Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Reinvention [Updated]

Posted on June 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Updated June 21, 2011: Photographer Eddie Caraeff says: [Larry certainly was crazy! [I think Frank was just making a PG rated gesture w/ his hand,  however that was many, many years ago. [Not sure you know that my Grandmother is … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Obituaries, Photography | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

For Sale: Billy the Kid [Updated +]

Posted on June 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

[Update: The tintype sold for $2.3 million. The Denver Post identifies the buyer as retired industrialist William Koch. Quoting the Post: “I love the Old West,” said William Koch , 71, who now lives in Palm Beach, Fla. “I plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 3 Comments

Our New Logo

Posted on June 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Thanks for our friend Ed Fuentes of View From a Loft, the Daily Mirror has a new logo. A big thank-you to Ed! Check out his website! 

Posted in Art & Artists | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a mystery photo from EBay! A vendor has listed a photograph from the Witzel studio. The back is marked the Vanity Fair Girls but it is otherwise unidentified. Sounds like an excellent mystery photo! Bidding on the photograph starts … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Witzel | 12 Comments

From the Reference Desk: Movie Star’s Mother Dies in Car Crash

Posted on June 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here’s a lesson in what to do if you don’t have access to ProQuest. Stacia of She Blogged by Night had a question the other day about car a accident involving Vera Steadman, Al Christie and Marie Prevost’s Mother, Mrs. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, From the Reference Desk, Hollywood, Libraries, Obituaries, Transportation | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – C.C. Pierce

Posted on June 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

I’m always on the lookout for photographs by Charles Chester Pierce, whose C.C. Pierce and Co. was one of the most active studios in Los Angeles. The images are always sharp and finely detailed. Most of them show Los Angeles, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1906, Found on EBay, Photography | 2 Comments

Los Angeles Tattoo Shops, 1943

Posted on June 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

This is one of my favorite discoveries from the city archives, a description of tattoo shops in Los Angeles by an anonymous citizen. Los Angeles City Council File 15670 September 2, 1943 Dear Sir, I recently made an investigation of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Art & Artists, City Hall, Crime and Courts, Downtown, Libraries, Photography, World War II | 5 Comments

Coming Attractions — Genealogy Research at the L.A. Public Library

Posted on June 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles Public Library will present a program on getting started in genealogical research. The free presentation will be from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, 2011. Folks should gather at the reference desk in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Coming Attractions, Libraries | Comments Off on Coming Attractions — Genealogy Research at the L.A. Public Library

LAPD End of Watch, June 16, 1935

Posted on June 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

The daily NewsWatch of the Los Angeles Police Protective League honors the anniversaries of LAPD officers killed in the line of duty. For June 16,the union honors Alfred C. “Scotty” Madon, a motorcycle officer who was fatally injured on June … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , | Comments Off on LAPD End of Watch, June 16, 1935

The Daily Mirror Is Moving

Posted on June 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

I’m moving to LADailyMirror.com Henry Fuhrmann, one of the assistant managing editors at The Times, likes to say: “Always take the high road. The view is nicer up there.” Henry is my friend, as well as my supervisor, and he … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, UFOs, World War II | 23 Comments

The Mystery of the Transparent Car

Posted on June 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

For sale: A transparent Pontiac! The sale car is on display in St. Petersburg, Fla., Feb. 19, 1940. The sale car on display in Spokane, Wash., in 1941. But wait! A different transparent Pontiac is on display in Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, 1940, 1941, Art & Artists, Transportation | 8 Comments

Found on EBay – I. Magnin

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

This postcard showing the millinery salon at the I. Magnin store in Los Angeles has been listed on EBay. The vendor dates it at 1915 but the store actually opened at Wilshire Boulevard and New Hampshire on Feb. 10, 1939. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Fashion, Found on EBay, Interior Design | 3 Comments

Heresy on L.A. Streetcars!

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

My hair (or what’s left of it) stood on end when I read this portion of Tim Rutten’s column on Wednesday about Rick Caruso’s mayoral campaign: Mythology has it that the old Red Cars were killed by a conspiracy, but … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, Downtown, Politics, Transportation | 7 Comments

Craftsman Decor

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

I suppose it seems as though I spend lots of time on EBay – the answer is yes and no. This postcard, showing the interior of 118 W. Avenue 44, Los Angeles,  (dated 1910) has been listed on EBay. It … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910, Architecture, Found on EBay, Interior Design | Comments Off on Craftsman Decor

LAPD End of Watch, June 15, 1920

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Dec. 23, 1915: LAPD motorcycle officers take delivery of 37 new Indian motorcycles, capable of 75 mph. The daily NewsWatch of the Los Angeles Police Protective League always honors the anniversaries of LAPD officers killed in the line of duty. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1911, 1915, 1920, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Obituaries, San Fernando Valley, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments Off on LAPD End of Watch, June 15, 1920

Coming Attractions: ‘They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?’

Posted on June 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Sydney Pollack’s 1969 film “The Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” will be shown as a tribute to Michael Sarrazin on June 22 at 7:30 p.m. at the Aero Theatre, 1328 Montana Ave., Santa Monica. Also showing, “Harry in Your Pocket” (1973). … Continue reading →

Posted in 1969, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Mack Ray Edwards’ Legacy of Grief

Posted on June 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Note: The Times is reporting that Mack Ray Edwards is a suspect in the 1961 disappearance of 7-year-old Ramona Price outside Santa Barbara. Here’s a 1959 column that Paul Coates wrote about one of Edwards’ victims. Today marks an anniversary that … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, 1959, Columnists, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Marge Riley

Posted on June 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

I guess you could yodel like Patsy Montana in this outfit. It’s a Marge Riley shirt, which has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $35.

Posted in Fashion, Found on EBay | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Marge Riley

Queen of the Dead by Eve Golden

Posted on June 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

You’ll recognize Eve Golden as one of the Daily Mirror regulars. Now that I’m no longer at latimes.com I’m free to use outside writers and Eve is my first addition. She describes herself as: a biographer, show-business historian, photo archivist … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Music, Obituaries, Photography, Queen of the Dead, Religion, Stage | 9 Comments

Sex Mysteries Demonstrated With Living Artist Models

Posted on June 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

  July 24, 1932: Cartoonist Edmund Waller “Ted” Gale puts Miss Los Angeles in the midst of a dazzling array of national stereotypes for the 1932 Olympics (note that Mexico is in a sombrero … and is Japan wearing a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1932, Art & Artists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Stage, Theaters | 1 Comment