Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Literary diversions

Posted on September 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

Louis L’Amour, Oct. 23, 1960. No, I don’t consider Louis L’Amour a great writer. I don’t even consider him a good writer. But I’m dedicated to presenting a variety of voices and not necessarily those I agree with. And he … Continue reading →

Posted in books | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Literary diversions

South-Central Vice

Posted on September 9, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 8-12, 1957 Los Angeles Let's suppose you are the mayor of the nation's third-largest city. Let's further suppose that your wife has received several letters complaining about rampant crime in a heavily minority neighborhood. You might turn the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Countdown to Watts, Downtown, LAPD | Comments Off on South-Central Vice

Architectural ramblings

Posted on September 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

Here’s the home at 457 S. Serrano Ave., where mystery writer Craig Rice died. Photograph by Larry Harnisch Los Angeles Times

Posted in books | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Police and the courts

Posted on September 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

I missed this op/ed piece when it came out July 19, 1957. It was certainly a different era for the police.

Posted in #courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Police and the courts

Mystery photo IV

Posted on September 8, 2007 by lmharnisch

Here’s the fourth picture of our mystery guest from The Times photo archives. The second photo of him is here. The third one is here. (Hint: He’s not Arnold Stang. He’s also not Telly Savalas (2 votes!), Mickey Cohen, Sammy … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 7, 1957 The week’s cordon bleu for eccentric behavior goes to a sharply dressed young man who came into a hill Street bat cave around midnight and ordered a beer. Before sipping any, he unlatched a luggage case, extracted … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Downtown, Matt Weinstock | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock

Mystery photo III

Posted on September 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

Here’s a third picture of our mystery guest from The Times photo archives. Another photo of him is here.(Hint: He’s not Arnold Stang. He’s also not Telly Savalas, Mickey Cohen, Sammy Cahn, Billy Wilder, Mel Blanc, Neil Simon or Jack … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 3 Comments

How to Get–and Keep–a Husband

Posted on September 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 4-6, 1957 Los Angeles If it’s true that a woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle, then author Kate Constance wants every salmon to have a Schwinn. She’s written a book on the subject, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on How to Get–and Keep–a Husband

Ask Jane

Posted on September 7, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 4, 1957Los Angeles This is almost beyond belief. "I spit fire with every word and could smack my wife’s head off with my fist–but, hey, I take a bath every day. What’s her problem?"

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ask Jane

Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 6, 1957 Last week while driving between Cortez and Durango, Colo., Paul Weeks turned on the radio to relieve the monotony. After a while it came through his consciousness that the station, KWIK in Farmington, N.M., was playing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Dodgers, Downtown, Matt Weinstock | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock

Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 6, 1957 Sometimes it’s a good idea to holler Because if you don’t, people don’t hear. Or, at least, they don’t pay attention. I’ve done a little hollering over the past couple of months–about a situation which I considered … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

The pride of South Bend

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

In case you have never seen one, this car was called a Studebaker. This model was the Silver Hawk. Studebaker’s West Coast assembly plant was at 4530 Loma Vista Ave. in Vernon. The factory resumed postwar auto manufacturing Oct. 18, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The pride of South Bend

Judith Mae Andersen update

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

Here’s what I heard from Ben Eckart, one of the collectors who has posted a photo of an En-Ar-Co bucket on his website: The bucket you show was sold by the National Refining Company between about 1934 and 1950. Their … Continue reading →

Posted in Judith Mae Andersen | Comments Off on Judith Mae Andersen update

A rambling man

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 6, 1957 Los Angeles Kindly, mild-mannered and quiet, The Traveler, 51, was the last person anyone would suspect of a crime. He seemed more like a Sunday school teacher, which he had been, or perhaps an itinerant newsman. … Continue reading →

Posted in LAPD, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A rambling man

Mystery photo II

Posted on September 6, 2007 by lmharnisch

See if you can identify this gentleman from The Times photo archives.(Hint: He’s not Arnold Stang. He’s also not Telly Savalas, Mickey Cohen, Sammy Cahn, Billy Wilder, Mel Blanc, Neil Simon or Jack Dragna).

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Bernheimer on Pavarotti

Posted on September 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Martin Bernheimer reviews Luciano Pavarotti’s recital at Royce Hall, Sept. 25, 1973.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Bernheimer on Pavarotti

Matt Weinstock

Posted on September 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Matt Weinstock Sept. 5, 1957 An Altadena family took off recently on a trip to Europe. The other day, the next-door neighbor, Ed Murray, was advised by his youngster that a skunk was trapped in the cement crawl hole at … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, LAPD, Matt Weinstock | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock

Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Posted on September 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Sept. 5, 1957 On my desk are some 200 letters, each charging County General Hospital with neglect, indifference and cruelty. They were sent to me by former county patients following my recent reports–both in this column and on television–of some … Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Paul V. Coates–Confidential File

Confidential–Tells the Facts and Names the Names

Posted on September 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Scenes from the Confidential trial: Sept. 4, 1957, Dorothy Dandridge testifies Photograph by Dan McCormack, Los Angeles Times

Posted in #courts, 1957, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Confidential–Tells the Facts and Names the Names

Mystery photo

Posted on September 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

See if you can identify this gentleman from The Times photo archives.(Hint: He’s not Arnold Stang). Email me Guesses so far: Telly Savalas.

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments