Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Retro holiday gift — 1951 Thomas Bros. Guide

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

The old Thomas Bros. maps (yes, the Daily Mirror HQ has a motley collection) are handy for anyone interested in Los Angeles history. This one is listed on EBay.

Posted in art and artists, books, Freeways | Comments Off on Retro holiday gift — 1951 Thomas Bros. Guide

Kidnapping victim meets reporters, December 23, 1968

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

    November 19, 1985 Kidnapper Who Used ‘Grave’ Accepted at Medical School ‘There are some people who have faith in me.’ Associated Press ATLANTA — The man convicted of abducting Barbara Jane Mackle and placing her in a "living … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, Front Pages | Comments Off on Kidnapping victim meets reporters, December 23, 1968

Voices — Christine Collins, March 7, 1929

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

           

Posted in #courts, Changeling | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, March 7, 1929

Geronimo Pratt case 40 years later

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Elmer Gerard  "Geronimo" Pratt in 2000, after his release from prison. 'Lie down and pray' Gunshots on a Santa Monica tennis court reverberated across legal landscape. Note: Edward J. Boyer, now retired, covered the Elmer … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 11 Comments

A. Victor Segno — “How to Live 100 Years”

Posted on December 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

“Make it a rule never to wear a hat indoors, either in the home, office, store or workshop. If you now suffer from baldness give your head a chance to get the benefit of the air, sunshine and rain. In … Continue reading →

Posted in books, health | Comments Off on A. Victor Segno — “How to Live 100 Years”

Retro holiday gift — Duesenberg transmission

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Here’s something you don’t see every day — unless you’re EBay vendor med3021. Imagine your loved one’s reaction to find this under the tree (assuming you have a fairly large tree): "Why … it’s a Duesenberg transmission housing. Just what … Continue reading →

Posted in Transportation | 1 Comment

Body found in shallow grave; Rams take off-season jobs, December 22, 1958

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

I thought I had encountered just about every kind of bizarre Southern California crime imaginable, but the Elizabeth Ann Duncan case is staggering–lrh. Mother leaves three children outside orphanage.  Teenage robbers shoot barber The Rams’ season was over, so it … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Front Pages, Homicide, Sports | Comments Off on Body found in shallow grave; Rams take off-season jobs, December 22, 1958

December 22, 1938: Jealous husband kills wife with ax

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Testimony in the murder trial was so graphic that spectators became ill and fled the courtroom, The Times said.

Posted in #courts, 1938, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Voices — Christine Collins, February 21, 1928

Posted on December 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, George B. Anderson’s letter to Christine Collins and below, his letter to Walter Collins.

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, February 21, 1928

Hanukkah 1980: Man recovers 400-year-old menorah from dump

Posted on December 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Goldberg family of Cheviot Hills usually kept their 400-year-old menorah in a bank vault, but Ellen Goldberg decided to show the family heirloom to a religion class she taught at Wilshire Boulevard Temple. She brought it home and left … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Religion | Comments Off on Hanukkah 1980: Man recovers 400-year-old menorah from dump

Kidnapped girl found buried in box, Alcindor sets UCLA record, December 21, 1968

Posted on December 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, an update on the Barbara Jean Marckle kidnapping. For some reason, The Times front page didn’t get microfilmed. All we have is the runover.   Lew Alcindor reached into the UCLA record books to become the school’s top all-time … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, broadcasting, Front Pages, Sports, Television | 1 Comment

January 27, 1928: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on December 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

From the California State Archives   Los Angeles, Calif. Jan. 27, 1928 Mr. Myron Clark, Assistant Clerk, Reprisa, Calif. Dear Sir, I want to thank you for the nice letter you sent me in answer to the letter I forwarded … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1928, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on January 27, 1928: Voices — Christine Collins

Retro holiday gift — Earl Carroll’s Theatre

Posted on December 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

The facade of Earl Carroll’s in Hollywood A frame grab of the nightclub’s neon. This is the best shot I’ve seen of the signatures that used to be outside Earl Carroll’s nightclub at 6230 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood. Listed on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Music, Nightclubs | Comments Off on Retro holiday gift — Earl Carroll’s Theatre

Found on EBay — Williams and Walker

Posted on December 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

"Ephraham," a 1904 song by Vincent Bryan and J.B. Mullen, with a cover illustration of George Walker, is listed on EBay with bidding starting at $19.99. Walker later teamed up  with Bert Williams.

Posted in Music, Stage | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Williams and Walker

A Dragnet Christmas — boy gets .22 rifle

Posted on December 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

Here’s Jack Webb’s downbeat Christmas present to "Dragnet" viewers, and the original radio version of ".22 Rifle for Christmas." This is a wonderful example of how the writers in the early days of television treated TV like radio with pictures. … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD | 2 Comments

January 4, 1928: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on December 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

The Christine Collins letters The woman whose tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie “Changeling” tells her story in her own words. From the California State Archives

Posted in #courts, 1928, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | 3 Comments

Retro holiday gift — Archive of Met broadcasts

Posted on December 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

What can only be described as a massive archive of opera broadcasts has turned up on EBay. The reel-to-reel recordings are mostly Met performances, with a few from Bayreuth, Salzburg and Spoleto. This collection has all the familiar names of … Continue reading →

Posted in classical music, Music | 1 Comment

Movie star mystery photo

Posted on December 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Our mystery guest has more than 40 credits on imdb. Update: This is Barbara Laage in a photo announcing that Gene Kelly had cast her in "The Happy Road." Los Angeles Times file photo Here’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | 26 Comments

Robbers shoot couple on Santa Monica tennis court, Bills seek new coach, December 19, 1968

Posted on December 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

My heart skipped a beat when I pulled up this page. Of course, this is the beginning of the Geronimo Pratt case. Note the Ted Thackery Jr. byline. — lrh   The Buffalo Bills had big plans in 1968. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Sports | Comments Off on Robbers shoot couple on Santa Monica tennis court, Bills seek new coach, December 19, 1968

Dwyane Hickman to star in ‘Dobie Gillis,’ Dodger Pee Wee Reese retires, December 19, 1958

Posted on December 19, 2008 by lmharnisch

Hedda Hopper announces that Dwyane Hickman is leaving the "Bob Cummings Show" to star in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," one of the biggest hits of the 1950s and early ’60s. At left, a clip of Hickman with Bob … Continue reading →

Posted in #gays and lesbians, broadcasting, Dodgers, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Television | Comments Off on Dwyane Hickman to star in ‘Dobie Gillis,’ Dodger Pee Wee Reese retires, December 19, 1958