Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 30, 1960

Posted on March 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

A Condemned Man Wants to Give an Eye     The question now before the California Supreme Court is an eerie one, with no easy answer.     How much control — it asks — does the state have over a condemned … Continue reading →

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Jury Duty

Posted on March 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Art Rogers / Los Angeles Times Nov. 1, 1961: Mickey Cohen reports to court on a murder indictment, accompanied by bail bondsman Abe Phillips, left, and attorney A.L. Wirin, center. Note: Jury duty is over but it's taking … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts | Comments Off on Jury Duty

Matt Weinstock, March 29, 1960

Posted on March 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Here's Unsqueezed Juice     The moans are low and constant from the civic Center.  Our leaders have squeezed every drop of juice out of the turnips, oops, I mean taxpayers, and still there isn't enough.  Unless new sources of revenue … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 29, 1960

Posted on March 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dollar-Down Crowd Gangs Up on Kiddies       Yesterday, I got the latest pitch on "friendly credit buying."       By mail, I received a circular from a jewelry store chain which is spread across Southern California.       It … Continue reading →

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Voices – June Havoc, 1912 – 2010

Posted on March 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Jan. 5, 1981: “This is what I wanted since I was 3,” June Havoc says of her home in Connecticut.

Posted in Film, Obituaries, Stage | Comments Off on Voices – June Havoc, 1912 – 2010

Jury Duty

Posted on March 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Dan McCormack / Los Angeles Times Nov. 23, 1957: Caryl Chessman appears in court in a hearing to determine whether the state of California owned the manuscript of his unpublished book "The Kid Was a Killer,"  which was … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off on Jury Duty

From the Vaults: ‘The Golem’ (1920)

Posted on March 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

Actually, this is the second sequel to Paul Wegener's “The Golem” (1915), now lost. In that movie, the golem – a mythical clay creature built and brought to life by Jewish rabbis – is brought back to life in modern … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults | Comments Off on From the Vaults: ‘The Golem’ (1920)

Found on EBay – Batchelder Vase

Posted on March 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

What appears to be a vase by E.A. Batchelder of Pasadena has been listed on EBay. Batchelder tile turns up somewhat often, but I don’t recall seeing anything this finely made. Bidding starts at $145, or Buy It Now at … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Batchelder Vase

Still on Jury Duty

Posted on March 28, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Aug. 11, 1937: Jury selection in the trial of Albert Dyer, who was hanged for molesting and killing three young Inglewood girls.   Note: I’m still on jury duty, so posting will be light until … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay – Oviatt’s

Posted on March 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

This bow tie from Oviatt’s has been listed on EBay. Oviatt’s was one of the leading menswear stores in Los Angeles and the items are extremely collectible. Bidding on this tie starts at $25. As with anything on EBay, the … Continue reading →

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

Still on Jury Duty

Posted on March 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times June 20, 1957: Police chemist Ray Pinker, left, attorney Grant Cooper and Linda Mintz, charged with beating her employer to death with a vacuum cleaner. Note: I’ve spent the week on jury duty so … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off on Still on Jury Duty

Found on EBay – Williams and Walker

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

I’ve been searching for items of Bert Williams and George Walker on EBay since I wrote about the vaudeville team in 2008. Sheet music turns up somewhat often but this is the first time I’ve seen souvenir postcards for sale. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Stage | 1 Comment

Next Stop for Garvey: Third Base

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 26, 1970: Finding a third baseman was the story of the spring for the Dodgers, who believed they discovered a long-term answer in Steve Garvey. "We can hardly keep Garvey's bat out of the lineup," a Dodger executive … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers | Comments Off on Next Stop for Garvey: Third Base

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Los Angeles Times file photo Update: This is Barbara Kent, above, in an Aug. 18, 1926, photo.  Dec. 26, 1926: Barbara Kent in “The Flesh and the Devil.”   Just a reminder on how this works: I post the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Comments Off on Movie Star Mystery Photo

Eight Women Graduate From Police Academy

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 26, 1960: Eight female officers graduate from the Police Academy. In a reflection of the way policewomen were used at the time, four were assigned to the Juvenile Division and the other four were sent to the main … Continue reading →

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Artist’s Notebook: L.A. Marathon

Posted on March 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “L.A. Marathon,” by Marion Eisenmann Marion Eisenmann and I decided to try something different from our exploration of local landmarks by going to Santa Monica to see the finish of the 2010 L.A. Marathon. I found a good viewing … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Marion Eisenmann, Nuestro Pueblo, Sports | Comments Off on Artist’s Notebook: L.A. Marathon

Found on EBay – Angel City in Turmoil

Posted on March 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

This signed copy of Guy Finney’s “Angel City in Turmoil,” one of the more collectible books about Los Angeles history, has been listed on EBay.  According to The Times’ clips, Court Lytton was a real estate salesman. Bidding starts at … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Angel City in Turmoil

Jury Duty

Posted on March 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by the Los Angeles Times July 27, 1936: Mary Astor in court.  Note: I’m on jury duty, so posting will be light until it’s over.

Posted in #courts, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Jury Duty

Found on EBay – Brenda Allen

Posted on March 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

This Aug. 9, 1949, AP photo of Hollywood madam Brenda Allen has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $9.99.

Posted in #courts, LAPD | 1 Comment

In Support of Libraries and Librarians

Posted on March 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

The Arroyo Seco branch library via Google maps’ street view. Wednesday’s story by Maeve Reston on a proposal to cut hours in the Los Angeles Public Library system mentioned several branches that could be affected, including the Arroyo Seco Regional … Continue reading →

Posted in books, City Hall | 2 Comments