Category Archives: books

Coming Attractions — John Buntin

Posted on September 15, 2009 by lmharnisch

John Buntin, author of "L.A. Noir," which has been getting good reviews (I'm still working my way through the book) will be making a personal appearance tonight at 7 at Vroman's in Pasadena. Buntin has spent quite a bit of … Continue reading →

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‘Holy Barbarians’ Revisited

Posted on September 2, 2009 by lmharnisch

Coastlines magazine, Spring-Summer 1958, with a cover story on LSD. Note: In late June and early July, I wrote about Lawrence Lipton's 1959 book on the beatniks of Venice West, "Holy Barbarians." I was particularly interested in the account of … Continue reading →

Posted in #Jazz, art and artists, books, Music, Venice Division | 1 Comment

Voices — Dominick Dunne, 1925 – 2009

Posted on August 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times / August 7, 2001 Dominick Dunne gestures during an introduction before reading to a small group of people from his book "Justice: Crimes, Trials and Punishments" at a Beverly Hills hotel. Dominick Dunne's Dangerous … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Obituaries | 3 Comments

Angeles Abbey Mausoleum

Posted on August 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1929: Angeles Abbey Mausoleum James Curtis writes: Gee–Preston Sturges and Angeles Abbey on the same page! I grew up in Compton, and the sight of that mausoleum is one of my most vivid childhood memories. I was never on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, books, Obituaries | 3 Comments

Found on EBay — Biblical Mystery

Posted on August 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

Edgar J. Goodspeed was a famous Bible scholar who spent the last years of his life in Los Angeles and died here in 1962. He was a prolific writer on religious subjects and an avid mystery fan, so he combined … Continue reading →

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Minister Discovers Ancient Race of Giants

Posted on August 9, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 9, 1899: "With the trophies of his summer's explorations spread out about him, Dr. Cole has turned his parlor into an anthropological museum. One table is covered with water jugs and incense pipes, the sofa hidden under stone axes, … Continue reading →

Posted in books | 2 Comments

Second Takes — Preston Sturges

Posted on August 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

James Curtis, author of the Preston Sturges biography "Between Flops," writes:   I was a little taken aback today when I came upon your clutch of articles on Preston Sturges, and was suddenly reminded that he died exactly 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries, Second Takes | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Everett Ruess

Posted on August 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

A copy of the September 1938 issue of Desert magazine with an article about Everett Ruess has been listed on EBay. Ruess was a Los Angeles artist who disappeared while roaming Utah in 1934. Bidding starts at $49.

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Budd Schulberg and Sammy Glick

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

There's Something About 'Sammy.' * Hollywood May Finally Be Ready for 'What Makes Sammy Run?', Author Budd Schulberg's Scathing Indictment of the Film Industry. It's About Time. September 6, 1998By MARY MELTON, Mary Melton is the magazine's research editor What … Continue reading →

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By Budd Schulberg

Posted on August 5, 2009 by lmharnisch

By Budd Schulberg, Feb. 17, 1952: "You know how married couples get after a while if they're not careful….." When they all dined out together it was traditional to separate wives and husbands, but in the case of the Springers … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Budd Schulberg, Obituaries | 2 Comments

Author Writes Best Seller From Beyond the Grave

Posted on August 4, 2009 by lmharnisch

Aug. 4, 1959: Zane Grey has been dead for 20 years but left an enormous backlog of unpublished works. At the author's home in Altadena, his son Romer says "Horse Heaven Hill" will be coming out soon and another western … Continue reading →

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Man Addicted to Books Kills Himself

Posted on August 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

   Aug. 1, 1899: A man kills himself after taking elaborate precautions to prevent being identified. He writes: "I read books every day. They act on me as a narcotic. I dope myself with them. They make me forget for … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Suicide | 1 Comment

Drinking With the Junior League — 1952

Posted on July 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

Special Daiquiri Cocktail: "This cocktail hits like a sap to the back of the head." Brady Potts takes over in this week's Cooking With the Junior League and examines mixology from Memphis, 1952: "Oh my. "This…this is a tasty, tasty … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, July 30, 1959

Posted on July 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

“Seems to Me You Have a Complete Disregard for the Female of the Species.” Beatnik Memo As others before him, Lawrence Lipton, Boswell of the beatniks, has learned that all sorts of unlikely things can happen when a person writes … Continue reading →

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Elite Spy Agency

Posted on July 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 30, 1952: Look, the also-ran weekly rival to Life, runs a story about the elite, super-secret Central Intelligence Agency. The title, "Inside CIA," is a play on John Gunther's book "Inside USA" and its successors.

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A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Your Reading Material

Posted on July 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 29, 1951: Some familiar titles: "The Caine Mutiny" and "From Here to Eternity" and then there's "Communism, Democracy and Catholic Power." What's this? "A study of the Kremlin and Vatican as suppressors of free thought?" Of course, you … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay — Lucky Baldwin

Posted on July 27, 2009 by lmharnisch

A copy of C.B. Glasscock's biography of Lucky Baldwin has been listed on EBay. Glasscock wrote several books about California history, including "Bandits and the Southern Pacific." Bidding starts at $9.99 When Baldwin's daughter Anita learned in 1935 that Universal … Continue reading →

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Director Refuses to Censor ‘In Cold Blood’; NL Wins All-Star Game

Posted on July 24, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 24, 1969: Richard Brooks turns down $1 million from CBS for TV broadcast of three films, including "In Cold Blood"  because the network wanted to cut the final hanging sequence of the film.  Blame it all on the weather. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

A Kinder, Simpler Time Dept.: Educational Comics

Posted on July 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 22, 1944: Edward Steichen throws out his paintbrushes and takes up photography. It's not clear if the above story is entirely true — but it is entertaining.

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Frank McCourt, 1930 – 2009

Posted on July 19, 2009 by lmharnisch

MEMOIR The Life Force Triumphs ANGELA'S ASHES: A Memoir. By Frank McCourt (Scribner: $23, 364 pp.) September 29, 1996Book Review By Mary Morrissey, Mary Morrissy is the author of "A Lazy Eye" and "Mother of Pearl." She reviews fiction for … Continue reading →

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