Category Archives: Books and Authors

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 True style never goes out of date, after all.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

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 35

Posted on September 25, 2014 by lmharnisch

The film of “Laura” makes heavy use of David Raksin’s now-famous theme song. The tune running through Vera Caspary’s novel is “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” from the musical “Roberta.” This copy of the sheet music is for sale on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Music | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 34

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

The opening lines of Vera Caspary’s “Laura,” as narrated by newspaper columnist Waldo Lydecker. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Sept. 24, 1944

Posted on September 24, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 24, 1944 Louella Parsons says:  Why is young Van Johnson the idol of the bobby sox brigade and at this moment crowding Frank Sinatra and Alan Ladd for top honors? Van isn’t handsome,he hasn’t a striking physique and he … Continue reading →

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James Ellroy: ‘Perfidia’ Update

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

We’re waiting to buy a used copy for the Daily Mirror library, so I haven’t read James Ellroy’s “Perfidia,” but I thought it would be interesting to see how it’s doing. “Perfidia” has yet to penetrate the New York Times … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 33

Posted on September 23, 2014 by lmharnisch

Waldo Lydecker, played by Clifton Webb in the film version of “Laura.”  In the novel, Waldo is considerably taller and much heavier. In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 32

Posted on September 18, 2014 by lmharnisch

  In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look at the making of the film, which was released in … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 31

Posted on September 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a meandering look at the making of the film, which was released in Los … Continue reading →

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1944 in Print — Hollywood News and Gossip by Louella Parsons, Sept. 17, 1944

Posted on September 17, 2014 by lmharnisch

Sept. 17, 1944 Bestsellers: “Green Dolphin Street,” “Leave Her to Heaven,” “History of Rome Hanks,” “Strange Fruit,” “I Never Left Home,” “The Time for Decision,” “Yankee From Olympus,” “Anna and the King of Siam” and “Invasion!” Louella Parsons says: All … Continue reading →

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‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 30

Posted on September 16, 2014 by lmharnisch

New York critic, columnist and radio pundit Alexander Woollcott makes an endorsement for Pullman in 1940. Courtesy of the Illinois Digital Archives. In Vera Caspary’s novel “Laura,” New York columnist Waldo Lydecker endorses the Byron pen, renamed the “Wallace Flow-Rite … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 29

Posted on September 10, 2014 by lmharnisch

The famous portrait of Laura Hunt in “Laura” by the fictional artist Stuart Jacoby. For the film, a large photo of Gene Tierney was heavily retouched to appear to be a painting. In case you just tuned in, I’m using … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Laura’ — The Making of a Film Noir Classic, Part 28

Posted on September 9, 2014 by lmharnisch

Detective Mark McPherson, played by Dana Andrews in the film version of “Laura.” In case you just tuned in, I’m using Louella Parsons’ May 15, 1944, item on Rouben Mamoulian being replaced as the director of “Laura” to take a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1944, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

‘Most Books Are Never Fact-Checked’

Posted on September 4, 2014 by lmharnisch

We are shocked! Shocked! That books aren’t fact-checked! Yes, I mean you, “Hollywood Babylon” and “Severed,” who live on the lowest rungs of the literary ladder. But that goes for you too, “The Fixers,” “Full Service” and “City of Nets.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors | Tagged , | 2 Comments