Category Archives: African Americans

Black L.A. 1947: Buddy Young — First African American to Score a Touchdown in the Rose Bowl

Posted on January 1, 2018 by lmharnisch

A 1947 Rose Bowl program, listed on EBay, with bids starting at $10.50.   Jan. 1, 1947: On the program’s cover, the players are white… … but the Sentinel’s sports section highlights five African Americans playing in the Rose Bowl: … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Cross Burnings and Jim Crow Trains in Los Angeles – The Biggest Stories of 1946

Posted on December 29, 2017 by lmharnisch

In its Jan. 2, 1947, issue, the Los Angeles Sentinel looked back at the major stories of 1946, a good introduction to the year ahead: Job discrimination, Jim Crow laws, segregated housing, police beatings and racial violence. We will be … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: A Two-Year Update and a Look Ahead

Posted on December 26, 2017 by lmharnisch

The second anniversary of my retirement from the Los Angeles Times coincided with lots of questions prompted by a Fox News piece on Piu Eatwell’s “Black Dahlia, Red Rose.” Even though I had blogged about the book repeatedly, people still … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1947, African Americans, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, History | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Navy Releases Accounts of Pearl Harbor

Posted on December 7, 2017 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2011. Dec. 22, 1941: The Navy releases three personal accounts of the Pearl Harbor attack. Many acts of heroism are described, and these few lines shed more light on the presence of African … Continue reading →

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Eve Golden’s YouTube Theater: Theresa Harris

Posted on February 14, 2017 by lmharnisch

  An image of Theresa Harris from PM magazine, Oct. 29, 1949, listed on EBay for $60. Lena Horne was an angry, angry woman—she felt that if she’d been white she’d have had the career of Rita Hayworth or Doris … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Eve Golden’s YouTube Theater: That Girl In The Satin Dress! She Kills Me!

Posted on November 29, 2016 by lmharnisch

  A poster for “Rufus Jones for President.”   Note: Eve has discontinued her YouTube Theater, but has consented to have me post the entries she has already written. Ever see Rufus Jones for President? Calling it “quite a pip” … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Watts Riots: Rare Video of Marquette Frye

Posted on August 12, 2015 by lmharnisch

My good friend Tony Valdez aired part of an interview with Marquette Frye last night as part of Fox 11’s coverage of the Watts riots. The arrest of Frye by CHP officers is what touched off the riots in 1965. … Continue reading →

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Another Good Story Ruined: The L.A. Times and the Watts Riots

Posted on August 4, 2015 by lmharnisch

Myth destroyed: The Times publishes a photo Aug. 13, 1965  of Charles Hillinger in the riot area interviewing people. As next week’s anniversary of the Watts Riots draws near, I am once again hearing the old urban myth that the … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, June 5, 1944

Posted on June 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

June 5, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, June 4 — Erich Pommer, one time high mogul of UFA productions in Berlin, became an American citizen last week and celebrated by signing for two pictures with Producers Corp. of America. Years ago, before the … Continue reading →

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Nazis Prepare for Invasion of Europe, May 14, 1944

Posted on May 14, 2014 by lmharnisch

May 14, 1944 The invasion of Europe is less than a month away. Even the Germans admit it. On the jump: Movies in production: “Farewell, My Lovely,” “The House of Fear” and “A Stranger in Our Midst.” Best Sellers: “The … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood by Sidney Skolsky, April 22, 1944

Posted on April 22, 2014 by lmharnisch

April 22, 1944 HOLLYWOOD, April 22 — Col. Frank Capra’s “The Negro Soldier” had its premiere at the theater in the Ambassador Hotel this week and was highly lauded by all who attended. Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, highest ranking … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood Gossip by Louella Parsons, March 24, 1944

Posted on March 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Bill Robinson: “The Dark Cloud of Joy!” March 24, 1944 SNAPSHOTS OF HOLLYWOOD COLLECTED AT RANDOM: Staff Sgt. Jack Foisle, the 24-year-old writer who revealed the yarn about Americans shooting down their own planes, was guest at a newspaper dinner. … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Walter Winchell on Broadway, March 10, 1944

Posted on March 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

March 10, 1944 The Private Papers of a Cub Reporter From Miami Beach: At the graduation exercises of Officers Candidate school one of the brand-new lieutenants was a Negro. Which meant he had to be good because while they are … Continue reading →

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Amos ‘N’ Andy,’ Feb. 11, 1944

Posted on February 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 11, 1944 Today we have: — Andy adopts a soldier — or so he thinks on “Amos ‘N’ Andy.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

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1944 on the Radio — ‘Amos ‘N’ Andy,’ Feb. 4, 1944

Posted on February 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Feb. 4, 1944 Today we have: — “Missing People’s Bureau” on “Amos ‘N’ Andy.” Courtesy of Archive.org.

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Sinatra Makes Film Debut, Jan. 29, 1944

Posted on January 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Jan. 29, 1944: The Times reports Frank Sinatra’s film debut in “Higher and Higher”: A generous quota of young girls attended the first showings and their ecstatic whinnyings recorded each and every appearance of their hero. In one house, at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, African Americans, Art & Artists, Comics, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Music, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

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.

Posted in 1944, African Americans, Radio | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

‘The Clansman’ Comes to Los Angeles – Part 2

Posted on October 30, 2013 by lmharnisch

A photo from an ad for “The Clansman” in the Los Angeles Herald, 1908. Several weeks ago, I stumbled across a program from the Mason Opera House, announcing the upcoming production of “The Clansman,” the play by Thomas Dixon Jr. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1908, African Americans, Animals, Broadway, Downtown, Film, History, Hollywood, Los Angeles Star, Stage | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘The Clansman’ Comes to Los Angeles – 1908

Posted on October 11, 2013 by lmharnisch

A 1908 program from the Mason Opera House has been listed on EBay with an ad for an upcoming production of “The Clansman,” a play adapted from  Thomas  Dixon’s novels “The Leopard’s Spots” and “The Clansman” and turned into D.W. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1908, African Americans, Books and Authors, Broadway, Downtown, Film, Found on EBay, Stage | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Vaudeville Caricatures

Posted on October 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

“Vaudeville,” by Caroline Caffin and Marius De Zayas has been listed on EBay. My knowledge of vaudeville is quite slim and for all I know this may be a standard work on the subject, although I have never encountered it … Continue reading →

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