Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Paul Coates, Feb. 2, 1961

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Feb. 2, 1961: Los Angeles County Supervisor Ernest Debs (d. 2002) calls for lower fares on buses and streetcars (yes, Los Angeles still had them in 1961) for senior citizens between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Columnists, Front Pages, Obituaries, Paul Coates, Transportation | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Feb. 2, 1961

Town Called Hollywood, Feb. 2, 1941

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Feb. 2, 1941: Tom Treanor interviews an observer for the U.S. government: "The Germans will risk practically nothing," he says. “Their whole military strategy is based on not taking risks. They never sacrifice their men … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Town Called Hollywood, Feb. 2, 1941

Doyce Nunis Jr., 1924 — 2011

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Doyce Nunis Jr.USC historian, Southern California Quarterly editor Doyce Nunis Jr., 86, an educator, author and historian who edited the Historical Society of Southern California's respected journal Southern California Quarterly for 43 years, died Jan. 22 at Los Angeles County-USC … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Obituaries | Comments Off on Doyce Nunis Jr., 1924 — 2011

Movieland Mystery Photo — From Our Readers [Updated]

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Photos courtesy of Matthew Harris   [Update: Please congratulate Steve Stoliar for identifying this mystery group as the T-Bones! Nice research, Steve!]     [Update: Here’s a frame grab from YouTube.] Here’s a series of mystery photos … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Rock 'n' Roll, Television | 18 Comments

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Imagine how pleased I was to discover that by complete coincidence (and I do mean complete coincidence) Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne is planning a yearlong project called Reading L.A. that will begin with the same book I … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Pages of History | Comments Off on Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 1, 1961

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Feb. 1, 1961: Matt Weinstock has an item on the great controversy over what verb to use in this sentence: "For within this tremendous area IS/ARE produced two-thirds the oats, more than half the corn, more than … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Feb. 1, 1961

Paul Coates, Feb. 1, 1961

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

         Feb. 1, 1961: Paul Coates’ complaints about not being invited to President Kennedy’s inauguration finally gets some attention! Also: Computerized translation still needs a bit of tinkering.

Posted in 1961, Columnists, Front Pages, JFK, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Feb. 1, 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 1, 1941

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Feb. 1. 1941: Tom Treanor writes about the collision of his impressions of English resolve against the Nazis with that of reporters who had been based in London. Treanor says Edward Beattie of United Press … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1941, art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 1, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: As nearly everyone realized, this is the filming of “A Small Circle of Friends” in 1979.] We have moved from the era of the 4×5 camera to 35 millimeter, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 20 Comments

Recalling a Friend and a Great Librarian

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

        his is Elizabeth C. Franklin or Miss Franklin to those of us who worked for her. It wasn't until she loaned me her precious Film Index of 1941 with her name written inside that I learned … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 31, 1961

Posted on January 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 31, 1961: Matt Weinstock has an item about author Leonard Wibberley’s experiences in Portugal – recounted in the book “No Garlic in the Soup.” DEAR ABBY: Help me make a decision that involves a child's future. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, Adoptions, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 31, 1961

Paul Coates, Jan. 31, 1961

Posted on January 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 31, 1961: After hearing reports that the Lady in Black had vanished, and then rumors that she had returned, Paul Coates interviews Ditra Flame.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Obituaries, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 31, 1961

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: As everyone realized, this is “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” in an image published Sept. 3, 1939, with Edwin Schallert’s story about the current trend in Hollywood of "just what … Continue reading →

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

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 30, 1961

Posted on January 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 30, 1961: Can anybody do abstract art? Matt Weinstock has an item on a man who thinks so – but there’s a twist to the story. And Abby has a follow-up on the controversy over square … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates, Jan. 30, 1961

Posted on January 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

         Jan. 30, 1961: Paul Coates has a feature on Ditra Flame, who mourns at Valentino’s tomb as the Lady in Black. ALSO The Ladies in Black on the Daily Mirror

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Obituaries, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 30, 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 30, 1941

Posted on January 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 30, 1941: Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times, writes about an unforgettable image from his tour of Europe: At the police station in Bucharest, Romania, an Iron Guardist … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 30, 1941

Voices — Mohamed ElBaradei

Posted on January 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Photo: Mohamed ElBaradei via Al Jazeera Calm Is Urged in Iran Debate * Mohamed ElBaradei, the U.N. nuclear agency chief, sees no imminent danger from Tehran and asks those discussing the issue to `lower the pitch.' March 31, … Continue reading →

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‘Fantasia’ Acclaimed as Film Masterpiece

Posted on January 30, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 30, 1941: The Times publishes three items on the Los Angeles premiere of “Fantasia”: A review of the film by Edwin Schallert, a music review by Isabel Morse Jones and a color story on … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, classical music, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on ‘Fantasia’ Acclaimed as Film Masterpiece

Voices: Milton Babbitt, 1916 — 2011

Posted on January 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

        March 7, 1986: As he nears the age of 70, composer Milton Babbitt tells Times arts writer Marc Shulgold, "Even so-called popular composers don't really care what an audience likes. In the end, you write for … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Obituaries | Comments Off on Voices: Milton Babbitt, 1916 — 2011

Hidden Artistry — Fooling the Camera

Posted on January 29, 2011 by lmharnisch

      “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”         “Tennessee Johnson”   Arye Michael Bender's comments on the "carved panels" in "Mr. Smith" reminded me of the painted statues in "Tennessee Johnson." Here's a better look.

Posted in art and artists, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 3 Comments