero” in the Zoot Suit Riots, which led to a report at the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, African Americans, Black Dahlia, City Hall, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Libraries, Stage, Streetcars, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Coming Attractions: ‘Zoot Suit’ and History

Posted on August 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats Program for “Zoot Suit” Credit: Jose Legaspi   Coming on Tuesday in our continuing examination of “Zoot Suit” and history: A June 9, 1943, radio address by Mayor Fletcher Bowron on the Zoot … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Frontiers of Learning: Brontë Sisters Power Dolls

Posted on August 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Brontë Sisters Power Dolls! No, they’re not real. But they are funny.

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#history, #magazines, #museums, 8|1|2011

Posted on August 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Letter allegedly by Lord Byron that was revealed as a fake. Morristown, N.J., National Historical Park SPOTLIGHT Cara Buckley of the New York Times writes about the closing of New York’s famed Chelsea Hotel. Bruce Japsen of the Chicago … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Crime and Courts, History, Libraries, New York | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #history, #magazines, #museums, 8|1|2011

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on August 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 1948 Buick Roadmaster hearse for sale on EBay. Bidding starts at $9,102. Queen of the Dead—dateline August 1, 2011    • Elliott Handler, cofounder of Mattel, died on July 21, age 95. He and Harold Matson (thus the name: … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Books and Authors, Brain Trust, Comics, Eve Golden, Film, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Television | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

#history, #museums, 7|31|2011

Posted on July 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The former MGM film exchange at Hyde and Eddy streets in San Francisco. Credit: Adithya Sambamurthy/The Bay Citizen The Bay Citizen used the upper photo with the story while NYTimes.com used the lower photo. I might have gone with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, History, Museums, New York, San Francisco | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Ambassador Hotel

Posted on July 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

This c. 1960 postcard of the Ambassador Hotel, which was torn down by L.A. Unified, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $2.95.

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

#art, #history, #libraries, #museums 7|30|2011

Posted on July 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jean Fouquet, Le Passage du Rubicon (détail), département des Arts graphiques, musée du Louvre MUSEUMS Souren Melikian of the New York Times reviews “Enluminures: Moyen Âge et Renaissance,” at the Louvre through Oct. 10. The basic idea was to reveal … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Crime and Courts, Libraries, Museums, New York, Washington | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #art, #history, #libraries, #museums 7|30|2011

A Shot in the Dark

Posted on July 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2007 for the Daily Mirror when it was on latimes.com. I’m gradually transferring material over to the L.A. Daily Mirror.   April 28, 1957 Los Angeles Let’s park here and sit in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, 2007, Cold Cases, Homicide | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – A. Victor Segno

Posted on July 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: A. Victor Segno sends out a “success wave” (artist’s concept). A. Victor Segno  is probably our favorite Los Angeles charlatan. He made money by getting people to mail him a dollar a month in return for sending out a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Crime and Courts, Found on EBay | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Russia to Invade Austria: July 29, 1914

Posted on July 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

July 29, 1914: VIENNA– War was officially declared today by Austria-Hungary and offensive operations against Servia were begun. Austrian troops crossed the frontier, marching to Mitrovitza, the Servians being driven back.

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Russia to Invade Austria – July 29, 1914

Posted on July 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

July 29 1914: VIENNA– War was officially declared today by Austria-Hungary and offensive operations against Servia were begun. Austrian troops crossed the frontier, marching to Mitrovitza, the Servians being driven back.

Posted in 1914, Front Pages | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Leesa Jo Shaner Killing: Wisconsin Inmate Convicted [Updated]

Posted on July 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

William Floyd Zamastilwas convicted in federal court in Tucson on Thursday of kidnapping and killing Leesa Jo Shaner on May 29, 1973. Her remains were found Sept. 16, 1973, buried on the grounds of Ft. Huachuca, Ariz., a remote military … Continue reading →

Posted in 1973, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

#books, #museums, #history 7|29|2011 [Updated]

Posted on July 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

NEWS [Updated at 7:25 a.m. The archives of civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks reveal an account of an attempted rape by a white neighbor who employed her as a housekeeper. Associated Press via Washington Post.] Historian Barry Landau and assistant … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Chicago, Crime and Courts, History, Museums, New York | Tagged , , | Comments Off on #books, #museums, #history 7|29|2011 [Updated]

Marion Eisenmann: Artist’s Notebook – Third Street Promenade

Posted on July 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

Third Street Promenade by Marion Eisenmann, Sept. 4, 2009   Note: This is one of the sketches that Marion Eisenmann did for the Daily Mirror when it was at latimes.com. I’m reposting it just as it was in 2009. Santa … Continue reading →

Posted in 2009, Art & Artists, Artist's Notebook, Music | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Marion Eisenmann: Artist’s Notebook – Third Street Promenade

#history, #libraries, #museums 7|28|2011

Posted on July 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Battle of Manila Bay. Credit: Wikipedia NEWS Justin Jouvenal in the Washington Post’s Buzz, writes that the Patsy Cline Historic House is opening in Winchester, Va., on Aug. 2. The Independence Seaport Museum has made an emergency patch on … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, History, Libraries, Museums, Music, Preservation, Retro, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments