Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 30, 1940

The Times publishes another map by Times artist Charles Owens. May 30, 1940: Carole Landis' "chic" in "One Million B.C." clearly proves the skill of Pleistocene hairdressers, Jimmie Fidler says. 

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 30, 1940

Charles Champlin on Cannes, May 30, 1980

May 30, 1980: Charles Champlin takes an overview of the downbeat films at the Cannes Festival, which included “All That Jazz” and “Kagemusha.” “This year, there was hardly a title among the 22 in competition that could accurately have been … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Religion | Comments Off on Charles Champlin on Cannes, May 30, 1980

Stubborn Handcuffs Keep Prisoners Out of Jail

  Look! It’s Julian Eltinge! May 30, 1910: “Babe” McCain, the bouncer at Turner Hall, brings two prisoners to the police station, but they can’t be booked until McCain removes the handcuffs – which proves to be a problem. And … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, LAPD, Stage, Transportation | Comments Off on Stubborn Handcuffs Keep Prisoners Out of Jail

Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and ‘Easy Rider’

    Aug. 10, 1969: Charles Champlin on “Easy Rider.” "Fonda and Hopper, it should by this time go without saying, give immense performances: Hopper as the more traditional 'Hey, man' Rider impatient, self-indulgent, fearful of anything that looks like … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda and ‘Easy Rider’

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 29, 1940

May 29, 1940: “Lyle Talbot gave N.Y.ers a sample of Hollywood by dating seven lovelies on as many Broadway nights,” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 29, 1940

Movie Mystery Photo

       Los Angeles Times file photo Update: As everybody finally realized, this is Marian Carr. In the above photo, she’s showing a derringer being displayed at an antique show, Oct. 19, 1946: It’s a mystery guest with a gun! … Continue reading

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

The Democrats Are Coming to L.A.

May 29, 1960: Former Times Editor in Chief L.D. Hotchkiss (1893-1964) writes a long advance on the Democratic National Convention, which starts July 11 at the Sports Arena. He says that although he worked for a Republican paper for 40 … Continue reading

Posted in 1960 Democratic Convention, JFK, Politics | Comments Off on The Democrats Are Coming to L.A.

Judge Calls Probation System a Success

May 29, 1910: Judge Frank R. Willis talks to The Times about the success of his program to put criminals on probation instead of sending them to prison. Of the 100 men sentenced to probation, 88 men are holding responsible … Continue reading

Posted in #courts | Comments Off on Judge Calls Probation System a Success

Matt Weinstock, May 28, 1960

  "Since When Does a Boy Brag About a Girl Out o' Respect for Her Brains??" May 28, 1960: John Steinbeck writes an essay in Esquire about life in Pacific Grove during the Depression. Matt Weinstock adds a bit about … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, May 28, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 28, 1960

  May 28, 1960: Paul Coates’ cat ladies, Beth Lawrence and her daughter Betty,  have new troubles. TV host Jack Linkletter was interviewing them (and their 13 cats) in Bronson Canyon Park when their white Persian cat named Prince Baba … Continue reading

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 28, 1960

Voices, Gary Coleman, 1968 – 2010

  “Diff’rent Strokes” premieres, Nov. 3, 1978 March 2, 1979: "It's always the same. Three minutes. And me and George Carlin was just gettin' into it," Gary Coleman tells Howard Rosenberg about an appearance on "The Tonight Show With Johnny … Continue reading

Posted in broadcasting, Obituaries, Television | Comments Off on Voices, Gary Coleman, 1968 – 2010

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 28, 1940

May 28, 1940: “Linda Darnell, locationing at Lone Pine, Cal., where the thermometer has been scoring 114, postcards she's lost seven pounds,” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 28, 1940

Hollywood Is ‘Sleazy,’ George Lucas Says

May 28, 1980: George Lucas tells Rolling Stone that movie folks are "rather sleazy, unscrupulous people. L.A. is where they make deals, do business in the classic corporate American way, which is screw everybody and do whatever you can to … Continue reading

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 3 Comments

On the Frontiers of Feminism

May 28, 1910: Mrs. Frances Squire Potter of the National Suffrage League says the day is coming when women will serve as police officers, lawyers, judges and jurors. She says: "In that good time coming, the woman will pick her … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, Politics | Comments Off on On the Frontiers of Feminism

Matt Weinstock, May 27, 1960

  May 27, 1960: Matt Weinstock talks about the marriage of two ideas: advertising and satellites orbiting the Earth. CONFIDENTIAL TO "MRS. FORGET ME NOT": If your religion permits it, visit your PLANNED PARENTHOOD CENTER. They will give you full … Continue reading

Posted in art and artists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, May 27, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 27, 1960

  May 27, 1960: Paul Coates follows up on his survey of prisoners with the transcription of an inmate interviewing another. Sample quote: “It isn't my fault that I was born with a Cadillac appetite into a sharecropper's life.”

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, May 27, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 27, 1940

  Charles Owens draws a full-page map of Nazi targets in England. May 27, 1940: “Jane Withers, newest bowling addict, knocked off 145 pins her first game,” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in art and artists, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, May 27, 1940

Bush Quits Presidential Race, Backs Reagan

May 27, 1980: George Bush’s campaign director, James Baker, says: "We didn't have the long-term base that Reagan has out there." Former California Gov. Ronald Reagan takes the news in stride, saying: “I don’t think it has quite sunk in … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Bush Quits Presidential Race, Backs Reagan

She’s Not Afraid of a Mere Man

May 27, 1910: Elizabeth La Rue, a costumer at the Majestic Theater Building, is in the news for grabbing a man who rented one of her costumes and was trying to sell it at a secondhand shop. La Rue took … Continue reading

Posted in #courts, LAPD, Stage | Comments Off on She’s Not Afraid of a Mere Man

Found on EBay – Thicker’n Thieves

Former Police Sgt. Charles Stoker’s “Thicker’n Thieves” has attained a measure of respect that it never had when it was published in 1951. Even five or six years ago, it was possible to pick up a copy for almost nothing … Continue reading

Posted in books, LAPD | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Thicker’n Thieves