Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Paul Coates, Dec. 19, 1960

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 19, 1960: Paul Coates has the story of William Gossett, who was scraping along on skid row one week and a street corner Santa Claus the next.

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 19, 1940

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 19, 1940: Hedy Lamarr never uses red nail polish, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 19, 1940

Grim Sleeper, Interiors

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Many of the photos show a woman in the passenger seat of a vehicle. The coiled cord visible through the window in Photo No. 156 made me wonder if this was taken at some sort of drive-in. I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | Comments Off on Grim Sleeper, Interiors

Grim Sleeper No. 91

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

        When I first looked at this photo, I thought the item in the background might be a calendar. In fact it’s a page of display ads for a sporting goods store that has been placed over … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 1 Comment

Season’s Greetings and Happy Holidays

Posted on December 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

                One of the more annoying political pinatas of our era, in which every facet of life is subjected to a “red litmus test” of partisan correctness, is notion that “Season’s Greetings” and … Continue reading →

Posted in Religion | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 18, 1940

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Marlene Dietrich is trying to get Josef von Sternberg (who can use the job) as her next director, in gratitude for his discovery of her years ago.
Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 18, 1940

Grim Sleeper No. 139

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Grim Sleeper No. 139 has a bit of interesting signage that says “The Mail Slot” and gives a phone number that appears to be 419-0395. I’m not able to locate this number or business, so I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper Nos. 75-78

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Grim Sleeper No. 76         Grim Sleeper No. 78   These ladies, plus Nos. 75 and 77, have a labret, or piercing, in their lower lip.   No. 76 also has a tattoo on her … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Reagan May Call Economic Emergency

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

Ronald Reagan’s political education: The new Assembly speaker, Van Nuys Democrat Bob Moretti, went to Reagan and said, “Look, you don’t like me and I don’t like you but if we want to get anything done here we’ve got to work together.”
Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Front Pages, Ronald Reagan, Television | 2 Comments

Grim Sleeper Nos. 75 and 77

Posted on December 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

        This is a different sort of puzzle. Grim Sleeper No. 75, top, and No. 77, have a tattoo that reads “Kendreay, RIP or HIP” and they both have a piercing (called a labret) in their bottom … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Grim Sleeper Nos. 96-97, Maxine — Updated

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Nos. 96, left, and 97, right, seem to be the same woman. And in No. 97, she’s wearing a name tag that says “Maxine.” The shape of her name tag is quite distinctive. Does anyone recognize it? [Update: This … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts | 7 Comments

Grim Sleeper Nos. 59 and 81

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  It seems that Grim Sleeper Nos. 59, left, and 81, right, show the same woman and may have been taken at the same time.  No. 81 is dated May 8, 2006, which may or may not be accurate.   … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 17, 1960

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

CONFIDENTIAL TO BERTHA, SALLY AND ROSALIE: If you want male companionship in Miami this winter, better bring your own.
Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 17, 1960

Plane Crash Survivor Dies, Dec. 17, 1960

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Marilyn Monroe: “The breakup that was to make Arthur Miller another ex-Mr. Marilyn Monroe, like Jim Dougherty and Joe DiMaggio, had been presaged by the declining status of the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright in the Monroe menage as well as in the world of the stage. And also by rumors and jokes that emanated from Hollywood,” Maurice Zolotow says.
Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Grim Sleeper Nos. 141-142

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Grim Sleeper No. 141 appears to be a Polaroid marked Deborah B. Cleveland, Sept. 18, 2001, although there seems to have been some hesitation about the “18,” as if the writer started with 28 and changed his mind. … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, LAPD, Photography | 3 Comments

Grim Sleeper No. 149

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Grim Sleeper photo No. 149 has quite a bit of detail. The picture apparently shows Frenchie’s Patio Soul Food, which was located 8101 S. Western Ave. (323) 753-2614. The only mention in The Times is a 1998 … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 3 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 17, 1940

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

               Dec. 17. 1940: Watching Mae West stroll down the avenue, I always catch myself musing on the sway of all flesh, Jimmie Fidler says.

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

Grim Sleeper No. 166

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Grim Sleeper No. 166 is wearing an ID badge reading “Ms. D. Johnson, N.A.” If I had to guess, I would say this was taken professionally and is some sort of graduation picture, and I would … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Courts, Grim Sleeper, Homicide, Photography | 2 Comments

Movieland Christmas Mystery Photo

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Bill Murphy/Los Angeles Times Here’s a mystery fellow with a mystery pet!

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

Never Seen Again — Update

Posted on December 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

        I recently heard from relatives of Dr. George Ripley Fuller, who was the subject of a Paul Coates column in July 2007 and a follow-up post a few days later. Fuller’s story was one of several … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Never Seen Again — Update