Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

#Broadway, #Civil War, #history, #museums, 8|12|2011

Posted on August 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Diary of Alexander Sterrett Paxton. Credit: Washington and Lee University. Daniel de Vise of the Washington Post writes about a collection of six Civil War diaries obtained by Washington and Lee University. The diaries were kept by Alexander Sterrett … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, History, Museums, Music, Preservation, Stage, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #Broadway, #Civil War, #history, #museums, 8|12|2011

Marion Eisenmann: Artist’s Notebook – Union Station

Posted on August 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

“Union Station” by Marion Eisenmann, Aug, 8, 2009 Note: I’m reposting the artwork Marion Eisenmann did several years ago. It’s a pleasure to share her work with a new audience.

Posted in 1939, Art & Artists, Artist's Notebook, Downtown, Marion Eisenmann, Transportation | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Van Nuys Plane Crash Kills 2 – Aug. 11, 1941

Posted on August 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Aug. 11, 1941: Walter P. Palmer and William S. Raney are killed when their plane goes into a spin during a flying lesson and crashes into a bean field at Woodley Avenue and Oxnard Street in Van Nuys, which is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Jimmie Fidler, Lee Shippey, Politics, San Fernando Valley, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated ++]

Posted on August 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Our mystery lady has at least one fan.

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

#art, #black dahlia, #books, #courts, #crime, #history, #railroads, 8|10|2011

Posted on August 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: BMW M1. Credit: Bonhams A BMW M1 painted by Frank Stella is being auctioned at the Quail Lodge Sale, Aug. 18-19, in Carmel. The BWM belonged to racecar driver Peter Gregg, who committed suicide after an accident left him … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, History, Motorsports, Museums, Politics, Transportation, Washington | 2 Comments

James Curtis: L.A. Voices – Dick Lane, Part 4

Posted on August 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

  Photo: Dick Lane in 1947. The woman may be Jane Harvey, who was crowned “Queen of Television Week” in March 1947. Credit: Steve Dichter Collection. This is Part 4 of James Curtis’ 1975 interview with Dick Lane. In this … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices, Obituaries, Television | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on August 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: This is Helene Costello (d. 1957). And yes, that is quite a bracelet.] Here’s a photo of a mystery woman and some mystery jewelry, courtesy of Steven Bibb!

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

#architecture, #art, #black dahlia, #history, #religion, 8|9|2011

Posted on August 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 130 W. 30th, via Google maps’ street view. SPOTLIGHT David W. Dunlap, writing in the New York Times’ City Room, tells the story of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah,  sometimes called the “gay synagogue,” which is moving into a building … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Genealogy, Libraries, Music, New York, Religion, Stage | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Architectural Rambling: Julian Eltinge Home – 1921

Posted on August 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

The home of Julian Eltinge at 2328 Baxter Street in Silver Lake is barely visible from the street. Note: While trolling EBay, I found yet another article that had been cut from a magazine, in this case, the Architectural Record … Continue reading →

Posted in 1921, Architecture, Found on EBay, Interior Design, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Stage | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

#history, #museums, 8|8|2011 [Updated]

Posted on August 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Colonel Harland Sanders, 1976. Credit: KFC   The Edgar Allan Poe House in Baltimore is threatened with “Nevermore.” Kate Taylor in the New York Times. KFC has launched a website to collect people’s stories about Colonel Sanders. [Update: The … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Food and Drink, History, Museums | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #history, #museums, 8|8|2011 [Updated]

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on August 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

Our friend Fibber sends along this mystery photo

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on August 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

This 1939 Packard Hearse has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $16,000, but there is a reserve. Queen of the Dead—dateline August 8, 2011    •  Milly del Rubio, the last of the amusingly camp del Rubio Triplets, died … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Obituaries, World War II | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Voices: Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, 1914 – 2011

Posted on August 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: LAPD homicide detectives in a gag photo, Christmas 1946. Ed is on the left in the back row. Credit: Ed Jokisch   I received word Saturday that my friend, retired Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, has died at the age … Continue reading →

Posted in 1914, Crime and Courts, Downtown, LAPD, Obituaries, World War II | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Carlos Lozano: Sunday Journal – Norms

Posted on August 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Norm’s. Credit: Carlos Lozano. Note: My friend Carlos Lozano, the state editor at The Times, passed along one of the essays he calls Sunday Journal and gave me permission to post it here. BREAKFAST AT NORM’S  The place is … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink, Sunday Journal | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Changeling Stories — Part 4

Posted on August 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Louisa Northcott, the mother of Gordon Northcott, isn’t portrayed in “Changeling,” but played a key role in the actual case. Above, she’s booked in jail. Los Angeles Times file photo Louisa Northcott with one of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Changeling, Crime and Courts, Film, Homicide | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – ‘London After Midnight’

Posted on August 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

A German poster for the lost film “London After Midnight” has been listed on EBay. Notice that the vendor is in Spain. Also notice that it is listed as Buy It Now for $14,000. As with anything on EBay, an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, Art & Artists, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Preservation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – ‘London After Midnight’

#art, #history, #museums, 8|6|2011

Posted on August 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Mark Twain. Credit: Library of Congress.   RECOMMENDED Kim Palchikoff has a fascinating op-ed piece in the New York Times about some family icons that survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945. Edward Rothstein of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, History, Museums | Tagged , , | Comments Off on #art, #history, #museums, 8|6|2011

Changeling Stories — Part 3

Posted on August 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Tony Rivetti Jr. / Universal PicturesAbove, Colm Feore as Police Chief James Davis, “Changeling,” set in 1928. Los Angeles Times file photoAbove, Police Chief James Davis, 1926. Northcott signs confession. I don’t care much for the press passes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Changeling, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Florentine Gardens

Posted on August 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

This souvenir photograph from the Florentine Gardens has been listed on EBay. Most of these pictures come in a cardboard holder that’s stamped with a date. This one isn’t marked, oddly enough, but a comparison with my reference file indicates … Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography, World War II | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

#art, #history, #museums, 8|5|2011

Posted on August 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: A page of Woody Guthrie’s scrapbooks. Credit: Robin Carson, the Woody Guthrie Archive   Eve M. Kahn of the New York Times examines efforts to preserve Woody Guthrie’s fragile, crumbling scrapbooks. The Woody Guthrie Foundation received  an $80,000 grant … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, History, Museums, Obituaries, Preservation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #art, #history, #museums, 8|5|2011