Category Archives: books

Woman Tells of Being Shot by Stalker; Dodgers Beat Giants, May 23, 1959

Posted on May 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

"I'll Be Darned." "It was about dusk when my mother and I and my 5-year-old son, James H., returned from shopping. For months I had been living in fear for my life at the hands of Mr. Mason…." Customs agents … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, books, Comics, Dodgers, Front Pages, Hollywood, Homicide, LAPD, Obituaries, Politics, Sports, Suicide | Comments Off on Woman Tells of Being Shot by Stalker; Dodgers Beat Giants, May 23, 1959

Boston Bans ‘Candide’; Details on Torso Victim, May 23, 1929

Posted on May 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

Hey, look! It's Rube Wolf! "Tout va pour le mieux dans le meilleur des mondes" Pieces of a dismembered body are found in the Los Angeles River, skillfully dissected. Could the killer be a doctor? 

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Voices — Sam Maloof, 1916 – 2009

Posted on May 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times June 5, 2003: Sam Maloof, 87, works in his workshop which is attached to his home he built 50 years ago. THE SUNDAY PROFILE A Man of the Woods Connoisseurs of heirloom furniture clamor … Continue reading →

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

Highway Patrol Rounds Up Missing Legislators, May 21, 1939

Posted on May 21, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Teach me to dance, Dragon Lady." View this page At left, my kind of story. The Assembly sends the Highway Patrol to track down legislators who skipped their session on the last day they got paid. Among the missing is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Downtown, Fashion, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo, Transportation | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — Aimee Semple McPherson

Posted on May 18, 2009 by lmharnisch

Speaking of Aimee Semple McPherson and the biography "The Vanishing Evangelist," a copy has turned up on EBay. And not just any copy, this one is inscribed to Matt Weinstock. Recall that the book was written under the pseudonym Lately … Continue reading →

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The Era of Fear and Prophesies of Doom, May 17, 1959

Posted on May 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

Gaaah! What were they thinking? No wonder these were on sale! This Sunday paper is an alarming time capsule with fear and anxiety on every page, plus a little sex here and there. At left, "What We Must Know About … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, books, Comics, Dodgers, Downtown, Film, Freeways, Front Pages, Hollywood, LAPD, Religion, Richard Nixon, Transportation | Comments Off on The Era of Fear and Prophesies of Doom, May 17, 1959

Enemy Agents Kidnap Book Publisher, May 14, 1939

Posted on May 14, 2009 by lmharnisch

  Publisher George Putnam, former husband of the late Amelia Earhart… … releases a book titled "The Man Who Killed Hitler" … … and some mysterious men with German accents don't like it …  … They grab him at his … Continue reading →

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Drinking With the Junior League

Posted on May 10, 2009 by lmharnisch

This strawberry daiquiri packs a bit of a wallop, Potts says. Brady Potts, who has so many talents they're impossible to list, takes over for his wife, Mary McCoy, on the food history blog Cooking With the Junior League. Brady … Continue reading →

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Low Turnout Feared in City Primary; Ladies’ Days at the Ballpark, May 7, 1929

Posted on May 7, 2009 by lmharnisch

Newspaper design as it was practiced in the 1920s: An eight-column page with an editorial cartoon front and center above the fold as the only art. Lee Shippey was one of The Times' institutions for many years. In addition to … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Film, health, Hollywood, Politics | 1 Comment

To the Horizon — Everett Ruess

Posted on May 3, 2009 by lmharnisch

  After Tom Maugh's story on the apparent resolution of Everett Ruess' disappearance, I thought it would be interesting to go through the archives. Here's what I found:  Loving the Land That Engulfed Him New Interest in Young Man Who … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Homicide | 2 Comments

The ‘Further Crimes’ of Dr. George Hodel

Posted on May 1, 2009 by lmharnisch

Above: James Ellroy’s inscribed copy of “Black Dahlia Avenger,” as sold on EBay. Steve Hodel’s long-promised sequel to “Black Dahlia Avenger” is evidently headed toward bookstores, according to this item in Library Journal: Steve Hodel with Ralph Pezzullo. Most Evil: … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Homicide | 1 Comment

James Ellroy at the Festival of Books

Posted on April 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Leslie Anne Wiggins / Los Angeles Times Leslie Anne Wiggins writes: The L.A. Times’ Patt Morrison gave the audience appropriate warning before James Ellroy’s loud and expletive-filled speech at the Book Festival Sunday: “Seat belts fastened low and … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Homicide | 1 Comment

Masked Mob Seizes Black Rape Suspect From Mississippi Jail, April 26, 1959

Posted on April 26, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Times takes a look at the 1910 Aviation Week at Dominguez Hills. Here's a post from last year about J.S. Zerbe.   Gunmen wearing masks and gloves raided the jail in Poplarville, Miss., and seized Mack Charles Parker, 23, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, books, Comics, Countdown to Watts, Dodgers, Film, health, Hollywood, Homicide, Music, Politics, Richard Nixon, Science, Stage, Transportation | Comments Off on Masked Mob Seizes Black Rape Suspect From Mississippi Jail, April 26, 1959

Daily Mirror at the Festival of Books

Posted on April 23, 2009 by lmharnisch

I planned to not say very much about appearing at the Festival of Books, but people  have been asking about "History: The Underbelly of California," which will be presented at 2 p.m. Sunday at Haines 39. The panel will feature … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Weblogs | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — 1954 Thomas Bros. Guide

Posted on April 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

This 1954 Thomas Bros. guide has been listed on EBay. Notice that it's the narrow format. Bidding starts at $5.99. A 1953 Thomas Bros. guide has also been listed. Bidding starts at $14.99.

Posted in books | 1 Comment

A Jewish Pioneer Who Helped Build L.A.

Posted on April 22, 2009 by lmharnisch

Frances Dinkelspiel Frances Dinkelspiel, whose biography of her great-great-grandfather Isaias Hellman has received good notices, is one of the many writers who will be at The Times Festival of Books. For those not venturing to UCLA on Sunday, she will … Continue reading →

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Mystery Boy Found in Echo Park, Famous Poet Serenades Goats, April 17, 1939

Posted on April 17, 2009 by lmharnisch

The Times noted that Charles Owens had an art exhibit on the third floor of City Hall. A 27-year-old man says he robbed the country club where he worked to provide a few essentials for his mother. He was sentenced … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, books, Comics, Film, Front Pages, Hollywood, Nuestro Pueblo, Robberies, Sports | Comments Off on Mystery Boy Found in Echo Park, Famous Poet Serenades Goats, April 17, 1939

Found on EBay — Black Mask Magazine

Posted on April 13, 2009 by lmharnisch

Speaking of Black Mask, two more issues that have been listed on EBay, At left, July 1946 (Bidding starts at $18.99) At right, September 1947 (Bidding starts at $18.99). The vendor has another July 1946 issue listed at $17.99.

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Found on EBay — Black Mask Magazine

Posted on April 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

A February 1925 issue of Black Mask magazine has been listed on EBay. The magazine is priced at $300, Buy It Now. Copies of Black Mask in this era are difficult to find and tend to sell in the $200 … Continue reading →

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Second Takes — Billy Wilder

Posted on April 12, 2009 by lmharnisch

"Andrea Leeds is cast for the lead of "Lost Weekend" … … or maybe Katharine Hepburn.   http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docid=-1976207906583051047&hl=en&fs=true Note the use of the theremin in Miklos Rozsa's score.  Edwin Schallert reviews "Lost Weekend," Nov. 30, 1945 Billy Wilder wins an … Continue reading →

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