Category Archives: 1944

1944 on the Radio — ‘Amos ‘N’ Andy,’ Jan. 7, 1944

Posted on January 7, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 7, 1944: Time for “Amos ‘N’ Andy” with guest Pat O’Brien. I debated with myself about posting this show, but coverage of 1944 wouldn’t be complete without it, given its popularity. Courtesy of Archive.org.

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Abbott and Costello,’ Jan. 6, 1944

Posted on January 6, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 6, 1944: Here’s “Revenge in the Yukon,” a 15-minute episode of “Challenge of the Yukon,” from WXYZ in Detroit.  As far as I can tell, this show was not broadcast in Los Angeles at the time, but it fills … Continue reading →

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Mail Call’

Posted on January 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 5, 1944: Here’s “Mail Call,” an Armed Forces Radio Service program featuring Jack Benny, Skinnay Ennis, Judy Garland and Johnny Mercer, announced by Harry von Zell. Courtesy of Archive.org.

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World War II on the Radio — The Fall of Ortona, Jan. 4, 1944

Posted on January 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 4, 1944: A Canadian Broadcasting Corp. news program, courtesy of Archive.org.

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Duffy’s Tavern’

Posted on January 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 4, 1944: “Duffy’s Tavern,” with guest Fred Allen, courtesy of Archive.org.

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1944 on the Radio — Jan. 3, 1944

Posted on January 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 3, 1944: We have three programs on today’s schedule: “Information Please,” with John Kieran, Franklin P. Adams, Oscar Levant and Louis Bromfield, hosted by Clifton Fadiman. “Lux Theater,” with the radio version of “Shadow of a Doubt” with Teresa … Continue reading →

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1944 the Year in Radio — ‘Texaco Star Theater’ With Fred Allen

Posted on January 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 2, 1944: “Texaco Star Theater” with Fred Allen, Portland Hoffa and violinist Albert Spalding. Courtesy of archive.org.

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1944 in Print — The L.A. Daily Mirror Newsstand, January 1944

Posted on January 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

January 1944 Weird Tales, for sale on EBay at $49.99. I had so much fun adding radio broadcasts for Christmas 1943 that I thought I would add radio shows throughout the year, on the days that they aired in 1944 … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, World War II | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

1944 on the Radio — ‘Challenge of the Yukon’

Posted on January 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 1, 1944: And so we start with our experiment of going through 1944 on the radio, beginning with “Challenge of the Yukon,” a 15-minute program later named “Sgt. Preston of the Yukon.” Courtesy of archive.org.

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Christmas on the Radio — Jack Benny

Posted on December 24, 2013 by lmharnisch

Jack Benny at the microphone, a photo listed on EBay for $9.97. Here are some of Jack Benny’s Christmas shows, courtesy of Archive.org. From 1936 | 1938 | 1941 | 1944 | 1947 | 1948

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Coming in January — 1944: The Year in Radio

Posted on December 23, 2013 by lmharnisch

Dec. 19, 1943: A new Philco radio cost the equivalent of of $1,721.07 in 2013 dollars. I had such an interesting time exploring Archive.org in search of radio broadcasts for Christmas 1943 that I have decided to try adding radio … Continue reading →

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Christmas on the Radio — ‘Fibber McGee and Molly’

Posted on December 22, 2013 by lmharnisch

A photo of Fibber McGee (Jim Jordan) and Molly (Marian Jordan) listed on EBay at $9.99. While we are twirling the radio dial looking for Christmas shows, here are some episodes from “Fibber McGee and Molly.” From 1941 (Dec. 16, … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia and ‘Double Indemnity’ – KCET Gets It Way Wrong

Posted on September 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

Is it really possible to write about the film “Double Indemnity” without mentioning Raymond Chandler, who collaborated on the screenplay, or James M. Cain, who wrote the book that was the basis for the film? Sadly, Ryan Reft (identified as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1947, Black Dahlia, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Found on EBay – The Florentine Gardens

Posted on January 1, 2013 by lmharnisch

A Sept. 16, 1944, photo from the Florentine Gardens – with souvenir lipstick prints – has been listed on EBay at Buy It Now for $25. The lot includes souvenir photos from Ace Cain’s, 1369 N. Western Ave., and the … Continue reading →

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‘Lipstick Killer’ William Heirens Dies at 83

Posted on March 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Chicago Tribune is reporting the death of William Heirens, 83, who allegedly wrote “For heaven’s sake catch me before I kill more. I cannot control myself” in lipstick on a mirror at a 1945 crime scene. Heirens was convicted … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, 1945, Black Dahlia, Chicago, Crime and Courts, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – Florentine Gardens

Posted on November 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

This photo of the “Greatest Generation” at play at the Florentine Gardens, c. 1944, has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $15.99.

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An EBay Lesson – Part 2

Posted on October 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: A happy couple in the Zanzibar Room of the Florentine Gardens, Sept. 6, 1944. In case you’re wondering, I contacted the vendor of the bogus EBay picture I recently acquired. He said he got it from an estate in … Continue reading →

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Real or Fake Photo? An EBay Lesson [Updated]

Posted on October 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

This photo was recently listed on EBay as being taken at the Florentine Gardens in 1944. And it caught my eye because it doesn’t look anything like the interior of that nightclub (a Buddha at the Florentine Gardens… you think?) … Continue reading →

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B-26 Heads for Museum [Updated]

Posted on July 6, 2011 by lmharnisch

Rick Rouan of the Lancaster (Ohio) Eagle Gazette reports on a B-26 Marauder that is returning to the 1941 Historical Aircraft Group Museum in Geneseo, N.Y., after being restored by the Historical Aircraft Squadron. The plane should arrive in time … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Museums, World War II | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Lost and Found: Patek Philippe

Posted on June 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Last Thursday’s New York Times had a terrific story by Austin Considine about Charles B. Woehrle, who received a Patek Philippe watch while imprisoned at Stalag Luft III (he ordered the watch and promised to pay for it after the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Fashion, World War II | Tagged , | 2 Comments