Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Wife Seeks Divorce After Learning Mother-in-Law is Black

Posted on January 25, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 25, 1911: Divorce proceedings reveal the peculiar tale of Elda P. Kenny/Kenney and her husband, Robert. The Kenneys married in Cleveland in 1902 and moved to Los Angeles shortly thereafter, The Times says. In … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Crime and Courts | 7 Comments

Found on EBay — ‘They Call Them Camisoles’

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

A rather battered but interesting copy of “They Call Them Camisoles” has been listed on EBay. “Camisoles” was written by Wilma Carnes under the pen name Wilma Wilson and is a graphic first-person account of her time at Camarillo (“Camisoles” … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Food and Drink, health, Hollywood | Comments Off on Found on EBay — ‘They Call Them Camisoles’

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 24, 1961

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 24, 1961: All it takes is a little earthquake to get people reminiscing about the great jolts of the past, Matt Weinstock notes. DEAR ABBY: A mother in our neighborhood is giving her 15-year-old daughter a … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 24, 1961

Paul Coates, Jan. 24, 1961

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 24, 1961: Paul Coates uses the kidnapping and death of Rose Marie Riddle, 6, to explore the story of another young victim of a child molester.

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates, Suicide | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is “The Bugle Sounds.”] Aha! Mystery tanks!

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 8 Comments

Jack LaLanne, 1914 – 2011 [Updated]

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Oct. 4, 1974: Jack LaLanne celebrates his 60th birthday by swimming from Alcatraz to Fisherman's Wharf  in San Francisco — with his hands and feet tied and pulling a 1,000-pound boat. In addition to his usual training program … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, health, Obituaries, Television | 5 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 23, 1961

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 23, 1961: A requisition for a book titled "The Bride Stripped Bare" came into the county museum accounting office and Margaret Hooker, a little uneasy, checked with Dorothy Martin of the museum reference library, who had … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 23, 1961

Paul Coates, Jan. 23, 1961

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 23, 1961: If brewers are developing instant beer, can “instant writers” be far behind, Paul Coates asks.

Posted in Columnists, Food and Drink, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 23, 1941

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 23, 1941: Tom Treanor sums up his experiences in Europe with thoughts on reporting and censorship. “The assumption that great untold stories are lying around in Europe like gold nuggets on the sidewalk is … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 23, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This is the production of the 1949 film “Sand.” ] Here’s another scenic shot….

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 22, 1941

Posted on January 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 22, 1941: Times reporter Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II, files the last in his series of columns from Europe before heading to Los Angeles. “And now at last goodbye to Europe, … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 22, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo         Nov. 11, 1927: “Jesse James” at Loew’s Metropolitan theater. Look! It’s Rube Wolf!   [Update: Please congratulate Mary Mallory, who recognized this as the 1927 production of “Jesse … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 13 Comments

Hollywood’s Rename Game

Posted on January 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

        June 27, 1937: I stumbled across this article while trying to determine the title of the film in Wednesday’s mystery photo, which was in production as “Death Valley.” One of the more entertaining examples is “Murder … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Hollywood’s Rename Game

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Jan. 21, 1961

Posted on January 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 21, 1961: Paul Coates has a terrific item on a radio announcer whose life fell apart after he  lost his job because the station went to rock ‘n’ roll. Charley used to patronize a place on … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, broadcasting, Columnists, Comics, Front Pages, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Jan. 21, 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 21, 1941

Posted on January 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 21, 1941: In these confused and tortured times when democracy seems floundering in a swamp of its own failings we hear too often the defeatist cry that we must have Fascism to fight Fascism. … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 21, 1941

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Here we have another popular faked picture of Elizabeth Short. The image on the left is genuine, as far as I know. The bizarre image on the right has been flopped and retouched.  ALSO Another Good Story Ruined – The … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | Comments Off on Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 20, 1961

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 20, 1961: Matt Weinstock has an item on fiberglass coffins and mentions “You Haven’t Lived Until You’ve Died in L.A.,” a song from the hapless 1951 musical revue co-authored by Larry Gelbart that used the name … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Jan. 20, 1961

Paul Coates, Jan. 20, 1961

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

       Jan. 20, 1961: Paul Coates has one of those columns that only he can write. It’s about Dr. Tom Dooley. I won’t say too much except to encourage you to read it. You won’t be disappointed.

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, JFK, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 20, 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 20, 1941

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

           Jan. 20, 1941: Comparisons may be odious but today I'm thinking about the contrasting fortunes of two actors who were great stars way back yonder in the '20s. Both had armies of devoted fans and … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: Once again, this is more of a mystery than it seems. According to the caption information, this is a crew from Fox filming “Death Valley” with George O’Brien and Cecilia … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 4 Comments