Category Archives: Books and Authors

Nov. 9, 1907: ‘We Are Revolutionists!’ Supporters Call for Release of Ricardo Flores Magon

Posted on November 9, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Nov. 9, 1907 Los Angeles Local sympathizers, anarchists and socialists are organizing a mass meeting to protest the imprisonment of Ricardo Flores Magon, Librado Rivera, Antonio Villareal and L. Gutierrez De Lara, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Black Dahlia: 1949 Letter Proves Nothing About Dr. George Hodel

Posted on November 1, 2018 by lmharnisch

Sorry, no. If you are familiar with Steve Hodel’s elevator pitch (“retired LAPD homicide cop discovers evil genius dad was maniacal serial killer”) you can skip all of this in the South Pasadenan. It’s more of the same old exaggerated … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

On the Comics Page

Posted on October 27, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 27, 1907 Los Angeles Along with “Little Nemo,” “Buster Brown” was a popular feature of the Sunday comics. Like other cartoons of the era, such as “The Katzenjammer Kids” and “Foxy … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Books and Authors, Comics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

October 20, 1907: Winsor McCay, ‘Little Nemo’ and The Imp

Posted on October 20, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. October 20, 1907 Los Angeles Winsor McCay and his cartoons never completely go out of fashion and are periodically rediscovered—as in the current Taschen anthology. He was a fabulous artist and his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Books and Authors, Comics | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Black Dahlia: Sydney Morning Herald Discovers New Elmore Leonard Novel: ‘Get Dahlia’ (Oops)

Posted on October 19, 2018 by lmharnisch

Who needs editors? Certainly not the Sydney Morning Herald and Scott Ellis. ps. This is “sponsored content for Stan,” an Australian streaming video service. Mistakes like this make Mr. Laurel, who will always be the real Stan to us, very … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Oct. 18, 1907: Newspaper Cartoonist Ted Gale Makes His Point

Posted on October 18, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 18, 1907 Los Angeles For the last month, the pages of The Times have been peppered with pen-and-ink cartoons signed Gale—in fact some of them have already appeared in the blog, … Continue reading →

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To George Hodel From Man Ray, 1949: Yours for Only $9,775

Posted on October 16, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. The Detroit News has published an article (Note: The link is broken) on book dealer John K. King, who is offering “Man Ray: Photographs 1920-1934 Paris” inscribed by Man Ray to Dr. … Continue reading →

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Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — A. L. “Whitey” Schafer Simplifies Portraits

Posted on October 15, 2018 by lmharnisch

“Thou Shalt Not,” “Whitey” Schafer’s most famous image. Note: This is an encore post from 2013. In the very early days of the motion picture industry, stills photographers meant nothing to the moving picture companies. They asked their feature cameramen … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Found on EBay, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Oct. 13, 1907: 2 Die in Tong War

Posted on October 13, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Oct. 13, 1907 Los Angeles Gunmen imported from out of town by the Hop Sing Tong entered the tailor shop of Lem Sing at 806 Juan St. in Chinatown and under the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Education, Food and Drink, Homicide, LAPD, Streetcars | Comments Off on Oct. 13, 1907: 2 Die in Tong War

L.A. Noir: Will Someone Please Get the New York Times a Map of Los Angeles?

Posted on October 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

The New York Times has published a “guide” to “Where Noir Lives in the City of Angels.” With text by Gal Beckerman. And take a good look at the graphic by Ross MacDonald (no, not that Ross MacDonald; he’s dead). … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, New York | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Coming Attractions: Celebrating the Reopening of the Central Library

Posted on October 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles Central Library, courtesy of the library. Los Angeles is celebrating one of its great treasures – the Central Library – this weekend on the 25th anniversary of its reopening in October 1993, seven years after a devastating … Continue reading →

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Oct. 3, 1947: Full House – Burglar Slips In on Mystery Writer’s Poker Game

Posted on October 3, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Reddest face in town yesterday belonged to Charles Bennett, writer of screen mysteries in which the brilliant detective always catches the crook. Seems that he had … Continue reading →

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Oct. 1, 1947: Meet Matt Weinstock, Author of ‘My L.A.’

Posted on October 1, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Everybody’s parents or grandparents seem to have purchased this little red-bound book with the blue title on the spine. There was a time when you could … Continue reading →

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Sept. 30, 1907: The Quick Brown Fox and Friends From A to Z

Posted on September 30, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 30, 1907 Los Angeles Who says research can’t be any fun? I wonder what the WCTU would say about five dozen liquor jugs. Dr. J.Z. Quack? Not a reassuring name, is … Continue reading →

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Sept. 28, 1947: City Librarian Althea Warren Announces Retirement

Posted on September 28, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. “Now I can catch up with my reading!” So does Miss Althea Warren—surrounded by 1,811,000 books—regard her retirement next Wednesday as city librarian of Los Angeles. … Continue reading →

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Sept. 24, 1907: A Poem on the First Day in L.A.

Posted on September 24, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 24, 1907 Los Angeles A First Day in Los Angeles Roving, roving, ever restless, drifting On from strand to strand. Have I seen the years slip by me, Seeking for the … Continue reading →

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Sept. 23, 1947: Janet Flanner, The New Yorker’s ‘Genet,’ Visits L.A .

Posted on September 23, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Janet Flanner, during her many years in Paris as European correspondent for the New Yorker magazine, picked up the French love of epigrams. Genet, as she … Continue reading →

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Brian De Palma’s ‘The Black Dahlia’

Posted on September 14, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Further note: Rotten Tomatoes, gives this film 32% on the Tomatometer. “The Black Dahlia,” directed by Brian De Palma, screenplay by Josh Friedman based on the novel by James Ellroy. Starring Josh … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Zoot Suit | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sept. 12, 1947: L.A. Times Columnist Lee Shippey

Posted on September 12, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2005 and originally appeared on the 1947project. Henry R. Wagner of San Marino will be 85 years old Sept. 27 but the Zamorano Club couldn’t wait that long. In order to surprise Dr. … Continue reading →

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Sept. 11, 1907: In Praise of the Corset for the ‘Woman Who Weighs a Ton’

Posted on September 11, 2018 by lmharnisch

Note: This is an encore post from 2006. Sept. 11, 1907 Direct Wire From New York Wow! Now this is the kind of quote one simply doesn’t see every day, at least in the 21st century. The Victorians certainly had … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Streetcars | 1 Comment