Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — The Bronx Cocktail

Posted on December 29, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Dec. 20, 1934: In case you doubted me (but you wouldn’t, would you?), here’s a recipe for the Bronx Cocktail, from the Amsterdam Evening Recorder, courtesy of FultonHistory.com. In case you plan … Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Food and Drink, Suicide | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — The Bronx Cocktail

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — The Brooklyn Cocktail

Posted on December 28, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Yes, the Manhattan cocktail once had competition from drinks named for the other boroughs. Here’s a recipe for the Brooklyn Cocktail, from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, March 7, 1937. The Brooklyn Cocktail … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Food and Drink | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — The Brooklyn Cocktail

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: The Harvey Wallbanger

Posted on December 27, 2024 by lmharnisch

A vintage 1972 iron-on transfer of Harvey Wallbanger himself, on EBay for $12. Note: This is a repost from 2013. We have been looking at some historic drinks for this holiday season. To the millennials in the audience: This is … Continue reading →

Posted in 1971, Food and Drink, Music | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: The Harvey Wallbanger

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: A Brief History of the Tom and Jerry

Posted on December 26, 2024 by lmharnisch

A recipe for the Tom and Jerry from the San Francisco Call, June 30, 1912. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Over on Facebook, Christopher McPherson asked whether the Tom and Jerry was named for the MGM cartoon … Continue reading →

Posted in 1862, Books and Authors, Food and Drink | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide: A Brief History of the Tom and Jerry

Al Martinez, a Dying Boy and Some Peaches — A (Non) Christmas Story

Posted on December 25, 2024 by lmharnisch

The history of a Al Martinez’s (non) Christmas story about a dying boy who wanted some peaches. Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1958, Books and Authors, Columnists | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Al Martinez, a Dying Boy and Some Peaches — A (Non) Christmas Story

Dec. 14, 1907: L.A. Schools Ban Mention of Christ at Christmas (Uh-Oh)

Posted on December 24, 2024 by lmharnisch

Dec. 14, 1907: Los Angeles residents are furious after the school superintendent bans the mention of Christ at Christmas. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Education, Music, Religion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Dec. 14, 1907: L.A. Schools Ban Mention of Christ at Christmas (Uh-Oh)

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Story of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’

Posted on December 23, 2024 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory looks at the history of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: The Story of ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 23, 2024 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow. Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 24 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: ‘Making Black Los Angeles’

Posted on December 16, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2018. I only recommend books that I have read, which is why I haven’t listed Susan Orlean’s “The Library Book” or Stephen Gee’s “Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon.” I look forward … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, African Americans, Books and Authors, History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: ‘Making Black Los Angeles’

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Altadena’s Lovely Christmas Tree Lane

Posted on December 16, 2024 by lmharnisch

Christmas Tree Lane in a vintage postcard, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Nothing says Christmas like the sight of beautiful outdoor twinkling lights lending a bit of romanticism and happiness to the holiday … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Pasadena | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Altadena’s Lovely Christmas Tree Lane

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 16, 2024 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious lad. Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

‘Ask Me Anything’ on George Hodel – December 17

Posted on December 15, 2024 by lmharnisch

Reminder: Boxie and I will be doing a live “Ask Me Anything” on George Hodel and Steve Hodel on Tuesday, December 17, at 10 a.m. Pacific time on YouTube and Instagram. Can’t make the live session? Email me your questions … Continue reading →

Posted in Ask Me Anything, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases | Tagged , , | Comments Off on ‘Ask Me Anything’ on George Hodel – December 17

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 11, 2024 by lmharnisch

The Daily Mirror Holiday Shopping Guide: David Lewis’ “The Creative Producer: A Memoir of the Studio System.” #Books Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 10, 2024 by lmharnisch

Retro Shopping Guide: “The Los Angeles Book” (1950) featuring wonderful photographs by Max Yavno, who was responsible for so many iconic shots of L.A. Continue reading →

Posted in 1950, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood and Poinsettias

Posted on December 9, 2024 by lmharnisch

In this installment of Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory looks at the history of the poinsettia plant. Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood and Poinsettias

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 9, 2024 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mystery woman. Continue reading →

Posted in 1938, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 38 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 8, 2024 by lmharnisch

The Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: Melba Levick’s “The Big Picture: Murals of Los Angeles.” Wonderful paintings, most of them lost. One of my favorite’s is Kent Twitchell’s “Old Woman of the Freeway” featuring actress Lillian Bronson. Continue reading →

Posted in 1988, Architecture, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Downtown, From the Stacks, Hollywood, Latinos, Photography, Preservation, San Fernando Valley, Sports, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

A Firsthand History Lesson on Pearl Harbor

Posted on December 7, 2024 by lmharnisch

My seventh-grade history teacher, Rene Humbert, was at Pearl Harbor and the anniversary told the class about his experiences. This is his memoir. Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Education, History, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Firsthand History Lesson on Pearl Harbor

Raymond Chandler Auction Update

Posted on December 6, 2024 by lmharnisch

One of three John Engstead portraits of Raymond Chandler, a lot that sold for $512. The results are in for Doyle’s auction of Raymond Chandler items from the the Jean Vounder-Davis Collection.

Posted in Books and Authors, Raymond Chandler | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Raymond Chandler Auction Update

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 6, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Whenever I’m asked about my favorite books on Los Angeles, my first recommendation is “Nuestro Pueblo,” a selection of features by Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joseph Seewerker that appeared in The … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Nuestro Pueblo | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide