Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 22, 1940

  April 22, 1940: “There's talk that Daisy, edjoocated purp of the 'Blondie' pics, will be replaced because the dog's owner is asking too much dough,” Jimmie Fidler says. 

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Hot Stove League

  March 11, 1960: How do you rate as a grandstand manager? Try your hand with the Baltimore Orioles of 1959 and see if you come up with the same strategy as manager Paul Richards.

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Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910

  April 22, 1910:  Samuel Langhorne Clemens “recognized his daughter Clara (Mrs. Ossip Gabrilowitsch), spoke a rational word or two and feeling himself unequal to conversation, wrote out in pencil: “ ‘Give me my glasses.’   “These were his last words. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Obituaries | Comments Off on Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910

Found on EBay – Theda Bara

Movie memorabilia comes in all shapes and forms, but I’ve never seen a pennant like this Theda Bara item before.  A little research shows that a series of nearly 200 such pennants was issued about 1915. Ooh, is that a … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock, April 21, 1960

  “So I’ll Save the Wear and Tear on Your Tonsils, Mr. Ames.”  A Hard Life     If no one minds, I'd like to get literary for a moment.       Whitney Balliett of the New Yorker magazine, in reviewing … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 21, 1960

  Being a Celebrity Weighs So Heavily     Since everyone else is hesitant to say it, I'll say it myself.       I'm a celebrity.       It's been a long, hard, often discouraging fight to reach the top.  But, … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, Music, Paul Coates, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 21, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 21, 1941

  April 21, 1941: “Yvonne of the King Sisters and musician Buddy Cole are on the love list,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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Elvis Arrives in L.A.

    April 21, 1960: Elvis Presley’s return to Los Angeles to film “G.I. Blues” is put safely on Page 2. Instead, The Times leads the paper with the resignation of the South Korean cabinet.    ps. Georg Solti is … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Film, Hollywood, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Elvis Arrives in L.A.

Nuestro Pueblo

Oct. 17, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit the Pelanconi House on Olvera Street in another installment of Nuestro Pueblo. At right, a photo of the house from olvera-street.com. In case you just tuned in, I posted most of … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Downtown, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Nuestro Pueblo

The Mysterious Death of Morgan Shiveley

  April 21, 1910: The Times publishes an update in the curious death of Morgan Shiveley (or Shively),  in which an examination of bloody fingerprints merely deepens the mystery.Charges against the Stones were eventually dismissed and the case was abandoned.

Posted in #courts, Homicide | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Catalina Tile

This Catalina tile table has been listed on EBay. According to the vendor, it was sold on Santa Catalina Island in 1950. Bidding starts at $1,150 with a Buy It Now price of $1,300. As with everything on EBay, items … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Catalina Tile

Matt Weinstock, April 20, 1960

  Plane Bomb Jokers       Persons who go airplane riding had better get used to the idea that authorities don't think wisecracks about bombs are funny.  A story from Chicago a few days ago stated that nine persons have … Continue reading →

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

  Census Takers' Woes Myriad in a Big Way      Census takers take, among other things, oaths.     Before beginning their tours of duty, they solemnly swear that they are not Communists, fascists, blabbermouths or mixed up in payola.  … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, Columnists, Front Pages, Nightclubs, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 20, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 21, 1940

  April 20, 1940: “Femme stars at Paramount are squawking about male execs hogging the studio's only sunbathing roof,” Jimmie Fidler says.

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On the Road With Linda Ronstadt, April 20, 1980

  April 20, 1980: Linda Ronstadt tells Robert Hilburn, “A lot of musicians mistakenly think you're supposed to know everything about your craft at age 18 just because a couple of geniuses, like Bob Dylan and Mick Jagger, seem to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Rock 'n' Roll | 1 Comment

Mark Twain Near Death

  April 20, 1910: Samuel Clemens "has been perfectly conscious and in possession of all his faculties throughout his illness and, weak though he is, frequent flashes of the characteristic wit that made him a unique figure when in health, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, LAPD, Obituaries | Comments Off on Mark Twain Near Death

Matt Weinstock, April 19, 1960

  A Lounge Lizard       A flagrant instance of heresy, one that cannot be unchallenged, occurred during the recent Sportsmen's Show.  This is an attempt to erase it, lest such a mammoth slur cast a shadow on outdoor living … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 19, 1960

  Let's Look at What Happened in London         With the odd feeling of an outsider looking in, I read the news accounts of what happened in London yesterday.        There was a parade, seven miles long.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, LAPD, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, April 19, 1960

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 19, 1941

  April 19, 1941: “Franchot Tone beaued Olivia de Havilland to the Mocambo the other night, took her home at 11 — and returned with another girl,” Jimmie Fidler says.

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, April 19, 1941

Faces of the City, April 19, 1960

April 19, 1960: 1st and Broadway, just up the block from The Times, has changed drastically in the last 50 years. Ed Dudley’s newsstand vanished long ago and two corners are vacant eyesores. But he wasn’t wrong when he said: … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Downtown | 1 Comment