Category Archives: 1949

Black Dahlia: 6 Reasons Dr. George Hodel Didn’t Kill Elizabeth Short — No. 2 Not Guilty of Morals Charges

Posted on December 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

Here are six reasons Dr. George Hodel did not kill Elizabeth Short that you will need to know before watching the TNT mini-series “I Am the Night” or listening to the eight-part podcast accompanying the production. Reason No. 2: George … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1949, 1950, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Homicide, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia: 6 Reasons Dr. George Hodel Didn’t Kill Elizabeth Short — No. 1 Not a Prime Suspect

Posted on December 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Here are six reasons Dr. George Hodel did not kill Elizabeth Short that you will need to know before watching the TNT mini-series “I Am the Night” or listening to the eight-part podcast accompanying the production. Reason No. 1: Dr. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 1949, 1950, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Al Martinez, a Dying Boy and Some Peaches — A (Non) Christmas Story

Posted on December 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2015. Jim Romenesko, for those who aren’t in the news business, runs an essential blog that serves as a clearing house for information, gossip, bad headlines and assorted gaffes. A Jan. 6 post … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1958, Books and Authors, Columnists | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. You might have to hunt a bit for Don Normark’s 1999 book “Chavez Ravine, 1949,” but your search will be rewarded. The photos are terrific and the residents’ recollections make the book even … Continue reading →

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To George Hodel From Man Ray, 1949: Yours for Only $9,775

Posted on October 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. The Detroit News has published an article (Note: The link is broken) on book dealer John K. King, who is offering “Man Ray: Photographs 1920-1934 Paris” inscribed by Man Ray to Dr. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 2006, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Billy Graham Brings ‘Canvas Cathedral’ to Los Angeles, 1949

Posted on February 21, 2018 by lmharnisch

Billy Graham brings his “canvas cathedral” to Los Angeles in 1949. Via YouTube. .

Posted in 1949, Obituaries, Religion | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Al Martinez, a Dying Boy and Some Peaches — A (Non) Christmas Story

Posted on December 25, 2017 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2015. Jim Romenesko, for those who aren’t in the news business, runs an essential blog that serves as a clearing house for information, gossip, bad headlines and assorted gaffes. A Jan. 6 post … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1958, Books and Authors, Columnists | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 6, 2017 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. You might have to hunt a bit for Don Normark’s 1999 book “Chavez Ravine, 1949,” but your search will be rewarded. The photos are terrific and the residents’ recollections make the book even … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Al Martinez, a Dying Boy and Some Peaches

Posted on January 14, 2015 by lmharnisch

Jim Romenesko, for those who aren’t in the news business, runs an essential blog that serves as a clearing house for information, gossip, bad headlines and assorted gaffes. A Jan. 6 post dealt with former Times columnist Al Martinez, who … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1958, Books and Authors, Columnists | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. You might have to hunt a bit for Don Normark’s 1999 book “Chavez Ravine, 1949,” but your search will be rewarded. The photos are terrific and the residents’ recollections make the book even … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Charles Ives’ ‘Variations on America’

Posted on July 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

And here’s what we’re listening to in the Daily Mirror city room this morning. It was written by Charles Ives in 1891 but not published until 1949.

Posted in 1891, 1949, Music | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

New LAPD Chief Calls for Openness With News Media

Posted on March 27, 2014 by lmharnisch

July 1, 1949 Former Marine Maj. Gen. William A. Worton becomes Los Angeles police chief. On his way to his office with Mayor Fletcher Bowron, he visits the press room: “I cannot do this job without the press. The public … Continue reading →

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LAPD Scrapbook: Los Angeles Crime Down for 1948

Posted on March 21, 2014 by lmharnisch

January-February 1949 Here’s another item from the LAPD scrapbooks at the city archives: Los Angeles records a decrease in crime for 1948 compared to 1947, according to figures in the Pacific Coast International Law Enforcement News.

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LAPD Scrapbook: Gangster Squad Abolished, Los Angeles Herald-Express, Oct. 6, 1949

Posted on March 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

Oct. 6, 1949 Here’s another item from the LAPD scrapbooks at the city archives: The police chief is William A. Worton (are you paying attention, everybody who thinks William Parker was chief in 1949? especially you, Will Beall, writer of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

LAPD Mourns First Latina Officer Josephine Serrano Collier

Posted on March 20, 2014 by lmharnisch

Josephine Serrano Collier, courtesy LAPD. The LAPD is honoring the memory of Officer Josephine Serrano Collier, who died last month at the age of 91 in Tucson. The LAPD says she was its first Latina officer. Here she is in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Crime and Courts, Downtown, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

LAPD Scrapbook: Convict Describes Killing by L.A. Cop, Daily News, June 7, 1949

Posted on March 19, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s another front page that was saved in the LAPD scrapbooks at the city archives. This is the Daily News from June 7, 1949. Notice the bizarre byline: Will O’Wisp. I can’t recall seeing a fake byline on a news … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

LAPD Scrapbook: June 16, 1949

Posted on March 18, 2014 by lmharnisch

I recently visited the city archives and thanks to archivist Michael Holland, I learned that the LAPD kept scrapbooks in the 1940s. Not all years are represented, unfortunately, but the department apparently subscribed to a clipping service at one point. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, LAPD, Libraries | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

‘The Fountainhead’ Comics

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a little sample of what I found while going through the Police Commission and Police Department materials from the 1940s at the city archives. Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead”  was serialized and accompanied by these illustrations by Frank Godwin.

Posted in 1949, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

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 →

Posted in 1941, 1944, 1949, 1953, Radio | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Christmas on the Radio — Dragnet ‘.22 Rifle for Christmas’

Posted on December 21, 2013 by lmharnisch

From the radio version of “Dragnet,” Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Ben Romero (Barton Yarborough) on the case of a missing 9-year-old boy in “.22 Rifle for Christmas.” From 1949 | From 1950 | From 1951 | From 1952 (with … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1955, LAPD, Radio | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments