Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

The Best Books on L.A.

Posted on October 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Los Angeles,” by Morrow Mayo. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com Earlier this year, I queried readers about the best books on Los Angeles. It was interesting to see how many people suggested novels – by Raymond Chandler and John Fante – … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Louis Adamic: Aimee Semple McPherson’s Fight With Satan

Posted on October 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Note: The Daily Mirror HQ recently acquired another issue of Haldeman-Julius Monthly with another piece by Louis Adamic, author of “Cecil B. DeMille: Movie Evangelist.”  Here it is, courtesy of the OCR software of the HQ’s scanner. THE Reverend “Sister” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Crime and Courts, Louis Adamic, Radio, Religion | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Chinatown Wishing Well

Posted on October 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

This image of a wishing well on Broadway in Chinatown built by professor Henry K. Liu has been listed on EBay. If you have looked at Charles Owens and Joe Seewerker’s “Nuestro Pueblo,” (which you really should) you might recall … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Found on EBay, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Chinatown Wishing Well

Gangster Kills Tribune Reporter, 1930

Posted on October 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Ken Burns’ series on Prohibition has brought a reexamination of the era. John McCormick of the Chicago Tribune looks at the tawdry end of the Trib’s Alfred “Jake” Lingle, who was shot to death in 1930, revealing a secret life. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Chicago, Museums, Music, World War II | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Daily Mirror Lunch – Hollywood Forever Cemetery

Posted on October 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Kisses on the tomb of Valentino. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com The Daily Mirror lunch at Astro Burger and tour of Hollywood Forever Cemetery was a pleasant way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Our distinguished guide, Karie Bible, showed us around … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – China City

Posted on October 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Main and Cesar Chavez via Google’s Street View. The photo postcard  of China City, stamped 1941, has been listed on EBay. Notice the sign says that China City is at Main and Macy, which became Cesar Chavez  Avenue in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Downtown, Found on EBay, Photography | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – China City

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++]

Posted on October 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: As most people realized, this is Bruce Cabot. He’s with co-star Helen Mowery in the 1946 film “Avalanche.”] Here’s a mystery couple, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on October 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 1/43 model Studebaker hearse for sale on EBay. It’s listed as Buy It Now for $49.99. Queen of the Dead – dateline October 3, 2011 •  One way I knew I had become my mother was when I started … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Eve Golden, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

This Week on the L.A. Daily Mirror

Posted on October 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: “The Lost Patrol,” illustrated by Keye Luke, The Times, Feb. 18, 1934. Coming up this week, Eve Golden has a roundup of unusual obituaries in Queen of the Dead and Mary Mallory looks at the artwork of Keye Luke … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Eve Golden, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Errol Flynn: ‘Everything Went Black’ in Mocambo Brawl

Posted on October 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Oct. 1, 1941: Errol Flynn promises he won’t punch Hollywood columnist Jimmie Fidler anymore. The actor invoked the famous “everything went black” defense for the melee at the Mocambo, in which Fidler’s wife stabbed him with a fork.

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

October 1, 1910: ‘A Terrible Roar’

Posted on October 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Courtesy of University of Southern California, on behalf of the USC Special Collections. October 1, 1910: The Times Building in flames, as seen from Broadway just south of First Street. Notice The Times Eagle outlined by the fire. El Alisal, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Fires, Labor, LAPD | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Batchelder Tile

Posted on September 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

This Batchelder tile, above  left, showing a pair of peacocks, has been listed on EBay. Interestingly enough, it’s the same pattern as the piece on the right, which I found in Aimee Semple McPherson’s quarters at Angelus Temple on a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, Batchelder Tile, Found on EBay, Interior Design, Religion | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Judge Urges U.S. to Deport Union Leader Harry Bridges

Posted on September 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 30, 1941: A judge recommends the deportation of Harry Bridges, head of the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union, a decision that was cheered by The Times. Of course, Bridges was never deported, despite a prolonged campaign to send … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Obituaries, Tom Treanor | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Main Street Revisited

Posted on September 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

I picked up “A Southern California Album: Selected Photographs, 1880-1900” at the Last Bookstore the other day and was pleased to discover a number of pictures by C.C. Pierce, including this shot of Main Street looking south from 3rd Street … Continue reading →

Posted in 1880, 1900, Books and Authors, Downtown, Photography, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 10

Posted on September 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Racial incidents between servicemen and African Americans in San Diego.   Credit: The 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 in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 1943, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Libraries, World War II, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 10

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +++]

Posted on September 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Molly O’Day! L.A. Times obituary | ] Here’s another mystery gal! There’s another photo on the jump!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

Louis Adamic: Cecil B. DeMille – Movie Evangelist

Posted on September 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror HQ recently acquired the October 1927 issue of Haldeman-Julius Monthly, which includes Louis Adamic’s “Cecil B. DeMille – Movie Evangelist.” Join him for the premiere of “The King of Kings” the first film shown at Grauman’s Chinese … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Religion, Theaters | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Pin Ton Company

Posted on September 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

A postcard showing the Pin Ton Company Confectionary, 427 S. Broadway, has been listed on EBay. I don’t recall ever hearing of this business or seeing this interior. The store flourished around 1915. Bidding on the postcard starts at $9.99.

Posted in 1915, Architecture, Downtown, Food and Drink, Found on EBay, Interior Design | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Witzel Photo

Posted on September 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

This Witzel photo of Lois Moran, which the dealer says is inscribed to Douglas Fairbanks from Lois Moran (d. 1990),  has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $4.95.

Posted in Film, Found on EBay, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on September 26, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 2003 Cadillac Superior Hearse for sale on EBay. Bidding starts at $12,100 with a reserve. Queen of the Dead – dateline September 26, 2011 •  Last week I announced the last Black Knight of Glin, this week it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Sports | Tagged , | Comments Off on Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead