Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Paul Coates, Jan. 2 1961

Posted on January 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Jan. 2, 1961: Paul Coates (yes, he’s a native New Yorker) compiles a list of civic sins – Bloody Christmas and the county grand jury, included – but declares for the new year that he actually … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Jan. 2 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 2, 1941

Posted on January 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Rose Parade: Coca-Cola’s float wins the grand prize in the 1941 Rose Parade in Pasadena.
Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on January 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: Here’s the original caption pasted on the back of the photo:     [This was evidently from a Sunday rotogravure section that wasn’t microfilmed, so I can’t refer to the … Continue reading →

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 1, 1941

Posted on January 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Jan. 1, 1941: Reports are some drastic cutting must be done, else Hattie McDaniel will steal "The Great Lie" from Bette Davis, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 1, 1941

Amazing Predictions for Aviation!

Posted on January 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Jan. 1, 1911: The Times asks pilots who are in Los Angeles for the Aviation Meet about the future of flying. The Times said: "We will see in the next few years, if the … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Transportation | Comments Off on Amazing Predictions for Aviation!

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 31, 1960

Posted on December 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 31, 1960: It's unwise to quarrel with the economists because they speak with such assurance they seem to know what they're talking about. But they keep insisting on the necessity of increasing something they call the Gross … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 31, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 31, 1940

Posted on December 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Dec. 31, 1940: C. Chaplin's discovery, Dorothy Comingore, uses that name in Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane," but goes under contract to RKO as Linda Winters. After she welcomes the stork, she gets a star buildup, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 31, 1940

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on December 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: ROYAL DENIALS …. Prince Mikhail Ouratieff and his wife, Grand Duchess Tatiana Petrovna, don the garb of butler and maid and prepare to wait on the banker and his wife … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 10 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on December 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: STRAIGHT FROM THE GOVERNOR — Making motion picture history, Governor James V. Allred of Texas started cameras turning on the first scene of Paramount's "The Texas Rangers" via long-distance telephone … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 28 Comments

Major Crimes Increase in L.A., 1960

Posted on December 31, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Dec. 31, 1960: Most crime, except for drunk driving, increased in 1960, according to Police Chief William H. Parker. The 4.2% decrease in DUI was probably due to longer jail sentences, Parker said. "In other … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Comments Off on Major Crimes Increase in L.A., 1960

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

This unusual Oviatt item has already been sold but it’s worth noting because it’s quite unusual. Marc Chevalier says: The elusive "Alexander & Oviatt" Swiss clock. I've seen three others identical to it: all were once owned by James Oviatt's … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Fashion | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 30, 1960

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 30, 1960: “The Quietest Room in Town” is the sort of piece, like “Please God, I’m Only 17,” that used to appear regularly in newspapers to encourage safe driving. Matt Weinstock says: Former newsman Darr … Continue reading →

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Paul Coates, Dec. 30, 1960

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 30, 1960: Academy Award winners Gale Sondergaard, Albert Maltz and Nedrick Young are among 12 Hollywood figures suing the studios over being blacklisted. The suit was brought by A.L. Wirin under the Sherman Antitrust Act. And Paul … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Crime and Courts, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 30, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 30, 1940

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

                     Rose Queen Sally Stanton, Gov. Culbert Olson and Highway Patrol Chief E. Raymond Cato at the ribbon cutting of the Arroyo Seco Parkway (Pasadena Freeway), Dec. 30, 1940.     … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Freeways, Hollywood, Transportation | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 30, 1940

Grim Sleeper Photos – Another Look

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

    I thought it would be interesting to visit the LAPD’s website to see how many images had been removed from the Grim Sleeper photos, presumably because the women were identified. I discovered that Nos. 164, 165,  169 and … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, LAPD | Comments Off on Grim Sleeper Photos – Another Look

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   [Update: This photo is identified on the back as a Universal western from 1915, with Arthur Allardt, Otto Meyers, “Ross” and Joseph Franz and apparently ran in a Midwinter Edition that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 3 Comments

Mrs. Eddy Will Rise Again, as Christ Did, Follower Says

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 30, 1910: The death of Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy on Dec. 3, 1910, left followers predicting her return. Christian Science leader Augusta E. Stetson said that "she believed the millennium is at hand, … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Obituaries, Religion | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 29, 1960

Posted on December 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 29, 1960: The Information Please Almanac for 1961 lists Los Angeles fourth in population in the nation behind New York, Chicago and Brooklyn. Yes, Brooklyn. Maybe reprisal for swiping the Dodgers, Matt Weinstock says.  CONFIDENTIAL TO DOTTY … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Dodgers, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 29, 1960

Paul Coates, Dec. 29, 1960

Posted on December 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 29, 1960: Paul Coates has the goods on a couple of fast-buck artists who weren’t quite fast enough.  The crooked shoeshine man and the gents who let sailors take out payday loans on wallets have vanished, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Crime and Courts, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 29, 1941

Posted on December 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 29, 1941: Funny that Carole Landis should just now be dating Cary Grant; he was her "silent crush" for years, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs | 1 Comment