Category Archives: books

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

Posted on February 4, 2011 by lmharnisch

In one of my previous posts about Morrow Mayo’s “Los Angeles,” I said that The Times did not review it. In fact, The Times did review the book, but the item somehow manages to evade ProQuest’s search … Continue reading →

Posted in 1933, Another Good Story Ruined, books | 2 Comments

Movieland Mystery Photo [Updated]

Posted on February 3, 2011 by lmharnisch

Photo courtesy of Marc Wanamaker/Bison Archives Harry Medved, a Daily Mirror reader, sends along this picture. And stay tuned for more information! [Update: As many people realized, this is the filming of the 1958 movie … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Downtown, Film, Hollywood, Mystery Photo, Photography | 18 Comments

Pages of History — Morrow Mayo and ‘Los Angeles’

Posted on February 2, 2011 by lmharnisch

Imagine how pleased I was to discover that by complete coincidence (and I do mean complete coincidence) Times architecture critic Christopher Hawthorne is planning a yearlong project called Reading L.A. that will begin with the same book I … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Pages of History | Comments Off

Recalling a Friend and a Great Librarian

Posted on February 1, 2011 by lmharnisch

his is Elizabeth C. Franklin or Miss Franklin to those of us who worked for her. It wasn't until she loaned me her precious Film Index of 1941 with her name written inside that I learned … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood | 1 Comment

Found on EBay — ‘They Call Them Camisoles’

Posted on January 24, 2011 by lmharnisch

A rather battered but interesting copy of “They Call Them Camisoles” has been listed on EBay. “Camisoles” was written by Wilma Carnes under the pen name Wilma Wilson and is a graphic first-person account of her time at Camarillo (“Camisoles” … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Food and Drink, health, Hollywood | Comments Off

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 23, 1961

Posted on January 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 23, 1961: A requisition for a book titled "The Bride Stripped Bare" came into the county museum accounting office and Margaret Hooker, a little uneasy, checked with Dorothy Martin of the museum reference library, who had … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off

Another Good Story Ruined – The Black Dahlia

Posted on January 19, 2011 by lmharnisch

I was talking about the Black Dahlia case the other day to someone who pulled up this picture on a cellphone. Looks great, doesn’t it? But it’s a fake. Here, I’ll show you. ALSO Another Good Story Ruined … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Film, Hollywood, Photography | 3 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Jan. 16, 1961

Posted on January 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 16, 1961: More Mexicans are expected to cross the border for farm work this year, the Labor Department says. Matt Weinstock has an amusing item about a pool player and his wife … and an … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Immigration, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Jan. 13, 1941

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1941: Author James Joyce dies at the age of 58 …. “Fantasia” is coming! The Dionne quints are finished actresses; 20th Century-Fox didn't renew their option, Jimmie Fidler says … also note the item … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | Comments Off

Dashiell Hammett Dies, Jan. 11, 1961

Posted on January 11, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 11, 1961: Dashiell Hammett dies at the age of 67. A Times editorial the next days wonders about a “slight odor of Communist mentality” in “The Maltese Falcon.” No, really! Also from The Times’ editorial … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood, Obituaries | 2 Comments

Found on EBay — ‘Mother Goose-Step’

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

I watch for books from Lymanhouse, the Los Angeles publisher of “They Call Them Camisoles,” a graphic first-person account of being hospitalized at Camarillo. Lymanhouse also published “What Actors Eat — When They Eat.” Another Lymanhouse book, “Mother Goose-Step,” by … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books | Comments Off

Paul Coates, Jan. 10, 1961

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 10, 1961: Author Dashiell Hammett dies… Paul Coates didn’t get invited to the John F. Kennedy inaugural…. notice the Page 1 story on Frank Sinatra’s wardrobe for the Kennedy bash!

Posted in books, Columnists, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off

The Black Dahlia — Another Good Story Ruined

Posted on January 5, 2011 by lmharnisch

he anniversary of Elizabeth Short’s killing is Jan. 15, so I thought I would try to anticipate the annual rehash of fiction and mistakes with a post commenting on potential sources on the 1947 case. People often ask me which … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1947, Another Good Story Ruined, books, Crime and Courts, Homicide, LAPD | 6 Comments

Mrs. Eddy Will Rise Again, as Christ Did, Follower Says

Posted on December 30, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 30, 1910: The death of Christian Science founder Mary Baker Eddy on Dec. 3, 1910, left followers predicting her return. Christian Science leader Augusta E. Stetson said that "she believed the millennium is at hand, … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Obituaries, Religion | 3 Comments

Jimmie Fidler in Hollywood, Dec. 27, 1940

Posted on December 27, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 27, 1940: P.G. Wodehouse is being held by the Nazis – stay tuned for more about him in 1941,when he goes on German radio. Earl Carroll planning a Jimmy Durante "Nose Night" with any … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off

Found on EBay – W.W. Robinson

Posted on December 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

A copy of W.W. Robinson’s “Bombs and Bribery,” about the 1910 bombing of the Los Angeles Times, has been listed on EBay. This book is usually listed at a steep price because it was a limited edition of 300 copies, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1910 L.A. Times bombing, books | Comments Off

Paul Coates, Dec. 13, 1960

Posted on December 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Dec. 13, 1960: Paul Coates has an update on the story of John Howard Griffin, whose book “Black Like Me,” about his experiences pretending to be African American, shocked many white readers. Notice Paul Weeks' byline out … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Countdown to Watts, Film, Front Pages, Paul Coates | Comments Off

Found on EBay — ‘What Actors Eat’

Posted on December 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

A copy of the Lymanhouse book “What Actors Eat – When They Eat!” has been listed on EBay. This cookbook turns up once or twice a year on EBay, usually at a ridiculous price. Bidding on this one, however, starts … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off

Famed Writer Tours L.A.

Posted on November 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Nov. 13, 1910: Times reporter Willard Huntington Wright (yes, that is the future mystery writer S.S. Van Dine), explores Los Angeles with British author William J. Locke, who was once famous for such works as “The Beloved … Continue reading →