Category Archives: Architecture

Millennial Moment: Renovations at Earl Carroll Theatre

Posted on October 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

Oct. 31, 1982: Times staff writer Ruth Ryon profiles the renovations at the Earl Carroll Theatre, 6230 Sunset Blvd. Now the Nickelodeon Studios, the theater was designed by Gordon B. Kaufmann and opened on Christmas Eve 1938.

Posted in 1982, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Millennial Moments, Nightclubs | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Apartment Buildings and Celebrity Connections – Part I

Posted on October 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

People moved to Hollywood in droves in the 1920s, lured by the exploding motion picture industry, and by gorgeous advertisements placed in magazines and newspapers around the country. Construction of apartment buildings surged to meet demand, especially those offering elegant … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Buster Keaton’s ‘The Italian Villa’

Posted on October 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

Buster Keaton seemed to have it all in the mid-1920s. His career was riding high, as the public loved his film comedies, making him one of America’s top film personalities. He had a beautiful wife, Natalie Talmadge, and two lovely … Continue reading →

Posted in 1926, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | 5 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Brand Library

Posted on September 10, 2012 by lmharnisch

“Aerodrome Replacing Country-House Garage,” Illustrated London News, Oct. 29, 1921, Courtesy of Mary Mallory Unique thematic architectural homes stand out all around the Los Angeles area, like Yamashiro and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Barnsdall, Freeman, and Storer residences, just to name … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood Heights, Libraries, Location Sleuth, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Nirvana Apartments

Posted on September 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

A few months ago, a friend and I were walking up Orange Drive from the El Capitan Theatre to the Hollywood Heritage Museum and noticed a striking Japanese looking apartment building at 1775 N. Orange Drive. It featured a pagoda-style … Continue reading →

Posted in 1925, Architecture, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 17 Comments

Found on EBay – World’s Largest Soda Fountain

Posted on August 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

This postcard of the soda fountain at Fosgate’s store, at 449 S. Broadway, has been listed on EBay. A May 14, 1904, story in The Times called it the largest soda fountain in the world. Bidding on the postcard starts … Continue reading →

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Marc Chevalier – Curator of All Things Oviatt

Posted on August 9, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: The bedroom of the Oviatt Building’s penthouse. Credit: Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com My latest column, on Marc Chevalier and his amazing knowledge of all things Oviatt, appears in The Times today. I should add that the 2008 documentary mentioned in the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Downtown, Fashion | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Coming Attractions: Mary Mallory Signs ‘Hollywoodland’

Posted on June 14, 2012 by lmharnisch

Mary Mallory, who writes Hollywood Heights for the L.A. Daily Mirror, will be signing copies of her book “Hollywoodland” on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Costco at 1051 Burbank Blvd. in Burbank. All profits from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Thursdays @ The Globe

Posted on May 25, 2012 by lmharnisch

We had a nice turnout yesterday for the Thursdays at the Globe discussion of the downtown renaissance and vintage crime. Several guests were longtime Angelenos and shared their recollections of the city’s history, including the architecture, the streetcars and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Nightclubs, Preservation | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 24

Posted on April 7, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. This is interesting. The city of Beverly Hills has compiled a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 24

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 23

Posted on April 4, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I’m examining the history of 1110 Benedict Canyon Drive, where, as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Libraries | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 22

Posted on April 3, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I’m examining the history of 1110 Benedict Canyon Drive, where, as … Continue reading →

Posted in 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – Batchelder Fireplace

Posted on March 31, 2012 by lmharnisch

A (mostly) complete Batchelder fireplace that was salvaged – if that’s the right term – from a Catholic school in Wisconsin has been listed on EBay. The vendor says: “There were a few ornate carved animal 4″x4″ tiles that i … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Batchelder Tile, Found on EBay, Preservation | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on March 30, 2012 by lmharnisch

This will be too easy, but after Geene Courtney, I thought I should pick something everybody will recognize. Yes, everyone recognized this as Janet Gaynor’s feet in “A Star Is Born.” Ed was first, followed by Michael Ryerson, Mary Mallory, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo | Tagged , | 28 Comments

The Black Dahlia and Downtown L.A. at Night, 1946

Posted on March 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

Photo: Man with a slate in footage shot for “Down to Earth.” My friends over at the 1947project have found some process footage that was filmed about April 1946 for the Columbia feature “Down to Earth.” It’s unfortunate that they … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Black Dahlia, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Preservation, Theaters | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 19

Posted on March 23, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. I am still on the trail of the mysterious Mr. Jacob/Jack/Jacques … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, 1946, Another Good Story Ruined, Architecture, Books and Authors, Chicago, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Hollis Mulwray House – Update

Posted on February 29, 2012 by lmharnisch

Back in July, I posted a photo showing renovations on the house at 1315 S. El Molino that was used in “Chinatown.” Here’s how it looks today.

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , | 1 Comment

‘Full Service’: Fun With Fact-Checking, Part 4

Posted on February 24, 2012 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m doing a little fact-checking as I go through Scotty Bowers’ “Full Service.” This will be fairly tedious except to a research drudge. Yesterday, in Part 3, I was exploring the history of Hollywood … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transportation | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Movieland Architectural Mystery — Solved

Posted on February 17, 2012 by lmharnisch

The Brain Trust has solved the mystery of the department store used in “The Public Enemy.” Thanks to Craig Deco, Lee Rivas and Nathan Marask! Here are our young ruffians (Frank Coghlan Jr. and Frankie Darro) sliding down the escalator … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Film, Hollywood, Interior Design, Location Sleuth | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo – Architecture Edition

Posted on February 15, 2012 by lmharnisch

The more intriguing mystery of “The Public Enemy” is the department store used in the early part of the film. Recall that our young ruffians run through an unidentified department store, committing all sorts of mischief and aggravated mopery. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 23 Comments