Category Archives: Books and Authors

Black Dahlia: Leslie Dillon, Paul De River and the LAPD — Part 1

Posted on September 13, 2017 by lmharnisch

The Paul De River/Leslie Dillon/LAPD coverup conspiracy theory in the 1947 Black Dahlia murder is getting some traction with the upcoming release of Piu Eatwell’s “Black Dahlia, Red Rose,” which purports to “solve” the Dahlia case. Spoiler alert

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Black Dahlia – Piu Eatwell’s ‘Black Dahlia, Red Rose’ Exhumes Leslie Dillon

Posted on September 10, 2017 by lmharnisch

Since I learned a few months ago that British writer Piu Eatwell was going to “solve” the Black Dahlia case in the forthcoming book “Black Dahlia, Red Rose,” I have been waiting to see if she would open — Door … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

‘Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood’ at the Toronto Film Festival – Oh Dear

Posted on September 8, 2017 by lmharnisch

Scotty Bowers, author of the b.s.-laden book “Full Service,” is the subject of a “documentary” (cough, cough) by Matt Tyrnauer. Image courtesy of the Vanity Fair, which really ought to know better. This is Scotty Bowers, who wrote a heaping … Continue reading →

Posted in 2012, Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Book Review: ‘Playboy Laughs’

Posted on August 9, 2017 by lmharnisch

Playboy Laughs: The Comedy, Comedians and Cartoons of Playboy By Patty Farmer Beaufort Books, 355 Pages Judging by a chronological list of Playboy covers, I started reading the magazine about January 1967 and stopped with the October 1970 issue, which … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017, Books and Authors | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Black Dahlia: ‘Hard-Boiled Hollywood’ and the ‘Blah Dahlia’

Posted on August 7, 2017 by lmharnisch

Hard-Boiled Hollywood: Crime and Punishment in Postwar Los Angeles By Jon Lewis University of California Press, 233 pages.   “Sometimes it’s interesting to see just how bad bad writing can be. This promised to go the limit.” — Joe Gillis, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 2017, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Black Dahlia: Another Entry in the George Hodel ‘Black Dahlia Avenger’ Franchise

Posted on July 28, 2017 by lmharnisch

Variety announces “One Day She’ll Darken.” While the rest of the world was consumed with the Senate vote on a “skinny repeal” of Obamacare, my inbox exploded with news of a purported “Black Dahlia TV series.” Oh dear. This one … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 2017, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Mort Sahl: Last Man Standing’ by James Curtis

Posted on May 2, 2017 by lmharnisch

Folks, please give a little love to the publication today of “Last Man Standing,” James Curtis’ new biography of Mort Sahl, who transformed standup comedy from mother-in-law gags to cutting political commentary. James, known for his biographies of W.C. Fields, … Continue reading →

Posted in 2017, Books and Authors, Stage | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Coming Events: Book Signing for ‘Hollywood at Play’

Posted on January 30, 2017 by lmharnisch

A book signing for “Hollywood at Play,” by Donovan Brandt, Mary Mallory and Stephen X. Sylvester, will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Larry Edmunds Bookshop at 6644 Hollywood Blvd.

Posted in 2017, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Coming Events: Book Signing for ‘Hollywood at Play’

Eve Golden’s YouTube Theater: Castles on the Air

Posted on January 24, 2017 by lmharnisch

  Eve Golden’s biography of Vernon and Irene Castle. I am operating on the assumption that none of you have read my 2007 biography of Vernon and Irene Castle—that book laid an ostrich-sized egg. Three dogs and a cat bought … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Books and Authors, Dance, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Black Dahlia: ‘Severed’ Author John Gilmore Dead at 81 (Updated)

Posted on January 12, 2017 by lmharnisch

John Gilmore is dead? Really? Hidden in yet another rehash of the Black Dahlia case for the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s killing is word from Tony Mostrom in L.A. Weekly that “Severed” author John Gilmore died in October. This … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, 2016, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Black Dahlia: ‘Heaven Is Here!’ Progress Report

Posted on December 22, 2016 by lmharnisch

A little over a year ago, on Dec. 18, 2015, I walked out the doors of the Los Angeles Times after 27 years, having asked a security guard to take this picture of my farewell. And yes, I’m wearing my … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , | 35 Comments

Black Dahlia: ‘Ghostland’ and Another Good Story Ruined (Updated)

Posted on December 9, 2016 by lmharnisch

“Ghostland” by Colin Dickey, Page 136. OK, who can spot the mistake in the highlighted passage? (And yes, Dickey is about to invoke the name of Kenneth Anger, who has caused more grief for historians than any other writer). This … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

In the Steps of Raymond Chandler: L.A. Mystery Quotes (Updated +)

Posted on November 12, 2016 by lmharnisch

To accompany my piece on James Ellroy, Michael Connelly and The Wrong Side of Goodbye at the L.A. Review of Books, here are eleven mystery writers strolling Los Angeles in the shadow of Raymond Chandler. Can you identify the authors? … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Eve Golden’s YouTube Theater: Do not Get Me Started With Marion Davies and Orson Welles

Posted on September 27, 2016 by lmharnisch

“American Heiress” via Amazon.com. Rush out and get Jeffrey Toobin’s new book about the Patty Hearst kidnapping, American Heiress. It’s really one of the best-written, best-researched books I’ve read lately, and is actually laugh-out-loud funny at points. I am quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

Mystery Manuscript

Posted on September 6, 2016 by lmharnisch

If you think the mystery movies are tough – try the British Library’s mystery manuscript.

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The L.A. Public Library’s Thriving Authors

Posted on August 25, 2016 by lmharnisch

The Los Angeles Public Library seems to be a thriving hub of book authorship these days, and if you wonder how the library contributed to their writing, you can hear them explain at a panel at 1 p.m. Friday Aug. … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay: Manly Palmer Hall

Posted on August 16, 2016 by lmharnisch

The biography of Manly Hall by my Los Angeles Times colleague Louis Sahagun. Two lectures by Manly Hall have been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $69. Hall was included in a Los Angeles Conservancy tour in 2009,  … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Found on EBay, Religion | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Larry Edmunds Bookshop Provides Film Education for More Than 75 Years

Posted on August 15, 2016 by lmharnisch

  Jeanne Moreau shoots a scene for the 1970 film “Alex in Wonderland,” starring Donald Sutherland, right, at Larry Edmunds Bookshop, from a catalog listed on EBay  Long a mecca for film aficionados, Hollywood’s Larry Edmunds Bookshop continues educating film … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Larry Edmunds Bookshop Provides Film Education for More Than 75 Years

L.A. Celebrates Fourth of July With Cricket Match, Bagpipe Contest

Posted on July 4, 2016 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post from 2007. July 4, 1907 Los Angeles And how does Los Angeles celebrate Independence Day? With cricket matches and bagpipe contests.  

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Fashions, LAPD, Music, Parks, Streetcars | Comments Off on L.A. Celebrates Fourth of July With Cricket Match, Bagpipe Contest

Black Dahlia: A Crime Graphic Novel by James Ellroy, David Fincher, Matz and Miles Hyman

Posted on June 13, 2016 by lmharnisch

Take a close look: “The Black Dahlia ™.” Does that mean the publisher is trying to trademark “The Black Dahlia?”  Good luck with that.   I picked up a copy of the new graphic novel version of James Ellroy’s “The … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Art & Artists, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, LAPD | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments