Category Archives: books

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 →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off

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.

Posted in art and artists, books | Comments Off

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.

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, books, Film, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in 1960, Architecture, art and artists, books, Photography | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, books, Downtown | Comments Off

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

Nuestro Pueblo: West Pico

Posted on July 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

July 7, 1939: Nuestro Pueblo stops at 5000 W. Pico, site of a one-room schoolhouse. View Larger Map

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Robert S. McNamara — 1916 – 2009

Posted on July 6, 2009 by lmharnisch

Hoang Dinh Nam / AFP/Getty Images Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara meets with Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, the Vietnamese communist army commander during the war. Note: Former Defense Secretary Robert S. McNamara has died at the age of 93. The … Continue reading →

Posted in @news, books, Obituaries, Politics | 1 Comment

Holy Barbarians — Police Beat Man in Raid on Gay Club

Posted on July 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

There's a lot of rambling, self-important navel-gazing in "Holy Barbarians" and although these meandering insights are vital to the people in the book, they can be fairly tedious reading. But there are also rewards. Here's an account of a group … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #gays and lesbians, art and artists, books, Nightclubs | 1 Comment

Nuestro Pueblo: The Pico Adobe

Posted on June 30, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 30, 1939: Nuestro Pueblo visits the Pico Adobe. May 9, 1889: Pio Pico is back in court. Feb. 12, 1891: A Times editorial soliciting aid for Pico after his courtroom defeat. Today's Nuestro Pueblo sent me in search of … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay — One Magazine

Posted on June 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

The inaugural January 1953 issue of One magazine, published in Los Angeles, has been listed on EBay. One was a historic magazine that dealt with gay issues. It was declared obscene by the Postal Service, resulting in a landmark 1st … Continue reading →

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Holy Barbarians

Posted on June 29, 2009 by lmharnisch

Above, the dust jacket of Lawrence Lipton's "Holy Barbarians" that's in pretty good shape. Obviously owned by a square. June 28, 1959: Lawrence Lipton uses a review of "The Beat Generation and the Angry Young Men," by Gene Feldman and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blues, books, Music, Nightclubs, Venice Division | 2 Comments

Woman Sets Trap for Man Who Sent Obscene Poem

Posted on June 25, 2009 by lmharnisch

June 25, 1889: Siegel the Hatter has handmade hats! June 25, 1889: A young lady named Carrie Arnold (or Carrier Turner — The Times used both names) receives an indecent proposal — in verse — and her father persuades her … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Fashion | 1 Comment