Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Don’t Underestimate Khrushchev

Posted on September 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 10, 1959: A tidy little piece showing just how much Americans feared Nikita Khrushchev. "So Long, Mom. I'm Off to Drop the Bomb." "We'll All Go Together When We Go" At left, Tom Lehrer performs at UCLA. His satirical … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Music, Politics, Sports, Stage | Comments Off on Don’t Underestimate Khrushchev

Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Posted on September 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 10, 1909: Edward Henry Harriman, "the master builder of railways," dies after a long illness, but the news is withheld from reporters until the stock market closes. Cmdr. Robert Peary files Part 2 of his description of discovering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Front Pages, health, Obituaries, Transportation, travel | Comments Off on Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Found on EBay — Hollywood Spin

Posted on September 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

An unusual novelty — a board game based on Hollywood streets — has been listed on EBay. Hollywood Spin is similar to Monopoly, according to the vendor, with familiar landmarks from the 1940s like Earl Carroll's and the Brown Derby. … Continue reading →

Posted in #games, Hollywood, Transportation | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Hollywood Spin

Matt Weinstock, Sept. 9, 1959

Posted on September 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

A lady named Harriett who frequents the Rainbow bar favors a slice of dill pickle in her beer, which she inhales with the last swallow….

Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Sept. 9, 1959

Paul Coates — Confidential File, Sept. 9, 1959

Posted on September 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 9, 1959: A man and a woman are found shot in the head 400 feet off California 395, seven miles north of Adelanto. In the man's pocket is a letter so covered with blood that only one word is … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates — Confidential File, Sept. 9, 1959

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept. : Your Films

Posted on September 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 9, 1927: Harry Langdon in "Three's a Crowd" and King Vidor's "The Big Parade." And Al Jolson in a live show at the Metropolitan. With Rube Wolf!  

Posted in Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

A Shotgun Divorce

Posted on September 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 9, 1919: Military schools are flourishing in Los Angeles. Someone came up behind Frank Gentile while he was sleeping on the couch and blew off the back of his head with a 16-gauge shotgun. Because he was Italian, police … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Education, Homicide, LAPD | Comments Off on A Shotgun Divorce

A Fatal Can of Chili?

Posted on September 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 9, 1909: Follow the crowds to Venice! The city chemist's failure to analyze a half-empty can of chili con carne before it spoiled — preventing a test for food poisoning — figures in the murder trial of Harper E. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Food and Drink, Politics | Comments Off on A Fatal Can of Chili?

Voices — Army Archerd, 1922 – 2009

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Perfect Casting * The Role Called for a Dapper Guy Who Could Schmooze With Hollywood's Rich and Famous as They Arrived at the Academy Awards. Enter Army Archerd. The Rest Is History. Sunday March 21, 1999 By ROBIN ABCARIAN, Robin … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on Voices — Army Archerd, 1922 – 2009

Matt Weinstock, Sept. 8, 1959

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Matt Weinstock goes to the Hollywood Bowl to hear Van Cliburn….

Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, Sept. 8, 1959

Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, Sept. 8, 1959

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Paul Coates profiles private detective Fred Otash, one of the more colorful figures of Los Angeles of the 1950s.

Posted in Columnists, Hollywood, LAPD, Mickey Cohen, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, Sept. 8, 1959

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Valentino’s Funeral

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1926: Valentino's funeral, invitation only, Church of the Good Shepherd, Beverly Hills. Pola Negri "went to the casket moaning in grief and at times sobbing loudly. She lifted the old rose pall and her flowers upon it and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cemeteries, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off on A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Valentino’s Funeral

When ‘Bull’ Durham Became ‘Steer’ Durham

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 8, 1919: "Bull" Durham with calf-maker intact and a white spot in the shape of the United States. That's one patriotic head of livestock! March 23, 1924: Bull Durham — redesigned. The U.S. map is gone and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, art and artists, health | Comments Off on When ‘Bull’ Durham Became ‘Steer’ Durham

Good Girl Becomes a Fallen Woman

Posted on September 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1909: A.G. Wells, as drawn by Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale. As before, the Daily Mirror cautions against walking on railroad tracks. Pedestrians and cows  usually come out second best in encounters with trains. The story of Mabel Massey, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, Transportation | Comments Off on Good Girl Becomes a Fallen Woman

Found on EBay — Pacific Electric

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

This bit of memorabilia from the Pacific Electric days has been listed on EBay. Not cheap with bidding that begins at $899.99.

Posted in Transportation | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Pacific Electric

September7, Matt Weinstock: A Visit to Ojai

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

September 7, 1959: Police Chief William H. Parker advises Los Angeles residents on how to behave during Khrushchev’s visit. “A state of aloof detachment or uninterrupted pursuit of our daily activities would be very satisfactory to those of us charged … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Front Pages, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

September 7, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in #courts, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on September 7, 1959: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Movies

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 7, 1925: "The Gold Rush" is playing at Grauman's Egyptian. "Chaplin is quoted as predicting that the films of the future probably will be enlarged character presentations which follow one individual through a series of episodes rather than continuing … Continue reading →

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

The Might of American Workers

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 7, 1959: The Mirror-News has a Page 1 cartoon for Labor Day, showing the might of American workers to Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev on his upcoming visit to Los Angeles. The Times editorial page takes a different slant on … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, Food and Drink | Comments Off on The Might of American Workers

Jazz Musician Syncopates Jail

Posted on September 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 7, 1919: C.H. Baker has three shoe stores on Broadway and one on Spring Street. African American jazz musician William H.F. Wilkins is put in jail for not being able to "give a satisfactory account of himself." What's … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, LAPD, Music | Comments Off on Jazz Musician Syncopates Jail