Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Movieland ‘Unsuitable’ Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on December 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

In this week’s exploration of “unsuitable” mystery movies, we have an especially “unsuitable” film, with this “unsuitable” mystery guest. Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Altadena’s Lovely Christmas Tree Lane

Posted on December 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

To mark the opening of Christmas Tree lane, we have Mary Mallory’s encore post from 2012. Continue reading →

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December 1, 1907: L.A. Author Writes of Life in the Hollow Earth (No Sign of Lizard People)

Posted on December 1, 2025 by lmharnisch

December 1, 1907: The Times notes a new serial “The Smoky God,” by Willis Emerson, based on the papers of Olaf Jansen, who claimed to have explored the North Pole and met the inhabitants of the Earth’s interior. “A classic in Hollow Earth Literature!” Continue reading →

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November 30, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on November 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 30, 1959: The mother of a middle school student tells Matt Weinstock: “You would be surprised at the number of students at this school who are being tutored just to make a C.” One girl is taking tranquilizers because she can’t keep up. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Columnists, Education, Matt Weinstock, Sports | Comments Off on November 30, 1959: Matt Weinstock

November 30, 1959: Paul Coates – Confidential File

Posted on November 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 30, 1959: An author claims that Charles Dickens and actress Ellen Ternan had an illegitimate child, and Paul Coates has the story. Continue reading →

Posted in 1959, Animals, books, Caryl Chessman, Columnists, Paul Coates | Comments Off on November 30, 1959: Paul Coates – Confidential File

November 30, 1958: Former deputy strangles wife, kills himself as police close in

Posted on November 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 30, 1958: A former deputy strangles his wife and kills himself. A pitch-perfect story from 1958. Continue reading →

Posted in 1958, Front Pages, Homicide, Suicide | Comments Off on November 30, 1958: Former deputy strangles wife, kills himself as police close in

November 30, 2006: Architectural Rambling

Posted on November 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

Some “architectural rambling” photos I took in 2006 for a blog post on historic structures. Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Architecture, Freeways, Hollywood, Pasadena, Photography, Streetcars | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on November 30, 2006: Architectural Rambling

November 30, 1907: Witness Against Mexican Revolutionaries Poisoned!

Posted on November 30, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 30, 1907: A closely guarded witness in the trial of the Mexican revolutionaries goes into convulsions after being allowed to have lunch at a local cafe. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on November 30, 1907: Witness Against Mexican Revolutionaries Poisoned!

November 27, 1968: O.J. Simpson wins Heisman

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1968: O.J. Simpson wins the Heisman Trophy after a remarkable two-year career at USC. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, broadcasting, Current Affairs, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Sports, Television | Comments Off on November 27, 1968: O.J. Simpson wins Heisman

November 27, 1964: Secretary Found Stabbed to Death in the ‘Thanksgiving’ Murder

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1964: Joyce Walker is found stabbed 50 times on Thanksgiving Day, apparently raped and killed by a man who helped her after her car became disabled on the way home from a party. Two Manhattan police officers offered assistance but Walker and the suspect said everything was fine. Continue reading →

Posted in 1964, Front Pages, Homicide, Jack Smith | Comments Off on November 27, 1964: Secretary Found Stabbed to Death in the ‘Thanksgiving’ Murder

November 27, 1941: Streetcar Companies Ask Council to End Bus Ban in Downtown L.A.

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1941: The Pacific Electric and Los Angeles Railways ask the City Council to repeal a ban against buses operating in downtown Los Angeles. Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Art & Artists, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Streetcars, Tom Treanor, Transportation, World War II | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Celebrates a Wartime Thanksgiving, 1943

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

Thanksgiving 1943: A wartime Thanksgiving in Los Angeles, with many service personnel welcomed into people’s homes for a holiday meal. Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Food and Drink, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on L.A. Celebrates a Wartime Thanksgiving, 1943

November 27, 1907: Mexican Revolutionaries Accused of Gigantic Conspiracy

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 27, 1907: A shadowy, global conspiracy of anarchists is being described in the trial of revolutionaries Ricardo Flores Magon, Antonio Villareal and Librado Rivera in federal court. The fourth defendant, L. Gutierrez De Lara, was charged separately with committing larceny in Sonora, Mexico. Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1910, 1914, Crime and Courts, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on November 27, 1907: Mexican Revolutionaries Accused of Gigantic Conspiracy

An 1890s Thanksgiving in the Kitchen

Posted on November 27, 2025 by lmharnisch

Here’s a traditional roast turkey recipe from the “Every-Day Cook-Book and Family Compendium,” written about 1890 by Miss E. Neill. Be sure your fire is bright and clear and watch out for the gall-bag. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: San Francisco Silent Film Festival 2025

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory takes a look at the offerings from the recently concluded San Francisco Silent Film Festival. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: San Francisco Silent Film Festival 2025

November 26, 1959: Matt Weinstock

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 26, 1959: Matt Weinstock has the story of robbery Detective Dalton Patton, a man with a long memory who finally gets his safe-cracker. Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on November 26, 1959: Matt Weinstock

November 26, 1959: Paul V. Coates – Confidential File

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 26, 1959: Paul Coates has the story of E.B. (Jet) Simrell, a former market owner wanted by the FBI for threatening the lives of seven judges. Simrell is waging a crusade against the “un-feminine, all-powerful American woman.” Continue reading →

Posted in Columnists, Homicide, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

November 26, 1958: LAPD honors dead officer’s heroism

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 26, 1958: The LAPD posthumously honors Sgt. Gene Nash with a Medal of Valor after he died following a shootout with robbery suspects. Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, @news, Cemeteries, Front Pages, Homicide, LAPD, Television | Comments Off on November 26, 1958: LAPD honors dead officer’s heroism

November 26, 1941: L.A. Man Takes Fight Over Dog License to U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 26, 1941: George F. Harrington says owning his dog, named Kitty, is a constitutional right and he refuses to pay for a license, taking the fight to the Supreme Court. Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Animals, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on November 26, 1941: L.A. Man Takes Fight Over Dog License to U.S. Supreme Court

November 26, 1904: UFO over Los Angeles

Posted on November 26, 2025 by lmharnisch

November 24, 1906: No, this isn’t a flying saucer on a stick. It’s an early attempt at carbon arc street lighting. Continue reading →

Posted in broadcasting, Front Pages, Politics, Science, UFOs | Comments Off on November 26, 1904: UFO over Los Angeles