Category Archives: books

Voices–James Ellroy

Posted on June 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

  Aug. 30, 1995 By Amy Wallace Times Staff Writer n his 1987 crime novel, "The Black Dahlia," James Ellroy had the audacity–what he would call the "righteous authorial authority"–to cook up a solution to Los Angeles’ most famous unsolved … Continue reading →

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Geneva Ellroy, RIP

Posted on June 22, 2008 by lmharnisch

Geneva Ellroy crime scene, Arroyo High School, El Monte, Calif., via Google maps street view. o much has already been written about the June 1958 murder of Geneva Hilliker Ellroy; there’s very little I can add to what my friend … Continue reading →

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June 22, 1938

Posted on June 22, 2008 by lmharnisch
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Found on EBay

Posted on June 21, 2008 by lmharnisch

Why if it isn’t another another envelope sent to our old friend Prof. A. Victor “How to Have Beautiful Hair,”  “How to Be Happy Though Married” Segno. Alas, the money that was in this envelope was spent long ago. The … Continue reading →

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Home of the week

Posted on June 7, 2008 by lmharnisch

June 7, 1908 Above, the home of J. de Barth Shorb (1842-1896) in San Marino, which Henry Huntington has torn down to make way for his cozy little cottage.  True confession: I have been a member of the Huntington for … Continue reading →

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June 4, 1968

Posted on June 4, 2008 by lmharnisch

        Literature: William Styron’s "The Confessions of Nat Turner" wins the 1968 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. At left, the late Times staff writer Richard Bergholz says that a large voter turnout will probably favor Sen. Eugene McCarthy … Continue reading →

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May 29, 1938

Posted on May 29, 2008 by lmharnisch

Above, what Los Angeles was reading in 1938–and a shoutout to the Zombie Reading Program over at This Book Is for You…. "When there’s no more room in closed stacks, the out-of-print will rise up and walk the earth." At … Continue reading →

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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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