Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

From the Vaults: ‘Anna Boleyn’ (1920)

Posted on August 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

There's not much reason to watch Ernst Lubitsch's silent historical epic "Anna Boleyn" (which Netflix informs me is also called "Deception"), unless you're, say, a movie blogger who has set herself the cussed task of watching only films from 1920, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 5 Comments

On Assignment

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Clarence Darrow addresses jurors during his trial on charges of jury tampering. have spent the last few days at the Huntington Library going through transcripts of the trial of James B. McNamara in the 1910 … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, books | Comments Off on On Assignment

Another Good Story Ruined: Gen. Otis’ Armored Car [2nd Update]

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Behold the war machine of Gen. Harrison Gray Otis! A 1910 Franklin Model H landaulet!  Virtually no one who writes about The Times and Gen. Harrison Gray Otis can resist referring to a cannon mounted on his car. Otis is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, Another Good Story Ruined, Transportation | 7 Comments

Cards Beat Dodgers on 9th-Inning Home Run by Joe Torre

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 29, 1970: Joe Torre made the difference in the Dodgers' 1-0 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. This wasn't the case of a managerial goof. This was Torre the Cardinals' power-hitting third baseman, whose ninth-inning home run against Don … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 29, 1940

Posted on August 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 29, 1940: Add strange mishaps: The hundreds of dollars of damage done to furnishings in the Beverly manse of Ann Sothern's mamma when Ann's dog fell into a bucket of paint and ran wild through the house, Jimmie Fidler … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 29, 1940

On the Frontiers of Literature

Posted on August 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 28, 1910: If you’re a fan of mystery books, you may have heard of S.S. Van Dine, who wrote "The Greene Murder Case," "The Canary Murder Case" and other Philo Vance stories. Van Dine was the pen name … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books | Comments Off on On the Frontiers of Literature

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 27, 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 71 Comments

The Bull Pen

Posted on August 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 27, 1960: The Dodgers' apparent refusal to sell their future made for an interesting if confusing story. The team apparently turned down $1.8 million for Frank Howard, Willie Davis, Ron Fairly and three other players. "They are not for … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers | Comments Off on The Bull Pen

Paul Coates, Aug. 25, 1960

Posted on August 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 25, 1960: Tons of steel fall onto Wilshire Boulevard from a building under construction … Richard Bergholz makes a rare appearance as a columnist and Paul Coates analyzes a bill from Los Angeles County for cutting down a … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Aug. 25, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 25, 1941

Posted on August 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

    Aug. 25, 1941: Fred Astaire is building a private golf course on his San Diego County ranch, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock Is on Vacation, Aug. 24, 1960

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1960: Matt Weinstock is on vacation. Dear Abby: I am 19 and work in a large store. One of my supervisors started taking me out for coffee breaks and lunches and then it got serious. I knew he … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock Is on Vacation, Aug. 24, 1960

Paul Coates, Aug. 24, 1960

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1960: The Mirror reports a shouting match between Mayor Norris Poulson and Police Chief William H. Parker over a proposed police cadet program. It sounds like a great item, but alas, so many stories and only one Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, From the Vaults, LAPD, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 24, 1941

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Tom Treanor files a report from Rome on an unusual way to get iron ore from beach sand. Aug. 24, 1941: That "rustic little cabin" Wally Beery purchased in Jackson Hole, Wyo., won't be "little long." Wally's adding six more … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 24, 1941

San Francisco Labor Leaders Visit Los Angeles

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 25, 1910: In vastly different ways, The Times and the Herald report the arrival of San Francisco labor leaders. The Times said: "The worthies registered at the Hayward, and almost immediately the big boss who pulls the strings which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing | Comments Off on San Francisco Labor Leaders Visit Los Angeles

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug., 23, 1940

Posted on August 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor, who was killed covering World War II for The Times, on housing in Rome. Aug. 23, 1940: George Raft's been startling New York natives by making nite club rounds in bedroom slippers, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | 1 Comment

On Assignment

Posted on August 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times  A Memorial Day ceremony at the monument in 1938. I visited Hollywood Forever Cemetery over the weekend to see the memorial to victims of the 1910 bombing of the Los Angeles Times. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, art and artists, Cemeteries | Comments Off on On Assignment

From the Vaults: ‘Friday the 13th’ (1980)

Posted on August 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

*claps hands to face, shakes feathered hair, screams* I'm sorry! I meant to do this last week. Larry pitched this idea when he first started running posts from 1980, and I thought "ooh, there's a Friday the 13th in August" … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Theda Bara’s ‘Salome’

Posted on August 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

This still from Theda Bara’s lost film “Salome” has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Theda Bara’s ‘Salome’

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Los Angeles Times file photo Los Angeles Times file photo Here’s our mystery guest with a mystery companion! Here’s our weekend mystery guest. I like to keep things more informal on the weekends so I’ll post all the comments … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 6 Comments

‘Once in a Lifetime’ Chance to Coach the Lakers

Posted on August 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 21, 1960: The Lakers of Los Angeles were coming together. West Virginia University Coach Fred Schaus was hired as the team's new coach. "It was an opportunity that comes once in a lifetime," he told UPI. The team already … Continue reading →

Posted in Lakers | Comments Off on ‘Once in a Lifetime’ Chance to Coach the Lakers