Category Archives: books

The Parkey Sharkey Story

Posted on June 8, 2010 by lmharnisch

Parkey Sharkey, the terror of Palo Alto, with his taxi, about 1961. Readers frequently assume that Parkey Sharkey was a fictional character invented by Paul Coates to fill his Saturday letters column. I recently found a copy of Sharkey’s … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Paul Coates, Photography | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Thicker’n Thieves

Posted on May 26, 2010 by lmharnisch

Former Police Sgt. Charles Stoker’s “Thicker’n Thieves” has attained a measure of respect that it never had when it was published in 1951. Even five or six years ago, it was possible to pick up a copy for almost nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in books, LAPD | Comments Off

Matt Weinstock, May 20, 1960

Posted on May 20, 2010 by lmharnisch

“UINUERLAOEJG!” May 20, 1960: "I've worked in local coffeehouses for over a year," a reader tells Matt Weinstock, "and I've yet to see a beatnik. It's for un-real. A joke perpetuated by the press and perpetuated by coffeehouse owners. … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Columnists, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

Los Angeles With a Laugh Track – ‘The Natives Are Restless’

Posted on May 12, 2010 by lmharnisch

“Side-splitting?” Not hardly. Cynthia Lindsay's "The Natives Are Restless" (1960) is not a great book about Los Angeles or even a particularly good one. A frothy mix of humor and sunshine, "Natives" floats to the bright end of the … Continue reading →

Posted in books, Downtown | 2 Comments

On the Frontiers of Education

Posted on May 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

I’ve been laughing about this all weekend and wanted to share it.

Posted in art and artists, books, Education | Comments Off

Matt Weinstock, May 5, 1960

Posted on May 5, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 5, 1960: Here’s another take on Cynthia Lindsay and “Procals.” Her term describes the people of the Southland, who are “pro California.” I’ll be taking a look at Lindsay’s 1960 book “The Natives Are Restless” in an … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, books, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | 1 Comment

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.”

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in books, Transportation, travel | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in books, Obituaries | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in books, Obituaries | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in #courts, books, LAPD, Obituaries | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in books, Film, Hollywood | Comments Off

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 →

Posted in books, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock | Comments Off

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 →

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

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 →

Posted in books, Nightclubs | Comments Off

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 →