Category Archives: Books and Authors

Mary Mallory’s ‘Hollywoodland’ Now Available at Amazon

Posted on September 6, 2013 by lmharnisch

The L.A. Daily Mirror is very pleased to announce that Mary Mallory has collected her first entries in the Hollywood Heights series — with additional content — into an ebook that is now available on Amazon. The book is available … Continue reading →

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

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights — The Three Lives Of Villa Aurora

Posted on September 2, 2013 by lmharnisch

Cats have nine lives. People often experience second or third acts in their lives or careers. Some homes have multiple lives as well, like Villa Aurora, which has experienced three diverse lives, bringing knowledge and refuge to those who come … Continue reading →

Posted in 1928, Architecture, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Parkey Sharkey – Found on EBay

Posted on August 31, 2013 by lmharnisch

A copy of Parkey Sharkey’s “Whiskey Road” has been listed on EBay. Several years ago, the L.A. Daily Mirror acquired a copy and it occupies an honored place in the research library. There are those who assumed that Parkey Sharkey … Continue reading →

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Black Dahlia: New ‘Evidence’ in George ‘Evil Genius’ Hodel Franchise

Posted on August 25, 2013 by lmharnisch

Black Dahlia breakthrough! Let us suppose that there was a mathematician. A retired mathematician who once taught at a major university, who published and received tenure, and retired as a well-regarded member of the faculty. Let us further suppose that … Continue reading →

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

Jean Renoir, Orson Welles and the Dim Remembrance of Things Past

Posted on August 13, 2013 by lmharnisch

Journalists are fond of telling and retelling their favorite war stories. These are raucous tales of daring exploits — usually mixed with strong drink — of great personal heroism, of triumphs on deadline and other various noble achievements, often involving … Continue reading →

Posted in 1979, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mary Mallory / Hollywood Heights: Albert Witzel, Early Glamour Photography Pioneer

Posted on August 12, 2013 by lmharnisch

Albert Witzel, courtesy of Mary Mallory. Deadwood, S.D.-born Albert Walter Witzel possessed a dead-on knack for capturing the public’s eye with his vibrant, elegant portrait photographs. Witzel became one of the premier portraitists in the teens and early 1920s, influencing … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Hollywood Heights, Mary Mallory, Photography, Witzel | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

The Florentine Gardens Meets Cecil B. De Mille

Posted on July 14, 2013 by lmharnisch

A copy of Nils T. Granlund’s “autobiography,” written with Sid Feder and Ralph Hancock, has been listed on EBay. What makes this copy somewhat unusual is that it was apparently owned by Cecil B. De Mille. Granlund was impresario at … Continue reading →

Posted in 1957, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Florentine Gardens Meets Cecil B. De Mille

Black Dahlia: Hodel Murder House Soil Samples? You Must Be Kidding!

Posted on June 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

You may recall the pop media frenzy back in February that “Buster the wonder dog” had found “something” at the Sowden House that was possibly, maybe, kind of, perhaps, sort of, related to the Black Dahlia case proving, oh, you … Continue reading →

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

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth — Part 11

Posted on May 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I am using the Wikipedia entry on Wallace Beery — alleging that he was involved in the death of Ted Healy — as a way to explore Wikipedia’s fundamental problems with accuracy and delve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth — Part 10

Posted on May 8, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I am using the Wikipedia entry on Wallace Beery — alleging that he was involved in the death of Ted Healy — as a way to explore Wikipedia’s fundamental problems with accuracy and delve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Wikipedia: Murder and Myth — Part 10

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth — Part 9

Posted on May 7, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I am using the Wikipedia entry on Wallace Beery – alleging that he was involved in the death of Ted Healy – as a way to explore Wikipedia’s fundamental problems with accuracy and delve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Wikipedia: Murder and Myth — Part 9

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth – Part 8

Posted on May 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

In case you just tuned in, I am using the Wikipedia entry on Wallace Beery – alleging that he was involved in the death of Ted Healy – as a way to explore Wikipedia’s fundamental problems with accuracy and delve … Continue reading →

Posted in 1937, Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, Nightclubs | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Wikipedia Watch: Novelist Amanda Filipacchi Feels the Sting of ‘Citizen Scholars’

Posted on April 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

A world without Wikipedia? Not such a bad idea. Novelist Amanda Filipacchi, writing in the New York Times, notes that the “citizen scholars” at Wikipedia have been moving women from the category of “American Novelists” to “American Women Novelists.” She … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Parkey Sharkey — Found on EBay

Posted on April 27, 2013 by lmharnisch

Our old friend Parkey Sharkey appears in a photo that has been listed on EBay. Bidding starts at $19.99.  

Posted in Books and Authors, Found on EBay, Radio | Tagged , | Comments Off on Parkey Sharkey — Found on EBay

Wikipedia: Murder and Myth, Coming Next week

Posted on April 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

A world without Wikipedia – not such a bad idea. Regular readers of the L.A. Daily Mirror know that I consider Wikipedia a sinkhole of mistakes and folklore that is created and maintained by “citizen scholars,” coding tweakers, crackpots and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , | 2 Comments

The Real L.A. Noir – Tomorrow at The Times Festival of Books

Posted on April 19, 2013 by lmharnisch

Among the events scheduled for this weekend’s Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, you may especially enjoy a panel moderated by Patt Morrison titled “The Real L.A. Noir,” featuring reporters Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton — and me. The panel … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, LAPD | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Noir Fans, Mark Your Calendars

Posted on April 9, 2013 by lmharnisch

Among the events scheduled for the upcoming Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (April 20-21), you may especially enjoy a panel moderated by Patt Morrison titled “The Real L.A. Noir,” featuring reporters Andrew Blankstein and Richard Winton — and me. … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Talking With Eve Golden About John Gilbert

Posted on April 5, 2013 by lmharnisch

Eve Golden has given a couple of interviews about her new book on John Gilbert: The first is with Michael G. Ankerich and the second is with Mel Neuhaus. Congrats, Eve!

Posted in Books and Authors, Eve Golden, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

LAPD Chief Wants More Police; Terrible Traffic – 1913

Posted on April 3, 2013 by lmharnisch

April 3, 1913: That is author L. Frank Baum and composer Louis F. Gottschalk, the team behind “The Tik-Tok Man of Oz,” which was a blockbuster in Los Angeles. The Times said it “is the reigning sensation of the local … Continue reading →

Posted in 1913, Books and Authors, City Hall, LAPD, Stage, Streetcars, Theaters | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Mobs Storm Butchers Trying to Beat Ration Deadline

Posted on March 28, 2013 by lmharnisch

People line up outside a meat market at 2100 N. Broadway. 2100 N. Broadway via Google Street View. March 28, 1943: And did the “Greatest Generation” meekly, humbly and patriotically accept meat rationing for the war effort? They did not. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1943, Books and Authors, Broadway, Comics, Downtown, Food and Drink, World War II | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Mobs Storm Butchers Trying to Beat Ration Deadline