Author Archives: lmharnisch

Unknown's avatar

About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, March 2026

Posted on March 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

This month’s Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case includes a progress report on Heaven Is HERE! and a possible appearance on Michael Connelly’s podcast. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Ask Me Anything, March 2026

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on March 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have two mysterious fellows. Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , | 34 Comments

March 1, 1907: L.A. Businesses Running Out of Space to Dump Garbage

Posted on March 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

March 1, 1907: Downtown businessmen are at a complete loss over what to do with the garbage from their operations and want the city to either take it or designate a dump they can use. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Downtown, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged | Comments Off on March 1, 1907: L.A. Businesses Running Out of Space to Dump Garbage

February 29, 1932: Body Found in Closet of Vacant Home

Posted on March 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 29, 1932: Nailed up in the closet of an unoccupied house at 2318 Pontius Ave.., West Los Angeles, the body of Tomas Moreno (or Towas Morino), 43-year-old Japanese, was discovered yesterday by friends. Continue reading →

Posted in 1932, Cold Cases, Comics, Crime and Courts, Homicide | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on February 29, 1932: Body Found in Closet of Vacant Home

February 28, 1959: Dodger Dome?

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 29, 1959: Could Dodger Stadium be renamed the Dodger Dome? Keith Thursby takes a look. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Architecture, Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, Obituaries, Sports | Comments Off on February 28, 1959: Dodger Dome?

February 28, 1959: Ex-Teamsters Boss Sentenced to Prison

Posted on February 28, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 28, 1959: Former Teamsters boss Dave Beck is sentenced to five years in prison. Beck died in 1993 at the age of 99. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Architecture, Dodgers, Downtown, Front Pages, Obituaries, Sports | Comments Off on February 28, 1959: Ex-Teamsters Boss Sentenced to Prison

Voices — Christine Collins, February 27, 1932

Posted on February 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 27, 1932: Parole is denied for Walter Collins, a blow to Christine Collins, whose life inspired the Clint Eastwood film ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, February 27, 1932

1944 on the Radio — Jack Benny and Groucho Marx, February 26, 1944

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1944: On the radio dial, Jack Benny visits Groucho Marx. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Music, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 on the Radio — Jack Benny and Groucho Marx, February 26, 1944

Feb. 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ Inspires ‘Dopey’ Dance

Posted on February 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ inspires the ballroom craze: The ‘Dopey’ Dance! Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Downtown, Front Pages, LAPD, Politics | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Feb. 26, 1938: ‘Snow White’ Inspires ‘Dopey’ Dance

Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is March 3

Posted on February 24, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@lmharnisch) next Tuesday, March 3, at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Have questions? Leave them in the comments. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Coming Attractions | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Reminder – My Next ‘Ask Me Anything’ on the Black Dahlia Case Is March 3

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Miriam Matthews, Pioneering Black Librarian, Advocate of L.A. History

Posted on February 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Miriam Matthews, Los Angeles’ first Black certified librarian, who was an advocate for Los Angeles history. Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Libraries, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Miriam Matthews, Pioneering Black Librarian, Advocate of L.A. History

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 23, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious woman and Back of the Head Guy. Continue reading →

Posted in 1962, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

Voices — Christine Collins, February 21, 1928

Posted on February 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 21, 1928: George Anderson of the Los Angeles Railway writes to Christine Collins regarding possible for parole for her husband, Walter. Christine Collin’s life was the inspiration for the Clint Eastwood film “Changeling.” Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Changeling, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Comments Off on Voices — Christine Collins, February 21, 1928

L.A. Times Recants 1942 Editorials on Internment of Japanese Americans

Posted on February 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 21, 1942: The Times reports President Roosevelt’s executive order on the evacuation of Americans of Japanese ancestry. In 2017, The Times recanted it editorials strongly promoting the internment. Continue reading →

Posted in 1942, 2017, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Times Recants 1942 Editorials on Internment of Japanese Americans

February 21, 1907: Mystery Killer Poisons Dogs and Cats in Angeleno Heights

Posted on February 21, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 21, 1907: A mysterious poisoner is killing dogs and cats in Angeleno Heights. The killer preys on purebreds rather than mongrels, The Times says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on February 21, 1907: Mystery Killer Poisons Dogs and Cats in Angeleno Heights

February 18, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1959: Actor Paul Fierro grew a beard in hopes of being cast as Fidel Castro. His ploy finally worked — somewhat. He’s cast as a police officer and has to shave off the beard but is keeping the mustache, Matt Weinstock says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on February 18, 1959: Matt Weinstock

February 18, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1959: A divorcee over 40, once an executive secretary, can’t get hired because of her age, Paul Coates writes. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on February 18, 1959: Paul Coates — Confidential File

1944 in Print — ‘Walter Winchell on Broadway,’ February 18, 1944

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1944: Herr Goering’s first name, Herman, came from a Jewish doctor, Herman Eppstein, of Tyrol, Austria, Walter Winchell says. Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, New York, Nightclubs, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 1944 in Print — ‘Walter Winchell on Broadway,’ February 18, 1944

February 18, 1908

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 1908: A woman falsely claims to be a famous author, and a man has delusions of great wealth. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1908, Front Pages, Transportation | Comments Off on February 18, 1908

February 18, 2007: Architectural Ramblings

Posted on February 18, 2026 by lmharnisch

February 18, 2007: In exploring neighborhoods from 1907, I visited La Salle Street. Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged | 2 Comments