Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 14, 1940

Posted on August 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

In wartime Rome, Tom Treanor interviews a young woman about her career and her expectations for marriage and a family.  Aug. 14, 1940: Ha! Negro theaters down South advertise Rochester in letters a foot high, while Jack Benny gets three-inch … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 14, 1940

Little Nemo

Posted on August 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 14, 1910: Although the content has changed dramatically, the selection of Sunday newspaper features hasn’t changed much in a century: There was an emphasis on the performing and visual arts, books, and things for children, like the comics pages. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, art and artists | Comments Off on Little Nemo

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 13, 1940

Posted on August 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Tom Treanor writes about wartime Italy’s attempts to increase the birthrate, visits a home for unwed mothers and a day-care center.  Aug. 13, 1940: According to Martin Dies, Hollywood backstabbers have swapped their old-fashioned knives for hammers and sickles, Jimmie … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 13, 1940

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Aug. 13, 1960

Posted on August 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 13, 1960: Paul Coates gets a letter from Parkey Sharkey, who is looking for money to publish his book.  Architect Henry Drefuss has designed a $1,000 newsstand to go with his new California Bank Building at 6th and Spring, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, Aug. 13, 1960

Did Sportswriters Know the Score?

Posted on August 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 13, 1970: Back in 1970, baseball writers were still serving as official scorers for major league games. They were paid by the clubs all of $35 a game. Henry Aaron didn't like the idea of writers judging hits or … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on August 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

        Los Angeles Times file photo  Look what I found! Think this photo was ever published in The Times? Not! Cover thyself, mystery guest!   Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 21 Comments

The Incomparable Stan Freberg, II

Posted on August 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 9-10, 1960: Here are Parts 2 and 3 of Ursula Baumann’s profile of Stan Freberg. "Mad Men" please take note: “I'm a bitter pill to Madison Avenue because I represent originality and freshness of approach — the kind … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, broadcasting, Music, Religion, Television | 1 Comment

Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on August 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

This robe from Oviatt’s, perhaps the leading menswear store in Los Angeles in its day, has been listed on EBay. It’s priced as Buy It Now for $795. As with anything on EBay, the item and vendor should be evaluated … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Matt Weinstock, Aug. 12, 1960

Posted on August 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 12, 1960: Matt Weinstock writes about homeowners trying to protest the assessor’s valuation of their houses. “Meanwhile, the supervisors seem unable to comprehend that they are confronted with a passive tax revolt — passive only because homeowners realize … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Aug. 12, 1960

Paul Coates, Aug. 12, 1960

Posted on August 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 12, 1960: Paul Coates examines the implications of a Columbia University professor’s demand to be paid for translating a letter written in Uzbeki. Also on the jump, a column by Carter Barber on a Navy inquiry into the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Education, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Aug. 12, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 12, 1940

Posted on August 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor files a report from Rome about daily life in the midst of wartime regulations. Aug. 12, 1940: Mrs. John Garfield has had a nose bob and is thinking of a movie career, Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 12, 1940

The Incomparable Stan Freberg

Posted on August 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Young persons: If you have never heard of Stan Freberg, you are in for a delight. His comedy sketches from the 1950s and ’60s were sharp, clever and polished and many of them make “Saturday Night Live” look like … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Television | 6 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Aug. 11, 1960

Posted on August 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Who stole the Caltechium?!  Aug. 11, 1960: Matt Weinstock revisits the story of the jealous husband, the lover’s convertible and a load of cement. Only this time it really happened. Sort of. CONFIDENTIAL TO OLLIE: Put your cards on the … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Aug. 11, 1960

Paul Coates, Aug. 11, 1960

Posted on August 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 11, 1960: Paul Coates muses on whether plastic surgery would change criminals’ behavior. As part of its redesign, the Mirror asked some of its staff to take turns as columnists. Jack Searles had one the other day and … Continue reading →

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

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 11, 1941

Posted on August 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 11, 1941: Robert Cummings, puzzler: Mr. Cummings, currently working in two pictures — "King's Row," in which he wears his hair parted on the right, and "It Started With Adam," for which he parts it on the left — … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 11, 1941

Striker Sentenced for Violating Picketing Law

Posted on August 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

A woman runs off with a man who has no legs? Somebody at The Times had a grim sense of humor. Aug. 11, 1910: A judge sentences E.P. Kreamer to a $50 [$1,136.94 USD 2009] fine or 50 days in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, art and artists, LAPD | Comments Off on Striker Sentenced for Violating Picketing Law

Matt Weinstock, Aug. 10, 1960

Posted on August 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 10, 1960: People who like music are honest and rarely write bad checks, Matt Weinstock finds. CONFIDENTIAL TO CHRIS: Get off the farm once in a while. You won't find a bride in the Sears and Roebuck catalogue, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Aug. 10, 1960

From the Archives

Posted on August 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Boris Yaro / Los Angeles Times My friends on the photo desk have started a terrific blog featuring images from the archives. Here’s Boris Yaro’s famous photograph of the 1968 shooting of Robert F. Kennedy at the Ambassador … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, RFK | 1 Comment

Paul Coates, Aug. 10, 1960

Posted on August 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

   Aug. 10, 1960: Writing about his recent vacation, Paul Coates says that things are much better in Tijuana.

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, Aug. 10, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 10, 1940

Posted on August 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Tom Treanor files a column from wartime Rome that’s just about perfect.   Aug. 10, 1940: Jimmie Fidler’s staff says, Did you hear about golfer Chico Marx making a hole in one at Hillcrest the other day? Unfortunately, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Aug. 10, 1940