Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Flying Saucers Over L.A.!

Posted on August 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 2, 1960: Newspapers are full of stories about flying saucers over Los Angeles! Continue reading →

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Aug. 2, 1947: Los Angeles County Clerk Refuses Marriage License for Interracial Couple

Posted on August 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

  Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Her name was Andrea and she was 24. His name was Sylvester and he was 26, a World War II veteran working at Lockheed. And … Continue reading →

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Aug. 2, 1907: Dr. Lucy Hall-Brown Dies

Posted on August 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 2, 1907: A brief look at the life of Dr. Lucy Hall-Brown, a prominent woman physician. Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, August 1, 1959

Posted on August 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 1, 1959: Matt Weinstock has the story of a movie publicist trying to get the city’s permission to promote ‘The Big Circus’ by having a tightrope walker stroll on a wire strung from the roof of the Orpheum theater on Broadway. Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, Aug. 1, 1959

Posted on August 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 1, 1959: In Paul Coates’ weekly letters column, a writer complains about a pet shop that balked on selling her a bobcat. Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Aug. 1, 1944

Posted on August 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 1, 1944: Clark Gable is up for the biopic ‘The Life of Lucky Baldwin,’ says Louella Parsons. Horoscope for Leo: Similar indications for you as for Cancer now. Extra care advised in plans, arrangements for important projects. You can enjoy a useful day. Continue reading →

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Aug. 1, 1907: Swarm of Bees Terrorizes Downtown Los Angeles

Posted on August 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 1, 1907: ‘Naughty’ bees swarm on South Broadway! Continue reading →

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Found on EBay — Quiet Birdmen

Posted on July 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

In an encore post from 2009, a Quiet Birdmen belt buckle and other belongings of a QB member was listed on EBay. Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion, Science, Transportation | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Quiet Birdmen

Matt Weinstock, July 31, 1959

Posted on July 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 31, 1959: Matt Weinstock on the experiences of a driver whose car was rear-ended, but the man didn’t have car insurance…. Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, July 31, 1959

Posted on July 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 31, 1959: Paul Coates has the story of 12-year-old Joe Oliveira and his coverage of the Laurel Canyon fire. Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Walter Winchell and Louella Parsons, July 31, 1944

Posted on July 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 31, 1944: Walter Winchell has the latest on Otto Preminger’s hit film ‘Laura,’ while Louella Parsons dishes on Mary Pickford. If today is your birthday, If you keep emotions sensibly controlled you need not fear difficult spots today may produce. Chin up, be enthusiastic. You’ll shine as you usually do. Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Life Magazine, July 31, 1944

Posted on July 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 31, 1944: President Roosevelt is nominated for a fourth term, and Life magazine has the story. Continue reading →

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July 31, 1907: After a Day at the Beach, Beer, a Fight and Gunshots

Posted on July 31, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 31, 1907: A day at the beach ends in a fight over beer. Evelyn Ferguson is accused of shooting newsboy Charles ‘Winnipeg’ Wilson with a policeman’s gun because Wilson was attacking her friend, who ‘was not in a condition to remember much about how it happened.’ Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, July 30, 1959

Posted on July 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1959: Matt Weinstock writes about Lawrence Lipton, the “Boswell of beatniks.” Also Venice declares war on beatniks! Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, July 30, 1959

Posted on July 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1959: Paul Coates writes about a certain tangential figure in the Black Dahlia case whose phone number is confused with that of Edd “Kookie” Byrnes. Continue reading →

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July 30, 1947: Peaches Strange at the Follies Burlesque

Posted on July 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1947: Peaches Strange, an ‘artistic’ stripper at the Follies Burlesque, is a modest woman who used to teach Sunday School. Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, July 30, 1944

Posted on July 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1944: Louella Parsons profiles two new glamour girls at MGM: June Allyson and Gloria de Haven. Continue reading →

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July 30: 1907: Runaway Horse Races Down Broadway, Plows Into Hotel Lobby

Posted on July 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1907: A runaway horse hitched to a buggy outside Jevne’s grocery store at 6th and Broadway plows through a plate glass window at the Lankershim. Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, July 29, 1959

Posted on July 29, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 29, 1959: Matt Weinstock writes about the dangers of body surfing; and a look at the slinky characters of Sunset Strip. Continue reading →

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Paul V. Coates — Confidential File, July 29, 1959

Posted on July 29, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 29, 1959: Paul Coates writes about a man who has a problem with a wildcat in a eucalyptus tree. Also: A man tells Dear Abby he can’t live without his ex-wife. Continue reading →

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