Category Archives: books

Talking With John Huston, 1980

Posted on May 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

   May 1, 1980: John Huston talks to Roderick Mann about filming “Victory” and about his upcoming autobiography, “An Open Book.” 

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Sydney Ford’s Trip Around the World, 1910

Posted on April 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

   April 10, 24, 1910: Times writer Sydney Ford (Henrietta B. Freeman) embarks on a journey around the world. In Parts 1 and 2 of Ford’s chatty travelogue, she writes about the voyage to Hawaii and sightseeing on Honolulu. I'm … Continue reading →

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World Mourns Mark Twain

Posted on April 23, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 23, 1910: “Several of his neighbors who stood close to him in life were permitted today to view the body. Mr. Clemens did much of his work in bed, and in death he still seemed a part of … Continue reading →

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Mark Twain, 1835 – 1910

Posted on April 22, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 22, 1910:  Samuel Langhorne Clemens “recognized his daughter Clara (Mrs. Ossip Gabrilowitsch), spoke a rational word or two and feeling himself unequal to conversation, wrote out in pencil: “ ‘Give me my glasses.’   “These were his last words. … Continue reading →

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Mark Twain Near Death

Posted on April 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 20, 1910: Samuel Clemens "has been perfectly conscious and in possession of all his faculties throughout his illness and, weak though he is, frequent flashes of the characteristic wit that made him a unique figure when in health, … Continue reading →

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Walt Mason, the People’s Poet

Posted on April 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 19, 1910: The Times’ Albert Jean Taylor draws a cartoon to give East Coast expatriates a self-satisfied laugh … And Uncle Walt the Warbler takes a jaded look at the love poem: O come, my pet, and cook … Continue reading →

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Charles Champlin on ‘The Tin Drum’

Posted on April 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

  April 18, 1980: “ ‘The Tin Drum’ is, in fact, almost everything anybody could ask a film to be. It is strikingly original and continuously surprising, compliments of the novelist, whose large and densely packed book has been translated … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, April 15, 1960

Posted on April 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

  Bottleneck     It's one of the little ironies of our town that the current event which probably affects more people than any other isn't even newsworthy.  Meaning, of course, the installation of the center divider on Hollywood Freeway from … Continue reading →

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Matt Weinstock, April 11, 1960

Posted on April 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

“ ‘Library Fever’ Is Similar to Other Mental Disturbances.”   Pay-as-You-Breathe Plan       Everyone, it seems, wants to help the beleaguered councilmen find a way to raise desperately needed revenue.  And it is a heartening thing indeed to witness the … Continue reading →

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Nuestro Pueblo

Posted on April 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

Oct. 10, 1938: Joe Seewerker and Charles Owens visit Sunset Beach, where an old wooden fish advertises bait. Note: The original run of Nuestro Pueblo ended in 1939. I’m going back and picking up the entries I missed in 2008-09. … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books | 1 Comment

Bukowski From the Bottoms Up

Posted on April 6, 2010 by lmharnisch

Charles Bukowski reads his poetry in Redondo Beach April 6, 1980: “After two hours, 16 poems, a lot of locker room laughs and two bottles of Concannon Petite Sirah, Bukowski and a few of his patrons were just this side … Continue reading →

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200 Great Books for Young Americans

Posted on April 3, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “This Should Be Quite a Story!!” April 3, 1960: The Times’ Sunday supplement, This Week magazine, features its annual reading program with a list of “200 Great Books for Young Americans,” ages 14 to 18. I’m always fascinated by … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Comics, Richard Nixon | 1 Comment

Matt Weinstock, April 1, 1960

Posted on April 1, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “Wait! I Don’t Trust You!” Ethereal Hitchhiker       Until recently Rhoda Cross, who lives near Vermont and Fountain Aves., had a two-party telephone line, or at least that's what she thought.  But several weeks ago she started hearing … Continue reading →

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Found on EBay – Angel City in Turmoil

Posted on March 25, 2010 by lmharnisch

This signed copy of Guy Finney’s “Angel City in Turmoil,” one of the more collectible books about Los Angeles history, has been listed on EBay.  According to The Times’ clips, Court Lytton was a real estate salesman. Bidding starts at … Continue reading →

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In Support of Libraries and Librarians

Posted on March 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

The Arroyo Seco branch library via Google maps’ street view. Wednesday’s story by Maeve Reston on a proposal to cut hours in the Los Angeles Public Library system mentioned several branches that could be affected, including the Arroyo Seco Regional … Continue reading →

Posted in books, City Hall | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, March 19, 1960

Posted on March 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

  “?” Pig Stickers, En Garde     Sportsmen who complain they have to go farther and farther for good fishing and hunting — prepare to drool.  Dr. Louis Higger of L.A. writes from Kati, New Zealand: "Here we are on … Continue reading →

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Hedda Hopper, March 15, 1946

Posted on March 15, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 15, 1946: Hey, look who turns up in Hedda Hopper’s column… It’s Jeffrey Bernerd! So what, you ask? Surely you remember that he’s the stepfather of “Black Dahlia Files” author Donald H. Wolfe! By the way, I’m still waiting … Continue reading →

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Hearing on the Gas House, Part 4

Posted on March 13, 2010 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1959: This is the fourth part of a transcript of testimony by “Holy Barbarians” author Lawrence Lipton before the the Los Angeles Police Commission on the Gas House, the Beat hangout in Venice.  Part 1 is here. Part … Continue reading →

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Dinosaur Expert Roy Chapman Andrews Dies

Posted on March 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 12, 1960: Roy Chapman Andrews is not an author I think about very often anymore, but he wrote one of the favorite books of my childhood, “All About Dinosaurs.” I suppose he’s one reason I took all those … Continue reading →

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Mystic Author Visits Los Angeles

Posted on March 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

  March 8, 1920: The Times seems quite taken with Francis Grierson, author of “Modern Mysticism,” quoting him at length on world politics and spiritualism. The poor fellow died of starvation, The Times says, while working on an anthology of … Continue reading →

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