Category Archives: Books and Authors

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

“Angel’s Flight” by Leo Politi. Another of my favorite books about Los Angeles is Leo Politi’s “Bunker Hill Los Angeles: Reminiscences of Bygone Days,” published in 1964. Copies are listed on Bookfinder for as little as $20. This painting shows … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 12, 2014 by lmharnisch

“The Los Angeles Book,” with text by Lee Shippey and photos by Max Yavno is one of my favorite books on Los Angeles – but only for Yavno’s photographs. The text is forgettable and, in fact, Yavno said he paid … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

In February, I ran a series of posts by James Curtis about producer David Lewis. This isn’t a new book but I found it remarkably insightful. “The Creative Producer” can be found via Bookfinder.com, with copies starting as low as … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 37

Posted on December 11, 2014 by lmharnisch

Detective Mark McPherson (played by Dana Andrews), confronts Shelby Carpenter (played by Vincent Price) about a shotgun that might be the murder weapon. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mark A. Vieira and Cecilia B. de Mille Presley will be making a personal appearance for the launch of the opulent volume “Cecil B. De Mille The Art of the Hollywood Epic” on Friday at the Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 36

Posted on December 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

Laura Hunt (Gene Tierney) confronts a sleeping Detective Mark McPherson (Dana Andrews) in “Laura.”   I have been using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a post from 2013 in which we chatted with author Christina Rice. The book is available for $22.99 for the Kindle, $36.17 in hardback from Amazon or $40 at local independent bookstores such as Vroman’s, which is … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

In 1982, Jim Romenesko, then a young reporter, compiled coroners’ reports on unusual deaths. Jim now runs the JimRomenesko.com blog and notes that he still has a few copies of his self-published book. He is selling them for $15, including … Continue reading →

Posted in 1982, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Erich von Stroheim’s ‘Paprika’

Posted on December 8, 2014 by lmharnisch

A copy of Erich von Stroheim’s “Paprika” inscribed to Hugo Ballin has been listed on EBay as Buy It Now for $875. Note: This is a post that originally appeared in 2012. Famed director/actor Erich von Stroheim faced financial disaster … Continue reading →

Posted in 1935, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 5, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Glen Creason’s book on maps of Los Angeles shows the many ways people have viewed the city over the years. I interviewed him for The Times in 2012 and fortunately for all concerned, … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. You might have to hunt a bit for Don Normark’s 1999 book “Chavez Ravine, 1949,” but your search will be rewarded. The photos are terrific and the residents’ recollections make the book even … Continue reading →

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Coming Attractions: Afternoon With the Authors

Posted on December 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Hollywood Heritage Museum, 2100 N. Highland Ave., will be hosting an Afternoon With the Authors on Saturday, Dec. 6, from noon to 4 p.m. Scheduled guests include: Julia Adams, John Bengtson, Bob Birchard, Jon Boorstin, Angela Cartwright and Tom McClaren, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 3, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. Whenever I’m asked about my favorite books on Los Angeles, my first recommendation is “Nuestro Pueblo,” a selection of features by Times artist Charles Owens and writer Joseph Seewerker that appeared in The … Continue reading →

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L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. If you enjoy Mary Mallory’s columns (and our survey shows that readers do) you might like this anthology of Hollywood Heights called “Hollywoodland: Tales Lost and Found.” It’s available for the Kindle, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

L.A. Daily Mirror Retro Shopping Guide

Posted on December 1, 2014 by lmharnisch

Note: This is a repost from 2013. True style never goes out of date, after all. We are being bombarded by stories about Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with videos of long lines at stores and the attendant consumer frenzy. … Continue reading →

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Just in Time for Christmas — Amazon Price Checker

Posted on November 15, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a fun toy I just discovered. CamelCamelCamel.com tracks price fluctuations on Amazon (in case you haven’t noticed – and I hadn’t —  the hardcover price of James Ellroy’s “Perfidia” has been dropping slightly every day). Handy for the holidays, … Continue reading →

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

Shadowing Marlowe: Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on November 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Someone asked me what I thought of this article in our hometown paper and when I got done laughing I pulled out Frank MacShane’s “Selected Letters of Raymond Chandler” and “The Life of Raymond Chandler.” You guessed it.

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 29 Comments

Coming Attractions: Mark A. Vieira on George Hurrell

Posted on October 2, 2014 by lmharnisch

Mark A. Vieira, a photographer, historian and author of several books, will take part in a public discussion of Hollywood photographer George Hurrell on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. at USC’s Doheny Library marking the opening of an exhibit of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Hollywood, Photography | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Online

Posted on September 29, 2014 by lmharnisch

Google Books is offering a extensive preview of James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” for those who may be curious about it.  Amazon is also offering a preview. I have to say I’m not reassured by the first lines, ostensibly a radio broadcast … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Daily Mirror Reader Survey

Posted on September 26, 2014 by lmharnisch

Here’s a quick question as we head into October: I can keep doing the posts on the making of “Laura.” Or I can cover the unsolved killing of Georgette Bauerdorf (Oct. 13, 1944). But I cannot do both. Which would … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Homicide | Tagged , , , , , | 41 Comments