Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Beckham update

Posted on October 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

Clinton Erickson, who keeps track of retired and deceased Los Angeles Police Department officers, says that James “J.O.” Worden retired on June 17, 1979, and died Sept. 16, 1999. He has no information on Worden’s partner, K.E. Gourley.

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Tribute to Jack Gaunt

Posted on October 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

The Times published the obituary of photographer Jack Gaunt, who won a Pulitzer for his 1955 picture of a couple whose young child had been swept out to sea. Joe Jares writes of Gaunt: I had the privilege of working … Continue reading →

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Posted on October 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 27, 1957

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The rules of the game

Posted on October 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 27, 1957 Here I am, giving away the punchline of a “Nancy” comic. My bad. Which reminds me of a game called “Five Card Nancy” that I learned about from Kim Cooper of 47p. Five Card Nancy works like … Continue reading →

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Too much noir!

Posted on October 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 27, 1957 Los Angeles I’ve had so much downbeat crime and so many tawdry stories lately: stag films, shootings of law enforcement officers and unsolved killings. Time for some good news! A salute to the La Habra Kiwanis Club! … Continue reading →

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The Digital Age

Posted on October 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

Clay Haskell sends along an enhanced version of “Lazy Boy” Beckham’s mug shot. Note the hairline mustache. And here’s Officer Christensen.

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Fatal plunge

Posted on October 26, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 26, 1957Los Angeles There are so many things we don’t about this case. We don’t know where Elizabeth Eigel Senigram was going. We don’t know where she had been. We don’t know if she had any relatives except an … Continue reading →

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USC vs. Washington State

Posted on October 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 26, 1957

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Another dose of skepticism

Posted on October 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Theodore Roosevelt “Lazy Boy” Beckham has been dead for 50 years and is still causing trouble. I was already bothered by the conflicting accounts of his death, but now that I’ve gone into the microfilm at the Los Angeles Public … Continue reading →

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Random shot

Posted on October 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

LAPD headquarters under construction, 2nd and Spring streets, October 2007   Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times

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Bing marries

Posted on October 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 25, 1957

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Blue movies

Posted on October 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 24, 1957Los Angeles The wages of sin was a hilltop mansion in Bel-Air for Donald De Munck, who according to The Times provided his home at 10689 Somma Way as a location to shoot stag films.* The Times account … Continue reading →

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Scott trial update

Posted on October 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 24, 1957Los Angeles So many stories and only one Larry Harnisch. Here’s The Times coverage of the L. Ewing Scott case. Note the testimony of Detective Herman Zander:

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Christian Dior dies

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 23, 1957

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A dose of skepticism–update

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Clay Haskell sends his enhanced version of the Theodore Roosevelt Beckham photo and notes that there’s a second person visible on the driver’s side of the car:  

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Mystery photo

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

OK, this should be easy. This is not a "who" question or a "what" question (both fairly obvious). Why is this happening and why is it significant?   Photograph by Andrew H. Arnott / Los Angeles TimesMarlene Dietrich is fingerprinted … Continue reading →

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Chinese Massacre, 1871

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 27, 1883 Today is the 136th anniversary of the Chinese Massacre. [Note: This article uses names for ethnic minorities that were common in the 19th century–lrh].

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October 23, 1957: Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 23, 1957 The lady, an Ay–Ayer, is sober again, and philosophic. Not long ago, she slipped, as A-Ayers sometimes do. Finding herself well-soused, with no money left for a cab and little sense of direction, she decided the clink … Continue reading →

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A dose of skepticism

Posted on October 23, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 22, 1957 Los Angeles And here’s where storytelling trumped skepticism. Recall the death of Theodore Roosevelt Beckham, who killed Juvenile Officer Robert R. Christensen at 1524 Ingraham St. during an attempted arrest. The first news accounts said officers … Continue reading →

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Bel-Air jewel theft

Posted on October 22, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 23, 1957

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