Category Archives: 1926

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on January 16, 2023 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1926 film Up in Mabel’s Room, with Marie Prevost, Harrison Ford, Phyllis Haver, Harry Myers, Sylvia Breamer, Paul Nicholson, Maude Truax, Carl Gerard, William Orlamond and Arthur Hoyt.

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

Mary Mallory: Hollywood Heights – United Artists Theatre

Posted on February 7, 2022 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Los Angeles and Hollywood have been the Mecca and Medina of movies, where their acolytes came to worship, work and learn in the teens and 1920s.  After making movies, reverent places of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, 1927, Architecture, Art & Artists, Downtown, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Preservation, Religion, Theaters | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: A Dash Through Downtown L.A. in 1926 Film Backing Raises for Police, Firefighters

Posted on January 18, 2022 by lmharnisch

A compelling form of advertising from its beginnings thanks to its emotional power and ability to manipulate, film has been employed to sell and brand products as well as educate audiences on social, cultural, and educational issues virtually since its … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, LAPD, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights – Vice Raid and Early TV in Hollywood’s Biggest Storehouse

Posted on August 24, 2021 by lmharnisch

The Hollywood Storage Building as seen in Google Earth. Originally Los Angeles’ tallest building when opened in 1926, the Hollywood Storage Building at the southwest corner of Highland Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard towered over the rapidly expanding film city. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Television | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

St. Francis Dam Under Construction

Posted on August 15, 2020 by lmharnisch

This is a clip from “The Temptress” (1926) showing the St. Francis dam under construction. The dam failed in 1928, and the flood left hundreds of people dead or missing. The incident is referred to in “Chinatown” (1974) as the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on August 10, 2020 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1926 MGM film of Vicente Blasco Ibanez’s “The Temptress,” with Greta Garbo, Antonio Moreno, Marc MacDermott/McDermott, Lionel Barrymore, Armand Kaliz, Roy D’Arcy, Robert Andersen, Francis McDonald, Hector V. Sarno and Virginia Brown Faire. Scenario … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, 1928, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 45 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on November 4, 2019 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1926 Albatros Cinegraphic film “Feu Mathias Pascal” (“The Late Mathias Pascal”), story by Luigi Pirandello, directed by Marcel l’Herbier, interpreted by Ivan Mosjoukine, Marcelle Pradot, Lois Moran, Marthe Belot, Pauline Carton, Irma Perrot, M. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Los Angeles Elks’ Temple Highlights Importance of Fraternal Organizations

Posted on May 6, 2019 by lmharnisch

The Elks Temple in an undated photo. Note: This is an encore post from 2015. Long a glamorous, outstanding example of Neo-Gothic Architecture and the powerful force of fraternal organizations, Los Angeles’ Elks’ Temple #99 still stands proudly at 607 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: N. Hollywood Playhouse Promotes Theater in San Fernando Valley

Posted on April 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

  The North Hollywood Playhouse in 1962, when “Rebel Without a Cause” was being performed, from the Los Angeles Public Library. In her memoir, actress Teri Garr wrote being in the production.   For more than 75 years, North Hollywood … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, 1962, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley, Stage | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Buster Keaton’s ‘The Italian Villa’

Posted on April 3, 2017 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Buster Keaton seemed to have it all in the mid-1920s. His career was riding high, as the public loved his film comedies, making him one of America’s top film personalities. He had … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | 3 Comments

Eve Golden’s YouTube Theater: John Gilbert in Living Color

Posted on September 6, 2016 by lmharnisch

“John Gilbert: The Last of the Silent Film Stars” by Eve Golden, listed on Amazon.com. Now that you have all read my 2013 biography of John Gilbert [meaningful pause as you all guiltily order your copies on Amazon], you are … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, 1935, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: First National Studios, Now Warner Bros., Turns 90

Posted on June 6, 2016 by lmharnisch

  An aerial view of First National Studios in Burbank, Motion Picture News, 1926.   First National Studios, now known as Warner Bros. Studios, celebrates its 90th birthday on June 15, 2016. Basic construction was completed on the original studio … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, San Fernando Valley | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Samuel Steward and Rudolph Valentino: Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on December 22, 2015 by lmharnisch

I may have retired, but I haven’t lost any of my annoyance over b.s. when it comes to historical figures. The case in point is today’s review in the New York Times by Jennifer Senior of “Philip Sparrow Tells All,” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Another Good Story Ruined, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Los Angeles Elks’ Temple Highlights Importance of Fraternal Organizations

Posted on January 5, 2015 by lmharnisch

The Elks Temple in an undated photo. Long a glamorous, outstanding example of Neo-Gothic Architecture and the powerful force of fraternal organizations, Los Angeles’ Elks’ Temple #99 still stands proudly at 607 S. Park View St. across from MacArthur Park. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: El Portal Theatre Entertains San Fernando Valley

Posted on October 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

El Portal Theatre, courtesy of Mary Mallory. For the first couple of decades of the twentieth century, construction of a grand, elaborately decorated motion picture theatre in a small town suggested either that the burg was developing rapidly into an … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Buster Keaton’s ‘The Italian Villa’

Posted on September 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: As many of you know, Mary Mallory’s father passed away, so in her absence we’re running one of her most popular posts, from 2012.  Buster Keaton seemed to have it all in the mid-1920s. His career was riding high, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | 1 Comment

Sept. 4, 1781: Los Angeles Is Founded

Posted on September 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

  Sept. 4, 1926:The Times publishes a map showing the streets of the day, noting the changes made since Ord’s survey. Sept. 4, 1981: Mayor Tom Bradley and actress Bernadette Peters cut the cake for Los Angeles’ 200th birthday Jan. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1781, 1926, 1981, City Hall, Downtown | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Buster Keaton’s ‘The Italian Villa’

Posted on October 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Buster Keaton seemed to have it all in the mid-1920s. His career was riding high, as the public loved his film comedies, making him one of America’s top film personalities. He had a beautiful wife, Natalie Talmadge, and two lovely … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | 5 Comments

W.C. Fields and the Los Angeles Public Library — Mystery Photo

Posted on November 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Last night, I was watching “The Bank Dick,” as I have  many times before, but this was the first with my new plasma TV, so I was much more aware of the detail. I spotted a photo of what looked … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Film, Hollywood, Libraries, Location Sleuth, Mystery Photo, Photography | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Nazimova and the Garden of Allah

Posted on October 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 10, 1927: The Garden of “Alla” (later changed to Allah) at Sunset Boulevard and Havenhurst Drive. Sunset Boulevard and Havenhurst Drive via Google’s Street View. This postcard showing the home of actress Alla Nazimova has been listed on EBay. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments