Category Archives: Books and Authors

Silver Lake Hammer Murder – Part 3

Posted on September 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Sept. 19, 1941: Valverda Booth visits her husband, Ernest Booth, while he is in custody in the Silver Lake Hammer Murder of heiress Florence Stricker. Is there anything more delightful to the heart of a research drudge than a notice … Continue reading →

Posted in 1927, 1929, 1941, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Libraries | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Found on EBay – ‘Thicker’n Thieves’

Posted on September 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Every so often, Charles Stoker’s “Thicker’n Thieves shows up on EBay for way too much money. There was a time when you could pick up a copy for $8 or $10 in almost any used book store in Los Angeles … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Found on EBay, LAPD | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Found on EBay – ‘Thicker’n Thieves’

British Library Digitizes Lewis Carroll’s Original ‘Alice’

Posted on September 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Page 37 of Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures Under Ground,” digitized by the British Library. Henry Chu writes a nondupe in the Los Angeles Times about unsuccessful attempts to gain access to Scotland Yard’s records in the Jack the Ripper … Continue reading →

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Immigration, Libraries, Museums | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Found on EBay – J.D. Salinger Note

Posted on September 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

This note attributed to J.D. Salinger has been listed on EBay. As with anything on EBay, an item and vendor should be thoroughly evaluated before submitting a bid. The note is listed as Buy It Now for $50,000.

Posted in Books and Authors, Found on EBay | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Hasbro Cooking … Without a Light Bulb

Posted on September 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Hasbro Easy-Bake Ultimate Oven. Credit: Hasbro. Many people have wondered what would become of Hasbro’s Easy-Bake oven with the demise of the incandescent light bulb. The answer is a complete redesign with a heating element. Associated Press via Washington … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Food and Drink, Museums, Music, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Coming Attractions: Cheryl Crane

Posted on September 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Cheryl Crane and Lana Turner in court. Credit: Los Angeles Examiner collection, USC. April 5, 1958: Cheryl Crane is held in the death of Johnny Stompanato. Mary Mallory points out that Cheryl Crane will be discussing her new book, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1958, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Last Bookstore Is Selling Vinyl

Posted on September 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

The last time I was buying lots of vinyl, I was concentrating on classical music and soundtracks, so there isn’t much jazz at the Daily Mirror HQ. On Sunday at the Last Bookstore, I stocked up on Erroll Garner and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Downtown, Music | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Last Bookstore Is Selling Vinyl

A Revolution in Research

Posted on September 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Rohwer Camp #23. Credit: Butler Center for Arkansas Studies

Posted in Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Libraries, Native Americans, World War II | Tagged , , | Comments Off on A Revolution in Research

Nazi Swastika on Hollywood Hills!

Posted on September 7, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: “I guess I’m a fool,” she panted. Credit: This Week magazine, Los Angeles Times Sept. 7, 1941:It’s Sunday in Los Angeles, and although Pearl Harbor is three months away, concern about the impending war is everywhere. Someone even changed … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, Books and Authors, Film, History, Hollywood, Music, Radio, Religion, World War II | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Revival of Wet-Plate Photography

Posted on September 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “Heather,” done in a wet-plate process. Credit: Robert Christian Malmberg We will be drinking nothing but clear liquids at the Daily Mirror HQ today in memory of Dr. William Wolff, who helped develop the colonoscopy. Yes, they’re annoying, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Medicine, Obituaries, Photography, San Francisco, Washington | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Smithsonian Plans Exhibit on Paradox of Jefferson and Slavery

Posted on August 31, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: “New Native Photography”; “Shiprock Fair, 2009.” Credit: Jinniibaah Manuelito Jacqueline Trescott of the Washington Post writes that the Smithsonian Institution and the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello are collaborating on a new exhibit about Jefferson and slavery. “Jefferson and … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Books and Authors, History, Medicine, Museums, Native Americans, Photography | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Smithsonian Plans Exhibit on Paradox of Jefferson and Slavery

New Light on the Death of Joe Hill

Posted on August 28, 2011 by lmharnisch

Nov. 20, 1915: The Times publishes the account of the execution of Joe Hill (Joe Hillstrom)  by firing squad.   The New York Times has two terrific stories that are well worth your time. The first is Rachel Donadio’s feature … Continue reading →

Posted in 1915, Art & Artists, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Labor, Obituaries | Tagged , , , , , | 15 Comments

James Curtis: L.A. Voices – Dick Lane, Part 6

Posted on August 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Listening to the radio, Oct. 28, 1945. This is Part 6 of James Curtis’ 1975 interview with Dick Lane. In this segment, Lane discusses Jack Benny, roller derby, professional wrestling and Gorgeous George. James Curtis’ interview with Dick Lane … Continue reading →

Posted in Books and Authors, Film, Hollywood, James Curtis, L.A. Voices, Radio, Television | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Voices: Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, 1914 – 2011, Part 3

Posted on August 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Image: Ed Jokisch retires, Feb. 18, 1972. Retirement cartoons are an LAPD tradition. This is what they looked like in the 1970s. Credit: Ed Jokisch family. This is Part 3 of my interview with the late Ed Jokisch. Note: Toward … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Voices: Police Capt. Ed Jokisch, 1914 – 2011, Part 3

Ray Bradbury — Newsboy

Posted on August 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

June 27, 1947: Ray Bradbury, who once sold newspapers at Olympic and Norton, publishes “Dark Carnival,” a book of short stories.

Posted in 1947, Books and Authors | Tagged | 3 Comments

LAPD Pistol Team – 1934 [Updated]

Posted on August 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The LAPD pistol team puts on a demonstration at the Auto Club headquarters in 1934. Credit: “Three Cars in Every Garage: A Motorist’s History of the Automobile and the Automobile Club of Southern California,” Page 164. Did they really … Continue reading →

Posted in 1934, Books and Authors, LAPD, Photography, Transportation | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Rave Review on Amazon, Only $5

Posted on August 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: Edsel Ford III, left, and Edsel Ford II at the wheel of the Model 40. Credit: Edsel and Eleanor Ford House. David Streitfeld of the New York Times reports on how authors, restaurants and hotels can buy a positive … Continue reading →

Posted in Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Music, Religion, Transportation | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Rave Review on Amazon, Only $5

What Are the 50 Best Books About L.A.?

Posted on August 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

I don’t care much for lists because they’re usually nothing but “flame bait.”*  The BBC is an abundant source of these dictums, such as “100 Smashing Top-Drawer Books That Everyone Who Aspires to Cultural Literacy Should Read,” which is second … Continue reading →

Posted in Another Good Story Ruined, Books and Authors, History, Libraries | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Coming Attractions: Culinary Historians Used Cookbook Sale

Posted on August 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: The Santa Barbara Junior League Cookbook, 1939. Credit: L.A. Daily Mirror archives. The Culinary Historians of Southern California will hold its annual used cookbook sale on Aug. 21 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Hollywood Farmers Market, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1939, Books and Authors, Coming Attractions, Food and Drink, History, Hollywood | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Coming Attractions: Culinary Historians Used Cookbook Sale

#architecture, #art, #black dahlia, #history, #religion, 8|9|2011

Posted on August 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo: 130 W. 30th, via Google maps’ street view. SPOTLIGHT David W. Dunlap, writing in the New York Times’ City Room, tells the story of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah,  sometimes called the “gay synagogue,” which is moving into a building … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Cold Cases, Genealogy, Libraries, Music, New York, Religion, Stage | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment