Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

July 7, 1947: 4,000 Bikers in ‘Gypsy Tour’ Wreak Havoc in Hollister

Posted on July 7, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 7, 1947: Hollister, California, cleans up after the Highway Patrol chases thousands of motorcyclists out of town. The occasion was a “gypsy tour” of the American Motorcycle Association. The incident inspired the Marlon Brando movie “The Wild One.” Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Eleanor Jones, Librarian to Hollywood

Posted on July 6, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Eleanor Jones, head of the Hollywood branch library for 18 years. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on July 6, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow (no worries, it all works out in the end). Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

July 5, 1927: Voices — Christine Collins

Posted on July 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1927: The prison warden replies to Christine Collins regarding parole for her husband, Walter. Christine Collins’ tragedy inspired the Clint Eastwood movie ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

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July 5, 1907: Beer Is the Health Drink, Like ‘Liquid Bread’

Posted on July 5, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 5, 1907: See here, you pesky temperance workers, beer is “liquid bread!” It’s good for you! Continue reading →

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L.A. Celebrates the Fourth of July 1889 – 1960

Posted on July 4, 2026 by lmharnisch

The Fourth of July in Los Angeles:
1863: Pic-Nics and fireworks!
1889: Coursing (dogs chasing a live rabbit)!
1907: Cricket matches and a bagpipe contest!
1910: Speeches in Spanish and Italian, race riots over the ‘fight of the century’ between Jack Johnson and Jim Jeffries. Continue reading →

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July 3, 1947: Flying Saucers Over Beverly Hills!

Posted on July 3, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 3, 1947: Flying Saucers Over Beverly Hills! Continue reading →

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July 2, 1947: Man Held in Strangling of Mary Tate

Posted on July 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1947: Oscar Hallgren is held in the killing of Mary Tate at 107 Weller Street, now Onizuka Street in Little Tokyo. Continue reading →

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July 2, 1908: Life ‘A Living Hell,’ Wife Flees Husband

Posted on July 2, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 2, 1908: Walter F.W. Stock says his wife, Fannie, was lured away from home during a motoring trip with “a prepossessing young Mexican in his employ. The next day, however, Fannie says her life is a living hell: Married at 16, giving birth to seven children in seven years. Continue reading →

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July 1, 1947: ‘Mom and Dad’ — Elliot Forbes and Sexploitation in the 1940s

Posted on July 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1947: Elliot Forbes and the notorious sexploitation film “Mom and Dad.” Continue reading →

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July 1, 1907: What Was the Gas Mileage of the Horseless Carriage?

Posted on July 1, 2026 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1907: Ever wonder what the gas mileage was for a horseless carriage? One of the best was a Pope-Hartford that got 21.76 mpg. Continue reading →

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Voices — Christine Collins, June 30, 1931

Posted on June 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

June, 30, 1931: Police Chief R.E. Steckel tells the parole board that Walter Collins should be considered a habitual criminal. Collins’ wife, Christine, was the inspiration for Clint Eastwood’s film ‘Changeling.’ Continue reading →

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Reminder: My Next Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia Case Is July 7

Posted on June 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

Reminder: I will be doing a live Ask Me Anything on the Black Dahlia case, next Tuesday, July 7, at 10 a.m. Pacific time at YouTube.com/LMHarnisch Continue reading →

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June 30, 1947: Albert Goldberg Becomes L.A. Times Music Critic

Posted on June 30, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 30, 1947: Albert Goldberg is named music critic for the Los Angeles Times, a post he would hold until 1965. Continue reading →

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Coming Attractions: ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ (1963) in Beverly Hills

Posted on June 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

Stanley Kramer’s 1963 comedy ‘It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World’ will be shown Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Fine Arts Theatre in Beverly Hills. Kramer’s widow and daughter will appear and James Curtis will sign his new book on the making of the film. Continue reading →

Posted in 1963, Artist's Notebook, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Emma Lazarus’ ‘The New Colossus’ Calls to All Immigrants

Posted on June 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory writes about Emma Lazarus and her poem ‘The New Colossus,’ enshrined at the Statue of Liberty. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on June 29, 2026 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have two mysterious guests and an enigmatic vehicle. Continue reading →

Posted in 1971, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

June 27, 1947: Ray the Newspaper Boy Publishes First Book, ‘Dark Carnival’

Posted on June 27, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1947: Ray the newsboy, who once sold papers at Olympic at Norton, has published his first book: “Dark Carnival.” You might know him as Ray Bradbury. Continue reading →

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June 26, 1947: ‘White’ or ‘Negro?’ LAPD Holds Sentinel Columnist for Having Two Driver’s Licenses

Posted on June 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1947: Los Angeles Sentinel columnist Edward Robinson is held by the LAPD because he has two driver’s licenses, one identifying him as “white” and the other as “Negro.” Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Columnists | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

June 26, 1947: Helicopter Hovers Over Clipper Ship

Posted on June 26, 2026 by lmharnisch

June 26, 1947: A new helicopter, nicknamed “the flying eggbeater” or “the whirlybird,” carrying passengers around Long Beach Harbor, overs over the Pacific Queen, built in 1886, Continue reading →

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