Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Westbrook Pegler, March 16, 1927

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 16, 1927: Still smarting over being called “Tanglefoot* Gehrig,” Lou Gehrig insults Westbrook Pegler at spring training by calling him “Mr. Piggly-Wiggly.” *The Times says “Tanglefood,” but I assume that’s a mistake.

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Dietrich Backs Von Sternberg in ‘Blue Angel’ Lawsuit

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

   March 16, 1960: Marlene Dietrich gives a deposition in Josef von Sternberg’s suit against 20th Century Fox over its remake of “The Blue Angel.” On the jump, a murder suspect kills a hospital attendant after being declared sane … … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts, Dodgers, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, Mickey Cohen, Sports | Comments Off on Dietrich Backs Von Sternberg in ‘Blue Angel’ Lawsuit

Times Editorial on the ‘Japanese Menace,’ March 16, 1920

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 16, 1920: Unfortunately, this editorial is nearly impossible to read, but it’s worth the struggle. I rarely republish The Times’ old editorials because they are usually an embarrassment (the U.S. doesn’t need a federal anti-lynching law, don’t accept … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and Drink | 1 Comment

Drug Addict, Racked by Withdrawal From Morphine, Dies in Jail

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

   March 16, 1910: The Times says that another addict died in police custody because he was denied drugs in jail and went into convulsions.  The pharmacy board official who caught Harry Carson says he’s reluctant to make such arrests … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, March 15, 1960

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

Hard and Fast     The file, and it's a thick one, seems to be complete now on the tale of the premix cement truck driver's revenge on his wife's boyfriend, so let's give it another run through.  The way it's … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 15, 1960

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

Salsberry Family Is Very Wondrous Thing     There's a twist to the Salsberry story.     Gerald, the husband, is a 39-year-old construction worker, and right now he's unemployed.  He hasn't had a day's work in a month.     He and … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, JFK, Paul Coates, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 15, 1960

Second Takes – Abel Gance

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 15, 1980: Abel Gance is reintroduced to contemporary audiences when his film “Napoleon” is reconstructed from various prints. The film was a sensation when it was screened at Telluride in 1979.

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Hedda Hopper, March 15, 1946

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 15, 1946: Hey, look who turns up in Hedda Hopper’s column… It’s Jeffrey Bernerd! So what, you ask? Surely you remember that he’s the stepfather of “Black Dahlia Files” author Donald H. Wolfe! By the way, I’m still waiting … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Hedda Hopper, March 15, 1946

Get Perking: Coffee Hits 15 Cents a Cup

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

Catch a snooze on the Freeway Flyer!  March 15, 1960: Coffee goes to 15 cents a cup, which would be $1.07 today, adjusted for inflation. Not quite the price of a venti caramel brulee at Starbucks. On the jump: “I … Continue reading →

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Food and Drink, Transportation | Comments Off on Get Perking: Coffee Hits 15 Cents a Cup

Man Attacks Wife, Commits Suicide in Custody Dispute

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 15, 1920: Two streetcar passengers prevent J.B. Claverie from slashing his wife and escape injury when his pistol fails to fire. After the attack failed, Claverie killed himself with strychnine.

Posted in #courts, Suicide, Transportation | Comments Off on Man Attacks Wife, Commits Suicide in Custody Dispute

From the Vaults: ‘The Last of the Mohicans’ (1920)

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

Note: Larry's Daily Mirror posts this year focus on clips from 1920 and 1960, so I will be watching movies from those years and writing about them on alternate weeks. After last week’s post on Roger Corman’s “The Little Shop … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, From the Vaults, Hollywood | 4 Comments

Redondo Beach Woman Assaulted

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 15, 1910: Oh, very nice. Not only did The Times publish the name of the victim of a sexual assault, it published her picture.

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Matt Weinstock, March 14, 1960

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

Writers and Riches     Readers occasionally inquire how a person goes about writing a book, getting it published and, it is assumed, becoming rich and famous.  There's no easy answer because so many factors are involved.  Writing and rewriting a … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 14, 1960

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

A Military Problem Beyond the Military     Every election year two undeniable truths reaffirm themselves:     1- Our Armed Forces are too soft on enlisted personnel.     2- Our Armed Forces are too hard on enlisted personnel.        To the … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, broadcasting, Columnists, Paul Coates, Television | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 14, 1960

Mary Tyler Moore on Broadway

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 14, 1980: Mary Tyler Moore stars in “Whose Life Is It Anyway?”

Posted in broadcasting, Stage, Television | Comments Off on Mary Tyler Moore on Broadway

Westbrook Pegler, March 14, 1941

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 14, 1941: Westbrook Pegler uses the construction of Ft. Bragg to praise open shops over strictly union labor. Carpenters were paid 90 cents an hour, or $12.97 an hour USD 2009.

Posted in Columnists | Comments Off on Westbrook Pegler, March 14, 1941

TV Show D.A. Arrested in Nude Pot Party

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

Uh-oh. March 14, 1960: William Talman, who plays prosecutor Hamilton Burger on the “Perry Mason” TV show, is arrested at a nude pot party in West Hollywood. The Times didn’t report that they were naked until a few days later. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink, Politics, Richard Nixon | Comments Off on TV Show D.A. Arrested in Nude Pot Party

Some Princeton Men Say Kissing and Dancing Are Wrong

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 14, 1920: You may recognize the name John Harlan. President Eisenhower nominated him to the Supreme Court in 1955.

Posted in #courts | Comments Off on Some Princeton Men Say Kissing and Dancing Are Wrong

Wife Beater Bluffs Police

Posted on March 14, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 14, 1910: Charles Edmondson beats his wife with a vest containing a sack full of coins, then holds off a squad of police by asking to see the officers’ warrant. Upon the advice of a lieutenant, the officers drop … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Comments Off on Wife Beater Bluffs Police

Hearing on the Gas House, Part 4

Posted on March 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1959: This is the fourth part of a transcript of testimony by “Holy Barbarians” author Lawrence Lipton before the the Los Angeles Police Commission on the Gas House, the Beat hangout in Venice.  Part 1 is here. Part … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, books, LAPD, Music | Comments Off on Hearing on the Gas House, Part 4