Category Archives: books

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Aug. 4, 1959: Zane Grey has been dead for 20 years but left an enormous backlog of unpublished works.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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July 17, 1939: Nuestro Pueblo / Hollywood

Posted on July 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 17, 1939: Nuestro Pueblo stops at the Lasky barn on the Paramount lot, where it’s being used as a gymnasium.

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October 9, 1994: Julius Shulman Q & A

Posted on July 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times Interview Julius Shulman Capturing the Essence of California Architecture October 9, 1994 By Steve Proffitt, Steve Proffitt is a producer for Fox News and a contributor to National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” and “Morning Edition.” He … Continue reading →

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Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on July 16, 2009 by lmharnisch

On July 15, 1939, Jane Seewerker, wife of Times writer Joe Seewrker, died in Long Beach. Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens had been producing three features a week, but after Jane Seewerker's death, their schedule went to once a week.

Posted in art and artists, books, Nuestro Pueblo, Obituaries | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Charles Mulford Robinson

Posted on July 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

A plan for Honolulu, 1907 In the early 20th century, Charles Mulford Robinson wrote a series of books on beautifying cities and developed specific plans for such places as Detroit and Los Angeles. Robinson proposed that Los Angeles build a … Continue reading →

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Nuestro Pueblo: Long Beach

Posted on July 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

  July 10, 1939: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens go down to Long Beach and visit Shorty Orr.

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Holy Barbarians — Continued

Posted on July 8, 2009 by lmharnisch

Reading "Holy Barbarians" has turned into a curious case of role reversal. I was a youngster when the book was published and the beats and squares who populate Lawrence Lipton's study of the Venice scene would have been my parents' … Continue reading →

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