Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

‘Zoot Suit’ and History – Part 4

Posted on July 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 8, 1943: A mob of servicemen block a streetcar on Main Street to remove a passenger wearing a zoot suit. This was supposed to be an easy – if long – post to wrap up the Zoot Suit Riots. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Latinos, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Earl Carroll’s Nightclub

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

This photo of some young guys having a good time at Earl Carroll’s on Aug. 7, 1943, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $19.95.

Posted in 1943, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Nightclubs, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

B-26 Heads for Museum [Updated]

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Rick Rouan of the Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle Gazette reports on a B-26 Marauder that is returning to the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum in Geneseo, N.Y., after being restored by the Historical Aircraft Squadron. The plane should arrive in time … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Museums, World War II | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Soviet Film Posters – Update

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Regular Daily Mirror reader Gary Martin visited the exhibit of Soviet film posters at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery and files this post: American museums have all become so look alike and all show such similar works by the same small … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, New York | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Soviet Film Posters – Update

#history, #museum

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

David Dunlap has a great story in the New York Times’ City Room about the return of an eagle head, sculpted by Adolph A. Weinman, that was salvaged from the demolition of Pennsylvania Station. There’s lots more about bits and … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Museums, Preservation, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Maria Ridulph: Ex-Cop Had History of Abuse, Records Show

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

John O’Connor of the Associated Press files a story from Springfield, Ill., about affidavits submitted against Jack Daniel McCullough in the kidnapping and killing  of Maria Ridulph. McCullough, a former police officer, was fired over accusations that he molested a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, Maria Ridulph | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Maria Ridulph: Ex-Cop Had History of Abuse, Records Show

The FBI Thins Its Files

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

I had the strangest experience Saturday when I was going through Ernest Hemingway’s FBI file. I was sure the buro had posted Louis Armstrong’s dossier — it’s brief and not terribly interesting except for the fact that it exists. Or … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, History, Homicide, LAPD, Libraries | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on The FBI Thins Its Files

Uncle Jed – Outsider Artist

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

In addition to his many other accomplishments (ever see him dance in “Broadway Melody of 1936?”) the late Buddy “Uncle Jed” Ebsen was an outsider artist. An untitled self-portrait in his “Uncle Jed Country Series” has been listed on EBay. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Found on EBay, Television | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Batchelder Tile

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

This rather remarkable example of Batchelder tile has been listed on EBay. The vendor’s family was apparently a Batchelder distributor and has had this since the 1930s.   As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be evaluated thoroughly … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, Found on EBay | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Nathan Marsak, This One Is for You!

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 5, 1943: A nude (well almost) woman climbs onto a neon sign at 6th and Broadway. Beatrice Tucker was clearly ahead of her time.

Posted in 1943, Brain Trust, Downtown | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Zoot Suits in the News

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Just as we were exploring the history of the Zoot Suit Riots comes news of Kathy Peiss’ book “Zoot Suit” from the University of Pennsylvania Press. Writing about the book in the New York Times’ Arts Beat, Patricia Cohen raises … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Zoot Suits in the News

#museum, #history

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

To accompany U.S. history as told in video games, we have U.S. history as told by Facebook, by Teddy Wayne, Mike Sacks and Thomas Ng in the New York Times. The Daily Mirror Recommends:At the Daily Mirror, we’re always interested … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Education, Found on EBay, Genealogy, History, Latinos, Museums | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Month at the Museum

Posted on July 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry is holding a competition to select someone who will live at the museum for a month. The museum’s website says: From Oct. 19 to Nov. 17, 2011, this person’s mission will be to experience … Continue reading →

Posted in Museums, World War II | Tagged , | 2 Comments

More Letters From J.D. Salinger

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

The New York Times’ City Room has a story about a group of letters between author/recluse J.D. Salinger and E. Michael Mitchell, the artist who illustrated the original cover of “Catcher in the Rye.” Mitchell put the letters up for … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Libraries, Museums | Tagged , , | Comments Off on More Letters From J.D. Salinger

It Really Is All About Me!

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Intel has created a virtual “Museum of Me” that draws on a user’s Facebook page to create the ultimate vanity project. And surely anyone with enough ego for this couldn’t possibly be worried about *privacy*.

Posted in Museums | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Texas Museum’s Mystery Safe May Hold Fortune – Or Not

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

A fun story is bouncing around the Web this morning regarding this Mosler safe, on display at the Frisco Texas Heritage Museum. People are wondering what – if anything – is inside and would like to find out without blowing … Continue reading →

Posted in Museums | Tagged | 1 Comment

IBM Turns 100

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

IBM is celebrating its centennial  and Technology Review has posted some photos from the company’s history. This piece is a Dey dial recorder, an early form of time-recording clock. The company has an elaborate website devoted to its centennial. You … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Photography | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Z-Boys Skateboarder Chris Cahill Dies at 54

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

My friend and L.A. Times Daily Mirror partner Keith Thursby has an obituary on Chris Cahill, a member of the Dogtown Z-Boys skateboarders. Keith says: The Z-Boys, originally 11 boys and a girl, were the subject of the 2001 documentary … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Z-Boys Skateboarder Chris Cahill Dies at 54

#books, #Scientology

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

My L.A. Times colleague Kim Christensen has an interesting review of Janet Reitman’s “Inside Scientology,” the latest book on L. Ron Hubbard, who got his start in Los Angeles. Christensen, an investigative reporter at The Times, says: “Reitman’s book, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Religion | 2 Comments

U.S. History – In Video Games!

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Who says video games aren’t educational? Here’s American history as told by the folks at GamePro.com for the Fourth of July. Shout out to L.A. Noire!

Posted in History | Tagged , | 3 Comments