Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Amtrak to Honor Pullman Porters

Posted on April 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Steve Yeater / For The Times  The son and grandson of Pullman porters, Garrard `Babe' Smock Jr. was honored at Railfair '99 in Sacramento, and his recollections appear in several books about the profession. "I've seen the good, … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation, travel | Comments Off on Amtrak to Honor Pullman Porters

L.A. Streetcars

Posted on April 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Pacific Electric Car No. 219, c. 1902. Main Street & Agricultural Park Railroad Car No. 21 at Agricultural Park in 1896. Hollywood 5118 at the Watts car house. Our new favorite thing at the Daily Mirror is the archive of … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | Comments Off on L.A. Streetcars

Hillinger Meets Ackerman; Hard Times for the Angels, April 8, 1969

Posted on April 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

"UCLA recently spent $35,000 on a collection of science fiction. The books they purchased wouldn't begin to fill one of my rooms." Chuck Hillinger visits Forrest  Ackerman, who "lives in a 13-room house crawling with the monsters that once roamed … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Charles Hillinger, Comics, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on Hillinger Meets Ackerman; Hard Times for the Angels, April 8, 1969

Found on EBay — W.W. Robinson

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

As I have mentioned before, I'm a big fan of W.W. Robinson's books. "Ranchos Become Cities" is a good reference and a copy has been listed on EBay. The Buy It Now price is $50.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Found on EBay — W.W. Robinson

Matt Weinstock — April 7, 1959

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Skin Swimmer Bal Week, the traditional pilgrimage of exuberant youth to Balboa during Easter vacation, has been watered down, so to speak, the last few years. The burghers wearied of high-spirited youth taking over their town, and the gendarmes … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock — April 7, 1959

Paul Coates — Confidential File, April 7, 1959

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Confidential File Ousted Strong Man Peron Quite a Sight Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of Paul Coates columns based on his trip to the Dominican Republic, where he had exclusive interviews with Cuba's ex-dictator Batista … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Columnists, Paul Coates, Politics | 1 Comment

In the Theaters, April 7, 1926

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood | 2 Comments

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Kevin Thomas writes an appreciation of director Mitchell Leisen for a 1977 revival of "Midnight" and "Death Takes a Holiday." The 1941 film "Hold Back the Dawn" reunited Leisen, Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder. The Times' Philip K. Scheuer calls … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Second Takes | Comments Off on Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Dodger Ticket Sales, April 7, 1959

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Ticket sales for the San Francisco Giants showed the Dodgers weren't the top draw in the Bay Area. Art Rosenbaum, The Times' correspondent in San Francisco, reported that Giants fans wanted to see the Milwaukee Braves, St. Louis Cardinals and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dodgers, Sports | Comments Off on Dodger Ticket Sales, April 7, 1959

Robbers Kill LAPD Officer, April 7, 1959

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Two ex-convicts named Napoleon Banks and Howard Green (misidentified as James Calvin in the story above) got drunk and decided to hold up a market at 1451 W. Washington Blvd. They parked their car on a side street with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Nuestro Pueblo, April 3, 1939

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

View Larger Map Eighth and Fickett streets via Google maps' street view.

Posted in Architecture, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off on Nuestro Pueblo, April 3, 1939

Found on EBay — Charlotta A Bass

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

   A copy of "Forty Years: Memoirs From the Pages of a Newspaper," by Charlotta A. Bass, has been listed on EBay. This is a self-published autobiography of the woman who headed the California Eagle, a newspaper that served the … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, books | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Charlotta A Bass

Matt Weinstock — April 6, 1959

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Works of Art When he finishes his day's work at the easel, Lenard Kester, like many other artists, smears the surplus paint on unworked canvases. Otherwise, it would harden overnight and be wasted. It is not only relaxing to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock — April 6, 1959

Paul Coates — Peron Hopes for Comeback

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Paul Coates today begins a series of columns based on a trip to the Dominican Republic, where he obtained exclusive interviews with ousted dictators Juan Peron and Fulgencio Batista. By Paul Coates, Mirror News Columnist CIUDAD TRUJILLO, Dominican Republic, April … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Columnists, Paul Coates, Politics | 1 Comment

In the Theaters, April 6, 1923

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lmharnisch
Posted in Film, Hollywood | Comments Off on In the Theaters, April 6, 1923

Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Nov. 21, 1940: "Arise, My Love." Look! It's Rube Wolf! "You'll like it, I promise," — Philip K. Scheuer

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Second Takes | Comments Off on Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Hard Times on Eastwood Set; Los Angeles Radio, April 6, 1969

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

An image that resonates with the famous 1971 ad of Iron Eyes Cody. It's Easter Sunday in 1969, and The Times features a story about the date of the crucifixion on Page 1. Biologists tally the number of seals who … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Comics, Environment, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Politics, Religion, Richard Nixon | 2 Comments

Nuestro Pueblo, April 5, 1939

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Every week I visit former Times reporter Eric Malnic in the hospital, where he's recovering from cancer surgery. There's a large blowup of an old postcard of the Figueroa Tunnels on the wall across from the elevators, so I always … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Freeways, Nuestro Pueblo, Transportation | Comments Off on Nuestro Pueblo, April 5, 1939

Found on EBay — Batchelder Fireplace

Posted on April 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

An entire Batchelder fireplace has been listed on EBay. The fireplace is located in Fullerton, Calif. Bidding starts at $20,000.

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, Real Estate | 2 Comments

Baseball Season Opens, April 7, 1985

Posted on April 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

[Note: I didn't really know Art Seidenbaum except to nod when I passed him in the hallway. I wish now that I had gotten acquainted — lrh]. Play the Pastime With Country and Catfish April 7, 1985 By Art Seidenbaum, … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Dodgers, Sports | Comments Off on Baseball Season Opens, April 7, 1985