Category Archives: books

Make Your Own Pickwick Book Shop Bookmarks!

Posted on March 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

    I noticed that L.A. Observed had an item on the reissue of “Los Angeles: A Guide to the City and Its Environs,” a book that is well worth having. The Daily Mirror HQ acquired its copy (formerly the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Pages of History, Zombie Reading List | 1 Comment

Architectural Ramblings — The Sowden House

Posted on March 20, 2011 by lmharnisch

      Drawing by Charles Owens/Los Angeles Times   The Sowden House by architect Lloyd Wright at 5121 Franklin Ave. is on the market for $4.2 million. You may recall that this was the purported murder HQ of Dr. … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1947, Architecture, art and artists, books, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Nuestro Pueblo, Real Estate | 1 Comment

Pages of History — ‘The Truth About Los Angeles’

Posted on March 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

    Thanks to the Huntington Library, I was able to obtain a photocopy of Louis Adamic’s “The Truth About Los Angeles,” one of hundreds of little pamphlets published by Emanuel Haldeman-Julius. I was vaguely aware of these pamphlets but … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Pages of History | Comments Off on Pages of History — ‘The Truth About Los Angeles’

Another Good Story Ruined — The Black Dahlia

Posted on March 15, 2011 by lmharnisch

I received a news alert the other day about an upcoming play titled “The Chanteuse and the Devil’s Muse” in which Daniele Watts will portray Mady Comfort, at left, purportedly “Elizabeth Short's best friend.” I honestly don’t know how such … Continue reading →

Posted in 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Coming Attractions, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, LAPD, Stage | 6 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo Fan — Eve Golden

Posted on March 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

  Eve Golden, a regular Daily Mirror reader and Mystery Photo fan, is a photo archivist in New York and has written several show business biographies, including “Vamp: The Rise and Fall of Theda Bara” and “Platinum Girl: The Life … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Mystery Photo, Photography | 2 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 14, 1941

Posted on March 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

           March 14, 1941: Some time ago, this column told of the work of Ruby Berkley Goodwin, the Fullerton Negro poetess whose work has attracted national attention. Wendell Malliet & Co., New York, have just announced … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, 1961, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Obituaries, Tom Treanor | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 12, 1941

Posted on March 12, 2011 by lmharnisch

           March 12, 1941: The first 100 pages of James Hilton’s “Random Harvest” are disappointing but the rest of the novel more than makes up for it, Lee Shippey says. Tom Treanor talks to some watchmakers … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, March 10, 1961

Posted on March 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

       March 10, 1961: Matt Weinstock has an item on the novel “Red Alert” by Peter Bryant.  If the plot sounds familiar,   that’s because … well, I won’t spoil it. DEAR ABBY: From the day we married I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off on Matt Weinstock, March 10, 1961

Philip K. Scheuer, Town Called Hollywood, March 9, 1941

Posted on March 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

           March 9, 1941: It’s a Sunday, which means Jimmie Fidler has the day off. Instead, Philip K. Scheuer writes about “Gone With the Wind” (I know, I know, you’re thinking it’s a 1939 film). He … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Philip K. Scheuer, Town Called Hollywood, March 9, 1941

Self-Styled Siren: An Amateur Among Amateurs — Agee on Film

Posted on March 9, 2011 by lmharnisch

  Speaking of our favorite movie blogs, another one we enjoy at the Daily Mirror is “Self-Styled Siren,” by Farran Smith Nehme. (No, the photo is of Joan Fontaine, who serves as Farran’s avatar on the Web). Her latest post … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Weblogs | Comments Off on Self-Styled Siren: An Amateur Among Amateurs — Agee on Film

Paul Coates, March 8, 1961

Posted on March 8, 2011 by lmharnisch

       March 8, 1961: Paul Coates has an item about the possibility that the new postmaster general, J. Edward Day, might run afoul of obscenity laws because he wrote a racy novel that could be unfit for the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, books, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Paul Coates, March 8, 1961

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 3, 1941

Posted on March 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

           March 3, 1941: Lee Shippey has a column on the plight of the Los Angeles Public Library, which was built with great aspirations as a “people’s university” and was then, as it is now, suffering … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Tom Treanor | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, March 3, 1941

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo’s ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on March 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

      The Evening Express,Dec. 17, 1927       The Evening Express,Dec. 20, 1927       The Times, Dec. 17, 1927     The Times, Dec. 20, 1927   I haven’t forgotten about my little project on … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1927, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Parks and Recreation | 1 Comment

Upton Sinclair House for Sale

Posted on March 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

          Photo courtesy of Cecilia Farnum, Century 21     The Upton Sinclair House at 464 N. Myrtle Ave., Monrovia has been listed for sale at $1.5 million. The 1923 home was designed by Frederick H. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1923, 1943, Architecture, art and artists, books, Obituaries | 3 Comments

Military Snaps to Attention for Reagan

Posted on February 27, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Feb. 27, 1981: Military officers are back in uniform around Washington after an informal switch to civilian clothes, apparently prompted by a remark in 1955 by President Eisenhower that “the place looked like an armed camp.” … Continue reading →

Posted in 1981, books, Comics, Ronald Reagan | Comments Off on Military Snaps to Attention for Reagan

What Next for Richard Chamberlain After ‘Shogun?’

Posted on February 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

            Feb. 24, 1981: Young persons…. There was once a sensationally popular TV miniseries called “Shogun,” based on James Clavell’s novel set in feudal Japan, that aired in September 1980 and starred Richard Chamberlain, the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1981, books, Film, Hollywood, Roderick Mann, Television | 1 Comment

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 22, 1941

Posted on February 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

        Feb. 22, 1941: Los Angeles gets nearly 2 inches of rain in 24 hours, leaving Reseda and Canoga Park virtually cut off because of rising floodwaters, The Times says. Dr. E.H. Pitts of Sacramento writes a … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Film, Hollywood, Lee Shippey, Stage | Comments Off on Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Feb. 22, 1941

Found on EBay — Parkey Sharkey

Posted on February 21, 2011 by lmharnisch

A copy of “Whiskey Road” by the incomparable Parkey Sharkey has been listed on EBay. Sharkey was a frequent presence in Paul Coates’ columns and many readers suspected that Coates fabricated Sharkey’s letters. Not at all. Sharkey was an actual … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Food and Drink, Paul Coates | Comments Off on Found on EBay — Parkey Sharkey

Another Good Story Ruined — The Black Dahlia

Posted on February 18, 2011 by lmharnisch

      This item comes from the Atlantic: by Mark Bernstein “My morning drive to Eastgate, our software workshop, is literary. “In the car this morning, I listened to the estimable Katherine Kellgren reading  Connie Willis' new historical fiction, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | 1 Comment

Pages of History — A. Victor Segno’s ‘How to Be Happy Tho’ Married’

Posted on February 17, 2011 by lmharnisch

    The library at the Daily Mirror HQ recently acquired the elusive work “How to Be Happy Tho’ Married” by our favorite charlatan and con man, A. Victor Segno. Although we have several of Segno’s works (“The Law of … Continue reading →

Posted in 1901, books, Pages of History | 5 Comments