Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

William Desmond Taylor Shot!

Posted on February 1, 2022 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Mary Mallory points out that this is the 90th anniversary of William Desmond Taylor’s death. I did several posts when the Daily Mirror was at The Times: William Desmond Taylor, Mystery Guest … Continue reading →

Posted in 1922, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo – William Desmond Taylor Crime Scene Edition

Posted on February 1, 2022 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2010. Well, this should be fun – for me, anyway. What’s the mystery? That’s for you to figure out. A typical room of a certain era, eh?

Posted in 1922, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo – William Desmond Taylor Edition

Posted on February 1, 2022 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2010. [Updated Oct. 30, 8:58 a.m. Yes, these are more photos from the William Desmond Taylor photo file. Above, a photo of Taylor from “Iconoclast.”]

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

On the Frontiers of Fashion – William Desmond Taylor

Posted on February 1, 2022 by lmharnisch

Photos Courtesy of Steven Bibb. Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Daily Mirror reader Steven Bibb sent these photos from a recent tour of Paramount. Keep reading for more details….

Posted in 1911, Fashion, Film, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on On the Frontiers of Fashion – William Desmond Taylor

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 31, 2022 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1948 MGM film The Search, with Montgomery Clift, Aline MacMahon, Jarmila Novotna, Wendell Corey, Ivan Jandl, Mary Patton, Ewart G. Morrison, William Rogers, Leopold Borkowski and Claude Gambier.

Posted in 1948, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: On the Frontiers of Businesses Run and Owned by Women

Posted on January 31, 2022 by lmharnisch

At a time when women faced enormous hurdles and obstacles in the workplace, possessing fewer opportunities and earning lower wages than men, the progressive and woman-owned and operated Averill Morgan Co. recognized the strength of working women and immigrants by … Continue reading →

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 24, 2022 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1939 Twentieth Century-Fox film Day-Time Wife (sometimes Daytime Wife, watch the hyphen), with Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, Warren William, Binnie Barnes, Wendy Barrie and Joan Davis.

Posted in 1939, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 51 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – ‘Auction of Souls’

Posted on January 24, 2022 by lmharnisch

Photo: June 23, 1919, “Auction of Souls.” Credit: Los Angeles Times Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Los Angeles has long been a haven for refugees and artists, particularly those fleeing political and militaristic struggles.  As early as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, 1919, Brain Trust, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Religion | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – ‘Auction of Souls’

Black Dahlia: Elizabeth Short’s ‘Lost Week’ and the Latest Alleged ‘New Evidence’

Posted on January 20, 2022 by lmharnisch

Oh dear. A self-styled “expert” has “new evidence” in the Black Dahlia case. I’m not even linking to this tacticool fool. On the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s murder, Chicagoland TV could apparently not resist some bizarre claims of “new evidence” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: A Dash Through Downtown L.A. in 1926 Film Backing Raises for Police, Firefighters

Posted on January 18, 2022 by lmharnisch

A compelling form of advertising from its beginnings thanks to its emotional power and ability to manipulate, film has been employed to sell and brand products as well as educate audiences on social, cultural, and educational issues virtually since its … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, LAPD, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 17, 2022 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1931 RKO picture Smart Woman, with Mary Astor, Robert Ames, John Halliday, Edward Everett Horton, Noel Francis, Ruth Weston, Gladys Gale, Alfred Cross and Lillian Harmer.

Posted in 1931, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Black Dahlia: Trim Your Roses on Jan. 15 to Remember Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 15, 2022 by lmharnisch

Today is Jan. 15, the anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s death. As is the custom, the Daily Mirror will be dark. Trim your roses in her memory.

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

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 10, 2022 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1950 Twentieth Century-Fox Film No Way Out, with Richard Widmark, Linda Darnell, Stephen McNally, Sidney Poitier, Mildred Joanne Smith, Harry Bellaver, Stanley Ridges and Dots Johnson.

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 65 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Beverly Hills Waterworks

Posted on January 10, 2022 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Southern California and Los Angeles have grown by leaps and bounds over the last 150 years, and the most urgent requirement during that time has been water.  Unable to provide enough water … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Beverly Hills Waterworks

Black Dahlia: When New York Times Reporters Rely on Faulty Memories

Posted on January 7, 2022 by lmharnisch

Do reporters check the clips when writing for publication? Or do they rely on a faulty memory? In the case of Jill Abramson, reviewing Carl Bernstein’s Chasing History for the New York Times, faulty memory wins out, along with a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Black Dahlia: My Annual Donation in Memory of Elizabeth Short

Posted on January 4, 2022 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2021. As longtime readers know, I always begin a new year with an annual donation in memory of Elizabeth Short to Heading Home, which works with the homeless in the Boston area. Partly … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: My Annual Donation in Memory of Elizabeth Short

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 3, 2022 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1972 MGM film The Carey Treatment, with James Coburn, Jennifer O’Neill, Pat Hingle, Skye Aubrey, Elizabeth Allen, John Fink, and Dan O’Herlihy as J.D. Randall, James Hong, Alex Dreier, Michael Blodgett, Regis Toomey, Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , | 34 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Betty White, America’s Sweetheart

Posted on January 3, 2022 by lmharnisch

On December 31, beloved television actress Betty White passed away at the age of 99. For more than 80 years, she charmed audiences with her quick wit, sly smile, genuine warmth, and wicked sense of humor. White’s expert comic timing … Continue reading →

Posted in Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Obituaries, Television | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Betty White, America’s Sweetheart

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — Pisco Punch

Posted on December 31, 2021 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Just in time for New Year’s, we’ll take a look at a “lost drink,” making a brief inquiry into San Francisco’s Pisco Punch, made famous by Bank Exchange saloon owner Duncan Nicol … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, 1934, 1939, Food and Drink, San Francisco | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Drinking Guide — Pisco Punch

Mary Astor’s Lost Film ‘New Year’s Eve’

Posted on December 31, 2021 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore from January 2020. Since TCM is featuring Mary Astor, here’s a brief post on her lost movie “New Year’s Eve.” (A tip of the hat to Lou Lumenick, who tweeted about the movie on — … Continue reading →

Posted in 1929, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment