Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Horses vs. Streetcar

Posted on January 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “Imagination Is the Only Real Thing in the World.”    A wagon drawn by runaway horses crashes into a streetcar, sending the wagon tongue through the side of the trolley and injuring passenger Howard Siebold. The horses, which were … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Transportation | Comments Off on Horses vs. Streetcar

Through the Lens – Aviation Meet

Posted on January 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Here is another original photo of the 1910 Aviation Meet that I found in The Times’ archives. The contrast of horses and airplanes at the meet always amazes me. It’s hard to read the writing on the back of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Photography, Transportation | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Jan. 24, 1962: Hedda Hopper says Buster Keaton's going to tour Germany, Austria and Switzerland with some of his films and gives another slam to Charlie Chaplin … and Marilyn Monroe is getting ready to do “Something’s Got to … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Nixon Leads Kennedy in Poll

Posted on January 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

There’s no credit on this photo, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it were a Delmar Watson shot. The Alexandria Hotel’s Palm Room has been converted to a gym as boxers Jose Becerra and Battling Torres train for bouts at … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, JFK, Politics, Richard Nixon, Sports | Comments Off on Nixon Leads Kennedy in Poll

The Naughty Borax King

Posted on January 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “The Days of Real Sport,” by Clare Briggs. Mr. Thorkildsen submits a photograph of his wife in a “scanty” bathing suit. Jan. 24, 1920: A deposition read in the divorce trial of borax king Thomas Thorkildsen catalogues the liquor … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink | Comments Off on The Naughty Borax King

Women and Cars

Posted on January 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Jan. 24, 1910: Sydney Ford writes about women, cars and the annual Los Angeles auto show. She touches on America's only auto club for women and talks about fashions, including the latest outfits for chauffeurs. Ford took a trip … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation, travel | Comments Off on Women and Cars

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 23, 1960

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Life at the Outpost     A couple named Janet and George, who moved recently from the lowlands to a home in the Hollywood Hills reached by a short private road, invited some friends to dinner the other night.     … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 23, 1960

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

Mash Notes and Comment     (Press Release)  "As far as space travel is concerned, a big bosom is a bust — according to an article in the new issue of Look magazine.     "Although pulchritude may be an asset here … Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Paul Coates, Television | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 23, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Dolores del Rio is at the Million Dollar Theater! Jan. 23, 1961 – Hedda Hopper says: “She's 19, beautiful, a student at Northwestern University in Chicago, and made her debut singing with George Burns in Las Vegas. Her name … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Finch Stole Two Cadillacs, Went to Las Vegas

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Betty Jean Behr shows a photo of victim Barbara Jean Finch. What to do with the radioactive waste piling up in Long Beach? Dump it in the ocean!   March 22, 1960: A judge rules that Long Beach has … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Environment, Homicide, Long Beach | 1 Comment

Through the Lens – the Finch Case

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

 Photograph by Edward Gamer / Los Angeles Times May 21, 1960: Regular correspondent Howard Decker asked if the Daily Mirror could publish some photos from the Finch case. This is defendant Carole Tregoff, who went through many outfits and changes … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide, Photography | 1 Comment

Are You Blue? Go to ‘Pollyanna’

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

“That Guiltiest Feeling,” by Clare Briggs.   Jan. 23, 1920: Hey, it’s Hobart Bosworth!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Are You Blue? Go to ‘Pollyanna’

On the Future of Aviation

Posted on January 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  The Times publishes a map of Louis Paulhan’s flights over Los Angeles. It would be fun to do this as an overlay on Google Earth. I’ll see if I can manage it.   Jan. 23, 1910: The Times speculates … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | Comments Off on On the Future of Aviation

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 22, 1960

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

Inspired Night Crews     The news that a $15 million Bible Storyland comparable to Disneyland will be built in Cucamonga fell with lightning and thunderbolt impact on this paper’s night copy desk.        And it came to pass that a … Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 22, 1960

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

'Dead' Bill Howard Now Living New Life     The night of Nov. 16, 1958, I never quite made it to bed.     The reason was William K. Howard, a man whose obituary three months before included the vital statistics that … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates – Confidential File, Jan. 22, 1960

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movie Columnist

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Jan. 22, 1960 – Hedda Hopper says: “Jerry Wald's finally got his "Return to Peyton Place" players all set: Joan Crawford plays the mother-in-law who plans the murder of her daughter-in-law, Carol Lynley, who gets wind of the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | 1 Comment

‘Onion Field’ Killing Revisited

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 13, 1963, Jimmy Lee Smith reenacts the killing of Officer  Ian Campbell. March 12, 1963:  "Ex-convict Jimmy Lee Smith stood in a Kern County onion field Monday and acted out his version of how an unarmed policeman was slain … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Homicide, LAPD | 2 Comments

Movie Star Mystery Photo

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

     Los Angeles Times file photo Update: This week’s mystery star is Sally Eilers, shown in a photo dated Dec. 14, 1929. Jan. 7, 1978: Sally Eilers dies at the age of 69.  In case you’re wondering, I don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 25 Comments

Forgery Charged in Finch Trial

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

      Jan. 22, 1960: The prosecution alleges that Dr. R. Bernard Finch forged his wife’s signature to a check for $3,000 [$21,576.68 USD 2008] three days after Finch allegedly beat and threatened to kill his wife and two … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Homicide | Comments Off on Forgery Charged in Finch Trial

Aviation Meet – Through the Lens

Posted on January 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Here’s a photo that shows the grandstands under construction for the 1910 Aviation Meet. The stands were built quickly, according to The Times, and were considered an achievement for the day. Here’s a detail of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Photography, Transportation | Comments Off on Aviation Meet – Through the Lens