Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Fourth of July, 1961

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times For the Fourth of July, 1961, we have a group of eight-column pages. Weren’t those the days? Newspapers are much narrower now and only have six columns.The Times has one photo, eight stories, a two-column index and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Front Pages | Tagged , | Comments Off on Fourth of July, 1961

Eve Golden: Queen of the Dead

Posted on July 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

Queen of the Dead—dateline July 4, 2011   • Adorable, baby-voiced actress Alice Playten, 63, died on June 25. She was one of those “oh, her!” actresses whose face and voice are more familiar than her name. She did zillions … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Queen of the Dead, Stage, Television | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Another Good Story Ruined! Stephen Jay Gould

Posted on July 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Janet Monge and Alan Mann Credit: Penn Museum, Philadelphia It’s always interesting to see research debunked – and even more interesting when a debunker is debunked, as in the case of Stephen Jay Gould’s 1981 “The Mismeasure of Man.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1981, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors | Tagged , | 1 Comment

#museum

Posted on July 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

My colleague Louis Sahagun of the Los Angeles Times takes a look at an effort to revive the Santa Catalina Island Museum with an exhibit of photos by Pattie Boyd, the former wife of George Harrison and Eric Clapton. Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Art & Artists, History, Museums | Tagged , , | Comments Off on #museum

A Kindred Spirit: The New York Wanderer

Posted on July 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Retired real estate investor Benjamin P. Feldman picked up an old change purse at a flea market and was intrigued by the name stamped on it: Compliments of Sol Goldberg’s Cafe. So he began to investigate. Feldman told the New … Continue reading →

Posted in From the Reference Desk, Libraries | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Hemingway’s FBI File!

Posted on July 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

The 50th anniversary of Ernest Hemingway’s death has prompted a variety of articles, including an op-ed piece in the New York Times by A.E. Hotchner, who portrays the famous novelist as being obsessed about FBI surveillance. He told Hotchner: “It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Suicide | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Man Held in 1957 Cold Case Killing of Maria Ridulph

Posted on July 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 3, 1957-April 26, 1958 Sycamore, Ill Note: Jack Daniel McCullough has been charged in the 1957 killing of Maria Ridulph. Here’s an article I wrote about the case in 2007. Maria E. Ridulph* was a 7-year-old girl from Sycamore, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Cold Cases, Homicide | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

#Hollywood #history #museums

Posted on July 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

DEARBORN, Mich. The Arab American National Museum is opening an exhibit focusing on the generation of children who are growing since the 9/11 attacks. The project, “In the Heart of Arab America,” was sponsored by the Asian American Journalists Assn. … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Film, Hollywood, Museums, Religion, Television | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #Hollywood #history #museums

Commemorative Flight Canceled After Replica Plane Crashes

Posted on July 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Glenn Curtiss lands after a flight in his seaplane in an undated photo. July 14, 1911: Crowds see Glenn Curtiss’ demonstration of his seaplane at Winona Lake, as shown in the Warsaw Indiana Daily Union. The artist seems to have … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, Aviation, Museums | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

#museum [Updated]

Posted on July 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Brandeis University’s Rose Art Museum will remain open with its collection intact. The announcement comes after museum supporters sued the university over plans to close the museum and sell its $350-million art collection. Boston Globe | NYT L.A. Times columnist … Continue reading →

Posted in Museums | Tagged | Comments Off on #museum [Updated]

Jewish Cowboys Fade From Argentina’s History

Posted on July 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Washington Post has a great story by Juan Forero on Jewish gauchos. No, really! Forero says: Today, the story of their arrival in Argentina’s outback is all but a footnote in the history of the Jewish diaspora. But in … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Replica of 1911 Plane Crashes; Pilot OK

Posted on July 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Pilot Kevin House is uninjured when a replica of Glenn Curtiss’ 1911 Navy seaplane crashed after takeoff in New York. WSJ

Posted in 1911, Aviation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Replica of 1911 Plane Crashes; Pilot OK

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated +]

Posted on July 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s another mystery photo, courtesy of Steven Bibb! [Update: This mystery lady is Neva Gerber (d. 1974) who also performed as Jean Dolores. And she figures in the William Desmond Taylor case – although I can’t find anything about their … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Architectural Rambling

Posted on July 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

The home at 1315 S. El Molino in Pasadena is one of my favorite local landmarks. When I moved to Los Angeles, I spent a long time looking for the house before I finally located it.  I drive by it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Witzel Portrait of Louise Fazenda

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

This striking photo of Louise Fazenda by Witzel studios has been listed on EBay. Witzel was one of the leading studios in Los Angeles for portraits of entertainers. The vendor says this is an authentic autographed picture. Bidding starts at … Continue reading →

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

#history: Museum Closed, Exhibits Sold at Auction

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Ft. Wayne, Ind., has raised $50,000 by auctioning off items from its closed Jack Diehm Museum of Natural History, including  a polar bear that sold for $7,500. The museum was founded in 1965 by taxidermist Berlen Diehm to honor his … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Museums | Tagged , | Comments Off on #history: Museum Closed, Exhibits Sold at Auction

#history

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

Lady Mayfair, a statue that was once atop the Mayfair Theater in Dayton, Ohio, is being moved from the Dayton Art Institute to Carillon Park. The Mayfair was demolished in 1969, according to WDTN-TV Channel 2 in Dayton. Photo: Mayfair … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on #history

Charlie Chaplin – No Sale!

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

The New York Times reports that the short World War I propaganda film “Zepped,” a pastiche of Charlie Chaplin clips and some animation, failed to sell at auction by Bonhams.The film’s reserve price was about $160,000.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

#Cold Cases

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

New York Times The NYT takes a look at Manhattan Dist. Atty. Cyrus R. Vance Jr., who  is expanding the use of DNA to solve old cases. The NYT says: On Wednesday, Mr. Vance will travel to Albany in support … Continue reading →

Posted in Cold Cases, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , | Comments Off on #Cold Cases

#history

Posted on June 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

A summary of history-related posts on the Web: Chicago Tribune The Trib has an item on the Children’s Museum remaining at Navy Pier rather than moving to Grant Park as the facility is transferred to private management. Here’s the Trib’s … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Baseball, Chicago, Film, History, Hollywood, Museums, Music, Native Americans, Photography, Sports | Tagged , , | Comments Off on #history