Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 8, 1960

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 8, 1960: Matt Weinstock takes a look at the spiraling costs of public transportation – first, raises for union workers who go out on strike, then fare increases to pay for the raises. He has his … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Transportation | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 8, 1960

Paul Coates, Dec. 8, 1960

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 8, 1960, Richard Duket writes a 22-page letter to Paul Coates describing his descent into a life of crime…. And Marilyn Monroe says one reason she divorced Joe DiMaggio is because he watched TV instead of … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 8, 1941

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Dec. 8, 1941: Boris Karloff dislikes horror and mystery books, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 8, 1941

Beatle John Lennon Slain; Shot Down Outside New York Apartment

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 9, 1980: Former Beatle John Lennon, 40, who led a revolution in popular music that captured the imagination of an entire generation, was shot to death Monday outside his exclusive Manhattan apartment house.He was rushed to Roosevelt Hospital, less … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll | 3 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: Roland West, Alice Todd, center, and May Whitehead enter the church at Forest Lawn for Thelma Todd's funeral.     Dec. 19, 1935: A "swarthy man" always seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 7, 1960

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 7, 1960: The employees of Baker Oil Tools decide that instead of sending one another Christmas cards, they would pool the money and give it to a charity. Last year, they selected Rancho Los Amigos, a facility … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 7, 1960

Paul Coates, Dec. 7, 1960

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 7, 1960: Paul Coates files another piece on his recent trip to the Soviet Union, this time about his Intourist guide. “Like most educated Russians I met, she was either very well-informed or grossly misinformed on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 7, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 7, 1940

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

            Dec. 7, 1940: Yes, the bell on traffic semaphores in the old Warner Bros. cartoons wasn’t a joke. Today, we just honk since drivers are usually checking their BlackBerrys when the light turns green. … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Transportation | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated II

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Photograph by the Los Angeles Times   Update: And here’s a mystery photo!  Update II: This is Zasu Pitts and John E. Woodall. Please congratulate Mary Mallory, Karen and Dennis Gilliam for identifying our mystery couple and … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 9 Comments

Autry Gets Angels!

Posted on December 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 7, 1960: The Angels were official. Gene Autry's team would play in Wrigley Field instead of the Coliseum or Rose Bowl, apparently seeing the old minor league ballpark as a better financial deal even though … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Downtown, Sports | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Marya Marco

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

A movie still showing Marya Marco has been listed on EBay. Who is Marya Marco, you ask? She’s one of the women misidentified as Elizabeth Short in Steve Hodel’s “Black Dahlia Avenger.” Bidding starts at $9.99. ALSO “Black Dahlia Avenger” … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 6, 1960

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1960: A sign at a dry cleaners in Arcadia says: “Stop! Blood is hard to remove,” Matt Weinstock says. DEAR ABBY: My little brother learned a Thanksgiving prayer at school and he said it at … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 6, 1960

Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1960: Paul Coates writes about a Soviet woman he calls Tanya and describes the hardships of her daily life. It’s marriage for Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe in Maurice Zolotow’s “The Real Marilyn Monroe.”

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 6, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 6, 1940

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Dec. 6, 1940: Latest candidate for the plum lead in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is Ingrid Bergman, who'll get it if boss David O. Selznick says yes, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 4 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

         Los Angeles Times file photo    Dec. 17, 1935: The finding by autopsy surgeons last night of evidence that monoxide gas poisoning caused the death of Thelma Todd, blonde motion picture actress whose body was found … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography, Thelma Todd | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo — Updated

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo       Update: Our mystery guest in this photo, published in The Times on Oct. 30, 1927, is former mystery guest Josephine Dunn. Please congratulate Mary Mallory for identifying her! I … Continue reading →

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

‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 6, 1930:  Fascists in Berlin protest a showing of the German version of “All Quiet on the Western Front.” “Fascists, who were planted in the audience, shouted, ‘Out Jews!’ hurled stench bombs and set white mice … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ Protested in Berlin

From the Vaults: ‘Pillow Talk’ (1959)

Posted on December 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

"I love you." "I know." You know what movie that's from, right? WRONG! Years before Han Solo (and hey, RIP Irvin Kershner), his possibly-most-famous line gets drawled by Rock Hudson, playing a womanizing songwriter in "Pillow Talk." Hudson tosses it … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 9 Comments

L.A. County Cuts Welfare Costs, Pays Immigrants to Go Back to Mexico — Updated

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

December 3, 1941: I have been reading old newspapers for years and very little about Los Angeles history surprises me anymore, but this one amazed me. To reduce the welfare rolls, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approves paying … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Immigration | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 5, 1960

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 5, 1960: Two L.A. gendarmes and a highway patrolman have "retired" after being caught by a vice squad officer in the company of a bad gal, Matt Weinstock says. DEAR ABBY: I just found out that … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Dec. 5, 1960