Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Southbound 110: Traffic Collision 9/8/2023

Posted on September 8, 2023 by lmharnisch

Public Service Announcement: I saw this accident on the southbound 110 between a Honda and a Toyota, and got footage on my dash cam, but I wasn’t able to stop (it wasn’t safe) so I couldn’t contact the drivers, especially … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Lost Film ‘Hollywood’ Turns 100

Posted on September 6, 2023 by lmharnisch

One of the most sought after “lost” films, Paramount’s “Hollywood” debuted 100 years ago, telling a film industry behind-the-scenes story through scenes set all through the self-named community populated with a bevy of stars. Unlike several other movie-themed pictures released … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything for September 2023

Posted on September 5, 2023 by lmharnisch

Here’s my latest Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case. We had a good turnout and lots of excellent questions. The video is posted on YouTube and on Instagram. I discussed Don’t Dress Up Like the Black Dahlia for … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on September 4, 2023 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1956 Paramount picture The Mountain, with Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, Claire Trevor, William Demarest, Barbara Darrow, Richard Arlen, E.G. Marshall, Anna Kashfi, Richard Garrick, Harry Townes, Stacy Harris and Yves Brainville.

Posted in 1956, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is Sept. 5

Posted on August 29, 2023 by lmharnisch

Reminder: Boxy and I will be doing a live “Ask Me Anything” on the Black Dahlia case Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. I’ll give an update on the book and talk about several popular subjects: Research in … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 28, 2023 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 Twentieth Century-Fox picture Down to the Sea in Ships, with Richard Widmark, Lionel Barrymore, Dean Stockwell, Cecil Kellaway, Gene Lockhart, Berry Kroeger, John McIntire, Henry Morgan, Harry Davenport, Paul Harvey and Jay C. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 66 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Clarence Brown Provides Quick Shave to King Gillette Ranch

Posted on August 28, 2023 by lmharnisch

King Camp Gillette dies at the age of 77 in 1932. He gave architect Wallace Neff free rein to built an expansive ranch in Calabasas, but only lived there for a few years before his death. Tennessean Clarence Brown reigned … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, 1932, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 21, 2023 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1931 Universal picture Waterloo Bridge, with Mae Clarke, Kent Douglass, Doris Lloyd, Frederick Kerr, Enid Bennett, Bette Davis, Ethel Griffies, Rita Carlisle and Ruth Handforth.

Posted in 1931, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – 1938 Floods Wreak Havoc on Los Angeles Area

Posted on August 21, 2023 by lmharnisch

  Flooding in North Hollywood, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Seventy-five years ago, a deluge of rain hit Los Angeles and the surrounding area, leading to massive floods and causing millions of dollars … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: George Hodel, Ask Me Anything, August 2023

Posted on August 16, 2023 by lmharnisch

Here’s an Ask Me Anything that I did Tuesday about Steve Hodel and his lies about his father, Dr. George Hodel. To be scientific, I analyzed Steve Hodel’s techniques for lying, which I call Inflation, Distortion, Suppression and Fiction, and … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Noir City Celebrates the Dark Side

Posted on August 15, 2023 by lmharnisch

The Film Noir Foundation’s 24th presentation of Noir City Hollywood with the American Cinematheque recently concluded at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre, saluting the 75th anniversary of 1948 films and demonstrating how relevant these films are today. While shot all in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1948, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 14, 2023 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1946 Warner Bros. film One More Tomorrow, with Ann Sheridan, Dennis Morgan, Jack Carson, Alexis Smith, Jane Wyman, Reginald Gardiner, John Loder, Marjorie Gateson, Thurston Hall and John Abbott.

Posted in 1946, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 36 Comments

‘Ask Me Anything’ on George Hodel — August 15

Posted on August 11, 2023 by lmharnisch

Boxy and I will be doing a live “Ask Me Anything” about Dr. George Hodel on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Have you read Steve Hodel’s books? Watched the TV interviews? Listened to the podcasts? Maybe you’re … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 7, 2023 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 Allied Artists film Bad Boy, with Lloyd Nolan, Jane Wyatt, James Gleason, Stanley Clements, Martha Vickers, and in his first starring role, Audie Murphy. With Rhys Williams, Selena Royle, James Lydon, Dickie Moore, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 40 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nell Brinkley, Queen of Early American Comics

Posted on August 7, 2023 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. When Americans think of classic illustrators from the early 20th century, names such as Charles Dana Gibson, Harrison Fisher, Haskell Coffin, James Montgomery Flagg, and John Held Jr. spring to mind. Forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Comics, Fashions, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nell Brinkley, Queen of Early American Comics

Mary Mallory/ Hollywood Heights: El Cholo Turns 100

Posted on August 1, 2023 by lmharnisch

100 years ago, Alexander Alejandro Borquez and his wife Rosa opened a tiny cafe on Moneta Avenue, serving tasty, homestyle Mexican food. Little did they realize that their modest enterprise would survive a century, becoming one of Los Angeles’ most … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything for August 2023

Posted on August 1, 2023 by lmharnisch

Here is this month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case. I discussed the latest in Black Dahlia projects and gave an update on the book (124,000 words and counting). I addressed two recurring subjects: Carl Balsiger and why … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 31, 2023 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1932 RKO picture The Animal Kingdom, with Ann Harding, Leslie Howard, Myrna Loy, William Gargan, Neil Hamilton, Ilka Chase, Henry Stephenson, Leni Stengel and Donald Dilloway.

Posted in 1932, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 1960 Writers Strike Echoes Today

Posted on July 25, 2023 by lmharnisch

63 years ago, writers and actors were struggling. Looking for a small share of revenue to help fiscally survive, they asked simply for residuals from post-1948 films sold to television, while studios pled poverty. Both unions went out on strike, … Continue reading →

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Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is August 1

Posted on July 25, 2023 by lmharnisch

Reminder: Boxy and I will be doing a live “Ask Me Anything” on the Black Dahlia case Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. I’ll give an update on the book and talk about two popular subjects: Carl Balsiger … Continue reading →

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