Author Archives: lmharnisch

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About lmharnisch

I am retired from the Los Angeles Times

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Douglass Dumbrille, Suave Slickster

Posted on June 8, 2020 by lmharnisch

Douglass Dumbrille, photo courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2014 Classic Hollywood studio films employed actors with striking faces and mannerisms as recognizable character types from the 1930s to the 1960s, giving a shorthand to … Continue reading →

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ALLIES INVADE FRANCE! JUNE 6, 1944; Complete Radio Coverage

Posted on June 6, 2020 by lmharnisch

The headline and map by Charles Owens from The Times. Note: This is an encore post from 2014. Reposting to fix some broken links. June 6, 1944: Complete radio coverage of the D-Day Invasion. This was pool coverage using correspondents … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Radio, World War II | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + + +)

Posted on June 1, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1918 film “Mickey,” with Mabel Normand, George O. Nicholls, Laura La Varnie, Lewis J. Cody, Minta Durfee, Wheeler Oakman and Tom Kennedy. Written by J.G. Hawks, production manager Hampton Del Ruth, photographed by Frank … Continue reading →

Posted in 1918, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: 960 Vine, Hollywood Market

Posted on June 1, 2020 by lmharnisch

El Rancho Super Mercado Carniceria, 960 Vine St., via Google Street View. Los Angeles has led the way in the evolution of shopping and markets, thanks to its fascination and acquisition of vehicles. Originally simple stores in the heart of … Continue reading →

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May 31, 1947: Los Angeles Marks First Memorial Day Without a Civil War Veteran at Ceremony

Posted on May 25, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Memorial Day, 1947, was a spectacle marked with a parade from Westwood to the veterans cemetery, services for Spanish-American veterans in Pershing Square and even a … Continue reading →

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Memorial Day in Los Angeles — 1907

Posted on May 25, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. May 31, 1907 Los Angeles In one Memorial Day observance, Col. James H. Davidson of Pasadena addresses the crowd at Memorial Hall. He says, in part: “Another decade or two and taps … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Venice Miniature Railway, Tourist Attraction and Realty Estate Promotion

Posted on May 25, 2020 by lmharnisch

A postcard showing Venice’s miniature railway, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2015. In the early 1900s, Los Angeles and environs were booming. Ballyhoo from groups like the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, railroads, the … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 25, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1930 First National Pictures film “Road to Paradise,” with Loretta Young, Jack Mulhall, Raymond Hatton, George Barraud, Kathlyn Williams, Fred Kelsey, Purnell Pratt, Ben Hendricks Jr., Dot Farley, Winter Hall and Georgette Rhodes. Adaptation … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 28 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Knickerbocker Hotel – a Survivor

Posted on May 18, 2020 by lmharnisch

The Hollywood Knickerbocker Hotel in an undated photo from the Security Pacific Collection, housed at the Los Angeles Public Library. A little run-down today, the Knickerbocker Hotel at 1714 Ivar has survived scandal and notoriety to endure as one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 18, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1940 RKO film “Swiss Family Robinson,” with Thomas Mitchell, Edna Best, Freddie Bartholomew, Terry Kilburn, Tim Holt and Baby (Barbara) Bobby Quillan. Screenplay by Walter Ferris, Gene Towne and Graham Baker, from the novel … Continue reading →

Posted in 1940, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 31 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 11, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1939 MGM picture “Tell No Tales,” with Melvyn Douglas, Louise Platt, Gene Lockhart, Douglass Dumbrille, Florence George, Halliwell Hobbes, Zeffie Tilbury, Harlan Briggs, Sara Haden, Hobart Cavanagh, Oscar O’Shea, Theresa Harris, Jean Fenwick, Esther … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – Oviatt’s

Posted on May 11, 2020 by lmharnisch

Photo: An Oviatt clock, listed on EBay in 2010. Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Thanks to the motion picture industry here in Los Angeles, fine haberdashers and designers have sold elegant, tailored clothing to the rich and … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on May 4, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1948 RKO picture “Fighting Father Dunne,” with Pat O’Brien, Darryl Hickman, Charles Kemper, Una O’Connor, Arthur Shields, Harry Shannon, Joe Sawyer, Anna Q. Nilsson, Donn Gift, Myrna Dell, Ruth Donnelly, Jim Nolan, Billy Cummings, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Dick Grace, Hollywood’s Daredevil Sky Pilot

Posted on May 4, 2020 by lmharnisch

  Dick Grace in action. Note: This is an encore post from 2014. Hollywood and aviation took off at about the same points in history, helping to put each other on the map. Early American aviators inaugurated the fledgling field … Continue reading →

Posted in Aviation, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Deja Vu All Over Again With COVID-19

Posted on April 27, 2020 by lmharnisch

For more than a month, most of the world has lived in a state of suspended animation as we all deal with the effects of COVID-19. Many are not following guidelines or procedures, griping about the situation, etc., seeming to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1918, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Medicine | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on April 27, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1948 King Bros. movie “The Dude Goes West,” with Eddie Albert, Gale Storm, James Gleason, Gilbert Roland, Binnie Barnes and Barton MacLane. Original screenplay by Mary Loos and Richard Sale. Music score composed and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1948, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 41 Comments

Black Dahlia: Zoom Sessions on the Black Dahlia Case

Posted on April 20, 2020 by lmharnisch

Because so many people are using Zoom to connect in these uncertain times, I thought it would be interesting to host a series of Zoom sessions on the Black Dahlia. I envision weekly meetings with a fairly small group, maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD, Zoom | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black Dahlia: Zoom Sessions on the Black Dahlia Case

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + + +)

Posted on April 20, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was Henry King’s  1930 picture “Hell Harbor,” with Lupe Velez, Jean Hersholt, John Holland, Gibson Gowland, Harry Allen, Al. St. John, Paul Burns, George Bookasta and Ulysses Williams. Adapted by Fred DeGresac, from the novel “Out … Continue reading →

Posted in 1930, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – George Hurrell

Posted on April 20, 2020 by lmharnisch

Glenn Ford and Evelyn Keyes in a George Hurrell portrait for “The Desperadoes” listed on EBay at $149.95. Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Recognized for his gorgeously lit, glamorous images of movie icons, photographer George Hurrell is … Continue reading →

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Zoom on Fridays With the Daily Mirror Brain Trust

Posted on April 14, 2020 by lmharnisch

Our first session was most enjoyable. I got to meet Brain Trust members from across the U.S. We shared our experiences with the quarantine, discussed mystery movies and learned the “Perry Mason Drinking Game” (Thanks, Earl!). There will be another … Continue reading →

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