Category Archives: books

May 1, 1938

Posted on May 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, Arnold Schoenberg’s orchestration of Brahms’ quartet for piano and strings receives its U.S. premiere. I once listened to a recording of a talk by Schoenberg and was surprised to hear him pronounce his name "Shane-berg" as in "Bei Mir … Continue reading →

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April 29, 1908

Posted on April 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, make a fortune selling the works of Paul Laurence Dunbar! Below, The Times’ editorial on the poet’s death, published Feb. 11, 1906. Email me

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Just say no

Posted on April 23, 2008 by lmharnisch

A copy of this book has turned up on EBay for (get this) $500! Until a few years ago, it was possible to pick up "Thieves" for a few dollars, in fact I found an autographed copy at a Salvation … Continue reading →

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April 18, 1908

Posted on April 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, an update on the Doukhobors …   Below, the fleet is on its way! And so is Elinor Glyn! Quote of the Day: "To swear to love for life is an insult to God. Love is an emotion placed in … Continue reading →

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Jack Smith on Wry

Posted on April 1, 2008 by lmharnisch

  "Jack Smith on Wry," on display at the Huntington Library through May 12, 2008, focuses on the life and works of columnist Jack Smith, an institution at The Times from the 1950s to the 1990s. I asked his son … Continue reading →

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Arthur C. Clarke

Posted on March 18, 2008 by lmharnisch

Nov. 1, 2001 Celebrity Setup: Evolution of a Sci-Fi Master   * ‘2001’ author Arthur C. Clarke has long been fascinated with electronics. By David ColkerTimes Staff Writer Arthur C. Clarke, author of "2001: A Space Odyssey" and numerous other … Continue reading →

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March 9, 1958

Posted on March 9, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, a literary time capsule: Thomas B. Costain … James Jones … James Gould Cozzens … and Vance Packard. Below, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower calls for a huge spending program to end the U.S. recession. Eisenhower advocates civil works programs … Continue reading →

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Lies and consequences

Posted on March 6, 2008 by lmharnisch

Perhaps other folks were shocked by the revelation that "Love and Consequences" by Margaret B. Jones, a.k.a. Margaret Seltzer, was a complete fake. It was old news to me. Here’s my own experience, from Donald H. Wolfe’s 2005 "The Black … Continue reading →

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Welcome to Kareem

Posted on February 12, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Here’s a salute from the Daily Mirror to one of The Times’ new bloggers!

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Craby Joe’s RIP

Posted on February 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

Craby Joe’s is gone but the sign lives on. Jeremy Hansen writes: The Museum of Neon Art is hoping to have the sign up and running by Feb. 14, the next downtown LA Artwalk.  The new location of the museum … Continue reading →

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January 30, 1958: Paul V. Coates — Confidential File

Posted on January 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

January 30, 1958 Memphis Harry Lee Ward, Hollywood’s oldest newsboy and foremost collector of literary works, once made the observation to me that: “Parkey Sharkey is far more literary than you are, sir.” It wasn’t a comment meant to degrade … Continue reading →

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Literary diversions

Posted on January 30, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jan. 30, 1938Los Angeles It’s a Sunday morning in Los Angeles and Times readers turn to the weekly magazine. Here’s an installment of an Erle Stanley Gardner story, as published 70 years ago.  

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Best sellers

Posted on January 26, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jan. 26, 1958 Los Angeles

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Actor stabbed

Posted on January 20, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Jan. 19-21, 1958 Los Angeles Her name was Velda and she had apparently been a model in New York. That’s where she met Burt Lancaster, at right with nurse Genevieve Grigoli. It’s not clear how well she knew the … Continue reading →

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The Badge

Posted on January 13, 2008 by lmharnisch

Well isn’t this interesting? Here’s the original cover of "The Badge," from my five-foot shelf of books on Los Angeles. Note the style of badge and Serial No. 714.   And here’s the cover of the reprint ("With a new … Continue reading →

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Edward Weston dies

Posted on January 2, 2008 by lmharnisch

Jan. 2, 1958 Carmel, Calif.   Photograph by the Los Angeles Times Edward Weston, after receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1937, when he was living at 4166 Brunswick Ave., Los Angeles.*   One of the greatest photographers of the 20th … Continue reading →

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Smith on Wry

Posted on December 27, 2007 by lmharnisch

  Photograph by the Los Angeles Times I love this picture of Times reporters Jack Smith and Marvin Miles, in coats and ties, of course, flying a kite. I don’t know the story behind this picture, but I’m sure there … Continue reading →

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Christmas past

Posted on December 25, 2007 by lmharnisch

Christmas in prison with Dalton Trumbo, 1950  

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Best sellers

Posted on November 24, 2007 by lmharnisch

Nov. 24, 1957

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Byline: Norman Mailer

Posted on November 10, 2007 by lmharnisch

May 5, 1968  

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