Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Questions on the Future of the Presidency

Posted on March 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 18, 1960: Columnist James Reston explores President Eisenhower’s refusal to intervene in the dispute over segregated lunch counters in the South and what his philosophy signifies for the next president. Reston says, “President Eisenhower believes with great sincerity … Continue reading →

Posted in Countdown to Watts, JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon | 2 Comments

‘Nothing Freakish About Hoover,’ Times Columnist Declares

Posted on March 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 18, 1920: Alma Whitaker says that American women should seize the historic moment of casting a vote in the presidential election for the first time by supporting Herbert Hoover. After listing his positive attributes (he makes few speeches … Continue reading →

Posted in Comics, Politics | Comments Off on ‘Nothing Freakish About Hoover,’ Times Columnist Declares

Arkansas Mob Plans Lynching at Dawn

Posted on March 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 18, 1910: The Times publishes a vivid story from Marion, Ark., about a white mob rampaging through town after two African Americans accused of staging a jailbreak allowing 12 black prisoners to escape – one of whom was … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Countdown to Watts | Comments Off on Arkansas Mob Plans Lynching at Dawn

O’Malley Passes Dodgers’ Leadership to Son

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 17, 1970 Walter O'Malley passed leadership of the Dodgers to his 32-year-old son, Peter, who became the youngest president of any major league team. Walter O'Malley, 66, became the team's chairman of the board. Peter O'Malley had served several … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers | Comments Off on O’Malley Passes Dodgers’ Leadership to Son

Voices – Alex Chilton

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 16, 1985: "Having a band is a very difficult thing, especially if you're not making a whole lot of money,” Alex Chilton tells Don Snowden. 

Posted in Obituaries, Rock 'n' Roll | Comments Off on Voices – Alex Chilton

Found on EBay – Tile Top Table

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Oct. 5, 1930: A tile top table from an ad for the Dyas department store, priced at $3.95 [$50.28 USD 2009]. The tile table at left has been listed on EBay. The vendor is unsure of the manufacturer.  Bidding starts … Continue reading →

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

Matt Weinstock, March 17, 1960

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Conversing Computers     Well, we're there, folks.  I suppose it was inevitable.  And presumably the news has been deliberately hushed and permitted to leak here so no one would get the impulse to jump out of his shoes.  So … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, JFK, Matt Weinstock, Politics, Religion | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, March 17, 1960

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

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Further Reaction to White 'Negro'     A $1 bill and  a $5 bill found their respective ways through the U.S. mails this week, onto my desk.     Both came to me as a result of the articles I printed … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Countdown to Watts, Front Pages, Homicide, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 17, 1960

Charles Champlin, a Brief Look at Short Films

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 17, 1980: Charles Champlin takes a brief look at the Academy Award nominees for short documentaries.  “Paul Robeson: Tribute to an Artist,” which won an Oscar, is on Netflix as part of a four-DVD set. 

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Charles Champlin, a Brief Look at Short Films

Segregated Businesses May Be Legal, Eisenhower Says

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 17, 1960: On the jump, more about Cheryl Crane’s transfer to El Retiro School for Girls in the San Fernando Valley … President Eisenhower says it may be legal for private businesses to bar African Americans or any … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Education, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Homicide, Mickey Cohen, Religion | Comments Off on Segregated Businesses May Be Legal, Eisenhower Says

Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

Nov. 9, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit a blacksmith shop at 6104 N. Figueroa St. I’ve been forced to stop embedding Google maps because they make the pages load slowly. The original run of Nuestro Pueblo concluded last … Continue reading →

Posted in Nuestro Pueblo | 1 Comment

Auto Club Offers to Pay for LAPD Detectives

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 17, 1920: This little, nearly illegible item is interesting for several reasons. The Police Department is chronically shorthanded, so the Automobile Club of Southern California volunteers to pay for two detectives if they are assigned exclusively to handle auto … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, Transportation | Comments Off on Auto Club Offers to Pay for LAPD Detectives

Nevada Officials Refuse to Marry Interracial Couple

Posted on March 17, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 16-17, 1910: George Masaki/Nasaki and Juliette Schwan/Schwann of Los Angeles get a marriage license in Nevada, but no one will perform the ceremony.

Posted in #courts | Comments Off on Nevada Officials Refuse to Marry Interracial Couple

Found on EBay – Shriners Convention

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

The Times published a special edition of comics for the 1907 Shriners convention. A page of the May 6, 1907, Shriners comics, a parody of  Winsor McCay’s popular strip “Little Nemo in Slumberland," has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Comics | Comments Off on Found on EBay – Shriners Convention

Matt Weinstock, March 16, 1960

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Mileage Test     I've had misgivings about freeways for a long time. But not the way you might think.  I've merely been suspicious of the comparative mileage.     This is to report that I have confirmed my suspicion.  I … Continue reading →

Posted in Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, March 16, 1960

Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 16, 1960

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Story of White 'Negro' Fascinated the World     If I sound like a numb, it's because I am.     I devoted a pair of articles last week to John Howard Griffin, a man with an engrossing story to tell. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Columnists, Countdown to Watts, Front Pages, Homicide | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, March 16, 1960

Charles Champlin on ‘Hide in Plain Sight’

Posted on March 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 16, 1980: Charles Champlin writes about James Caan’s debut as a director in “Hide in Plain Sight.”

Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Charles Champlin on ‘Hide in Plain Sight’

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.

Posted in Columnists, Sports | Comments Off on Westbrook Pegler, March 16, 1927

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