Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

April 26, 1908

Posted on April 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

Meet an earnest young scientist named Fred Horowitz, who received a wireless message sent from across the city, a newsworthy achievement in 1908. The other young Edison is Mars Baumgardt, whom you may recall from a previous post on the … Continue reading →

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Home of the week

Posted on April 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

Miracle of miracles, this house at 1233 S. Bonnie Brae is still standing. View Larger Map Here’s an image from Google’s street view. Someone in the last century has tinkered with the porch and we have a non-period satellite dish, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock

Posted on April 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 25, 1958

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Paul Coates

Posted on April 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 25, 1958

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April 25, 1958

Posted on April 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, the L.A. Dodgers appear in a crossword puzzle, always a barometer of popular culture … Below, Cheryl Crane is released from custody … Secret Service agents detain a woman who burst out of a crowd and insisted on seeing … Continue reading →

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April 25, 1938

Posted on April 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

I guess I’m just a sucker for holy men who run backward. And no, I can’t find out anything else about Goliath Messiah … Below, the United Palestine Appeal advocates a program to settle 500,000 Jewish refugees in Palestine over … Continue reading →

Posted in Front Pages, Religion | Comments Off on April 25, 1938

April 25, 1908

Posted on April 25, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, no, I can’t find any follow-up stories and it would be interesting to know what happened. Below, Los Angeles says goodbye to the Great White Fleet. Many people spend the night on the beach so they can see the … Continue reading →

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Mob killings

Posted on April 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 29, 1959 I stumbled across this page yesterday while looking for details on the Les Bruneman killing at the Roost cafe. Unfortunately, the front page didn’t get microfilmed, so all we have is the jump. Still, it’s a nice, … Continue reading →

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April 24, 1938

Posted on April 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Police Capt. Peter Del Gado. As I said before, keep your eye on him. Below, a night with a radio car: A nude woman roaming, a couple of drunks and a car accident that involved liquor. Email me

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Mystery photo–answered!

Posted on April 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

OK, here’s another picture of our mystery woman. Surely someone will recognize her sooner or later. Patricia Blair? (Rotter). Absolutely right. This is Patricia Blake (a.k.a. Patricia Blair). She was photographed with Marlon Brando in November 1955 at the Ambassador, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 22 Comments

April 24, 1908

Posted on April 24, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, a story that reminds me of old Master Chief Petty Officer Oneyear of the Belleau Wood LHA-3, who had fouled anchors inlaid in silver in his front teeth. Note that less than 1 percent of the sailors’ tattoos were … Continue reading →

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Fleetwood Pugsley

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

July 26, 1971

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Matt Weinstock

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 23, 1958

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Paul Coates

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

April 23, 1958

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Last Remaining Seats

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Now that I have safely secured my tickets for what is my favorite Los Angeles film event, I can announce that tickets have gone on sale to the public for the Los Angeles Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats. This is a … Continue reading →

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Jack Searles, RIP

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jack Curtis Searles 1928-2008 By Michael Searles For more than 60 years, Jack Searles, in one fashion or another, was involved in Southern California journalism. His newspaper jobs included everything from copy boy to business editor. He worked for every kind … Continue reading →

Posted in @news | 4 Comments

Just say no

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

A copy of this book has turned up on EBay for (get this) $500! Until a few years ago, it was possible to pick up "Thieves" for a few dollars, in fact I found an autographed copy at a Salvation … Continue reading →

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April 23, 1958

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Bunker Hill as envisioned, with 5th Street and Figueroa in the upper left corner. Below, Bunker Hill, as grabbed from Google Earth, with 5th and Figueroa in the upper left corner. Note how much the two images resemble one … Continue reading →

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April 23, 1938

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

Below, the 1937 slaying of underworld figure Les Bruneman intrudes into the trial of Police Capt. Earle Kynette in the Harry Raymond bombing. (Pete Pianezzi, convicted of killing Bruneman at the Roost cafe, was paroled in 1953) … Former City … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, City Hall, Current Affairs, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on April 23, 1938

April 23, 1908: Whiskey Is a Health Tonic

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

You may remember yesterday that Schlitz declared beer a health drink. And I’ve noted elsewhere that brewers marketed beer as “liquid bread” (a mere 3 1/2 percent alcohol). But calling whiskey a health tonic is new to me. Do you … Continue reading →

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