Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 21, 1940

Posted on June 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 21, 1940: “Bruce Cabot and Elaine Brandeis, beauty prize winner, taking a portable radio on their nightclub rounds to get late war reports,” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 21, 1940

Nixon Rejects ‘Liberal’ and ‘Conservative’ Labels

Posted on June 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 21, 1960: E.W. Darby of the Chicago Sun-Times says  Vice President Richard Nixon is "impatient with such labels" as "conservative," "liberal" or "progressive conservative." "I think it is difficult to categorize people in public life with terms like … Continue reading →

Posted in Freeways, Politics, Richard Nixon, Transportation | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Los Angeles Times file photo    As nearly everyone realized, this is Evelyn Nesbit, the subject of a recent Paul Coates column.  Just a reminder on how this works: I post the mystery photo on Monday and reveal the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 66 Comments

City to Renovate Downtown Park

Posted on June 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

Central Park, which was renamed Pershing Square in November 1918. June 26, 1907, a headline that will live in infamy. June 21, 1910: William Hicks is fined $10 [$227.39 USD 2009] for using “shocking language” in the presence of women. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Parks and Recreation | Comments Off on City to Renovate Downtown Park

Found on EBay — ‘Salome’

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

One of the more intriguing lost films of the silent era is Theda Bara’s “Salome,” which was destroyed in a vault fire. A still from the film has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $10.50. And look, imdb folks, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Photography | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, June 20, 1960

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1960: Those wags on the Mirror copy desk come up with an ad campaign to give vultures a positive image … And Abby has advice for a young woman who’s crazy about Ernie, but would like his constant … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Comics | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, June 20, 1960

Movieland Mystery Photo

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Los Angeles Times file photo  Nearly everybody (even poor country boy Fibber McGee!) recognized this week’s mystery guest as Evelyn Nesbit. So here’s another mystery. This handout photo from Warner Bros., dated June 1939, was in Evelyn Nesbit’s photo file … Continue reading →

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

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, June 20, 1960

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 20, 1960: Paul Coates writes about a failed Utopia in the Galapagos Islands…. And on the jump: This is so cool! Guess who was interviewed for the Mack Sennett feature – none other than my old friend and … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, June 20, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 20, 1940

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1940: “Robert Taylor looks positively nude. The mustache is off!” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 20, 1940

Tough Season for Angels’ Alex Johnson

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1970: Alex Johnson would win the Angels' only batting title in 1970, finishing with a .329 batting average. But like everything else in Johnson's perplexing career, the season would not be without trouble. In the first inning of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sports | Comments Off on Tough Season for Angels’ Alex Johnson

Learn to Operate a Linotype!

Posted on June 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 20, 1910: The Times charges $50 [$1,136.94 USD 2009] for six weeks of Linotype school. Notice the reference to the auxiliary plant, where The Times was published after the Oct. 1, 1910, bombing destroyed the newspaper building at 1st … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, LAPD | Comments Off on Learn to Operate a Linotype!

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 19, 1940

Posted on June 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 19, 1940: “What could be more ironic than the title ‘French Without Tears,’ currently billboarded?” Jimmie Fidler Says

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 19, 1940

Governor Bans Fourth of July Prizefight

Posted on June 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 19, 1910: The Times publishes an editorial cartoon by Albert Jean Taylor praising Gov. James Gillett’s ban on the Fourth of July fight between Jack Johnson and James J. Jeffries, which was to be held in San Francisco. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, art and artists, Sports | Comments Off on Governor Bans Fourth of July Prizefight

Paul Coates and Matt Weinstock, June 18, 1960

Posted on June 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1960: Paul Coates, Matt Weinstock and Abby all on one page!

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Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 18, 1940

Posted on June 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 18, 1940: Wot's this about 28 extras being sent home from the "Brigham Young" location for alleged misconduct? Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, June 18, 1940

A Blow to Strikers

Posted on June 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 18, 1910: The stage is set for the famous anti-picketing ordinance approved by the City Council in July 1910. For further reading, I would recommend Grace Heilman Stimson’s “Rise of the Labor Movement in Los Angeles,” published in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, LAPD | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, June 17, 1960

Posted on June 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

   June 17, 1960: A reporter filed a story saying that hotel rates were being raised so much for the Democratic National Convention that he was going to bring a trailer. The convention director took him at his word and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960 Democratic Convention, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, June 17, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, June 17, 1960

Posted on June 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 17, 1960: Paul Coates takes another look at the problem of glue-sniffing among teenagers in East L.A.

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

Why History Must Be Saved, Even When Nobody Wants It

Posted on June 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The death of Ernest Fleischmann, former executive director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, offers a nice point of departure for a few musings about how casually we treat the past. About a year ago, I noticed a trash cart … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Lakers, Music | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, June16, 1960

Posted on June 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

  June 16, 1960: The Mirror has more on the crisis in getting good domestic help!  "American women hestitate to take jobs as cooks or maids," writer Arelo Sederberg says. “On New Year's Eve 1955, Armando Castro, 19, athlete and … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, June16, 1960