Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

#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

Changeling Stories — Part 2

Posted on August 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

The “Enigma Boy” who fooled police into believing that he was Walter Collins is identified as Arthur Hutchins Jr. of Iowa. Read Part I of The Times reports on the story that formed the basis of “Changeling.” Enigma Boy identified. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Changeling, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , | Comments Off on Changeling Stories — Part 2

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on August 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

  Jan. 30, 1937: Leroy Broomfield and Aurora Greeley perform at the Ubangi Club. [Update: This is Aurora Greeley, and if you have never heard of her, you have lots of company.] Here’s a Witzel photo that truly is a … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Dance, Mystery Photo, Nightclubs, Obituaries, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

#art, #history, #museums, #World War II 8|4|2011

Posted on August 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Retired Lt. Col. Leo R. Gray with “The Spirit of Tuskegee.” Credit: Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post Jacqueline Trescott of the Washington Post writes about “The Spirit of Tuskegee,” a Stearman trainer that has been acquired by the … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Art & Artists, History, Museums, World War II | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #art, #history, #museums, #World War II 8|4|2011

Marion Eisenmann: Artist’s Notebook – Outside the Edison

Posted on August 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

“Outside the Edison,” by Marion Eisenmann. Note: I’m reposting the sketches that Marion Eisenmann did on the former incarnation of the Daily Mirror blog. This is from 2010. I thought it would be fun to write about the crowds that … Continue reading →

Posted in 2010, Art & Artists, Downtown, Marion Eisenmann, Nightclubs | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Changeling Stories — Part 1

Posted on August 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Police Capt. Jones and LAPD officers search the lake in Lincoln Park for the body of Walter Collins, Los Angeles Times, April 6, 1928. The boy claiming to be Walter Collins poses with Christine Collins, Aug. 18, 1928 Several regular … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Changeling, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Changeling Stories — Part 1

#art, #history, #museums 8|3|2011

Posted on August 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: President John F. Kennedy and Stan Musial. Credit:  Cecil Stoughton, John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Washington Post columnist John Kelly has a terrific story about author Harvey Sawler, who is looking for two boys, one white, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, History, Museums | Tagged , , | Comments Off on #art, #history, #museums 8|3|2011

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