Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Lakers Draw Small Crowd for Celtics Game

Posted on December 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 5, 1960: The Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics, 113-103 at the Sports Arena but the statistic that jumped out was the attendance. The Times' headline noted the presence of 9,224 fans at the Sports Arena, an … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Lakers, Sports | Comments Off on Lakers Draw Small Crowd for Celtics Game

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on December 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo         Los Angeles Times file photo   Update: Yes, this is Thelma Todd, above, in “Follow Through.” I’m a bit pressed for time this morning so I’ll be back … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 33 Comments

April 11, 1954, Not So Boring!

Posted on December 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

    A programmer unleashes a computer on the history of the 20th century …       The ads have been infiltrated by Bob Dobbs! Yikes!   …. and discovers that April 11, 1954 ….       Good … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Religion, Sports | 4 Comments

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1960

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 3, 1960: Matt Weinstock says: "People are warming up to our town's pro basketball team, the Lakers. But something will have to be done about that name, which derives from their former home state, Minnesota, with … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates, UFOs | Comments Off on Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Dec. 3, 1960

Santa Monica Man Admits Strangling Waitress

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 3, 1960: Gerald "Frenchy" Fernandez admits strangling Susan Kilgore, whose body was found outside the Wind and Sea Tavern, 101 Broadway, Santa Monica. Her clothing was "disarranged" and Fernandez says he killed her when she "resisted … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Comments Off on Santa Monica Man Admits Strangling Waitress

On the Trail of the Keystone Kops

Posted on December 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

            Oct. 25, 1915: Charlie Chaplin, Fatty Arbuckle … and Mayor Sebastian? The ad for the costume ball is the earliest reference to the “Keystone Kops” that I can find in The Times. However, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Stage | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 2, 1960

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 2, 1960: For a second time, Matt Weinstock debunks the notion that the tear-off strips on cellophane cigarette packs should be saved as a way to raise money.  Urban myths are hard to kill, he discovers. Also … Continue reading →

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

Paul Coates, Dec. 2, 1960

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Dec. 2, 1960: Paul Coates and his wife visit the tomb of Lenin (and, at that point, Stalin) … and John Grover takes a humorous look at President-elect Kennedy’s plan to televise news conferences. 

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, JFK, Paul Coates, Television | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Dec. 2, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 2, 1940

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

           RKO's new importation, Signe Hasso, almost severed a finger peeling a potato; it's sewed in place and doctors say she won't lose it, Jimmie Fidler says.  ALSO Signe Hasso on the Daily Mirror

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 2, 1940

Bruno Walter’s Last Concert

Posted on December 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 2, 1960: Van Cliburn, the Cold War sensation who won the 1958 Tchaikovsky piano competition, performs the Brahms second piano concerto with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Bruno Walter at Shrine Auditorium.   [Yes, I cringe … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Music, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, Dec. 1, 1960

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 1, 1960: Matt Weinstock complains because Charlie Chaplin has no star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and has an update on the fire hydrant in the gutter at 2nd and Hill streets.  DEAR ABBY: Have … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Christina Makes Peace With Joan Crawford, Dec. 1, 1960

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

             Dec. 1, 1960: Eastside Beer is $1.09 a six-pack or $7.81 USD 2009. On the jump, Joan Crawford’s daughter Christina tells Lee Belser: "At long last Mummy and I seem to be feeling a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 1, 1941

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 1, 1941: Tom Treanor visits the cavalry troops at Camp Seeley and mentions the remarkable lack of interest in the war. All the men talk about is their horses and maybe the M-1 Garand. Pat … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 1, 1941

Movieland Mystery Photo – Update 2

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Here’s another mystery photo I found in Mack Sennett’s file.  Update: Alas, these young women aren’t identified on the back of the photo. It was supposedly published in The Times on … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 11 Comments

Labor Secretary Calls for Immigration Crackdown

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Dec. 1, 1930: Editorial cartooning from the pen of a younger Bruce Russell, in the days when newspapers ran them on the front page. And no, Russell’s concepts didn’t get any clearer over the years. Compare … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, broadcasting, Immigration, Sports | Comments Off on Labor Secretary Calls for Immigration Crackdown

What to See in L.A., 1924

Posted on December 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

      I don’t post much on the 1920s (so many stories, only one Larry Harnisch) but I stumbled across this feature page when looking for something else and found several interesting pieces. The first is a long interview … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Downtown, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on What to See in L.A., 1924

Matt Weinstock, Nov. 30, 1960

Posted on November 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

       Dec. 2, 1960: A publicity man never gives up, Matt Weinstock says, citing his experience with a tale about the Arizona Bar – in San Diego. DEAR ABBY: We are the parents of four wonderful adopted children. … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Nov. 30, 1960

Paul Coates on Adolf Eichmann, Nov. 30, 1960

Posted on November 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

         Nov. 3,  1960: Israel's Atty. Gen. Gideon Hausner tells Paul Coates: "Revenge is not the motive of this trial. What we want to do is, once and for all, set before the world the fully documented … Continue reading →

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 30. 1940

Posted on November 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

           Nov.  30, 1940: I watched Olivia de Havilland select a swank pair of earrings which, she confided, were destined for sister Joan Fontaine's Christmas tree. The purchase completed, the clerk asked: "Anything else, Miss de … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Nov. 30. 1940

Movieland Mystery Photo – Update 2

Posted on November 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Los Angeles Times file photo   Mack Sennett was this week’s mystery guest. I found this picture in his file and thought it would make a nice mystery photo. Update: Harry “Kid” McCoy, center, is the only … Continue reading →

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