Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 6, 1941

Posted on October 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Oct. 6, 1941:   Lupe Velez appeared at Columbia studio the other ayem with black hair, switched to red locks for a p.m. cocktail party and did a nite spot, three hours later, with blond curls.

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Oct. 6, 1941

Kennedy and Nixon Meet in Televised Debate

Posted on October 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Sept. 27, 1960: While we at the Daily Mirror HQ were busy with The Times bombing, look who had a presidential debate: Sen. John F. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Vice President Richard Nixon. If you’re of the right vintage, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960 Democratic Convention, 1960 Republican Convention, broadcasting, JFK, Richard Nixon, Television | 1 Comment

Violent Brawl Averted in Darrow Trial

Posted on October 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 25, 1912: And here we have the battle of the inkwell in the trial of Clarence Darrow. Dist. Atty. John D. Fredericks loses his temper and tries to throw a four- or five-pound inkwell at defense attorney Horace Appel … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing | Comments Off on Violent Brawl Averted in Darrow Trial

Pages of History

Posted on October 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Clarence Darrow addresses the jury in one of his two trials on charges of trying to bribe jurors in the McNamara brothers’ case. For the last week, I have been reading the transcripts of People … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Pages of History | 1 Comment

From the Vaults: ‘The Black Cat’ (1934)

Posted on October 4, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Lucy Van Pelt: How about cats? If you’re afraid of cats, you have ailurophasia. Charlie Brown: Well, sort of, but I’m not sure. Actually, the word is “ailurophobia,” and Bela Lugosi’s character suffers it intensely in “The Black Cat” — … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Here’s our weekend mystery guest with a mystery firearm. I like to keep things more informal on the weekends and feature mystery guests who only have a few photos  in the archives – not enough … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 7 Comments

Coming Attractions – Charles Bukowski

Posted on October 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph of Charles Bukowski courtesy of the Huntington Library An exhibit titled “Charles Bukowski: Poet on the Edge,” featuring material from Bukowski’s archives, will be on display at the Huntington Library,  Art Collections and Botanical Gardens from Oct. 9 to … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books | Comments Off on Coming Attractions – Charles Bukowski

The Joys of Research

Posted on October 2, 2010 by lmharnisch

The denominations and serial numbers of bills used as evidence in the Clarence Darrow jury tampering case: $1,000, A 6335; $500, C 60895; $500, C 72583; $500, C 62865; $500, C 20406; $500, C 23172; $500, C 61827. Check your … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing | Comments Off on The Joys of Research

‘A Terrible Roar’—Updated

Posted on October 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

Courtesy of University of Southern California, on behalf of the USC Special Collections. Oct. 1, 1910:  The Times Building in flames, as seen from Broadway just south of First Street. Notice The Times Eagle outlined by the fire. El Alisal, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Obituaries | 5 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on October 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only five pictures; sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 34 Comments

Found on EBay – American National Bank Building

Posted on September 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

The American National Bank Building, left, at Second Street and Broadway is among the buildings featured in a souvenir booklet listed on EBay. Other downtown buildings shown in the booklet include the Farmers & Merchants National Bank Building, the Grosse … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Photography | 1 Comment

Voices – Tony Curtis

Posted on September 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 3, 1977: Tony Curtis tells the late Roderick Mann, “I've put nearly 30 years into acting, and it would be nice to have got back a little respect from the profession. Bit I never got it, never.”

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on Voices – Tony Curtis

Clarence Darrow at the Higgins Building

Posted on September 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Landmark alert! Clarence Darrow had an office on the ninth floor of the Higgins Building, in the southwest corner, on the west side of the hall.  –People vs. Clarence Darrow, Page 721.

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Architecture | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Norman Chandler

Posted on September 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

This portrait of Times Publisher Norman Chandler is part of an album of photographs that has been listed on EBay. Other subjects include Francis Cardinal McIntyre, Will Rogers and Mayor Norris Poulson. Bidding starts at $9.99.

Posted in City Hall, Photography, Religion | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Norman Chandler

Google and History

Posted on September 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Clarence Darrow, the lead defense attorney for the McNamara brothers in The Times bombing,  vs. Gloria Allred in Google searches for the last 12 months.

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing | Comments Off on Google and History

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo “I never saw a Chicago policeman that would not take some money.” — James B. McNamara, shown at Folsom Prison with Tom Mooney in 1939.   

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Photography | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

From the Vaults: ‘Spider Baby’ (1968)

Posted on September 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Happy autumnal equinox, my scrappy yet plucky band of readers! The unmistakable slant of fall light is upon us now, even in the 90-degree afternoons, and with it comes my very favorite season for movie watching. Which means I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on September 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo  Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the answer on Friday … or on Saturday if I have a hard time picking only five pictures; sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 23 Comments

Grace Bradley – Photo Album

Posted on September 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Los Angeles Times file photo When you read our obit on Grace Bradley Boyd, you might have remembered that she was a mystery guest in July 2009. Here are some more pictures of her. The … Continue reading →

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

Buddy Collette — ‘Shotgun Freeway’

Posted on September 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

Amid the tributes to Buddy Collette, Daily Mirror readers should remember that he appears in “Shotgun Freeway,” one of the great documentaries about Los Angeles. The trailer is here.

Posted in #Jazz, Film, Obituaries | 1 Comment