Category Archives: Architecture

March 20, 1907: St. James Raises a Church — Burned in 1973 as Hate Crime Against Gays

Posted on March 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. The Methodist Episcopal congregation, formed from a merger of the Centennial and Central churches, planned a wonderful new building at 22nd Street and Union. Although the congregation studied the idea of a … Continue reading →

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Los Angeles Has No History

Posted on March 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 24, 1907 Los Angeles Google Earth, 2007

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Feb. 24, 1907: Samuel Tilden Norton Designs Eagle Rock Bank Building

Posted on February 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Eagle Rock bank building designed by Samuel Tilden Norton, via Google Street View. Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 24, 1907 Eagle Rock Architect Samuel Tilden Norton has designed a bank building for Townsend Avenue and Colorado … Continue reading →

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Feb. 18, 2007: Architectural Ramblings

Posted on February 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 18, 2007 Los Angeles The buildings featured in The Times for this week have been torn down, but in glancing through the listings, I found the sale by the Althouse brothers … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood National Bank Watches History Go By

Posted on February 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

  Carol Hughes as photographed by Schuyler Crail, with Hollywood and Cahuenga in the background, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Note: This is an encore post from 2016. One of the most important and busiest intersections in Hollywood has always been … Continue reading →

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Feb. 10, 1907: Architectural Ramblings

Posted on February 10, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 10, 1907 Los Angeles The Times features a hillside home “near the ostrich farm” in Pasadena. Presumably that was the Cawston farm in South Pasadena. (What, South Pasadena, again?) Unfortunately, many … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Black Passenger Sues Greyhound After Driver Has Her Arrested for Not Giving Up Seat

Posted on February 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

  At left, a three-unit property at 3509 5th Ave., listed for sale in 1947 at $17,500. Above, the property sold for $600,000 in 2016, according to Zillow. Feb. 6, 1947: The Sentinel reports on a lawsuit filed by Alpha … Continue reading →

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Incendiary Ramblings

Posted on February 6, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 6, 2007 Los Angeles Here’s an architectural drawing of the O.T. Johnson Building, which burned in yesterday’s fire.  

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Centennial Ramblings

Posted on February 5, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Feb. 5, 2007 Sierra Madre Because it’s celebrating its centennial this month, I paid a visit to Sierra Madre and while savoring a cinnamon dolce latte at the local Starbucks, watched the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Donald Wolfe, LAPD, Photography, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged | 2 Comments

Feb. 4, 1907: Architectural Ramblings — South Pasadena

Posted on February 4, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post I wrote in 2007. Feb. 4, 2007 South Pasadena The Times publishes three architectural drawings of “artistic bungalows” prepared by the firm of Wilson and Barnes. One is being built by W.E. Fox on Columbia … Continue reading →

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Black L.A. 1947: Four African Americans File for City Council 7th District Race

Posted on January 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

Jan. 30, 1947: An ad in the Sentinel announces a preview of a model home in Carver Manor, a housing development designed by Paul R. Williams at 135th Street and Avalon Boulevard. Stanford Avenue in Carver Manor, via Google Street … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Du Barry Apartments – S. Charles Lee French Normandy Creation

Posted on January 29, 2018 by lmharnisch

  The Du Barry Apartments via Google Street View. S. Charles Lee’s design for the Du Barry Apartments, March 10, 1929.   Still attracting admiring looks after 89 years, the classy Du Barry Apartments located at 458 S. Catalina St. … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Charlie Chaplin Comes to Hollywood

Posted on January 22, 2018 by lmharnisch

Oct. 16, 1917: An architect’s rendering of Chaplin’s studios in The Times Note: This is an encore post from 2013. Ninety-five years ago, comedian Charlie Chaplin constructed the first beautiful studio lot in Hollywood, the first to offer style to … Continue reading →

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Jan. 20, 1907: Architectural Ramblings

Posted on January 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

A Brainerd home at 1158 E. 41st St., Photograph by Larry Harnisch/LADailyMirror.com Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Los Angeles Jan. 20, 2007 What we do know about H.J. Brainerd is that he built a fair number of … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Studio City Motels, Then and Now

Posted on January 8, 2018 by lmharnisch

  The Carlton Motor Lodge, via Google Street View. The evolution of a community can often be acknowledged through the types of businesses along its main streets. Simple buildings from its days as an unpretentious neighborhood or small town often … Continue reading →

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Architectural Ramblings

Posted on January 6, 2018 by lmharnisch

A Trip to Oxford Avenue Note: This is an encore post from 2007. Here’s an interesting contrast: Oxford Avenue between Washington Boulevard and the Santa Monica Freeway and Oxford Avenue north of Washington. South of Washington, Oxford seems a bit … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Holiday Shopping Guide

Posted on December 20, 2017 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2011. I picked up “The Big Picture,” Melba Levick and Stanley Young’s 1988 book about Los Angeles murals, not realizing what a terribly sad book it would be. As Young notes: “Most artists … Continue reading →

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Found on Craigslist: Oviatt Display Case (With Alterations)

Posted on December 3, 2017 by lmharnisch

A vendor on Craigslist has listed what is claimed to be a display case from the Oviatt Building for $12,500. Note this disclaimer: “Updated glass shelves and lighting have been added.” So it’s not in original condition.

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: T.L. Tally – L.A.’s Pioneer Film Exhibitor, Part 2

Posted on November 20, 2017 by lmharnisch

  “The Great Corbett Fight” at Tally’s theater.   Former Texan T. L. (Thomas) Tally pioneered early film exhibition practices in the film metropolis of Los Angeles, catering to the needs of his audiences. Always enamored with technology, he seemed … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Hollywood Studio Club Provides Home For Movie-Struck Girls

Posted on November 13, 2017 by lmharnisch

The Studio Club in Photoplay, 1917. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. T he advent of the 20th century offered the possibility of more freedom and opportunity for women. For decades, women had advocated for the right to … Continue reading →

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