Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Yankees take Game 1

Posted on October 3, 2007 by lmharnisch
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Matt Weinstock

Posted on October 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 30, 1957 Ever since returning from my vacation I’ve been thinking about an eerie piece of information I picked up while driving along Highway 395 near Big Pine. Riding along was Sid Parratt of the Department of Water and … Continue reading →

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The Money Man

Posted on October 2, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Oct. 2-3, 1957 Los Angeles OK, let’s go get a cup of coffee and talk about our friend "The Money Man." We can just drive up Central Avenue until we find some all-night place. I’m not really hungry. I … Continue reading →

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College fashions, IX

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

In 1969, The Times sent one of its best and most respected writers, Art Seidenbaum, on a tour of California college campuses: UCLA, USC, Stanford, UC Berkeley and someplace called San Fernando Valley State. The resulting series for West magazine … Continue reading →

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Strangled

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 30-Oct. 1, 1957 Los Angeles It’s almost 3 a.m. and we’re parked on 134th Street between Water Way and Central Avenue in Compton. In two years, there will be houses all along the north side of the street. … Continue reading →

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In the comics

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

As a child of the 1950s, it’s a treat for me to see the old comics, with the large panels and fine draftsmanship. Some don’t hold up terribly well but others remain classics, like “Li’l Abner,” which has been featuring … Continue reading →

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Hollywood confidential

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

Oct. 1, 1957 Los Angeles No, I haven’t forgotten about Confidential magazine. The jury is still out.

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Random story

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

Jan. 14, 1941 I stumbled across this brief while researching the Boy Bandit Gang:  

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Mystery photo solved

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

The correct answer is Caryl Whittier Chessman. A very impressive showing by Duane Laible. I didn’t expect anyone to guess so quickly.    Meet the boy bandit gang, which terrorized Los Angeles with a string of robberies and shootings in … Continue reading →

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Mystery photo

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

The answer to the last mystery photo was guessed in an hour. I hope this one will be more of a challenge. Our famous mystery guest is one of the young men in this photo. He wrote a number of … Continue reading →

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Dodgers!

Posted on October 1, 2007 by lmharnisch

Countdown to Chavez Ravine:   Read the rest of the story below:

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Oh for a time machine

Posted on September 30, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 30, 1957Los Angeles

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Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 30, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 30, 1957 SUBJECT’S NAME–Judy Smith or Judy Burris SUBJECT’S DESCRIPTION–Age 30. Height, 5 feet, 5 inches. Weight, 125 pounds. Dark brown eyes. Light brown hair. Slight scar on left side of jaw. Any person with information as to subject’s … Continue reading →

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Comic pages

Posted on September 29, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 29, 1957Los Angeles Fifty years ago, The Times included Bible stories in the Sunday comics with a strip titled "Tales From the Great Book," drawn by John Lehti. This is a sample of his work, telling the story of … Continue reading →

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Smog

Posted on September 29, 2007 by lmharnisch

Greg Armento, history librarian at Cal State Long Beach, dropped me a note about early uses of "smog" in The Times. He noted that on March 29, 1914, The Times said: "[Kokomo Times:] The esteemed Weather Bureau has sprung a … Continue reading →

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In which I bring in the expert

Posted on September 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

Several people have noticed that the postcard of The Times Building in the earlier entry doesn’t show the eagle. So I queried Carolyn Strickler, a friend and former head of The Times History Center. She says the post-bombing structure was … Continue reading →

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History on EBay

Posted on September 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

Although I don’t often post items from EBay, these are exceptional: Two historic postcards of The Times. The first shows the presses. Perhaps regular readers at the Olympic Plant can shed some light on the equipment. (Personal note: The Times … Continue reading →

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Redwood revisited

Posted on September 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

Attention art sleuths: A close examination of the Redwood ad reveals this startling detail!   Yes, that’s right! According to this 1960 ad, the "famed ‘Poker Dog’ original oil paintings" were on display at the Redwood. And the paintings were … Continue reading →

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Hollywood confidential

Posted on September 28, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 28, 1957Los AngelesThis isn’t looking good.

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September 27, 1957: Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

September 27, 1957 August 12, 1957–A 19-year-old youth was stabbed and seriously wounded last night as he fought to save an 11-year-old girl from criminal attack in Hollenbeck Park. The youth, Edward Gandara, and Jesus Rodriguez, 16, routed the molester, … Continue reading →

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