Category Archives: African Americans

Aug. 3, 1947: ‘Kingsblood Royal’ by Sinclar Lewis Leads Bestseller List

Posted on August 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

August 3, 1947: Sinclair Lewis’ ‘Kingsblood Royal’ is the bestselling novel in Los Angeles, followed by ‘The Prince of Foxes,’ by Samuel Shellabarger, and ‘Gentleman’s Agreement,’ by Laura Hobson. John Gunther’s ‘Inside U.S.A.’ is the bestselling nonfiction book. Continue reading →

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Aug. 2, 1947: Los Angeles County Clerk Refuses Marriage License for Interracial Couple

Posted on August 2, 2025 by lmharnisch

  Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Her name was Andrea and she was 24. His name was Sylvester and he was 26, a World War II veteran working at Lockheed. And … Continue reading →

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July 24, 1947: Honor Student Vesta Belle Sapenter, 17, Strangled

Posted on July 24, 2025 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1947: Jefferson High honor student Vesta Belle is found strangled in her bedroom. Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Miriam Matthews, Pioneering Black Librarian, Advocate of L.A. History

Posted on March 3, 2025 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory profiles Miriam Matthews, Los Angeles’ first Black certified librarian, who was an advocate for Los Angeles history. Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 24, 2025 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious guest wearing a dog mask. Continue reading →

Posted in 1978, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Mabel Fairbanks, Wonder Girl of the Ice

Posted on February 17, 2025 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory takes a look at the career of Black skating star Mabel Fairbanks, Wonder Girl of the Ice Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Peter P. Jones, Pioneering Black Photographer

Posted on February 10, 2025 by lmharnisch

In an encore post, Mary Mallory looks at the career of Black photographer Peter P. Jones, who shot production stills for Selznick Pictures. Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on February 10, 2025 by lmharnisch

For Monday, we have a mysterious fellow standing in a doorway. Continue reading →

Posted in 1958, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 20 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: ‘Making Black Los Angeles’

Posted on December 16, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2018. I only recommend books that I have read, which is why I haven’t listed Susan Orlean’s “The Library Book” or Stephen Gee’s “Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon.” I look forward … Continue reading →

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Movieland Mystery Photo (Updated + + + +)

Posted on October 21, 2024 by lmharnisch

This week’s mystery movie was the 1949 film Lost Boundaries, with Beatrice Pearson, Mel Ferrer, Susan Douglas, the Rev Robert H. Dunn, Richard Hylton, Grace Coppin, Carleton Carpenter, Seth Arnold, Wendell Holmes, Parker Fennelly, Ralph Riggs, William Greaves, Rai Saunders, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1949, African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , , , , , | 14 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — Frank S. Hoover, Portrait Photographer and Apartment Developer

Posted on June 3, 2024 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2012. Early Hollywood portrait photography developed from the need of stars for portraits to send out looking for roles, and from studios realizing the value of selling their product through stars. Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, African Americans, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Peter P. Jones, Pioneering Black Photographer

Posted on February 20, 2024 by lmharnisch

Booker T. Washington, photographed by Peter P. Jones, Chicago, about 1910, from the Library of Congress. During the early decades of the 1900s, few African Americans participated or worked for major moving picture studios in leading positions in front or … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Madame Sul-Te-Wan, Pioneering Black Movie Star

Posted on February 13, 2024 by lmharnisch

Often overlooked for her contribution to cinema, Nellie Conley, known onscreen as Madame Sul-Te-Wan, was the first African American signed to a film contract at a time when they possessed few rights or recognition in American society, unless they were … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Mabel Fairbanks, Wonder Girl of the Ice

Posted on February 5, 2024 by lmharnisch

Mabel Fairbanks in the California Eagle, Nov. 8, 1945. Note: This is an encore post from 2022. Knockout African American ice skater Mabel Fairbanks wowed audiences from the 1940s through the 1960s. A true natural, she exuded joy and happiness … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Sports | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Rose McClendon, First Lady of Black Theater

Posted on February 23, 2023 by lmharnisch

Rose McClendon, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, via the New York Public Library. The first lady of the early Black stage, largely forgotten today, Rose McClendon set a blazing example of how talent could offer opportunity, even in difficult, discriminatory … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Stage | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Mabel Fairbanks, Wonder Girl of the Ice

Posted on February 21, 2022 by lmharnisch

Mabel Fairbanks in the California Eagle, Nov. 8, 1945. Knockout African American ice skater Mabel Fairbanks wowed audiences from the 1940s through the 1960s. A true natural, she exuded joy and happiness twirling and gliding upon the ice. While extremely … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: ‘Hollywood’s Architect | The Paul R. Williams Story’ – A Moving Portrait of Renowned Black Leader

Posted on February 14, 2022 by lmharnisch

Courtesy of KCET/PBS SoCal. Note: This is an encore post from 2020. The documentary is online here. Long renowned for its excellent documentaries and intelligent programming, KCET PBS SoCal premieres another strong work with its moving portrait of pioneering African … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 18, 2021 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2018. I only recommend books that I have read, which is why I haven’t listed Susan Orlean’s “The Library Book” or Stephen Gee’s “Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon.” I look forward … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, African Americans, Books and Authors, History | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Noble Johnson Emancipates African Americans With Lincoln Film Co.

Posted on February 15, 2021 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2019. Recognized for playing Native Americans, Pacific Islanders and Latinos in “King Kong,” “The Mummy,” “The Ten Commandments” and many others throughout his long film career, African American Noble Johnson achieved greater renown … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide: ‘Making Black Los Angeles’

Posted on December 11, 2020 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2018. I only recommend books that I have read, which is why I haven’t listed Susan Orlean’s “The Library Book” or Stephen Gee’s “Los Angeles City Hall: An American Icon.” I look forward … Continue reading →

Posted in 2016, African Americans, Books and Authors, History | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments