Category Archives: City Hall

Town Called Hollywood, Feb. 23, 1941

Posted on February 23, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 23, 1941: An old hand at writing columns but feeling his way in his new assignment, The Home Front, Tom Treanor writes: "Of all the times in the history of the world to be writing … Continue reading →

Posted in 1941, City Hall, Film, Food and Drink, Hollywood, Politics | 2 Comments

Matt Weinstock, Feb. 22, 1961

Posted on February 22, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 22, 1961: The Arriba Poulson group has been formed in East Los Angeles to support the mayor in his upcoming campaign, Matt Weinstock says. DEAR ABBY: My Mommy and Daddy got a divorce and I live … Continue reading →

Posted in 1961, art and artists, City Hall, Columnists, Comics, Matt Weinstock, Politics | Comments Off

Black Politics in L.A., 1913

Posted on January 16, 2011 by lmharnisch

Feb. 22, 1913: Councilman Robert M. Lusk died in office and the African Americans of Los Angeles called on the council to appoint one of several black contenders to complete his term. Charles C. Flint, a … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Countdown to Watts, Politics | Comments Off

Black Politics in L.A.

Posted on January 14, 2011 by lmharnisch

Charles H. Matthews, African American member of the Police Commission, at a 1946 meeting. I was intrigued by the remark on L.A. Observed, quoting the Root, “According to historian Raphael J. Sonenshein, ‘No African-American, Latino or Jewish person … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Crime and Courts, Education, LAPD | Comments Off

USC Fraternity Pledges Stealing Hotel Spittoons!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 13, 1911: The population of Los Angeles is 319,198, The Times says. In our bustling city, USC fraternity pledges are caught stealing spittoons from hotels … a post office official is accused of taking items … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Crime and Courts, Education, Fashion | Comments Off

Yorty Runs for Mayor!

Posted on January 10, 2011 by lmharnisch

Jan. 10, 1961: Incumbent Norris Poulson and challenger Sam Yorty are about to get into a nasty campaign for mayor. Should I mention the $2-million slander suit? The Times editorial headlined “Either Poulson or Calamity?” (So much for the … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Politics, Richard Nixon | 3 Comments

Found on EBay – Norman Chandler

Posted on September 29, 2010 by lmharnisch

This portrait of Times Publisher Norman Chandler is part of an album of photographs that has been listed on EBay. Other subjects include Francis Cardinal McIntyre, Will Rogers and Mayor Norris Poulson. Bidding starts at $9.99.

Posted in City Hall, Photography, Religion | Comments Off

Paul Coates, Aug. 24, 1960

Posted on August 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Aug. 24, 1960: The Mirror reports a shouting match between Mayor Norris Poulson and Police Chief William H. Parker over a proposed police cadet program. It sounds like a great item, but alas, so many stories and only one Larry … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Columnists, From the Vaults, LAPD, Paul Coates | 1 Comment

Earl Rogers and L.A.’s Picketing Ban

Posted on July 19, 2010 by lmharnisch

Los Angeles Times file photo Attorney Earl Rogers, who drafted L.A.’s ban on picketing and defended Clarence Darrow on charges of attempting to bribe jurors in the trial of the McNamara brothers in The Times bombing. July 16-19, 1910: … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, City Hall, LAPD | 1 Comment

Pages of History

Posted on June 24, 2010 by lmharnisch

Photograph by Larry Harnisch / Los Angeles Times I went to the city archives on Monday to see what I could find about the Oct. 1, 1910, bombing of The Times. There wasn’t too much (the Police Commission minutes … Continue reading →

Posted in 1885, 1910 L.A. Times bombing, City Hall, Fire Department | 1 Comment

A Blow to Strikers

Posted on June 18, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 18, 1910: The stage is set for the famous anti-picketing ordinance approved by the City Council in July 1910. For further reading, I would recommend Grace Heilman Stimson’s “Rise of the Labor Movement in Los Angeles,” published in … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, LAPD | 1 Comment

Architect Submits Plan for New City Hall

Posted on June 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 11, 1910: If this building looks unfamiliar it’s because it never left the drawing board. This is a proposal by Lyman Farwell for a new City Hall to be built on the Temple Block at Spring and Main … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, art and artists, City Hall | Comments Off

LAPD Captain Accused of Corruption

Posted on June 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

June 10, 1910: An AMA convention in St. Louis finds out what a Nautsch dancer is. On the jump, the complicated case of Police Capt. Charles E. Dixon and Hampshire Hotel operator William D. Gage. Dixon, the head of … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, #gays and lesbians, City Hall, health, LAPD | Comments Off

LAPD Reports Fewer Arrests, More Crimes

Posted on May 21, 2010 by lmharnisch

May 21, 1910: The Times reports some alarming statistics for the Police Department. Arrests have fallen off sharply and criminal complaints have increased. Various officials offer different explanations: officers don’t bother with trivial offenses, they are frustrated with permissive … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, LAPD | Comments Off

Voices: Daryl Gates, 1926 – 2010

Posted on April 16, 2010 by lmharnisch

March 29, 1978: Daryl F. Gates becomes police chief. ( George Holliday / Courtesy of KTLA via Associated Press ) Four Los Angeles Police Department officers charged in the videotaped beating of Rodney G. King on March 3, 1991, were … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, LAPD | Comments Off

Emergency Medical Training for Police, Firefighters

Posted on April 11, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 11, 1910: Dr. Charles Zerfing, the police surgeon, wants police officers and firefighters to be trained in “first aid to the injured.” Zerfing also wants an automobile ambulance equipped with emergency supplies, The Times says. Zerfing’s actions come … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, health, LAPD | Comments Off

L.A. Mayor Drives Electric Car

Posted on April 10, 2010 by lmharnisch

Mayor Alexander’s electric car! April 10, 1910: Mayor George Alexander says he’ll still be chauffeured on his official duties but is learning how to drive an electric Waverly phaeton for personal use. The 70-year-old mayor of Los Angeles says, … Continue reading →

Posted in art and artists, City Hall, Comics, Transportation | Comments Off

City Hall Is a Firetrap

Posted on April 9, 2010 by lmharnisch

The 1889 City Hall on Broadway just north of what is now the Victor Clothing Building. Notice that there are no fire escapes. April 9, 1910: A fire that broke out in the janitor’s basement office could have quickly … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Downtown, Environment | Comments Off

Vernon Hog Farmer Accused of Ignoring L.A. Garbage Laws

Posted on April 7, 2010 by lmharnisch

April 7, 1910: A century ago, hogs were fed garbage, and if you had a lot of hogs, you needed lots of garbage. What better way to get it than what was discarded from Los Angeles restaurants? P.J. Durbin, … Continue reading →

Posted in #courts, City Hall, Environment, Food and Drink | 1 Comment

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