Category Archives: African Americans

October 17, 1907: All-White USC Football Team Starts Race Riot Over Tackle by Black Player From Whittier

Posted on October 17, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 17, 1907 Los Angeles Mr. Woolin, left tackle of the USC team, took great exception to be tackled by one of the black players on the Whittier State team (one of … Continue reading →

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Black L.A., 1947: Sentinel Reports on City’s Segregated Fire Department

Posted on October 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

Engine Co. 30 in 1947, top, and via Google Street View. Oct. 9, 1947: The Sentinel reports on segregation in the Los Angeles Fire Department. Sentinel Publisher Leon H. Washington Jr. said that because of segregation, “there are a number … Continue reading →

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Oct. 5, 1907: White Neighbors Fight Hilliard Stricklin’s Retirement Home for Blacks

Posted on October 5, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: Here’s an entry I wrote in 2006 for the 1947project. I thought newer readers might enjoy it. Oct. 5, 1907 Los Angeles Hilliard Stricklin is a man with an urgent desire to do something for his fellow African Americans. … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: This Week’s Juke Box Hits

Posted on September 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Sept. 25, 1947: The Sentinel’s juke box hits of the week. On the jump:  “Thrill Me” by Roy Milton and “Money Hustlin’ Woman” by Amos Milburn.

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Sept. 25, 1907: The Melancholy Prizefighter

Posted on September 25, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 25, 1907 Los Angeles Meet Joe Gans, a boxer whose name once echoed among fans of the ring now buried in the dusts of sporting history. Gans may well have been … Continue reading →

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Sept. 23, 1907: Rev. J.L. Griffin Baptizes 5 in Echo Park Lake

Posted on September 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 23, 1907 Los Angeles A crowd of 2,000—the faithful and the doubters—gathered at Echo Park Lake as black evangelist the Rev. J.L. Griffin prepared to baptize five believers in the cold … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: The Week’s Juke Box Hits

Posted on September 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

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Sept. 11, 1947: Al Jarvis Replies to L.A. Sentinel’s Charges of Racism

Posted on September 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

“Boogie-Woogie Blue Plate” is No. 2on this week’s juke box hits. Sept. 11, 1947: KLAC disc jockey Al Jarvis replies to Earl Griffin’s criticisms in last week’s Sentinel. “To knowingly plug a sponsor who discriminates against the Negro race is … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Some Static for Al Jarvis, Radio’s ‘Great White Father’ of Black Musicians,

Posted on September 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Sept. 4, 1947: Earl Griffin gives some hard shots to disc jockey Al Jarvis of KLAC-AM (570, in case you’re Atwater Kent is working). Jarvis was credited with using black artists on his radio show as early as 1933, but … Continue reading →

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Sept. 7, 1947: The Comics Pages

Posted on September 7, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Say kids, it’s Sunday morning, let’s look at the comics. Why it’s a 10-page section, imagine that. Los Angeles Times, World’s Greatest Comics—15 cents. That would … Continue reading →

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Aug. 28, 1947: Margaret Harris Debuts in Piano Recital at Age 3

Posted on August 31, 2018 by lmharnisch

Aug. 28, 1947: At the age of 3, Margaret Rosezarian Harris was splashed across the front page of the Sentinel, which covered her concert of classical pieces at Chicago’s Carey AME Temple. “She was poised and showed no trace of … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: The Kappa Alpha Psis, Clora Bryant and a Certain Attorney

Posted on August 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Technical difficulties delayed posting until now. Aug. 28, 1947: Earl Griffin has little good to say about the recent Kappa convention. But he mentions Clora Bryant (a footnote in the Black Dahlia case) though as Clara Bryant. And there’s a … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: First Black-Controlled Supermarket Opens

Posted on August 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Central Avenue and 43rd Street, the site of the M and R Shopping Center, via Google Street View. Aug. 21, 1947: The Sentinel features the M and R Shopping Center, 4306 –4308 S. Central Ave. “This is the first super … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Nellie Lutcher Leads Weekly Juke Box Hits

Posted on August 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Aug. 21, 1947: Nellie Lutcher’s “He’s a Real Gone Guy” again leads the weekly juke box hits, followed by “I Want to Be Loved” in versions by Savannah Churchill and Lionel Hampton.  No. 3 is “Sure Had a Wonderful Time” … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: A Guide to the Homes of Famous Black Entertainers

Posted on August 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

Hattie McDaniel’s home at 2203 S. Harvard. Ethel Waters lived almost across the street, the Sentinel said. Via Google Street View.   The home of composer William Grant Still, 3670 Cimarron St., via Google Street View. Aug. 21, 1947: Sentinel … Continue reading →

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Aug. 22, 1947: 5 L.A. Women Doctors Honored at Medical Convention

Posted on August 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Girls aspiring to careers should follow women physicians’ example—many have both satisfactory home and professional lives, Dr. E. Mae McCarroll of Newark, N.J., told National Medical … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Drag Ball Planned for the Avodon Ballroom in DTLA

Posted on August 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

The site of the Avodon Ballroom at 843 S. Spring St., via Google Street View.  Aug. 14, 1947: A drag ball is planned for the Avodon Ballroom, 843 S. Spring St. Although the Sentinel didn’t follow up on the event, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, African Americans, Black Dahlia, Dance, Downtown, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , , | 4 Comments

August 16, 1947: L.A. Widow Says Louisiana Sheriff Failed to Protect Husband From Lynch Mob

Posted on August 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. His face and body were burned with a blowtorch so that his eyes popped out of his head. He was beaten with a wide, flat object, … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Nellie Lutcher’s ‘He’s a Real Gone Guy’ Leads This Week’s Juke Box Hits

Posted on August 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

Aug. 14, 1947: Nellie Lutcher’s “He’s a Real Gone Guy” is this week’s No. 1 juke box hit, according to Murray’s Record Shop, 1055 E. Vernon. “True Blues” by Roy Milton is No. 2. On the jump, Ask Evangeline helps … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: ‘A Song Is Born’ a New High in Interracial Pictures

Posted on August 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

Aug. 14, 1947: The Sentinel runs a feature on “A Song Is Born” (working title: “That’s Life”) in production at the Goldwyn studios. If the plot sounds a bit like “Ball of Fire,” also made by the Goldwyn studios, I’m … Continue reading →

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